An overview of everything you need to know about the Capital Conference

Attendees can log in to the Conference App to track their Certificate of Attendance credits. Simply click “Check In” for each session you attend to receive credit for attending that session. In the app, you can view your credits by choosing “My Credits” in the menu. You can print your Certificate of Attendance or email yourself a credit summary report from the “My Credits” screen. If you prefer, you may complete the form (available in October) and return it to Melanie Price at mprice@ohioschoolboards.org. 

Attendees may check their items in the GCCC Coat/Bag Check across from the Union Station Ballroom. OSBA is not liable for damaged, lost or stolen articles.

Food and beverages may be purchased at several locations throughout GCCC. Locations include concessions in the Trade Show, the Discovery Café located in the Main Concourse between Halls A and B, and specialty carts in the concourse and Student Achievement Fair.

Download the free Capital Conference App to build a personalized schedule, bookmark exhibitors, complete session surveys, access handouts and receive event updates. New this year, attendees can log in to the app to track their Certificate of Attendance credits and download their certificate or play the Trade Show Badge Game. Search the App Store or Google Play for “OSBA Conference” to download the app.

All paid attendees may pick up a conference bag in the Main Concourse next to Registration. Conference bags are sponsored by Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio.

The First Aid Station is located in the Main Concourse near the A Concourse. If there is an emergency, go to the first aid station or use the red phones in the GCCC concourses to call for help.

Located near the South Café and Marketplace near the Hyatt Regency and in the Main Concourse next to the Discovery Café, these areas are staffed by Convention Center Guest Ambassadors. Stop by to receive directional assistance and facility or event information. As Certified Tourism Ambassadors, they can provide information on local highlights, such as shopping, dining, nightlife, sports and tourism attractions. Additional services, including outbound shipping and mobile scooter rentals, are available at the service center near the Hyatt Regency.

Handouts received before the conference will be available electronically beginning Nov. 3 as well as during the event. Handouts can be accessed through this website or the Capital Conference App. More handouts will be available online by Nov. 20.

Free wireless Internet access is available in the GCCC Main Concourse and in rooms in the learning session rooms. Attendees should connect to the “FreeInternet” network. Please note: Connection speeds are best for reading email; this is not a high-speed Internet connection.

The lost and found is located at the Information Station.

Scooters can be rented at the Convention Center Guest Services Center. For more information, contact the Guest Services at (614) 827-2531.

This room is located in the GCCC connector, near the escalator up to Battelle Grand (North).

Engage in conversation with school communicators from Ohio School Public Relations Association (OHSPRA). Learn new ideas, share your stories, and discuss how your colleagues are using public relations professionals to raise awareness and support for their districts. Be sure to check out the Publication Exchange sponsored by OHSPRA and OSBA near B 130 to experience some of the great communications work being done by schools across the state. Enter our prize contest!

The ethics law in Ohio prohibits public officials and employees from soliciting or accepting anything of substantial value, such as gifts and entertainment items, from vendors, regulated parties and interested parties. The law also prohibits vendors and regulated parties from offering or giving these kinds of items to public officials and employees. This restriction applies to all school officials and employees, elected, appointed and employed, except teachers who do not exercise administrative or supervisory authority. View a fact sheet that outlines prohibited and permissible items and specific applications, including conference receptions, raffle prizes and vendors.

This display, located in the Main Concourse, familiarizes conference attendees with the wide range of services offered by OSBA. Informational materials are available and association staff are on hand to answer questions.

Registration, attendance and/or participation at the OSBA Capital Conference constitutes an agreement by the individual to OSBA’s use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the individual’s image or voice in photographs, videos, and print and electronic reproductions of the conference.

Unauthorized recording with any electronic device of any session is strictly prohibited.

Want to learn more about OSBA’s regional services and activities? Visit the Region Resource Center in the Main Concourse near the registration area. Regional managers, along with officers and committee members from the five OSBA regions, are on hand throughout the conference to answer questions, discuss how you can get more involved with OSBA, explain services and talk about activities and events in their respective regions. Stop by and enter the regional raffles to win valuable prizes for your district.

Take a break and visit the Relaxation Stations in the Trade Show. Located in aisles 100 and 1500, the Relaxation Stations provide complimentary back massages, manicures, shoe shines, blood pressure screenings and therapeutic foot massages. Some services are provided by students from South-Western City Career Academy and Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center. The relaxation stations are sponsored by Equal Level.

Safety information is available on the Capital Conference website at http://links.ohioschoolboards.org/50687. If there is an actual emergency, please follow the directives of OSBA and GCCC staff.

Shuttle bus service runs continuously between GCCC and all hotels, except for those surrounding GCCC, as well as to the GCCC East parking lot, on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, 6:30 a.m. to 56 p.m.

Use Twitter to share your conference experience with others. Include “#OSBACC” in your tweet to share your feedback. You also can post and view updates on OSBA’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/OHSchoolBoards and OSBA’s Instagram page,
www.instagram.com/OHSchoolBoards.

Areas have been set aside in the Union Station Ballroom and breakout sessions to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters. Please see the session presenter or a General Session usher for the locations.