1.
What is the YAL?
The Young Adult League (YAL) is the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's ministry serving adults ages 18 to 35.
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2.
Why is the National YAL Conference in DC during the middle of the summer?
In recent years, the Archdiocese has decided to schedule the National YAL Conference in conjunction with the biennial Clergy Laity Congress, which always takes place during the summer. This year it just happens to be in DC. All YAL Convention participants are welcome to stay for the balance of the Clergy Laity Congress.
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3.
Do I need to rent a car while I'm in DC?
No. DC features one of the world's cleanest and safest subway systems. The Convention hotel is located on a Metro Line allowing for easy access to DC sightseeing. Regardless, transportation will be provided to the Thursday Night Chesapeake Bay Crab Feast, all events on Saturday, church service on Sunday, and the Cruise on the Potomac on Sunday Night.
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4.
Do I need to pack anything special for my trip?
There are three events you should keep in mind for the weekend. The first is the service project, which in keeping with this year's environmental theme, will likely be outdoors. (It would be smart to pack sunscreen and bug spray.) The Saturday Night event at the Clarendon Ballroom will be the dressiest of all the social events. Finally, there is the Hierarchical Liturgy on Sunday to be dressed up for.
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5.
I can't take off of work Friday, should I still come?
Saturday will be the highlight of the weekend, with the brunch with the Archbishop, the Service Project, and the evening's event at the Clarendon Ballroom. Sunday morning's Hierarchical Liturgy featuring His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios is also an event that many Greek Orthodox Christians do not get to experience first hand but for a few times in their lifetime, if ever.
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6.
I'm from DC. Why should I come to this event?
Fellowship with hundreds of Greek Orthodox Young Adults from all over the US, Canada and overseas should be enough reason to come to this event. Even DC natives may not have had the chance to attend a service at Arlington National Cemetery. Finally, the weekend will otherwise be the most complete YAL event one can attend during a year with the inclusion of service and worship.
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7.
How is this different than Clearwater, YAL DC Weekend, or the Chicago YAL Conference?
With the blessing and backing of the Archdiocese, this is poised to be the most complete YAL Event many young adults will be able to attend. The inclusion of workshops and a service project will make this more like the Chicago YAL Conference than Clearwater, but only on a much larger scale. The summer weather will allow for a different slate of events than what is normally featured at YAL DC Weekend.
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8.
Why should I register? Can't I just pay for events at the door?
Registration provides attendees with a price discount versus a la carte and importantly allows the committee to budget and plan for the expected attendance at these events.
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9.
What's included with my registration package?
Your registration package grants you access to all the events, including transportation to and from the events where transportation is provided.
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10.
Who's running this show?
The National YAL Conference Committee is made up of locals from the DC/Baltimore area who bring you YAL DC Weekend, the decade's most successful National YAL Conference in Baltimore in 2003, local priests, members of the Archdiocese's Youth Ministries office, and TheGuys@DCGreeks.com.
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11.
Why is this first I'm hearing of this Convention?
We asked ourselves the same question when we were tapped by the Archdiocese back in January of this year to produce this summer's conference. It obviously took us a couple of months to work out enough details to make this conference a reality to get it to the point where we could start advertising it.
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12.
I'm over 35. Can I still come?
We're not going to say that you can't come if you're over 35, but the YAL is a ministry for young adults between 18 and 35 years old. The push for this year is to have a younger crowd attend as evidenced by our pricing incentives.
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13.
I'm under 21. Can I get into the events where alcohol will be served?
Yes. We've gone to great lengths to make sure that every event, paricularly those held at nightclubs or bars will be open to those under 21.
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14.
My church doesn't have a YAL, or if it does, I'm not a member. Can I still come?
We sure hope you do. There are plenty of churches across the country that don't have YALs, and plenty of people who aren't active in their YALs regardless. If the weekend and its events are appealing to you, please make every effort to come. YAL events are some of the easiest places to meet other Greek Orthodox Young Adults in a relaxed environment, so it doesn't matter if its your first YAL event, or if you don't know anyone else from your area who is coming.
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15.
How should I get to DC?
If you fly, may we suggest Reagan National Airport which is a quick cab or Metro ride to the hotel. Dulles Airport (Northern Virginia) and BWI (Baltimore, MD) are also options for flying into DC, but the cab ride will be in excess of $50 to the hotel. For those of you who may want to take Amtrak, Union Station is on the same Metro line as the hotel.
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16.
What's up with all the TBDs on your itinerary?
As we mentioned, the Committee has been tasked with planning an event in four months that the Archdiocese usually spends over a year planning for. So if some of the venues are still to be determined, rest assured that we'll be running a first-class event by the time July rolls around.
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17.
If I can only come to one event, which should it be?
As far as social events, the highest attended event will most likely be Saturday Night's event at the Clarendon Ballroom. As far as religious services, if you've never been to a hierarchical liturgy, its worth spending a few hours with the Archbishop, and typically the largest assemblage of Bishops, Priests, Chanters, Choir and congregants that most Greek Orthodox Christians will witness in their lifetimes. A rare but must attend event will also be the service at Arlington National Cemetary.
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18.
I hear that National YAL Conferences haven't been well attended over the past few years. Why is this going to be any different?
The last well attended National YAL Conference was in Baltimore in 2003 with close to 500 registrants not including the hundreds who attended the social events a la carte. The last National YAL Conference in Nashville, TN was one of the most fulfilling YAL events of the past decade despite its low attendance. We're banking on the natural draw of DC, coupled with the strong YAL presence in the DC/Baltimore area, and the pedigree of the organizers in producing classy and well-attended YAL events.
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