October 5, 2007



October 15, 2008

2011

Keith Whyte

NCPG

216 G Street, NE, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20002

Dear Mr. Whyte,

The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling would like to thank you for the opportunity to place bids from the state of Wisconsin as a potential location for the National Council on Problem Gambling’s 25th Annual Conference.

We know this a very special year for The National Council on Problem Gambling with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the conference. We would love to take part by planning and hosting it in Milwaukee, WI, over one of the famous “Summerfest” weekend. This is the world’s largest music festival! It is known through out the United States and people come from all over to be a part of it. Our first option for dates is in timing around the Summerfest festival, our dates would be the week of June 28 through July 3, 2011. The second option for dates would be in timing for The Lake Front Festival of Arts, June 14 through June 19, 2011. We are recommending these two options to encompass the beginning of the festival season but we are open to explore other possible dates if the Council feels that they would like to explore other dates.

Historically, we realize, it may be uncustomary to host a conference so close to a holiday, however, this would be a perfect opportunity to incorporate a family-fun vacation into the trip. What a great way to “Celebrate” the National Council’s 25th Conference! Because this is a highly desirable location at this specific time of year, dates for hotels fill up far in advance. With the number of people in the area it would give us a better opportunity to increase awareness to a wide range of people. Also, because this is such a publicized event we may have the opportunity for more media coverage. This is sure to provide an added boost in attendance for the conference because it is a great opportunity for families to turn their visit into a wonderful vacation.

We have the support of our Board of Directors to host this event, as well as a pool of talented and reliable volunteers, actively involved local Gamblers Anonymous chapters. We also have the support and encouragement of local casinos and Native American Tribes as well as an exceptionally organized staff.

It has been said that Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the best kept secret in the United States. We are excited to present you with proposals from the area that captures America’s Spirit. We have bids from two beautiful and reputable hotels along with two date options for each. The bids are from the Hilton and Hyatt. The Hilton is a beautiful facility and it has everything we need right there. The Hyatt is also a very beautiful hotel and the Ramada and the Double Tree are available to partner with the Hyatt for additional sleeping rooms if needed. The Hilton has a total of 730 sleeping rooms, 4 restaurants and a Starbucks. The Hyatt and Ramada together offer a total of 638 sleeping rooms and a total of 6 restaurants. The Hyatt and the Double Tree has a total of 726 sleeping rooms and 4 restaurants.

Hilton

Option 1 June 28 through July 3, 2011

Option 2 June 14 through June 19, 2011

2011 (first option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/28/11 |6/29/11 |6/30/11 |7/01/11 |7/02/11 |7/03/11 |

|Rooms |10 |50 |500 |550 |525 |50 |

2011 (second option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/14/11 |6/15/11 |6/16/11 |6/17/11 |6/18/11 |6/19/11 |

|Rooms |10 |50 |500 |550 |525 |50 |

Single or double room charge is $170.00 with one comp room per 50. Other concessions include one complimentary deluxe suite, suite upgrades at the discounted conference rate, $10.00 rebate per paid guestroom payable to Visit Milwaukee to cover convention center rental fees. ** The Hilton will extend the negotiated room rate for up to three days prior and/or the three days following event dates, subject to availability. **

Hyatt

Option 1 June 28 through July 3, 2011

Option 2 July 5 through July 10, 2011

2011 (first option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/28/11 |6/29/11 |6/30/11 |7/01/11 |7/02/11 |7/03/11 |

|Rooms |3 |31 |315 |350 |315 |31 |

2011 (second option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/14/11 |6/15/11 |6/16/11 |6/17/11 |6/18/11 |6/19/11 |

|Rooms |3 |31 |315 |350 |315 |31 |

Single or double room charge is $154.00. with 1 comp room per 50. Other concessions are negotiable.

The Ramada (Overflow for other Hotels)

Option 1 June 28 through July 3, 2011

Option 2 July 5 through July 10, 2011

2011 (first option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/28/11 |6/29/11 |6/30/11 |7/01/11 |7/02/11 |7/03/11 |

|Rooms |50 |50 |50 |50 |50 |50 |

The Rate will be $178.00 for single and $188.00 for double occupancy.

2011 (second option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/14/11 |6/15/11 |6/16/11 |6/17/11 |6/18/11 |6/19/11 |

|Rooms |75 |75 |75 |75 |75 |75 |

Single room charge is $139.00 and double room charge is $149.00.

