Accommodations

Participants should make their own arrangements directly with a hotel of their choice as early as possible. Special rates have been negotiated with the hotels listed below. Rates quoted do not include the hotel tax of 8%. The AMS is not responsible for rate changes or for the quality of the accommodations. When making a reservation, participants should state that they are with the American Mathematical Society (AMS) Meeting at the University of New Hampshire group. Cancellation and early checkout policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation.

The Hotel New Hampshire, 2 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824, 603-868-1234 or info@hotelnewhampshire.net, located next to Durham's historic district and within a 5- to 15-minute walking distance of campus; US\$99/single or double, refrigerators in rooms, complimentary continental breakfast; free Internet access. Deadline for reservations is March 21, 2006. Be sure to check cancellation and early checkout policies.

The New England Center, 15 Stratford Rd., Durham, NH 03824, 800-590-4334 or 603-862-2801, (international participants may send email for reservations to shelley.burch@unh.edu); located on campus and within walking distance of the train station; US\$99/single/double. Amenities include a full service restaurant and lounge on the premises, complimentary access to the university's Hamel Recreation Center, and complimentary Internet access (including wireless) throughout the hotel. The number of rooms available is limited! Please make your reservations early because of an anticipated sell out. Be sure to check cancellation and early checkout policies.

Also very close to campus is the Pines Guest House, 47 Dover Rd., Durham, 603-868-3361, www.pinesguesthouse.com, rates are US\$79 - 129.

The Hickory Pond Inn, 1 Stagecoach Rd., Durham, 800-658-0065 or 603-659-2227, www.hickorypondinn.com, is about three miles from campus; rates start at about US\$89 depending upon season.

Other hotels in Dover, NH (about four to five miles north) or Portsmouth, NH (about eight to nine miles south) can be found using your favorite Internet hotel search engine, e.g., Orbitz.com or Expedia.com, many of which feature discounted rates. Be careful to read the terms thoroughly; some hotels may require full payment when making the reservation and cancellation penalties vary.

Food Service

Holloway Commons is the campus dining hall offering great buffet-style food. The costs and times are: breakfast: 7:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., US\$6.50; lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., US\$8.75; and dinner: 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., US\$11.00. Information on local dining near the campus will be available on site.

Local Information

The university's website is www.unh.edu; the department of mathematics is at www.math.unh.edu. Campus information for visitors, including a map and directions, is at www.unh.edu/welcome/visitingunh.html.

Other Activities

Book Sales: Examine the newest titles from the AMS! Many of the AMS books will be available at special discounts available only at the meeting. Complimentary coffee will be served courtesy of AMS Membership Services.

AMS Editorial Activity: An acquisitions editor from the AMS book program will be present to speak with prospective authors. If you have a book project that you would like to discuss with the AMS, please stop by the book exhibit.

Parking

NEW! Faculty, Staff and Commuter parking lots are generally available for all to use on weekends. Participants are advised to check posted signs and not park in spaces with special restrictions, though most spaces will be available without restriction. Note that there will be other events on campus and some large lots may get filled, e.g., Lot A. Lot B, on the other hand, is also large and will likely be less full than Lot A. There are also many smaller lots nearby. See the parking map at this link: http://www.unh.edu/transportation/visitor/map.pdf.

Registration and Meeting Information

The meeting is on the campus of the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Durham, NH.

The registration desk will be open Saturday, April 22, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 23, 8:00 a.m. to noon in Murkland Hall. Fees are US\$40 for AMS or CMS members, US\$60 for nonmembers; and US\$5 for students, unemployed mathematicians, and emeritus members. Fees are payable on site by cash, check, or credit card. Invited Addresses and Special Sessions also will be in Murkland Hall.

Travel Information and Campus Map

Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) is approximately 60 miles from Durham. Some participants may find it less expensive to fly into Manchester Airport (MHT), approximately 40 miles from Durham, however, bus service is not available from Manchester to Durham.

Rail service is available from Boston's North Station on Amtrak directly to the UNH campus. See www.thedowneaster.com. The fare is US\$14 each way. Service from Logan Airport to North Station is provided by subway or taxi.

