Frequently Asked Questions

How can I register?
You may register on-line or through the mail. Use forms for On-line and Mail-in Registration.

When should I register?
We will accept mail-in registrations for applications postmarked 6/10/08 and earlier. On-line registration will be open until the end of the day on 6/27/08. Registration will close earlier if head count limit is reached.

Is On-line registration better than Mail-in registration?
We offer On-line as well as Mail-in forms for registration and payment. Mail-in registration requires payment by check and your registration will be confirmed when your check has cleared. The amount should be in US $ only. Please note that Mail-in registrations postmarked 6/11/08 and later will not be accepted. On-line registration will be accepted until end of the day on 6/27/08.

Why do you ask for donations?
It is very expensive to hold a Konkani Sammelan. The best authentic Konkani cuisine will be served to delight your palates. The best talent from among all Konkani organizations will provide the most enjoyable entertainment in a spectacularly decorated stage. You will have the best surroundings for meeting and socializing with your friends and opportunities for making new ones. The registration fee covers less than 50% of the cost of holding the Convention. More than 50% of the cost must be raised from the donations of generous Konkani's and by other means. We do need donations and the donations are tax deductible. Please be assured that you will receive an official note stating the amount donated to NAKA for this convention.

Why is the registration fee so high?
Actually, the registration fee meets less than 50% of the cost of the Sammelan. We have set very high standards for the delicious and authentic Konkani meals you will be enjoying. The spectacular stage performances and decorations in one of the best venues (Santa Clara Convention Center) will complete your Sammelan experience and stay in your memory.

What are the registration fees?
Fees are as follow in US $:
Adults (13 and above): $200 per person after 5/1/08.
Children (6 though 12): $200 per person after 5/1/08.
Children (5 and under): FREE.

Sight seeing opportunities during Sammelan
Please refer to the Travel section for more details.

What are the dates of the Convention?
Convention dates are Thursday, July 3rd through Saturday, July 5th.

How do I pay for the Sammelan?
You may pay by check in US $ (Mail-in Registration) or by Pay Pal (On-line Registration). We do not accept credit cards.

Airports for the Sammelan.
We have a list of nearby airports in our Travel section of the website.

Handicap facilities
The Santa Clara Convention Facilities and the Hotels used for guest rooms, meet federally required guidelines for handicap facilities. For specific info go to the specific web sites for the Santa Clara Convention Center and also see Hotel Information.

What is the program for the Sammelan?
Please refer to our Programs page for more on this.

I cannot attend, How can I get my money back?
If your plans change and you are unable to attend after you have registered, we will miss your presence at the Sammelan very much. Please follow the procedures below to get money back on your registration fees. Donation amounts are not refunded.

1. Cancellations must be made in writing via e-mail at registration@konkanisammelan.org or in writing to

   Konkani Sammelan 2008
   PMB#156
   270 Redwood Shores Parkway
   Redwood City, CA 94065-1173.
   

   Be sure to mention who in your party will not attend. The cancellation request is to be made by the Main Contact for your party.
3. Cancellations e-mailed or mailed between 5/1/08 and 5/31/08 will be subjected to a $75 per person administration fee for adults (13 and above) and for children (6 though 12). The rest of the applicable registration fees will be refunded.
4. We cannot accept cancellations after 6/1/08 and no fees will be refunded.

Why do you ask for age and profession data?
Such information is useful to develop statistical demographic data of the Konkani community. The data on the composition of our community based on age and profession, may be useful in attracting organizations and corporations to advertise and or rent booths for displaying their products. This raises funds that can be used to defray expenses of the Sammelan.

Is there a cancellation charge for Hotel reservation?
Attendees who are making Hotel reservations at Hyatt need to note that a non-refundable deposit (one night room rate) per room will be charged for EVERY room reservation at the time of booking. The deposit will be charged at the time of the room reservation, so we discourage name and credit card changes. This is done to ensure that the room block will not sell out prematurely from holds.

I want to make a donation. How do I do this?
You may donate while registering by on-line or by mail-in. There is a section for donation amount just before the line with "Total Amount". However for donation amounts exceeding $1000, we advise you to contact fundraising@konkanisammelan.org or Venugopal Pai at (408) 943-1726 and we will be happy to assist you in this matter.


How can I participate in the entertainment program?
You may contact the Entertainment Committee at: entertainment@konkanisammelan.org. Please also see our How to Sign Up page for more details.

Can I help the Sammelan by Volunteering my time?
Yes. We would welcome help from dedicated persons like you. There are opportunities for working in the area of stage management, food service, ushering, hospitality and others. You may fill out the Volunteer section in the Registration Form (On-line or Mail-in) and some one will contact you.

Which hotels do you recommend for attending the convention?
We recommend the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara since it is the closest hotels to the Santa Clara Convention Center and is the preferred hotel for the convention. For your convenience, a limited number of rooms at discounted rates are blocked at this hotel. For the promotion code please see our Hotel Registration page for more details on this.

Should I rent a car for attending the convention?
Our recommendation is to use the hotel shuttle for coming from San Jose airport to the hotels. For other airports, car rental may be advisable or shuttle service may be used such South and East Bay shuttle.)