Greetings, here are some details about arriving in Charlottesville and beginning the conference.

Those arriving by plane will find, at the airport, a set of phones to call hotels that offer transportation. Happily, the Cavalier Inn is one of those. If you are staying there, call the hotel from the airport and they will send a van for you or, if the van is not available, they will arrange alternative transportation at no charge. The Cavalier Inn also offers transportation from the Amtrak and Greyhound stations; call them at 296-8111.

If you are staying at another hotel, you may wish to contact them in advance to find out whether they offer transportation. Cabs are always a possibility, but they are surprisingly expensive in Charlottesville.

If you are driving to Charlottesville, you may find the online directions helpful:

http://www.virginia.edu/webmap/GetToCvilleLocator.html

The Cavalier Best Western Inn is at the northwest corner of Route 29 (Emmett) and University/Ivy.

Almost all conference sessions take place in Newcomb Hall. Newcomb is a very short walk from the Cavalier Inn. Walk South on 29/Emmett. On the east side of the street, you will see tennis courts, an old gymnasium, and a new parking garage. Newcomb is right up the hill from the garage. Walk up the hill (there are various routes) or, if you prefer, walk in the main entrance of the parking garage and find the elevators.

You may wish to consult and perhaps print out the map of the central portion of UVa grounds:

http://www.virginia.edu/webmap/ACentralGrounds.html

(On the map, Newcomb Hall is shown as #30; Old Cabell Hall, site of one plenary session and many Afropop events, is #31; the University Bookstore, site of a conference-related book exhibit, is #37.)

The conference begins Thursday, 7:30 PM, with the first plenary session, held in the South Meeting Room of Newcomb Hall. Please make a note of this information, because you will not receive a program or other conference materials in Charlottesville until Friday morning. After the plenary, please come to the opening reception at 10 PM in the Jefferson/Monroe Room at the Cavalier Inn. There will be Indian food; if travel has disrupted your eating schedule, you will probably be able to make a meal of it.

(Executive Committee members: your meeting is 3 - 5 PM in the Madison Room of the Cavalier Inn. Again, there will be enough food to keep you going if travel has disrupted your schedule.)

Registration begins Friday at 8 PM, outside the South Meeting Room of Newcomb Hall. Those who registered in advance can pick up packets; others can register onsite. Those attending conference sessions must register for the conference. Conference presenters, as you know, must register and have current membership in IASPM. Membership forms will be available at registration.

The registration table will be open only at certain times:

Friday 8 - 11 and 2 - 4
Saturday 8:30 - 10:30 and 3 - 4
Sunday 9 - 10.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Fred Maus