2027 CBDNA Athletic Bands & NAoAB Alumni Bands Symposium
Save the dates!
Tuesday, June 1 – Friday, June 4, 2027
Hosted by the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama
South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band, Dr Robert D Abend, Director of Athletic Bands
2026 CBDNA Athletic Bands &
NAoAB Alumni Bands Symposium
Tuesday, May 26 – Friday, May 29, 2026
Hosted by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia
The Marching Virginians, Dr Polly Middleton, Director
Registration = $225
All conference registration will be handled through GroupSpot, which will be the primary method of communication and updates regarding the symposium. Use invite code BKgDv to begin your registration. You will need to create a GroupSpot account if you don’t already have one. Full instructions can be found on the Symposium website.
Transportation
The Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport is located approximately 40 scenic miles from Blacksburg. Uber/Lyft, convenient and inexpensive bus service, and taxis are also readily available to assist with transport from the airport to campus. While this is a regional airport and only offers non-stop flights to large cities including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and Dulles, multiple airlines including United, Delta, and American service this airport.
Lodging
The official conference hotel is The Inn at Virginia Tech, conveniently located on the Virginia Tech campus. Book with group code CBD0526 to obtain the block rate of $149/night for a two-queen room. There are many other available hotels located around Blacksburg, but conference shuttles will only run from The Inn.
Download a PDF of the full CBDNA/NAoAB Schedule (includes shuttle schedule to/from hotel)
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
6:30 PM ▬ Welcome reception/Check-in: University Club – 185 Beamer Way (Directions found in GroupSpot)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
9:00 AM ▬ Joint CBDNA/NAoAB opening session at Squires Student Center, Commonwealth Ballroom
10:00 AM ▬ Icebreakers & intros + questions we want answered (poster boards) at CID 104 (Creativity and Innovation District)
11:00 AM ▬ State of alumni–director relationships (round-table) at CID 104
12:00 PM is Lunch on your own
1:30 PM ▬ Governance, authority, role clarity (presentation) at CID 104
2:30 PM ▬ Operational/financial transparency, boundaries, avoiding fundraising clashes (presentation) at CID 104
3:30 PM ▬ NAoAB business meeting at CID 104
To participate remotely in the NAoAB business meeting, use this registration form.
4:25 PM ▬ Group picture – BRING YOUR SCHOOL SHIRT TO WEAR
6:30 PM ▬ Halftime reception at Marching Virginians Center – 821 Southgate Dr. (Directions found in GroupSpot)
Thursday, May 28, 2026
9:00 AM ▬ Designing a healthy alumni–director compact, handling conflict (round-table) at CID 104
10:00 AM ▬ Codes of conduct / policies (small groups) at CID 104
11:00 AM ▬ Bylaws workshop / maturity upgrades (small groups) at CID 104
12:00 PM is Lunch on your own
1:30 PM ▬ NAoAB Open Forum at CID 104
2:30 PM ▬ Director transitions: first 12 months of a new administration (panel) at CID 104
3:30 PM ▬ Branding + institutional alignment (presentation) at CID 104
6:30 PM ▬ Evening reception at The Eastern Divide Brewery – 3175 Commerce St. (Directions found in GroupSpot)
Friday, May 29, 2026
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ▬ Swag exchange, Takeaways, Rule of 72, Geof & Daniel (round-table) at CID 104
12:00–6:00pm ▬ Golf, campus tours, etc.
7:00–9:30pm ▬ Banquet and Closing Session at The Inn at Virginia Tech
Shuttle Schedule for the Week (Wed–Fri)
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Shuttle will make multiple trips from Hotel to Squires
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Shuttle will make multiple trips from Hotel to Squires
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Shuttle will make multiple trips from Squires to Hotel
6:15 PM Shuttle will make multiple trips from Hotel to Reception
8:15 PM Shuttle will make multiple trips from Reception to Hotel
