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 sales tax of 13%. 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 Florida International University group. Cancellation and early checkout policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation.

N.B. All of these hotels are about eight miles from campus (however, the Wellesley is in a different direction).

The Best Western ChateauBleau Hotel and the Holiday Inn Coral Gables offer complimentary shuttle service from/to the airport. However, it is strongly recommended that participants rent a car for personal convenience. For those unable to do so, the university will run a limited shuttle service to the campus on Saturday and Sunday mornings and a return trip in the early evenings. The Best Western and Holiday Inn hotels are serviced by city bus #24 every 30 minutes on weekends. See http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/routes/route.asp?route=24 for a route map and weekend schedule. The fare is US\$1.50 standard, and US\$.75 reduced (students, people with disabilities).

Participants are encouraged to book a hotel room early! The same weekend as our meeting is the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition held in an area adjacent to the FIU campus. This event attracts visitors from all over Florida and hotel rooms may sell out.

Best Western ChateauBleau Hotel, 1111 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134; phone: 305-448-2634 or toll free: 888-642-6442, fax: 305-448-2017; US\$89/single or double, US\$5/extra person; free high speed internet; free parking; in room mini-refrigerator and coffee maker, outdoor pool; restaurant and lounge in hotel; many restaurants within walking distance; about eight miles east of the FIU campus. Deadline for reservations is March 1, 2006. Be sure to check cancellation and early checkout policies.

Holiday Inn Coral Gables, 2051 Le Jeune Rd., Coral Gables, FL 33134; phone: 305-443-2301, fax: 305-446-6827; US\$99/single/double/triple/quad; in room coffee maker; parking is US\$5.95/day; outdoor pool; restaurant and lounge in hotel; many restaurants/shops (Merrick Park Shopping Mall) within walking distance; about eight miles east of the FIU campus. Deadline for reservations is February 28, 2006. Be sure to check cancellation and early checkout policies.

Wellesley Inn & Suites, 11750 Mills Drive, Miami, FL; phone: 305-270-0359, fax: 305-270-1334; US\$89.99/single or double; in room mini-refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker (most rooms); complimentary hot/cold breakfast buffet; free parking; pool; several restaurants within walking distance; about eight miles south of the FIU campus. Deadline for reservations is March 15, 2006. Be sure to check cancellation and early checkout penalties.

Other reasonably priced hotels in the area are Amerisuites, 11520 SW 88th St., Kendall, 305-279-8688, US\$119/single or double, about eight miles from campus; and the Ramada Inn, 7600 N. Kendall Dr., 305-595-6000, US\$109/single or double, eleven miles southwest of campus.

Food Service

There are a few restaurants within walking distance of campus. The university plans to keep its excellent campus dining facilities in the GC building open for participants.

Local Information

The university's website is http://www.fiu.edu/choice.html; the department of mathematics is at http://w3.fiu.edu/math/. A general website about Miami is at http://www.hellomiami.com/.

The area around the Best Western and Holiday Inn hotels called Coral Gables thrives with restaurants, shops, and cafes, both on the Miracle Mile and Giralda Avenue within walking distance of the hotels. See http://coralgablesfl.areaguides.net/ for details. The neighborhood where the Wellesley Inn is located is called Kendall. There is a mall adjacent to the hotel with some restaurants. An excellent restaurant within walking distance is Bahama Breeze, at the intersection of Kendall Drive and 122 Ave. See http://kendallfl.areaguides.net for more information on the area.

Other Activities

Book Sales: Examine the newest titles from the AMS! Many of the AMS books will be available at a special 50% discount 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 UPDATE

The FIU parking authority advises participants to park on the north side of the campus to avoid the congested area of the Miami Dade Youth Fair. It will be possible to park for free in the Red Garage or in Parking Lot #1, both easily accessible from SW 8th Street, (also called Tamiami Trail).

The visitors' parking that was originally recommended will be available:.Parking will be available for free in Lot 8, between the Recreation Center (RC) and the Healthcare and Wellness Center (HWC) accessible from 117th Avenue. The unmarked street which goes by the W3 building is 17th St. See the map links below. However, you are strongly advised to park by SW 8th Street, as the Miami Dade Youth Fair will attract a lot of traffic in the southwest part of the Campus.

Directions from the turnpike exit on SW 8th Street:
Go west on SW 8th St.; Right onto SW 112 Ave.
The Red Garage and the Parking Lot #1 are your left.

There will be large electronic signs to direct participants to the Red Garage both at the campus entrance on SW 107th Ave. and at the entrance on SW 112th Ave.
It is also recommended that participants put a simple sign on the dashboard of their car which says "AMS meeting".

Registration and Meeting Information

The meeting is on the campus of Florida International University, University Park Campus. Sessions and Invited Addresses will take place in the Graham Center (GC) and Primera Casa (PC) buildings. See http://www.fiu.edu/ docs/campus_maps-up.htm.

The registration desk will be in the Graham Center and will be open Saturday, April 1, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 2, 8:00 a.m. to noon. 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.

Travel and Campus Map

Miami International Airport (MIA) is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. It serves a wealth of domestic and international cities, many of them with multiple daily nonstop flights. The airport's home page is located at http://www.miami-airport.com. All major airlines serve MIA.

The airport is 11 miles from Florida International University. The campus is easily accessible from MIA via public transportation and taxi service. A taxi to the university costs approximately US\$30. The SuperShuttle Miami offers competitive prices (US\$21) from Miami International Airport to all locations in the Miami metropolitan area. For information see http://www.supershuttle.com. Some attendees may find competitive prices when flying to Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), although the airport is further away from campus.

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 http://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 Miami, Florida. 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 March 25, 2006 to April 9, 2006, and begin at US\$27.99/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' age, driver, and credit requirements. Reservations can be made by calling 800-331-1600 or online at http://www.avis.com. Meeting Avis Discount Number B159266.

Getting to the University by Car: A good campus map is at http://www.fiu.edu/docs/campus_maps-up.htm.

From Miami International Airport: Take the I-836 WEST exit from the Airport; follow I-836 to the Florida Turnpike; take the Florida Turnpike SOUTH exit; follow the Florida Turnpike to the Tamiami Trail exit (SW 8th Street); take the SW 8th Street EAST exit; follow SW 8th Street, FIU will appear on the right before SW 107th Avenue.

From I-95, Downtown Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach: Take I-95 to I-836 WEST; follow I-836 to the Florida Turnpike; take the Florida Turnpike SOUTH exit and follow as described above.

From western Palm Beach/Broward County or the Florida Turnpike north: Take the Florida Turnpike SOUTH and follow as described above.

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.

Weather

Weather conditions in Miami during early April are mild and dry which is why it is so very popular with visitors. Temperatures range from 70°F to 79°F.