Cities with widely contrasting climates – Las Vegas and Toronto – are being considered for the 2000 GCIU Fifth Quadrennial Convention. Constitutionally, the International quadrennial convention is supposed to be held between Aug. 1 and Oct. 30, 2000.

GCIU Vice Pres. Paul E. Golden, executive assistant to the GCIU president who oversees arrangements for major GCIU conferences and International conventions, asked that the General Board members agree that the 2000 convention not be scheduled to conflict with any major Jewish holidays – like the conflict that had occurred in 1996. They agreed.

When considering cities and dates for the convention, there was a consensus that the city of first choice was Toronto, with Las Vegas the second choice. One of the reasons Las Vegas was a second choice is the intensely hot climate during August and into September compared to Toronto's.

GCIU Pres. James J. Norton advised board members that substantial groundwork had been done by Golden and that a decision must be made soon for a convention site because scheduling becomes tighter and tighter with hotels.

GCIU Secy.-Treas. Gerald H. Deneau reported that, due to there being fewer GCIU members to contribute to the convention fund, there was approximately $300,000 less available now than was available in a comparable period for the 1996 convention. Of the International per capita tax, 50 cents per member per month goes into the convention fund.

The goal is for General Board members to select a site and general timeframe for the 2000 convention at the June 6 to 8 General Board meeting, scheduled in Washington, D.C.