A Guide for the Frugal Attendee
General Assembly on a Budget
The General Assembly (GA) Office and Planning Committee are committed to the goal of making GA accessible to the maximum number of attendees possible. Recognizing that traveling to and participating in General Assembly can be a costly venture, we have prepared this guide to help potential attendees take advantage of the many available cost-saving opportunities.
Registration
The GA Volunteer Committee funds full-time GA registrations in exchange for 24 hours of volunteer work at GA (16 hours for those eligible for reduced registration rates). Applications for volunteer positions must be submitted by March 31.
Secure a pledge of support from your congregation and apply for a GA Planning Committee scholarship. If your application is accepted, the Planning Committee may match your congregation’s pledge (up to $250) and also fund your full-time registration. Apply by March 31.
Register between March 1 and April 30, when rates are lower. Registration rates increase May 1.
The Electronic Communication Office of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) provides extensive coverage of GA through our website so that those who are not able to join us in person may still participate. Many GA events are made available at no cost at UUA.org.
Transportation
If you are seeking a ride-sharing situation, use the GA Email Discussion List (for Unitarian Universalists (UUs) attending or planning to attend GA to share GA-related information, questions and discussion, as well as look for roommates, rides etc.).
Amtrak has offered a 10% discount off the lowest available rail fare to (Salt Lake City, UT) between (June 21, 2009 – July 1, 2009). To book a reservation call Amtrak at (800) 872-7245 or contact your local travel agent. (Convention rates cannot be booked via Internet. Please be sure to refer to Convention Fare Code X80W-961 when making your reservation. This offer is not valid on the Auto Train and Acela Service. Fare is valid on Amtrak Regional for all departures seven days a week, except for holiday blackouts. Offer valid with Sleepers, Business Class or First Class seats with payment of the full applicable accommodation charges.)
Food
Buying items such as fruit, bagels, granola bars, instant oatmeal, and bottled water can eliminate the need to buy breakfast and lunch out.
The Plaza Hotel offers a full hot breakfast buffet for $7. The Shilo Inn offers guests a complimentary hot breakfast.
Also near the convention center, try:
- Cafe Pierpont: 122 Pierpont Ave
- Chick-Fil-A: 50 S Main St
- One World Cafe: 41 S 300 E
- Red Rock Brewing Co: 254 S 200 W
- Gandolfo's New York Deli: 158 S Main St
- City Market Place Deli: 46 W 300 S
- Squatter's Pub Brewery: 147 W 300 S
- Tony Caputo's Market & Deli: 314 W 300 S
- Coffee Garden: 254 S Main St
- Rio Grande Cafe: 270 S Rio Grande St
- Other Place Restaurant: 469 E 3rd S
- Taco Time: 300 W 200 S
- New York NY Fresh Deli: 14 W Broadway
- The Taco Maker: 36 S State St
- Lazy Dog Pizzeria: 317 S Main St
Convenience Stores
- AJ's Kwik Mart: 270 S Main St
- Maverik Country Store: 206 W North Temple
- 7-Eleven: 109 S 300 E
Grocers
- Jade Market: 353 W 200 S, (801) 521-2106: 0.4 mi SW
- A & Z Produce Co: 366 W 500 S, (801) 359-2081: 0.7 mi SW
- Downtown Farmers Market: 300 W 300 S, Saturday from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lodging
Share the cost of housing by staying in a hotel with flat-rate pricing. For example, four people can share a room at a hotel with flat-rate pricing, split the cost up to four ways, and enjoy amenities such as parking, a refrigerator in the room, wi-fi internet access, and a pool and fitness center.
If you are looking for a roommate, we suggest first seeking other members of your congregation or district through local contacts. If you need to widen your search, you can use use the GA Email Discussion List (for UUs attending or planning to attend GA to share GA-related information, questions and discussion, as well as look for roommates, rides etc.).
A limited number of single rooms are available at University of Utah’s Residence Halls, located about 3.5 miles from the convention center and accessible by the Salt Lake City TRAX light rail. University Housing is offered as a package of $225 per person for a five-night stay; single rooms only.
Act quickly. The GA Housing Reservation System opens on March 2. Expect that inexpensive rooms, especially inexpensive rooms that are close to the convention center, will sell out.
The First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City will be coordinating home hospitality (bed and breakfast style accommodations) with local UU hosts.
All information is subject to change.
For more information contact generalassembly @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 17, 2009.
