Final Pre-Conference Message to Registrants

Dear Colleague:

This is the final pre-conference mailing for all who have pre-registered
for the "Accretion Processes in Astrophysical Systems:  Some Like It Hot" 
conference.

The 8th Annual October Astrophysics Conference in Maryland will start on
Monday, October 13 at the Inn and Conference Center of the University of
Maryland. We have attempted to keep updated information on our conference 
website (http://www.astro.umd.edu/october/1997.html).

The following information is in the above noted sites and this is intended as a
quick summary for registrants.

1. Registration 

Registration will begin on Monday, October 13 at 7:00 am and at 7:30 am 
on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Registration will be in the concourse of the 
Inn and Conference Center.  

2. Science Sessions

All science sessions will be held in the Auditorium of the Inn and Conference
Center.  A detailed program is in the registration packet.  Information
on audio-visual support can be found in a later section.

3. Parking  

If you are driving and staying at the Inn and Conference Center, parking will
be handled through the hotel.  Please register for your room first and
request a parking pass to cover the period of your stay.  (The garage is
adjacent to the Conference Center.)  

If you are commuting to the conference, you can park at their garage.  There
is a gated entrance at which you obtain a ticket.  When exiting the garage,
you present the ticket to the cashier and inform them that you are with the
Astrophysics Conference.  You will not be charged for parking.  You do not 
need any validation for this to work.

If you are staying at either the Holiday Inn or the Quality Inn, a shuttle 
bus service will be provided. Hard copies of the schedules will be available 
at both hotels and will be included in your registration packet.  The shuttle
bus schedule is as follows:

Shuttle Bus Service

Morning Shuttle Bus Service to University Conference Center (UCC)
Monday, October 13 - Wednesday, October 15, 1997

Leave Holiday Inn             7:00 AM
Leave Quality Inn             7:15 AM
Arrive UCC                    7:30 AM

Leave Holiday Inn             8:00 AM
Leave Quality Inn             8:15 AM
Arrive UCC                    8:30 AM

Evening Shuttle Bus Service to Quality Inn & Holiday Inn  
Monday, October 13 - Tuesday, October 14, 1997

Leave UCC                     6:30 PM
Arrive Quality Inn            6:45 PM
Arrive Holiday Inn            7:00 PM

Leave UCC                     7:30 PM
Arrive Quality Inn            7:45 PM           
Arrive Holiday Inn            8:00 PM

Leave UCC                     9:00 PM
Arrive Quality Inn            9:15 PM
Arrive Holiday Inn            9:30 PM

Leave UCC                    10:15 PM
Arrive Quality Inn           10:30 PM
Arrive Holiday Inn           10:45 PM

Afternoon Shuttle Bus Service to Quality Inn & Holiday Inn
Wednesday, October 15, 1997  

Leave UCC                    12:00 NOON
Arrive Quality Inn           12:15 PM
Arrive Holiday Inn           12:30 PM

Leave UCC                     1:00 PM
Arrive Quality Inn            1:15 PM
Arrive Holiday Inn            1:30 PM

Leave UCC                     2:00 PM
Arrive Quality Inn            2:15 PM
Arrive Holiday Inn            2:30 PM

Leave UCC                     3:15 PM
Arrive Quality Inn            3:30 PM
Arrive Holiday Inn            3:45 PM


4. Meals

Coffee and pastries will be available prior to the start of the morning
sessions and at the morning and afternoon breaks. The coffee service will be
located in the concourse of the Conference Center. This will be just outside
the auditorium. Lunches on each day will be in the rooms across the from the 
auditorium. 

A reception will take place on Monday evening in the concourse and will
provide time for reading the poster papers. 

The banquet will take place Tuesday evening in the same area as the lunches. 
All of these are included in the registration costs. Your name tag will 
serve as your ticket of admission. Guests are welcome to come to the 
banquet; the cost is $25.00.  Guest tickets can be purchased at the
registration desk.

*** If you prefer, it will be possible to have a vegetarian entree at the
banquet. Please inform someone at the registration desk. They will provide
you with a ticket for this. Please give this ticket to your server at the 
dinner. There will be vegetarian selections at the lunches. In order to 
expedite this, we need to get an approximate count as soon as possible. 
Please inform persons at the registration desk as soon as possible. 

5. Communications

Telephone calls and faxes should be directed to the Business Office of the
Inn and Conference Center at 301-985-7652; FAX No. 301-985-7850.  Messages 
will be posted on a Message Board at the meeting registration area.  There 
are pay telephones available at several locations in the Center.  There is
no telephone available at the registration desk.  

If you are staying at the Inn and Conference Center and have a laptop computer, it should be possible to access e-mail directly. They have a limited number 
of modems available at the hotel registration desk.  There are also several 
connections available in the lobby. Once again, check at the hotel registration
desk or the Business Office. If it is more convenient, you can use the computer facilities at the Department of Astronomy. However, these are a reasonable 
(15-20 min) walk from the conference site. Check with persons at the 
registration desk for details. 

6. Posters

Space available for posters is 4'x4'. The poster boards will be installed on
Monday morning. It will be possible to put up posters by the lunch break on
Monday, October 13th.  Details about the location of the individual posters 
will be available at registration.

7. Audio-visuals

An overhead projector and a 35mm projector will be available at all science 
sessions.  It will be necessary to get your slides to the projectionist
prior to the start of the session.  No other AV equipment can be made available unless requested in advance.

8.  Copiers

There is a pay copier available in the Business Office.  This will only
work effectively for small jobs.  Some limited copying can be done at the
Department of Astronomy but logistical problems associated with distance
may make this impractical.  Check at the Registration desk about this.

9.  Luggage

Those persons making plane connections on Wednesday afternoon will have to
check out of their hotel rooms in the morning.  The hotels have arrangements
for holding luggage until departure.  The shuttle bus service will continue
through Wednesday afternoon.  

If it is necessary for you to bring your luggage to the Inn and Conference
Center, they will be able to accomodate a limited amount of luggage there.
You should check at the front desk for details.  While we do have space
available to us for storage, it is usually not locked during the day and so
provides little in the way of security.

10.  Airport Shuttle Transportation

The following are some area airport shuttle services.  Please contact
them directly.  They often require reservations and it is advised that
you call 24 hours in advance.

BWI Airport Conncection - 301-441-2345
Corporate Wheels - 1-800-915-6650 or 301-627-9297
Deluxe Transportation Limosine Services - 1-800-461-5466 or 301-587-5466