 | Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers
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Meetings
2008 SARA Annual Meeting and Technical Conference
National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank WV
29 June - 2 July, 2008
| Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers
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Conference Registration Fee:
The fee for the 2008 Conference has been set at $145 US for SARA members in good standing, as well as dues-current members of SARA Affiliate Societies (European Radio Astronmy Club, Society of Amateur Scientists, and SETI League); $155 US for non-members. This fee includes Conference registration, one copy of the published Conference Proceedings (to be distributed at the meeting), morning coffee breaks, afternoon snack breaks, evening refreshments, and eight meals, as indicated below. The fee for spouses, children, companions, or other non-participating persons accompanying registered Conference attendees is $80, which includes morning coffee breaks, afternoon snacks, evening refreshments, and meals. The cited fees are calculated on a break-even basis, and apply only to advance registrations received prior to 30 May 2008. All registrations received thereafter are subject to an additional late registration fee, as indicated below.
Included Meal Plan:
Green Bank is a small community with few dining establishments. Thus, SARA has arranged for conference registration to include a meal plan at the NRAO employee's cafeteria, to include:
Exceptions to the meal plan will be considered on a case-by-case basis, for those Conference attendees residing on site, or others with special dietary needs. Please contact our Treasurer directly with your specific requests. In general, except under unusual circumstances, one should consider the cost of meals to be a part of, and inseparable from, the conference registration fee.
Conference Proceedings:
Once again this year, a formal, bound Proceedings, including technical papers and supplemental material, is being professionally published by ARRL. One copy of the Proceedings is included in your paid Conference Registration. (Proceedings are not provided to Accompanying Persons.) A limited number of additional copies of this year's and previous years' Proceedings will be available at Green Bank for $20 US each. You may, if you wish, reserve and prepay additional Proceedings copies, by including the appropriate amount in your check to our Treasurer.
Advance Registration Deadline:
To register for the 2008 SARA Conference at the rates cited above, your remittance in full must be received by our Treasurer not later than 30 May, 2008. All registrations received after that date, or walk-in registrations, will be assessed an additional 15% late registration fee.
Payment of Conference Fees:
Checks (in US Dollars only, drawn on a US bank) should be sent in advance to:
SARA Treasurer Tom Crowley
treasurer_at_radio-astronomy_dot_org
42 Ivy Chase
Atlanta, GA 30342 USA
phone (404)233-6886
NOTE: You may now remit your SARA Conference Registration via PayPal, through the following link. It is still necessary to send your name, address, membership status, name(s) of accompanying person(s), and other pertinent registration information to our Treasurer, via post or email.
Lodging:
Attendees should make their own reservations at one of the (regrettably few) motels or Bed & Breakfasts located in the Greenbank vicinity. Do not try to "show up" and expect to find a room, as the motels are not that big and may fill up if anything else is going on in the area.
Dorm Rooms:
There are usually a few dorm rooms at NRAO made available to us which are assigned in the following priority:
We often do not know until close to conference time exactly how many rooms are available. It is very dependant on how busy NRAO is with visiting scientists. Tom Crowley makes the room assignments. So do not call NRAO asking about these rooms. We will stay in contact with NRAO and email people if rooms become available. If you would like to be placed on the standby list email Tom. And remember, to enhance your standings on the list, contact our Vice President and be a presenter at the conference. We usually only get 8-11 rooms. It is therefore recommended that you do not wait until the last minute to make reservations at local motels, thinking you might get a dorm room. And to enhance your standings for next year, run for an office in SARA and/or be a presenter.
Dorm room prices are comparable to the local motels.
Bed and Breakfasts:
There are a few Bed & Breakfasts within reasonable driving distance:
Jim Sky and Andrea Peace have stayed a couple times at:
Buffalo Run Lodge
HC 63, Box 38C
Arbovale, West Virginia 24915
(304) 456-3036
Toll Free: (800) CALL WVA (225-5982)
Email: buffalorunlodge@yahoo.com
Hosts: Bruce and Carol Stewart
Camping:
There is a campground beside the Boyer Motel for those wanting to make it a family camping vacation. I don't have the phone number but the folks at the Boyer can probably tell you all about it. (Note: NRAO policy does not allow overnight "parking lot camping" in RVs on their facility.)
Nearby Tourist Attractions:
Cass Railroad - a shay steam locomotive ride for the whole family. Located about 10 miles west of Greenbank. An enjoyable hour ride up a nearby mountain and back aboard a restored logging train.
Snowshoe Ski Resort - Nothing going on in summer. But a fun ride if you've heard of it but never been. Kind of an upside down ski resort. By that I mean the hotels are at the top of the mountain, and you ski down and get chair lifted back up. The same mountain also sports a challenging golf course with unusual tee to green elevation changes.
Spruce Knob - State Park about 30 miles north of Greenbank. Views of several states from a mountain lookout tower on a clear day.
Seneca Caverns - A limestone cave tour and rocks for your collection.
Luray Caverns - Luray Virginia. A several hour ride from Greenbank, but well worth it on the way there or on the way home. One of the largest cave tours in the east. Sports an unusual console organ that plays carefully selected stalactites with small solenoid driven hammers.
...know of some more? pass them along to webmaster_at_radio-astronomy_dot_org and we'll post them here for others to enjoy.
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