2022 New York, NY
Registration is open
Registration closed Saturday, September 10th
After 2 years of the VGEC Conference being held virtually due to Covid-19, we are overjoyed to announce the 2022 VGEC IN PERSON Annual Conference in New York City, Thursday, September 15, 2022 through Sunday, September 18, 2022
Join us for the 34th Annual gathering hosted by the Vergers of the Diocese of New York and Bp. Andrew Dietsche.
Registration will open in early 2022. Conference details will be available here soon. Keep checking back here for the latest updates.
Current Covid-19 Safety Precautions for the Conference (Subject to change)
The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine has thr following COVID-19 pandemic safety precautions inplace that we will be required to adhere to during the VGEC Annual Conference in New York City. Trinity Church Wall Street has identical requirements.
PROOF OF VACCINATION IS REQUIRED INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL AND BUILDINGS
In observance of the New York City guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, to enter the Cathedral all visitors ages 5 and older must:
• Show proof that they have received the final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior toentry
• Show valid ID
• Wear a mask
Proof of vaccination may include:
• NYC COVID Safe app: Android | iOS
• Excelsior Pass
• CDC Vaccination Card (or photo of card)
• NYC Vaccination Record
• An official immunization record from outside New York City or the United States.
Valid ID includes your name accompanied by a photograph such as:
• Driver’s license
• Government ID card
• IDNYC card • Passport
• School ID card
Outside on the Cathedral Grounds
• Masks are optional outdoors for visitors and staff, Mondays – Fridays
• Masks are required outdoors for visitors and staff, Saturdays and Sundays
WHAT THE CATHEDRAL EXPECTS FROM VISITORS, CONGREGANTS AND GUESTS
• Proof of vaccination to enter the Cathedral and all buildings on the grounds
• Maintain physical distancing between yourself and others
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
• Stay home if you’re feeling unwell or have been in contact with people who have tested positive for
COVID-19 WHAT VISITORS, CONGREGANTS AND GUESTS CAN EXPECT FROM THE CATHEDRAL
• Clergy and staff are fully vaccinated
• Limits on the number of visitors in Cathedral buildings
• Increased cleaning protocols and hand sanitizing stations for staff and visitors
Scholarships
Each year, the VGEC provides a limited number of scholarships to cover $150 of the registration expense. The Mark Emory Graham Scholarship Fund of the VGEC will make these grants. They are intended to develop the ministry of the verger and will be considered for junior vergers, new vergers, or first time attendees, or those with a financial need.
Click HERE to complete an online scholarship application.
The president of the VGEC will review the requests and will contact each member making a scholarship request. The process is very easy, so if you are interested, please complete the form today.
The scholarship covers $150 of the registration fee but not transportation, lodging, or additional food or other expenses.
Please contact the VGEC president at president@vergers.org if you have questions about the scholarship or the application process.
If you are applying for a scholarship, do not put in your credit card information when registering for the conference. Select the Pay Later option !!
Trinity Church, Wall Street
Broadway Street and Wall Street
Map Link: 89 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
Thursday evening of the conference will be hosted at Trinity Wall Street.
Evensong, Dinner, Fellowship, and an opportunity to tour historic Trinity Church.
Events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be hosted at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the largest Cathedral in the USA and the 2nd largest in the World.
Friday you will have the evening free to enjoy New York City. Maybe take in a Broadway Show or go to dinner on the town.
The Saturday evening banquet will in catered in the Nave of the Cathedral.
The Sunday morning Eucharist with the Vergers of the Guild in procession will be spectacular at St. John the Divine.
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Located on Amsterdam in Morningside Heights, in the northern and western part of Manhattan, near Columbia University and Mt. Sinai Morningside Hospital.
Map Link: 1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
Accommodations :
There will not be a "conference hotel." You are encouraged to seek accommodations at one of the cities fine hotels or find a Bed and Breakfast. New You has an magnificent subway system for travel from almost any hotel to Trinity Wall Street or St. John the Devine will be easy. A list of hotel recommendations is forthcoming.
Most hotels are further south but there are some in the more immediate area or a bit further south and conveniently midway between Midtown/Time Square and the Cathedral. There are convenient public transportation options throughout.
Some hotels to consider are:
Harlem Hotels — close to all the Harlem restaurants, museums, Apollo atmosphere:
Northern Lights Mansion - nicely designed and intimate
10 West 122 St.
1.5 Miles to St. John the Divine
10.9 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
https://northernlightsmansion.com/
Aloft Harlem - a Marriott business hotel
2296 Frederick Douglas @124th Street
0.9 Miles to St. John the Divine
11.0 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/nyclh-aloft-harlem/overview/
Upper West Side Hotels - Close to Central Park, easy access to East and Westside museums, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Broadway etc. endless restaurants.
Park West Hotel - This is the most inexpensive, but not unpleasant, of the hotels, also the closest to the Cathedral.
465 Central Park West @ 106th St.
0.6 Miles to St. John the Divine
9.4 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
https://www.parkwesthotelnyc.com/
Lucerne Hotel - This is a very nice but still reasonable hotel in a beautiful building. Excellent restaurant on lobby level, Zabars and Citarella, Close to Natural History and NY Historical Society
201 West 79th St.
1.7 Miles to St. John the Divine
8.6 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
https://www.thelucernehotel.com/
Arthouse Hotel - This is a similar hotel to the Lucerne, slightly more convenient, not a landmarked building. Quite decorated spaces, nice rooms, restaurant.
