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AMS Sectional Meeting Registration/Housing/ Etc.



Program |  Deadlines | Inquiries:  meet@ams.org

2008 Spring Central Meeting
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN , April 5–6, 2008 (Saturday - Sunday)
Meeting #1038

Associate secretary:
Susan J Friedlander, AMS susan@math.northwestern.edu


Accommodations

Participants should make their own arrangements directly with the property listed below. Special rates for the meeting are available at the property shown below for the period of April 4 to 6, 2008. The AMS is not responsible for rate changes or for the quality of the accommodations.

A block of rooms has been reserved in the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU) Hotel, www.imu.indiana.edu/hotel/. The IMU Hotel is located at 900 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405. The hotel is a completely modern facility located in the center of the Indiana University campus. To make your reservation, please telephone 1-800-209-8145. When you call please indicate that you are attending the "American Mathematical Society Sectional Meeting" so that your reservation will be made within the block of rooms reserved for the meeting. Rates range from US\$109 - US\$249 depending on room selection plus tax. We encourage you to make your reservation by Tuesday, March 4, 2008; after that date any unreserved rooms will be released for sale to the general public.  The IMU Hotel accepts all major credit cards

Please note:  Rooms may no longer be available at the IMU Hotel.  The following list of hotels is for informational purposes only.  Please refer to this list if you need a hotel room.

  • Days Inn – (812) 336-0905 or  800 329-7566; St Rd 46 & College Ave
  • Econo Lodge – (812) 332-9453 or 800 804-3441; 2601 N. Walnut
  • Fairfield Inn – (812) 331-1122; 120 Fairfield Drive 
  • Hampton Inn – (812) 334-2100; 2100 N. Walnut
  • Quality Inn – (812) 323-2222 or 800 228-5151; 1100 West Rappel Drive
  • Summer House Inn – 812 332-2141
  • Super 8 – (812) 323-8000; 1000 W. State Road 46
  • Travelodge – 812 339-6191 or 800 578-7878; 2615 E. Third

Food Service

The Indiana Memorial Union provides a variety of food service options.  These range from fast-food type service to the elegant Tudor Room for a relaxing buffet lunch.

For a city of its size, Bloomington has a delightful selection of ethnic restaurants, especially on Fourth Street between Dunn and Grant Streets.  In the area immediately west of campus you will find a unique blend of ethnic restaurants including Afghan, Burmese, Indian, Israeli, Italian, Korean, Moroccan, Tibetan, Thai, and Turkish in addition to several casual pubs. All are within easy walking distance of the Indiana Memorial Union.

Local Information

The following web pages will prove useful as you plan your travel to Indiana University and the Bloomington community:

Indiana University is often cited as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the nation. The 1,930-acre woodland setting is a harmonious blend of natural landscape and campus buildings constructed predominately of native limestone. More than a hundred years ago the Board of Trustees selected this woodland site to become the home of the university. The university has actively worked to preserve portions of the original woods and maintain them in their natural state.During your visit in early April, spring will just be beginning.

Other Activities

AMS Book Sale: Stop by the on-site AMS Bookstore. Review the newest titles from the AMS, enter the FREE book drawing, enjoy up to 25% off all titles, or even take home the new AMS T-shirt! 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.

Opera: The world-renowned Indiana University Theatre www.music.indiana.edu/publicity/opera/2007-2008season/ is having a performance of Jacques Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann at 8:00 p.m. on April 4th and 5th.  Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by calling 812 333-9955.

Slocum Puzzle Collection: The Lilly Library houses the Slocum Puzzle Collection www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/overview/puzzles.shtml. About 400 mechanical puzzles from this collection will be on display from 9:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 5. 

Parking

Parking is available in two lots adjacent to the Indiana Memorial Union, one immediately to the east of the IMU and a second just across Seventh Street to the north. Both of these lots are complimentary for IMU Hotel guests. The daily charge for non-IMU Hotel guests is currently a maximum of US\$20/day. There is free parking on weekends at a number of parking garages on campus, see the web page www.iubus.indiana.edu/parking_operations/garages.html.

Registration and Meeting Information

The meeting will be held in the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU), Ballantine Hall, and the Chemistry Building situated in the heart of the woodland campus of Indiana University Bloomington. The IMU is the worlds largest student union.