The Double Tree Hotel (Overflow for other Hotels)

Option 1 June 28 through July 3, 2011

Option 2 July 5 through July 10, 2011

2011 (first option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/28/11 |6/29/11 |6/30/11 |7/01/11 |7/02/11 |7/03/11 |

|Rooms |10 |15 |50 |50 |50 |15 |

Single or double room charge is $169.00 per night. *A three night minimum is required*

2011 (second option)

|Day |Tue |Wed |Thur |Fri |Sat |Sun |

|Date |6/14/11 |6/15/11 |6/16/11 |6/17/11 |6/18/11 |6/19/11 |

|Rooms |10 |15 |50 |50 |50 |15 |

Single or double room charge is $159.00 per night. * A three night minimum is required*

Visit Milwaukee offers $1.00 per actualized room as part of the three city coalition incentive offer. This is a wonderful opportunity to decrease the costs of the conference on the whole. The bureau can also work with us on hotel room rebates to cover costs of meeting space at the Midwest Airlines Center which generally averages approximately $40,000 for an event of this size.

Midwest Airlines Center is where the Conference will take place. It is connected via skywalks to both the Hilton and the Hyatt. The exhibit hall can be reconfigured into separate halls ranging in size from 31,005 gross square feet to 188,695 gross square feet. The breakout rooms can be modified into a total of 28 individual rooms from 825-8280 gross square feet. They house the largest ballroom in the country at 37,506 square feet. It can accommodate 3,100 dinner guests and 4,000 in a general session.

Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International airport is serviced by 12 airlines with 450 daily departures and arrivals. The airport is 8 miles from the hotels and airport shuttle is provided by both the Hilton and the Hyatt at $11.00 each way. There are 8 onsite car rental agencies. Taxi services are available with a cost of $21.00 one way from the airport to downtown Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is the 22nd largest city in the country. It covers approximately 96 square miles with a population of 600,000. The metropolitan area covers Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties with a population of 1.5 million.

The attractions and entertainment are endless in Milwaukee, Home of the Milwaukee Brewers! Just to name a few: Milwaukee Public Museum, Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Mitchell Park Conservatory (“The Domes”), Breweries, Miller Park, Milwaukee County Zoo, Harley Davidson Museum, Henry W. Maier Festival Park, International Clown Hall of Fame, Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion, America’s Black Holocaust Museum, Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum, The Bradley Center (home of sporting events and performing arts) and Wisconsin Lake Schooner Education Association. Both hotels are within walking distance to the majority of these attractions. There is also a free trolley service that will be available through the downtown area as well as city transit busses.

The first optional date given coincides with “Summerfest”. This is world’s largest music festival held annually in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Many famous musical entertainers come to perform each year. It attracts people from all around the world. This is a ten-day event which offers musical entertainment on 13 different stages, the area’s finest restaurants, comedians, activities for children, daily activities and demonstrations, amusement park rides and more. This is sure to provide additional incentive for people to attend the conference and bring their families.

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The second optional date given coincides with The Lake Front Festival of Arts, One of the country's premier art festivals. Juried show features over 172 artists from around the country. The festival includes children's art activities, entertainment, Sculpture Garden, food and beverage, silent auction, college art show, more.

In addition to activities available in the Milwaukee area, Green Bay, home of the Green Bay Packers is just 1 1/2 hours north of Milwaukee. As well as the tours of Lambeau Field, you can relive the most exciting moments in Packers football history at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Pure Packers adrenaline fills this 25,000-square-foot area where you can see, touch and feel over 80 years of riveting history.

The Railroad Museum is one of the oldest railroad museums in the country; the National Railroad Museum exhibits a large collection of locomotives and railcars spanning more than a century of railroading. Bay Beach is an amusement park which offers affordable entertainment for the whole family. There are rides for the little ones and rides for teens and adults and it has been entertaining families for 50 years! Included in Bay Beach is the Wildlife Sanctuary which contains 700 acres of wildlife refuge, including some animals native to Wisconsin.

Just a quick 80 miles west of Milwaukee is Wisconsin’s State Capital, Madison. There is no place like State Street which is a unique place in the downtown Madison area. There are blocks of specialty shops, art galleries, gift stores, women’s boutiques, ethnic shops, theaters, museums, restaurants (including ethnic restaurants) and outdoor sidewalk cafes. State Street also offers the experience of the State Capitol, museums, theatrical performances and lively nightlife. The State Capitol offers scheduled free tours daily which highlights Wisconsin’s past and present. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison Art Center and The Madison Civic Center which showcases top quality local and national theatrical performances, dance, opera and more are among the favorite attractions.

Over the course of a year the Wisconsin Council participates in over 100 interviews on TV, radio, and in newspapers. We work very closely with a PR firm and we would work closely with them to try to obtain as much media coverage as possible. The publicity surrounding Summerfest could also increase the publicity of the conference.

In the state of Wisconsin there are 83 Treatment Providers listed in our helpline manual. In order to be listed on the Helpline manual they must be trained to treat the gambling addiction by attending Phase I and Phase II training. There are 53 Gamblers Anonymous meetings in 25 counties. This includes a prison which will be celebrating its fourth anniversary of GA Meetings this year. The Helpline calls in the state/region totaled 9341 calls in 2007. This is a 172% increase from 1996. Enclosed are listings of all the treatment providers, Gamblers Anonymous meetings and Gam-Anon meetings that are available through the State of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Council and the individuals on these lists make up the help that is available to the compulsive gambler and/or the family members that seek help.

