AHA and Region 17 look forward to welcoming you into Vancouver next week! Please take a look at the reminders below to make sure you are ready for travel into Canada.

All attendees will require valid passports for travel into and out of Canada (regardless of transportation mode). Please carry your passport with you. We recommend that all attendees carry a copy of this letter from the Canadian Border Services Agency. This letter shows that you are attending a recognized event and therefore need not pay customs on items for convention or for the AHYA silent auction. Please make sure you are not trying to transport any fruits or vegetables over the border. They will not be allowed.

The easiest and most cost effective way to get to and from the Vancouver International airport is on the Canada Line Skytrain. For a detailed map and directions, please click here.

Any registration changes or ticket purchases must be done on site at the hotel. Please remember to check in at the registration desk when you arrive. We will have the most updated version of the schedule as well as nametags, tickets, etc. There is a limited space on the boat for the Friday night offsite event - the Harbour Cruise. Purchase tickets as soon as possible to guarantee your place. Make sure to sign up for the President's Banquet as well.

Make sure to attend the 2011 President's Banquet where Lance Walters hosts a dinner, awards ceremony and then welcomes the band, Atlantic Crossing. Check out the band here. Atlantic Crossing presents three incredible shows in one with tributes to the best in British Pop music, including the Beatles, Rod Stewart and Elton John. Audiences are consistently blown away with how close to the original artists Atlantic Crossing sounds.

You will likely still be able to receive the AHA discounted rate at our host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Please tell them you are with our group to receive this rate. To book hotel rooms, click here.

There are many dining options in and around the hotel. To see dining options around Vancouver, click here.

Please check with your cell phone service providers to find the most cost effective way to use your cell in Vancouver.

Make sure to stay for the President's Banquet where the club excellence awards will be presented along with the cash prizes!

Keep in mind that the in-utero foal deadline is fast approaching for the Breeders Sweepstakes Program and the Halter Futurity Program. In-utero foals must be nominated prior to December 31 (postmarked/electronic transaction dated). Note for Breeding Entries: If your sire or dam has been bred this year and they are not nominated, you will need to enroll them in the Sweepstakes Program prior to December 31 in order to avoid any applicable late fees. Please contact AHA for additional information at (303) 696-4500 or info@arabianhorses.org.

Don't forget! Stallion Reports must be postmarked by December 31 of each breeding year in order to avoid late fees. We require a stallion report for all U.S. registered purebred Arabian stallions bred to all U.S. registered purebred Arabian mares. Click here to download this report then mail, email or fax it to 303-696-4599. Please contact Customer Service at 303-696-4500, #2, for assistance with any questions.

Watch the mailbox! Courtesy program renewals have been mailed. Billing for renominations/enrollments are sent to the owner of record each year. It is the responsibility of the owner to renominate their horses prior to the stated deadlines in the event the owner does not receive the renomination notice for any reason.

If you have been participating in either the Sweepstakes Point Program or the Achievement Award High Point Program you have up to January 15 to check your points online for accuracy. Any corrections after January 15 may not be included in the final tabulation for payout and awards. To view your points go to the member homepage and click on "Horse/Rider Points and Competition Records". From here you can view the appropriate reports.

Sign up now to be eligible for the AHA/USDF All Breeds Award Program. Top 5 horses receive certificates and Champions receive an exclusive additional prize in each level for Arabian and Half-Arabians/Anglo-Arabians. Don't forget to make your declaration with USDF in order to be eligible to receive an award with AHA. See the link for additional details.

Regional Youth Team Tournament Results will be closing at the end of the month! Make sure to submit your Team Tournament results to the Team Tournament Secretaries. All results are due to AHA by December 15. Contact youth@arabianhorses.org for more information.

Help us help you. It's that time of year again when your AHA Customer Service team works very diligently to complete your pending purebred or Half-Arabian registration by the end of the year. You may have already received our call regarding any registrations that you may have pending, if not, look forward to hearing from us soon. We want to assist you wherever possible. Please contact Customer Service at 303-696-4500, option, #2, with any questions or transaction information.