The registration desk will be located in the East Lounge on the Mezzanine Level of the Indiana Memorial Union. The desk will be open Saturday, April 5, from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 6, from 7:30 a.m. until noon. Fees are US\$40 for AMS or CMS members, US\$60 for nonmembers; and US\$5 for students/unemployed/emeritus, payable on site by cash, check or credit card.

Transportation

The nearest major commercial airport is the Indianapolis International Airport. The Indianapolis Airport is located approximately 50 miles from Indiana University. Travel time to the Indianapolis Airport is about one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes. All major auto rental agencies are represented at the Indianapolis Airport.

Shuttle service from the Indianapolis Airport to the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU) is conveniently provided via Bloomington Shuttle Service, Bloomington Shuttle Service operates on a fixed schedule arriving and departing the IMU nine times each day. The shuttle departs from the Ground Transportation Center located on the baggage claim level of the Indianapolis Airport. To make your reservation please telephone 1-800-589-6004. The current charge is US\$25.00 one way. Travel time from the airport is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. To view a complete schedule and make your reservation online, please visit the Bloomington Shuttle Service webpage at www.bloomingtonshuttle.com.

If your travel schedule does not permit the use of the Bloomington Shuttle Service, you may arrange door-to-door service through Classic Touch Limousine Service www.classictouchlimo.com. or Signature Limousine Service www.bloomingtonshuttle.com/limo.html.

Car rental: Special rates have been negotiated with Avis Rent A Car for the period March 28 to April 13, 2008, beginning at \$30/day for a subcompact car at the weekend rate (the weekend rate is available from noon Thursday until midnight Monday) All rates include unlimited free mileage. Rates do not include state or local surcharges, tax, optional coverages, or gas refueling charges. Renter must meet Avis age, driver, and credit requirements, and return to the same renting location. Make reservations by calling 800-331-1600 or online at http://www.avis.com. Please quote Avis Discount Number JO98887 when making reservations.

Driving to Indiana University

From the South:

The best route is from Louisville, Kentucky. Take I-65, the four-lane interstate, north from Louisville to Columbus, Indiana. (Approximately a one hour drive.)

From Columbus, take Indiana Highway 46 west to Bloomington. (This state highway is two-lane and winds through the hills.) Travel east approximately one hour to Bloomington. Upon entering the commercial and residential district, Highway 46 becomes East Third Street. Continue heading west on Third Street through the stop lights at K-Mart/Marsh Supermarket, College Mall Road (Shell Station/Red Lobster), Eastland Plaza, High Street, Jordan Avenue, and Woodlawn Avenue.  (Third Street becomes one-way street heading west between the High Street and Jordan Avenue stop lights.) Turn right (north) at Indiana Avenue, the next stop light. Indiana is a one-way street going north. Go three blocks to the second stop sign (3-way stop), which is the intersection of Seventh and Indiana. Turn right (east) on Seventh. Turn right at the second stop sign, into the Indiana Memorial Union circle drive/parking lot.

From the West:

From St. Louis and points west, take Interstate 70 east to Terre Haute.

From Terre Haute, take Indiana Highway 46 east to Bloomington.  Travel east approximately one hour to Bloomington. Westbury Village will be on the left (north) of the road as it crosses over Highway 37 and leads into Bloomington. Highway 46 becomes 17th Street at this point. Once you have entered Bloomington, continue to the second stop light (College Avenue). College is one-way going south. Turn right on College and continue to 7th Street. Turn left (east) on 7th Street. Continue through the four-way and three-way stops (approximately eight blocks) to the Indiana Memorial Union.

From Evansville, IN, take Highway 41 north to Terre Haute. See directions above.

From the North:

From Chicago, take Interstate 65 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass southwest to Highway 37.

From Detroit / Lansing areas, take Highway 69 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass southeast to Highway 37.

From Indianapolis, take Indiana Highway 37 (four-lane state highway with many series of stop lights) south. Travel south for approximately one hour to the first Bloomington exit (College Avenue/Business 37 exit). Continue south on College until it becomes one-way. Turn left (east) on 7th Street. Follow directions listed above in Terre Haute entry.

From the East:

From Columbus, OH, take Interstate 70 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass south to Highway 37.

From Cincinnati, OH, take Interstate 74 to Indianapolis. Take 465 Bypass south to Highway 37.

Follow directions listed above from Indianapolis.

Weather

Early April daily temperatures normally range from a daily high of 63° F to a low of 42° F. Spring also tends to be a rainy time of year, so be sure and bring an umbrella or raincoat.

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 informationabout 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 web sites above for the most up-to-date information.


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