2178 Broadway @ 77th Street
1.9 Miles to St. John the Divine
8.9 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
https://www.arthousehotelnyc.com/
Hotel Belleclair - Smaller but similar to Lucerne and Arthouse, in part of another landmark building with interesting rooms. Breakfast only but neighborhood restaurants.
2175 Broadway @ 77th St
1.9 Miles to St. John the Divine
8.9 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
https://www.hotelbelleclaire.com
Hotel Beacon
2130 Broadway @ 75th St. (opposite Fairway and Citarella, home of the Beacon Theater music venue) same convenience as the three previous. Some very nice views. Nice looking rooms, ok interior spaces, no restaurant but convenient places from diner to 3 stars nearby.
2.0 Miles to St. John the Divine
8.9 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
6 Columbus - This is the farther downtown. Across from Time Warner Center, but not the Mandarin, modern rooms, Japanese restaurant. This has the virtue of essentially being in midtown yet still close to the park
6 Columbus Ave. @ 56th St.
3.8 Miles to St. John the Divine
7.1 Miles to Trinity Church Wall Street
https://www.6columbushotel.com/about/
Midtown West/Times Square area
There are many hotels in the area and all the big hotel chains are there.
Pubic Transportation:
Subways: - There are a couple of subway lines that service the western side of Manhattan with stops conveniently close to the Cathedral:
The 1 Train is a local subway that runs beneath Broadway in Northern Manhattan. The stops closest to the Cathedral are at 110th and 116th Streets.
The 2 and 3 trains are express in Manhattan and connect with the 1 train at (amongst others) the Times Square, 72nd Street and 96th Street stations where a transfer is easy across the platform.
The B and C trains are local along the westside of Central Park. The stop closest to the Cathedral is at 110th Streets (and there's a bit of an uphill walk!).
The A and D trains run express on the route with connections available at the 59th Street and 125th Street stations.
Buses: - A number of bus lines serve the Cathedral Area.
The M11 bus runs north/south and stops in front of the Cathedral on Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street.
The M104 bus runs along Broadway
The M4 bus runs crosstown on 110th Street and then north/south on the East Side of Manhattan.
Subway and bus fares:
Single fare: $2.75 (You can get a free transfer from subway to bus, bus to subway, or bus to bus within 2 hours).
7-Day unlimited fare: $33
MetroCard:
- A one-time use, single fare card can be purchased at a ticket machine for $3.
- You can purchase a refillable pay-per-ride MetroCard for $1 and add either a 7-Day pass or multiples of $2.75. Up to four people can use the same pay-per-ride MetroCard.
- You can purchase a 7-Day unlimited pass; only one person can use a Unlimited MetroCard.
OMNY:
You can now make contactless payments for the city subways and buses with OMNY by tapping a contactless card (credit or debit) or smart device (phone, watch).
The same fares apply and you can transfer between bus and subway as long as you use the same method of payment.
With OMNY, you will not pay more than $33 in total fares between Monday and Sunday, no matter how many rides you take. It’s like a 7-Day Unlimited Ride Pass, but without the upfront cost.
https://omny.info/how-omny-works
You can pay for subway and bus fares by MetroCard or using OMNY:
Taxis: - Yellow cabs are easy to hail on the street - just stick you hand in the air! North of 110th Street green cabs can also be hailed; they can drop you off anywhere. Taxi fares are metered in the city. The fare from the Times Square area will be about $20.
Airport Transportation Information (Taxi):
- From JFK to Manhattan: there is a flat fee of $52, plus surcharges and tolls (it would come to about $60-70 depending on the time of day and route)
- From La Guardia: regular meter rates apply and will be about $20-30.
- To JFK or La Guardia: regular meter rates apply.
- From Newark: a trip from Newark to the Times Square would be about $60.
- To Newark: Standard metered fare, plus an airport surcharge and tolls, a trip from the Cathedral to Newark would be about $60.
Public transportation options at the airports:
- JFK is serviced by the subway or Long Island Railroad with connections to the Airtrain; it requires purchase of a MetroCard to pay the $8 AirTrain fare (subway or railroad fare is paid separately). The cost is $10.75 per person when using the subway and AirTrain.
- La Guardia is serviced by the M60 Select Service bus that runs express to 106th Street and Broadway. The cost is $2.75 per person.
- Newark airport is services by AirTrain that connect so NJ Transit, Amtrak and the PATH train to midtown Manhattan. A NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak ticket to or from Newark Airport includes the AirTrain Newark portion, which is $7.75.
JFK, La Guardia, and Newark Airport information:
https://new.mta.info/guides/airports
Rideshare: - Uber, Lyft and other companies operate in the city.
Apps that are useful for getting around the city:
MYmta - the official MTA app
Citymapper
Google Maps
VGEC 2022 Agenda.xlsxSaturday 1:00pm - 5:00pm Excursion:
Tour of Landmark Episcopal Churches in New York City - Tour description and maps
The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin “Smokey Mary’s” - www.stmvirgin.org
Church of the Heavenly Rest - www.heavenlyrest.org
Church of the Transfiguration “The Little Church Around the Corner” - www.littlechurch.org
Verger 101 - 2022.ppt2022 Conference Session 1 - Verger 101