BOOK TODAY - DON'T WAIT. ROOMS ARE LIMITED

AND FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.

CLICK HERE: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1696259728703&key=GRP&app=resvlink to book hotel accommodations at the Sheraton Reston Hotel. Rooms are limited, do not wait to book.

All rooms are $169/night. Up to four people can stay in each double room.

Attendees must stay in the hotel, no outside lodging allowed. This is to keep ticket prices as low as possible.

About
Each year, Alpha Eta Rho’s National Conference convenes students like you from across the U.S. who share a passion for aviation for immersive learning sessions and networking events. This year, you will have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress and/or their staff on Thursday, April 18. Constituent engagement is a highly valued, regular element of Congressional offices’ work. Your U.S. representatives and their teams want to meet you and learn what you care about – it’s core to their work and helps them set their priorities for each legislative session.

So what do these meetings look like?

• Members of Congress have unpredictable schedules, so expect them to come and go to the event as schedules permit . Sometimes Members of Congress get called into votes or meetings last minute, in which case their office may send a staff member in their place – like their Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, or Legislative Assistant – specializing in the issues you’re here to talk about.

• Each student will have roughly [#] minutes with their representative or staffer, where you will likely be asked about who you are, where you are from, why you are visiting Washington, how you became interested in aviation and involved in Alpha Eta Rho.

What is the Role of Congress?
Through legislative debate and compromise, the U.S. Congress makes laws that influence our daily lives. It holds hearings to inform the legislative process, conducts investigations to oversee the executive branch, and serves as the voice of the people and the states in the federal government.

• The Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives (435 members) and the Senate (100 members), which together form the United States Congress.

• As one of the three branches of government, Congress is the only branch that can make new laws or change existing laws.

• To pass legislation and send it to the President for their signature, both the House and the Senate must pass the same bill by majority vote.

DOs And DON’Ts
Do

• Greet Member and/or staff with a handshake.

• Thank them for taking the meeting, as you know their schedule is busy and hectic.

• Obtain information about their depth of knowledge and understanding of business aviation.

• Share information about you, your hometown, your college or university, and Alpha Eta Rho.

• Be attentive to the legislators’ positions, comments, and feedback.

• Offer to provide any additional information or follow up on any questions they may have.

Do Not

• Arrive late.

• Get discouraged if your legislator is late or you end up meeting with staff.

• Assume the legislator knows about business aviation.

• Assume the legislator is familiar with Alpha Eta Rho.

• Demonstrate angry, threatening, or confrontational behavior.

• Use inappropriate language.

What To Say About Yourself

• Where you’re from.

• Where you go to school.

• Why you became interested in aviation.

• How you became involved in Alpha Eta Rho.

About Business Aviation

• Business aviation plays an essential role in creating economic opportunity, connecting communities, and fostering innovation.

• The industry supports 1.2 million American jobs.

• Business aviation supports humanitarian crises, including for organizations like the American Red Cross.

• The industry has a legacy as a sustainability incubator and has slashed emissions by 40% in just four decades.

• Business aviation has made the bold commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by2050. To reach that goal, the industry is accelerating investments in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and propulsion systems for hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered aircraft.

How To Talk About CLIMBING. FAST.

• CLIMBING. FAST. is a new business aviation initiative showcasing the industry’s many societal benefits, from creating opportunities for today’s workforce to leading sustainability innovations.

• Among other things, the campaign looks to highlight business aviation’s mission to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. CLIMBING. FAST. was launched at the National Business Aviation Association’s 2023 Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas in October 2023.

• CLIMBING. FAST. is supported by nearly a dozen members representing the business aviation value chain.

• CLIMBING. FAST. was recently introduced to Congress during a meeting for the House Climate Solutions Caucus.

In the afternoon, we will head over to Chantilly Air, a multi-million dollar FBO located at Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF) for a tour of their facilities, lunch, professional headshots, and more.

We ask that you dress business-professional for this event.

The bus leaves the Sheraton Reston at 7PM sharp.

More information coming soon

Alpha Eta Rho is proud to host our annual Career Fair at the National Conference. Network with industry leaders and GET HIRED!

... to register visit https://www.alphaetarho.org/cpages/sponsorship

Alpha Eta Rho 2024 Annual Conference
Keynote Speaker: Pete Muntean

CNN aviation and transportation correspondent, pilot, and flight instructor
Closing Banquet in the Grand Ballroom: April 21, 7-9 PM

Pete Muntean is one of the country’s foremost journalists covering the aviation industry. Based in Washington, D.C., he has covered some of the biggest aviation and transportation stories, from the Boeing 737 Max storyline to safety issues surrounding the capital’s public transit system. Muntean also brings a unique perspective to his impressive journalism career: he is a pilot and flight instructor and draws on his knowledge from a lifetime in aviation.

Muntean was exposed to aviation as a young boy. As the child of two pilot parents, he grew up
entrenched in the innovative and exciting world of aeronautics. His success as an aviation reporter today stems from decades of passion for the industry. As he told PEOPLE for a profile story, “I love aviation so much, and the closest thing to flying is talking about it.”

Muntean’s passion for aviation persisted despite a fatal aerobatic accident that resulted in the
tragic loss of his mother when Pete was just 18. A week after her death and to carry on her legacy, Pete got back in the cockpit and eventually received his pilot’s license.

Beginning as an announcer for air shows, Muntean transitioned to journalism, eventually landing an internship at CNN in 2008. He then went on to spend a decade in local news, reporting at the Pennsylvania State Capitol for WGAL News 8. There, he covered two gubernatorial administrations, a months-long state government shutdown, and earned an Emmy nomination for exposing wasteful spending by state lawmakers. Muntean attended the University of Maryland and received a B.A. in Journalism. Muntean returned to CNN in 2020 where he has since served as its aviation and transportation correspondent.

Muntean’s roots in aviation set him apart as he boldly examines topics such as pilots’ mental health. As he told People magazine, “Would you rather have a pilot who’s depressed and not getting help or a pilot who’s depressed and getting treated correctly? I hope that our reporting can lead to change in these regulations.”