FTA Tobacco Meeting

SUMMARY

The 2003 FTA Tobacco Tax Section Annual Meeting will be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 7-10, 2003. The conference will include daily general sessions discussing a variety of current issues in cigarette and tobacco products tax administration. The deadline for advance conference registration is August 6, 2003, and hotel reservations is August 15, 2003.

FTA Tobacco Tax Section Chairman John Nordlie of Wisconsin, and Conference Host Thomas E. Kemp, Jr., Chairman of the Oklahoma Tax Commission, extend a cordial invitation to you to attend the 77th Annual Federation of Tax Administrators Tobacco Tax Section Annual Meeting, to be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 7-10, 2003.

Conference Agenda
The conference will open Sunday, September 7, 2003, with registration and an evening reception. On the tentative agenda for Monday are a roundtable discussion of cigarette tax increases and their effects, a panel presentation on Internet and direct mail sales, updates from federal agencies and Canadian officials, and developments involving stamping and other tax indicia. Tuesday’s tentative agenda includes a government-only session dealing with enforcement issues and the master settlement agreement, and an industry forum. The meeting will conclude Wednesday at noon after the annual business meeting. Check out the preliminary program

Local Arrangements
The social program arranged by the Oklahoma Tax Commission will begin with a Sunday evening reception at Rocky’s Special Event Center in Bricktown, and will conclude with a Tuesday evening reception and banquet in downtown Oklahoma City. In addition, on Monday, September 8, 2003, guest registrants may choose to tour the Sam Noble Natural History Museum in Norman, Oklahoma.

Conference Registration
A registration form is attached. You may fax your completed registration to (405) 522-1711. After registering, please mail fees to:

Please make your remittance payable to FTA Tobacco Conference 2003. FTA’s Federal EIN is 52-1763624.

The deadline for advance registration is August 6, 2003. A late fee of $30.00 will apply to registrations received after that date.

Hotel Reservations
We are staying at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel at 10 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK. You can make your reservations with the Renaissance by calling 1-800-468-3571 or by contacting the hotel directly at (405) 228-8000. When making reservations, you should mention that you are attending the Federation of Tax Administrators Tobacco Tax Section Annual Meeting and use the group reservation code TTS.

Rooms and suites have been reserved with the hotel for this meeting. Room rates for the conference will be $115.00 per night single/double occupancy. Concierge King and King Suites are $135.00 and $155.00 per night, respectively. The charge for an additional person is $10.00. The cut-off date for hotel reservations is August 15, 2003. After that date, accommodations will be available only on a space-available basis, and the conference rate will not be guaranteed for reservations. To cancel your reservation without charge, the hotel must receive your cancellation 48 hours prior to your arrival date.

Transportation
By Air: You will fly into Will Rogers World Airport in southwest Oklahoma City. The hotel is approximately 12 miles from the airport. Airport Express shuttle is available for a cost of $13 per person each way. A printable coupon for $1.00 off this price is available at www.oktax.state.ok.us/tobacco.html.

By Auto: The OKC Renaissance Hotel is convenient to both I-35 and I-40. Parking is available in the Santa Fe Parking garage for a fee of $7.00 per day.

While Downtown: The Bricktown Entertainment/Dining District, the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the State Capitol, restaurant row on south Meridian Avenue, and the Stockyards Area are all easily accessible on the OKC Trolley system. Bricktown is also within easy walking distance of the Renaissance Hotel.

The FTA Tobacco Tax Section looks forward to your participation in its Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. If you have any questions concerning the conference, please contact the Oklahoma Tax Tobacco Planning Team by:

FTA Tobacco Annual Meeting