What is the cost?

We will be providing some of the most enjoyable, entertaining, and inspiring activities possible during a two-night, three-day event. The conference is priced according to occupancy:

5 per room…...…$109 per person
4 per room............$109 per person
3 per room............$119 per person
2 per room............$139 per person

For persons not staying at a conference hotel there is a $75 per person conference fee. This rate is not subject to the early-bird discount.

Remember: You may reserve spots at the conference by paying a deposit of $50 per person.
However, you must be paid in full by October 31, 2008 (SE) or November 7, 2008 (SM) to receive the $10 per person discount.

Southeastern Student Bible Conference registrations postmarked on or before October 31, 2008 will receive a $10 per person discount. Any registrations postmarked after December 8, 2008 will incur a $5 per person late fee. All fees are transferable. Changes must be made known to SDEA no later than 24 hours prior to arrival.

Smoky Mountain Student Bible Conference registrations postmarked on or before November 7, 2008, will receive a $10 per person discount. Registrations postmarked after December 27, 2008 will incur a $5 late fee per person. All fees are transferable. Changes must be made known to SDEA no later than 24 hours prior to arrival.

What are the Alpha and Omega Sessions?

The Smoky Mountain Conference will be divided into two groups, Alpha and Omega. We are using two individual schedules in order to maximize our meeting space. We will try and meet your request for a specific group; however, it is important to remember that everything we do is based on first come, first serve.

Where will my group be staying?

The Southeastern Student Bible Conference will be held at the NEW Sevierville Events Center at Bridgemont. Conveniently, your students will be housed in hotels around the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge area. All hotels are nice facilities and most include a continental breakfast. When you send in your registration, you may list your top three choices for hotels. We always do our best to accommodate your request. The hotels for the 2008 SESBC are:

Baymont Inn and Suites
Comfort Inn Mountain River
Fairfield Inn Sportsman Place
Mountain Melodies
Sleep Inn

The Smoky Mountain Student Bible Conference will be held at the Smoky Mountain Palace, Country Tonite Theater and the Miracle Theater. Conveniently, your students will be housed in hotels around the Pigeon Forge area. All hotels are nice facilities and most include a continental breakfast. When you send in your registration, you may list your top three choices for hotels. We always do our best to accommodate your request. The hotels for the 2009 SMSBC are:

Best Western Toni Inn
Comfort Inn Apple Valley
Comfort Inn Dollywood Lane
Comfort Inn Mountain River
Creekstone Inn
Days Inn Pigeon Forge
Days Inn Sevierville
Econolodge Riverside
Fairfield Inn Sportsman Place
Mountain Melodies
Oaktree Lodge
Quality Inn Dollywood Lane
Pigeon River Inn
Ramada Limited
Ramada Limited Suites
River Bend Inn
Rodeway Inn
Twin Mountain I
Twin Mountain II

What about snow?

As you know, the conferences will be held in resort cities in the Smoky Mountain regions. As such, snow is not unusual for these areas. The conference will only be canceled in the unlikely event that the roads inside Pigeon Forge are closed for the entire three days of the conference. If an event is hosted as scheduled and your group cancels or reduces numbers due to weather conditions, all payments are non-refundable. If we are unable to host an event due to weather conditions, the $70 registration fee cannot be refunded. Refunds of final balance payments will be made only if properties and/or locations refund SDEA for these costs. For your peace of mind, please know we have never had to cancel an event due to snow.

What is the refund policy?

90-365 days out- SDEA will offer a full refund minus a $40 per person administration fee. No questions asked.

46-89 days out- SDEA will offer a half refund minus $40 per person administration fee.

45 days out- No refunds unless approved by SDEA. The following are acceptable reasons for a refund: (1) A person is unable to attend due to medical conditions. A signed statement from a medical doctor advising the person not to attend the conference must be presented with a letter of request. The letter from the doctor must be written for the sole purpose of requesting the refund and/or the dates of the conference must be mentioned in the time period forbidding travel by the person registered for the conference. If the person is hospitalized on any day of the conference, a letter from the hospital showing the dates of hospitalization shall serve in place of a letter from a medical doctor. (2) Death of an immediate family member. The immediate family shall be defined as parents, step-parents, grandparents, children, step-children, grandchildren, sisters, step-sisters, brothers, step-brothers, aunts or uncles. This policy does not apply to cousins. A copy of the obituary showing the date must be attached to the refund request. In cases where the obituary does not show the family relationship, a letter from a pastor or funeral director handling the services must be attached to the refund request. (3) A person is married to an individual who meets the criteria of (1) or (2) above. (4) The requirement of a governing school body of a registered individual to attend classes (5) Service on jury duty or active military duty by a registered individual. Documentation of proof of the above situations may be required before a refund will be issued. All refunds will be paid by a conference gift certificate only (no cash). (6) A pastor or paid church staff member is required to participate in a funeral service during the conference. An obituary, or a letter from a funeral director of officiating minister stating the person's involvement in the funeral must be attached to the refund request. The refundable amount shall be equal to the percentage of the conference lodging nights the person missed.

• Each refund date is counted back from the opening day of each conference.
• The person making the original registration or the designated group leader must make all refund requests.
• The refund check or certificate will be made payable to the party upon whom the original registration check was drawn. No refund can be issued until at least fifteen (15) days after the deposit of the original check.
• All group accounts must be paid in full before refunds can be made to any person in the group. Such refunds shall be credited to the account of the group.
• Rules and regulations are subject to change without notice.
• The conference office must receive any required documentation before the end of thirty (30) days after the close of the conference.
• All refunds will be paid within 30 days after the event.

All requests for refunds must be in writing and sent to:

SDEA
PO BOX 59405
Birmingham, AL 35259
info@strengthtostand.com
205.833.9163

national disaster cancellation policy

Since SDEA began, we have always followed through with hosting planned events. We are committed to continue to do so. However, in these uncertain times post-9/11, a national disaster or act of terror could render us both unable to host a planned event and unable to return your deposits. We hire staff, purchase equipment, and rent non-refundable facilities based on your reservations. Please be advised that if a SDEA event is cancelled due to such extraordinary circumstances, we cannot refund the $70 registration fee regardless of other published cancellation dates and deadlines.

How do I register?

Thank you for taking the first step in registering for the Strength to Stand Student Bible Conferences. Due to insurance and safety regulations, special identification badges will be given to all attendees. Have each person attending fill out the proper registration form enclosed in this packet. They are marked differently for student and counselor. Fill out the summary sheet for the entire group. Make sure that you include your group’s rooming list with your check. The hotel will not recognize your group as “registered guests” without a completed rooming list. Send all forms, along with one check for your deposit or total amount payable to the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association, Inc., to:

SDEA
c/o Strength to Stand Student Bible Conference
PO BOX 59405
Birmingham, AL 35259

We will receive confirmations until we reach our maximum capacity of meeting space. You may fax your reservation, including your American Express, Discover, Visa or MasterCard number, to 205.833.9138 or online at www.strengthtostand.com. Please note that credit card charges have a 1.5% surcharge. Any payments received within 30 days of the Conference are ONLY payable by church check, money order, cash, Discover/Visa/MasterCard or American Express.