Greetings to our CAGNY community,

For many of our members on the East Coast, we know it has been a trying time in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. We hope this letter finds you safe and sound.
 
On behalf of the Board of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY), we are pleased to kick off our 42nd year. While much has changed over four decades, the unique collegial spirit of CAGNY has not, and we look forward to delivering another full slate of informative events, presented by top-tier global Food, Beverage, Tobacco and Household/Personal Products companies.

Membership and Conference registration is now open for the 2013 CAGNY year, which runs from September 1, 2012 to September 1, 2013. Our annual conference will be held February 18-22, 2013 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Please find the preliminary conference agenda posted on the website now at www.consumeranalystgroupny.com. To join CAGNY, go to the appropriate link on the left side of our home page. Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions.

We are pleased to report that we will be holding membership dues flat at $400, even while enjoying strong attendance rates at our New York monthly lunches. Also, there are the same number of reduced rate hotel rooms as last year (please see room rate details below) – on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

To that end, we strongly encourage you to register on-line; it's fast, simple and a good opportunity to verify your contact information. We also encourage early member registration and dues payment for those that wish to receive updates on the Annual Conference and the Monthly Meeting programs. Please remember that you need to be a registered 2012/2013 CAGNY Member to attend the Annual Conference in February and/or the Monthly Meetings.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with CAGNY conference policies if you are new to the organization or just need a refresher. They can be viewed on the website by clicking on the tab "CAGNY policies". These guidelines are designed to preserve the open, collegial atmosphere of CAGNY with the goal of making the conference a valuable experience for everyone. Note also there are specific policies for members of the media.

Also, please be mindful of the guest meal policy: in order to facilitate interaction between CAGNY members and presenting company management teams, the meal policy remains as follows:

• Breakfast will continue to be open to members and all registered guests;
  
• Lunch will be open to members only;
  
• Dinner will be for members plus one guest.
  

Room rates:  We have maintained last year's lower room rates as well as the greater number of lower-priced rooms, for the 2013 conference. As always, rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis, so please register on-line to guarantee the room and rate most attractive to you. Details of room rates are as follows:

• Cloister Traditional: $299/night
  
• Cloister Deluxe: $350/night
  
• Tower Room: $395/night
  
• Yacht Club: $395/night
  
• Beach with Ocean View: $425/night
  
• Yacht with Commodore Club access: $570/night
  

CAGNY Board changes: Ginger Chambless remains on the Board as Immediate Past President, after a successful year as our President. Chris Growe is transitioning from Monthly Program Chair to Treasurer, and he has done a great job of setting the monthly luncheon program in motion with an exciting line up of presenting companies. Stay tuned for more on that in the coming months – new events will be posted on the CAGNY website and via emails to members. And of course, our annual conference wouldn't be the success it is without the tireless efforts of our esteemed Conference Chair, Andrew Lazar. This year, he will be aided in organizing the Big Show by two Conference-Co Chairs, Bryan Spillane and Jonathan Feeney.

Finally, we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the companies sponsoring events at our CAGNY 2013 conference.  It is your hospitality & generosity this year and over the past 42 years that have allowed CAGNY to be such a unique event and special tradition. On behalf of the CAGNY Board and our members --  Thank You!

I look forward to seeing everyone in February.
 
Sincerely,
 
Sally J. Dessloch
President