As of October 15, 2008 there were 2,273 professional counselors in the State of Wisconsin, with 182 licensed in the state but living elsewhere. There is a total of 17,848 other professionals such as social workers, substance abuse counselors, etc. also in the state of Wisconsin. We also have about 5,600 individuals on our mailing list, so as you can see we will be able to inform many people of the conference.

Gaming industry in the state consist of the following: Bad River Lodge, Casino & Convention Center in Odanah, Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha, DeJope Bingo & Entertainment in Madison, Ho-Chunk Casino & Bingo in Baraboo, Hole in the Wall Casino & Motel in Danbury, Isle Vista Casino in Bayfield, Lake of the Touches Bingo and Lake of the Torches Resort Casino in Lac du Flambeau, LCO Casino, Lodge & Convention Center in Hayward, Lioness Bingo in Mercer, Little Turtle Hertel Casino in Hertel, Majestic Pines Hotel, Bingo & Casino in Black River Falls, Menominee Casino, Bingo, Hotel & Campground in Keshena, Mohican North Star Casino & Bingo in Bowler, Mole Lake Casino in Crandon, Oneida Bingo & Casino in Green Bay, Potawatomi Bingo & Casino in Milwaukee, Potawatomi Bingo/Northern Lights Casino in Carter, Rainbow Casino in Nekoosa, St. Croix Casino & Hotel in Turtle Lake and more. Among this long list of gaming industries we have a number of supporters including Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation which provided us with several grants throughout the years, Menominee Casino Bingo Hotel, Oneida Casino, Lac du Flambeau Band of Chippewa Indians/Lake of the Torches Casino, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Potawatomi Bingo & Casino, St. Croix Casino & Hotel and Kenesah Gaming Development LLC. They keep current memberships or sponsor our Annual Conference each year.

Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling is in the process of planning the 11th Annual Statewide Conference. It is scheduled to be in Wisconsin Dells, WI. The Council has managed and hosted ten successful Annual Statewide Conferences with exceptional reviews. Some of the comments that have come directly from the evaluations are as follows: “Exceptional job in rounding up presentations”, “As always, well organized! Great presentations!”, “Thank you! You all did a fantastic job! I was so torn about which workshops to attend because they all looked great and I didn’t want to miss anything!”, “Staff had lots of enthusiasm, were cheerful, helpful and professional!”, “I can’t believe that the three staff and handful of volunteers put this all on!”, “Outstanding group of speakers – nationally well known and experts in their fields. I was really impressed by your ability to do that.”, “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the staff and can attest to the fact that yours was probably one of the most professionally run conferences I have ever observed.”

Visit Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau has demonstrated their support to make this event a local and national success. The Convention Bureau assured us that they have services and staff that are excited and willing to help us step by step. “We understand what it takes to make you shine” is quoted from the Convention Sales Manager. They have convinced us that they would be excellent partners in this large undertaking. We are enthusiastic about the potential to work with the bureau to make The National’s 25th Anniversary of their Conference the best and most memorable Annual Conference in the National Council’s history.

If the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling were given the opportunity to host the National Council on Problem Gambling’s Conference in 2011 we are considering forgoing our Statewide Annual Conference and place our efforts, energies and resources into making the National Conference the best conference ever. Some of our conference funds may be available to put toward the National Conference. We would encourage our current sponsors to provide their support and sponsorship to the National Conference which could result in their continued support of the National Conference.

Our immediate staff consists of Rose Gruber - Executive Director, Cheri Braley - Helpline Coordinator/Training Coordinator and Renee Salamonski - Administrative Assistant/Conference Coordinator. These individuals along with the Board of Directors and Volunteers are thrilled with the possibilities of working with you.

We would not request to share revenue; however we would like to be given the opportunity to attach some type of a fund raiser to one of the evenings if possible.

In summary, it would be the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling’s pleasure and honor to host the 25th Anniversary of The National Council on Problem Gambling’s Annual Conference in 2011. “Summerfest”, the worlds largest music festival would be an added bonus to the celebration! We would love to share the peacefulness of a beautiful Wisconsin summer night, having fun at the country’s famous annual musical festival, or networking with colleagues and conference participants from around the world. Wisconsin may be smaller in size than many states but what we lack in size we make up for in hospitality.

We want to make this your best conference ever. With our determination, hard work and genuine passion for addressing problem gambling through providing public awareness, education and prevention we can make a difference. Our staff is top notch, organized, persevering and driven. Milwaukee is full of opportunity, beauty, and entertainment. The location has much to offer and would be an excellent choice for The National Council on Problem Gambling’s 25th Conference. Let’s make it a memorable one!

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