2018 Conference Location an Easy Drive for Virginians

Bethlehem is rich in history and stories and during the 2018 NFPW Communications Conference you’ll learn how to tell and share stories. Along the way, you may make some stories of your own. History, music, journalism and art – we have something for everyone, and we can’t wait for you to join us!

You can get to Bethlehem by plane, train or automobile. We’ll be staying at the Comfort Suites Bethlehem in Southside Bethlehem. The fully renovated hotel also offers shuttle service to and from the airport and to historic downtown Bethlehem and the Sands Casino – built on the grounds of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. The rate is $119/night.

You’ll also have several opportunities to explore the region. The pre-tour will happen Sept. 3-4, 2018. We will travel to Philadelphia, which is known as the “City of Brotherly Love” and the “Cradle of Liberty.” It is home to Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed and adopted. It also was the birthplace of America’s first-ever daily newspaper, The Philadelphia Packet and Daily Advertiser. We’ll next travel to Lancaster County, well known for its Amish population and farming communities. We hope to visit an Amish farm and home and enjoy a traditional Amish country feast served family style. Also planned is a stop at the home of President James Buchanan, our nation’s 15^th president.

The post-tour centers on Gettysburg, America’s most famous Civil War battleground. The history is brought to life through museums, a majestic battlefield, engaging tours and living historians. We’ll travel by bus through the battlefields before exploring the Gettysburg Museum. Other possible stops include Eisenhower Farm, Hershey and Mr. Ed’s Elephant Emporium.

On Sept. 5, the day before the conference officially kicks off, you will have an opportunity to visit some fun places nearby. We will travel to Nazareth, the home of Martin Guitars, and learn how Martin guitars come to life through the hands of the craftsperson. You will follow a guitar from rough lumber to a finished product, which requires more than 300 steps to complete. You will have time to explore the Martin Guitar Museum, which brings together music history, culture and craftsmanship. The 1833 Shop offers a dazzling selection of Martin apparel, souvenirs and collectibles.

In the afternoon, we will arrive in Easton, where we will enjoy lunch on our own at the Easton Public Market, a community-supported market offering the personal service and superior quality of an old-world grocery store, combined with a hip, modern dining experience.  Featuring artisanal food vendors, a farm stand, demonstration kitchen, and community room, EPM serves as a vibrant gathering space for shopping, dining and learning.

Following lunch, we will stroll to the Crayola Experience, where the magic of Crayola comes to life. Boasting 28 exciting, hands-on attractions, Crayola Experience is where color, chemistry and technology magically combine to create a fun-filled, colorful adventure. The Crayola store features the largest selection of Crayola products. And you will discover one-of-a-kind Crayola souvenirs not found anywhere else in the world, including a 2-lb. crayon that you can customize with your very own name. You can even pick your very own color collection of Crayola crayons and markers.

Thursday morning you can learn about Historic Moravian Bethlehem located in the heart of the City of Bethlehem. It was here in 1741 the Moravians located their crafts, trades and industries. The Moravians in Bethlehem lived in a communal society organized into groups, called choirs, and segregated by age, gender and marital status. Moravians worked together under the General Economy, a system where everyone works and provides for the good of the community and, in return, receives care from birth to death.

Moravian buildings reflect the ingenuity, creativity and universality of Moravian thinking and philosophy. The Moravians believed that all people, both men and women, should receive the same education; that all people should receive healthcare; that women should have equal rights with men in the community; and that all people should work together for the good of the community without prejudice regarding race, gender or ethnicity.

In the coming months, we’ll share details about workshops and speakers. We hope you will travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, “Where your story begins.”