Wesleyan International Convention

Dec. 28 – 30 – Wesleyan International Convention (10,500 attendees)

Just for Young Adults at SA7…
Late Night for Young Adults (out of high school and able to stay awake after 9pm) will take place all three nights at SetApart'07. We'll laugh out loud with the comedy of "321 Improv" as well as worship and reflect on what it means to live a holy life for Jesus. Check it out on site at SA7!

For Pastors & Leaders at SA7…
Pastors and Adult Leaders have some things to look forward to at SetApart'07. Not only will you get good use out of your earplugs, but you'll learn from some of the best Pastors and Teachers The Wesleyan Church can offer on the topic of holiness. Sanctification is not just your grandparent's doctrine.......it's God's and for all time!

For Parents & Children’s Leaders at SA7…
Parents and children’s ministry leaders, we have a great line up of nationally recognized speakers and top denominational children’s ministry leaders to help you become envisioned and equipped. Join us as together we discover how your kids can be set apart too.

For Youth Leaders & Sponsors at SA7 with children…
A full-blown afternoon of fun and excitement is planned for your kids Saturday afternoon, giving your kids an exciting afternoon of programming just for them and giving you an opportunity to attend leadership breakouts just for you!

Convention Center Dec. 21 - Jan. 2

December / January / February Events at the Orange County Convention Center.

Dec. 21 – Jan. 2 – FCS Bowl-A-Palooza FanFest 2007

Bowl-A-Palooza FanFest is a week-long event that will turn the Orange County Convention Center's South Concourse into a virtual "College Football Midway" with interactive games, live music, sports-related entertainment and pep rallies. This event-packed week will host the ultimate indoor tailgate party which will be the "place to be" to more than 100,000 fans attending the Capital One and Champs bowls. A wide selection of food and beverages will be available. Full Article

Admission is $5 per day or free all week long with your Bowl Patch. Visit the event website above or call 407-423-2476 for more information. Open to the public and parking is free of charge.

Fan Fest 2007 Hours:
Wednesday, 12/26 - 2pm-6pm
Thursday, 12/27 - 10am-7pm (Pep Rallies for Boston College and Michigan State from 5:30pm-7pm)
Friday, 12/28 - 10am-2pm
Saturday, 12/29 - 2pm-6pm
Sunday, 12/30 - 10am-6pm (Pep Rallies for University of Florida and Michigan from 5:30pm-7pm)
Monday, 12/31 - 10am-6pm

Florida Citrus Bowl Games

Florida Citrus Bowl GamesInternational Drive Improvement DistrictWelcomes Thousands of Fans to the Resort Area as It HostsOrlandos Bowl-a-Palooza FanFest December 26-31!

The world’s # 1 tourist destination will be the focus of the entire country as International Drive is the site for a weeklong Bowl-a-Palooza FanFest leading up to two Florida Citrus Sports Bowl games, Champs Sports Bowl and the Capital One Bowl.

The International Drive Improvement District is a title sponsorship partner with the Florida Citrus Sports Association for this event-packed week. More than 100,000 fans are expected to join in the festivities during the Champs Sports Bowl on December 28 when Boston College plays Michigan State and the Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2008, when the University of Florida plays the University of Michigan. Both games are played at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in downtown Orlando, the only city to host two top 10 bowl games in the same week.

Visitors are invited to bring the entire family to the I-Drive Resort Area for a fun-packed week of activities leading up to the big games! Live music, interactive games, inflatables, and a football field for the quarterback challenge, pep rallies and more! All events will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in South Hall A. Complimentary parking will be available in the North/South parking area. Daily admission is $5 or a Bowl Patch may be purchased for $10 for the entire week on-site or online at http://www.bowlapalooza.com/. Events will take place on the following days:

• Wednesday, December 26; 2-6 p.m.
• Thursday, December 27; 10 a.m. -7 p.m.
• Friday, December 28; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Saturday, December 29; 2-6 p.m.
• Sunday, December 30; 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Monday, December 31; 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
  
  Visitors will not want to miss the excitement of the official team pep rallies leading up to the big games with marching bands, cheerleaders and head coaches:
  
  Champs Sports Bowl Pep Rally for Boston College and Michigan State from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, December 27.
  
  Capitol One Bowl Pep Rally for the University of Florida and the University of Michigan from 5:30-7 p.m. on Sunday, December 30.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods named PGA TOUR Player of the Year

Tiger Woods was named the Player of the Year by his fellow competitors on the PGA TOUR; it was

announced Tuesday by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem

Woods won the inaugural FedExCup. (WireImage)

"To earn the respect of your peers is the highest honor you can receive," Finchem said.

"These players all demonstrated remarkable skill and dedication to their craft this past season, and we congratulate them on their selections."