C & J Trailways (800-258-7111 or www.cjtrailways.com) offers very limited bus service (US\$13 each way) between Boston and Durham (leaves North Station (Amtrak) once daily at 3:15 p.m. and returns from Durham once daily at 1:00 p.m.). Other options are to take the bus to Portsmouth (10 miles from Durham) or Dover (five miles from Durham), New Hampshire, and then a taxi or Wildcat shuttle (www.unh.edu/transportation/wildcat/index.htm) for service to Durham.

The official airline for the meeting is Delta Airlines. Take advantage of Delta's new SimpliFares™ and enjoy the
following benefits:

* No Saturday night stay required--more flexibility

* Always affordable--realize up to 50% savings on everyday fares in the contiguous 48 states

* Lower change fees--reduced from US\$100 to US\$50 to change travel plans

* Just eight fares--less guessing and easier planning

To make immediate reservations call Delta Air Lines at 800-221-1212. Be sure to reference US738367060 or visit www.delta.com and enter SkyBonus account number US738367060 in your passenger information screen to be recognized as a participant. Your benefits include:

* No service fees

* 1,000 sky miles for Delta members

* Skip the airport lines; check in online

Car Rental

Avis is the official car rental company for the sectional meeting in Durham, New Hampshire. All rates include unlimited free mileage. Weekend daily rates are available from noon Thursday to Monday at 11:59 P.M. Rates for this meeting are effective April 15, 2006 to April 30, 2006, and begin at US\$35.99/day (weekend rate). Should a lower qualifying rate become available at the time of booking, Avis is pleased to offer a 5% discount off the lower qualifying rate or the meeting rate, whichever is lowest. Rates do not include any state or local surcharges, tax, optional coverages or gas refueling charges. Renters must meet Avis's age, driver, and credit requirements. Reservations can be made by calling 800-331-1600 or online at www.avis.com. Avis's Discount Number is B159266.

Getting to the University by Car: From the south, including Logan International Airport in Boston, MA: Take I-95 North to Exit 4 (N.H. Lakes and Mountains, Spaulding Turnpike). Continue North to Exit 6W and follow Route 4 West. Exit at Route 155A and turn east toward Durham. Follow 155A through a short stretch of fields. Take a left onto Loop Road, bearing right and driving a short distance until you reach the UNH Visitor Center, a small white clapboard building on your left. Metered parking is available at the lot adjacent to the Visitor Center. Special parking arrangements for meeting participants will be announced at a later date.

Special Travel Information for International Participants

Visa regulations are continually changing for travel to the United States. Visa applications may take from three to four months to process and require a personal interview, as well as specific personal information. International participants should view the important information about traveling to the U.S. found at http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ visas/Traveling_to_US.html and http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html. If you need a preliminary conference invitation in order to secure a visa, please send your request to dls@ams.org. If you discover you do need a visa, the National Academies website (see above) provides these tips for successful visa applications:

* Visa applicants are expected to provide evidence that they are intending to return to their country of residence. Therefore, applicants should provide proof of "binding" or sufficient ties to their home country or permanent
residence abroad. This may include documentation of the following:

-- family ties in home country or country of legal permanent residence

-- property ownership

-- bank accounts

-- employment contract or statement from employer stating that the position will continue when the employee returns;

* Visa applications are more likely to be successful if done in a visitor's home country than in a third country;

* Applicants should present their entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries other than the United States, at the time of their visa application;

* Include a letter of invitation from the meeting organizer or the U.S. host, specifying the subject, location and dates of the activity, and how travel and local expenses will be covered;

* If travel plans will depend on early approval of the visa application, specify this at the time of the application;

* Provide proof of professional scientific and/or educational status (students should provide a university transcript).

This list is not to be considered complete. Please visit the websites above for the most up-to-date information.

Reminder: Machine-Readable Passports Required by June 26, 2005.

The Department of Homeland Security reminds travelers from the 27 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries that as of June 26, 2005, they must have a machine-readable passport to enter the United States without a visa. Beginning June 26, 2005, transportation carriers will be fined US\$3,300, per violation, for transporting any VWP traveler to the United States without a machine-readable passport. Similarly, VWP travelers arriving in the United States on that date without a machine-readable passport should not anticipate being granted one-time entry into the country. As an alternative for persons with immediate travel plans who are unable to obtain a machine-readable passport in time, the individual may apply for a U.S. visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad.

Weather

Mark Twain once said that if you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a minute. Conditions in Durham during late April can be unpredictable so layered clothing is advisable. Rainfall averages 4" in April, and snow is possible. Temperatures can range from about 35º.