Woods echoed the commissioner's sentiment on respect from peers. "It's been a great year. Overall, I mean, to get obviously the wins and get the respect of your peers, that's always what you want to have happen. This year was just a fantastic year on the golf course and even better off the golf course," Woods said.

The 31-year old Woods earned the honor for the third consecutive season and ninth time in the last 11 years. In 2007, he won seven times, including the PGA Championship, his 13th major championship title, and captured the inaugural FedExCup. In addition, his season was highlighted by wins in two World Golf Championships events, and he closed strong by winning two of the four events in the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and four of his final five starts overall.

While Woods first won the Player of the Year award in 1997, and 2000 was arguably his best year yet, Woods' spectacular performance in 2007 edged him closer to beating that benchmark millenium year. "Yeah, I think it was a better year this year, even though I didn't quite -- I had a chance probably -- a great chance to win three of the four majors this year. I finished second in two of them. I was just a few shots away from basically doing what I did in 2000," Woods said.

And this year, he also collected the Arnold Palmer Award for the eighth time as the leading money winner, earning $10,867,052 -- the second highest total in TOUR history.

Finally, Woods took home his eighth Byron Nelson Trophy for leading the TOUR in scoring average as his 67.79 mark equaled the lowest average in TOUR history.

PGA TOUR Staff

Dynamic I Drive

"I-Drive" is Orlando's International Drive, and is Orlando's destination for attractions, shopping, dining, entertainment, lodging and more!



I-Drive offers...

• 5 of the World's Greatest Theme Parks... SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Wet 'n Wild, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure!
  
• 100+ Fantastic Hotels and Resorts - with 30,000+ Hotel Rooms!
  
• 485+ Designer, Brand-Name and Outlet Stores!
  
• 150+ Spectacular Restaurants!
  
• 3 Entertainment Complexes and 3 Stadium-Style Movie Cinemas!
  
• The Nation's 2nd Largest Convention Center!
  
• Convenient, Fun I-RIDE Trolley Service!
  

What's Up on I-Drive Orlando!

International Drive Resort Area Sparkles With Holiday Excitement
It is almost impossible not to feel the holiday spirit when you see the nostalgic I-Ride Trolleys, decked out in wreaths and garland, traveling throughout the I-Drive area packed with holiday ...
more...

11/1/2007 - Take a Walk on Orlandos Green Side...
International Drive Resort Area Makes
Commitment to Green Programs for Visitors
It may not be easy being green but as concerns about global warming and other conservation issues become of major concern, the International Drive Resort Area is rising to the “green” challenge.
more...

Central Florida Boat Show
The Central Florida International Boat Show will be held once again at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from January 17-21.
more...

More Orlando Area Articles...

Property Tax Reform

‘Portability’ Goes Before Voters

Just hours before the scheduled end of a special session on property tax reform, the Florida Legislature reached agreement on several issues: “portability,” or allowing residents to transfer their Save Our Homes savings when they move; doubling the homestead exemption to $50,000 for most homeowners; tax relief for owners of commercial properties, second/vacation homes and rentals; and a tax break for businesses. The measures go before voters in the form of a ballot referendum Jan. 29.

The tax package is expected to save taxpayers—and cost cities, counties, special districts and school boards—$12 billion in the first four years. Here are the highlights:

• Double the homestead exemption for homes valued at more than $75,000 only (and not for school taxes).

• Allow owners of homestead property to transfer up to $500,000 in Save Our Homes benefits, including school taxes, to a new home.

• Impose a 10 percent assessment cap on non-homestead property for the next 10 years (cap doesn’t apply to school taxes). After 10 years, voters will have the option to restore the 10 percent cap.

• Allow businesses to exempt $25,000 of tangible personal property tax paid on computers and other office equipment.

Details of the package are available on the home page of floridarealtors.org.

Credit Score Advice for Buyers!

Credit score primer: What buyers need to know to get a loan
DALLAS – Dec. 5, 2007 – In the wake of the credit crisis, lenders have become much pickier about whom they lend to. Here are some basic facts that will help potential borrowers understand what they face.

The measurement that most lenders use to assess applicants’ credit risk is the FICO score developed by Fair Isaac Corp. The score ranges from 300 to 850.

There’s not one FICO score. Buyers have three: one for each of the three credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

Each credit score is based on information the credit bureau keeps on file. Since credit bureaus don’t share their data with one another, the three FICO scores may differ, sometimes by as much as 100 points.

The components of a FICO score are:

• Payment history: 35 percent
• Amounts owed: 30 percent
• Length of credit history: 15 percent
• New credit: 10 percent
• Types of credit used: 10 percent

A consumer with a 580 credit score might qualify under FHA requirements, but, generally, in order to qualify for a prime loan, a borrower must have a credit score above 620 for a conventional loan at all, and above 720 for a loan at terms and rates most borrowers would consider desirable.

Source: The Dallas Morning News, Pamela Yip (12/03/07)