Accommodations

Participants should make their own arrangements directly with the hotel of their choice and state that they will be attending the American Mathematical Society (AMS) meeting at North Carolina State University. Rooms have been blocked in the Holiday Inn and The Velvet Cloak Inn which are within walking distance of campus. The AMS is not responsible for rate changes or for the quality of the accommodations. Rates quoted do not include taxes (current tax rate is 12.75%). Hotels have varying cancellation or early checkout penalties; be sure to ask for details when making your reservation.

Holiday Inn-Brownstone Hotel, 1707 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27605; 919-828-0811; 800-331-7919; 919-834-0904 (fax); US\$79/single or double (ask for NCSU/AMS meeting rate); rates include complimentary high speed Internet, 24-hour fitness center, and seasonal outdoor pool. Ledo Pizza and Pasta is a full service restaurant and bar on site. Property is within walking distance to meeting. The deadline for reservations is March 5, 2009. For further information please visit http://www.brownstonehotel.com. Please be sure to inquire about cancellation or early checkout penalties when making your reservation.

The Velvet Cloak Inn, 1505 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27605; 919-828-0333; 919-828-2656 (fax); US\$69/single or double (ask for NCSU/AMS meeting rate); within walking distance to meeting. Bar/lounge on site, as well as indoor heated pool. The deadline for reservations is March 5, 2009. For further information please visit http://www.thevelvetcloak.com. Please be sure to inquire about cancellation or early checkout penalties when making your reservation.

Clarion Hotel, 320 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603; 919-832-0501; US\$94/single or double (ask for NCSU rate); located approximately three miles east of campus. For further information please visit http://www.clarionhotel.com.

Ramada Inn Blue Ridge, 1520 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607; 919-832-4100; 800-272-6232 (ask for NCSU rate); located approximately three miles west of campus. For further information please visit http://blueridge.pmcproperties.com.

Food Service

There are a number of restaurants adjacent to the campus. A list of these restaurants will be available at the registration desk at the meeting. The student dining halls are located at Fountain Dining Hall (Bldg. 82 on Central Campus) and Clark Dining Hall (Bldg. 106 on Central Campus) and are open on Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Local Information/Campus Map

Please visit the website maintained by the Department of Mathematics at http://www.math.ncsu.edu/ and North Carolina State University website at http://www.ncsu.edu. A campus map is found at http://www.ncsu.edu/campus_map/.

Other Activities

Book Sales: Stop by the onsite AMS Bookstore and review the newest titles from the AMS and enjoy up to 25% off all AMS publications, or take home an 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.

Parking

The nearest parking areas can be found on Founders Drive, Lampe Drive, and Stinson Drive. Visitors may park on campus (except in fire lanes and no parking areas) on Saturday and Sunday at no charge. Please refer to the Web address http://www.ncsu.edu/campus_map/north.htm for these street locations.

For parking Monday-Friday, visitors may purchase daily permits for US\$2 per day at the Visitor Information Centers (Main Campus-Stinson Drive). The Main Campus Visitor Booth will issue visitor permits and a map to direct visitors to the Coliseum Parking Deck between Dunn and Cates Avenues if you need to be on campus during these days.

Registration and Meeting Information

The registration desk will be located in Riddick Hall (2401 Stinson Dr., Bldg 39 on campus map) and will be open 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 8:00 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Please refer to http://www.ncsu.edu/campus_map/north.htm for building locations. Registration 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

By Air: The Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), 2400 W. Terminal Blvd., Morrisville, NC, is about twelve miles northwest of the meeting site on campus and is served by most major airlines. A one-way taxi fare to campus from the airport is about US\$30; limo service is about US\$55 per trip at the time this announcement went to press. There is no regularly scheduled shuttle service. Please refer to for names/contact information and rates.

Driving: Take I-40 East to exit 289 (Raleigh North and East), which becomes Wade Avenue. At third traffic light make right on Faircloth Street, then at first traffic light make left on Hillsborough Street. NCSU will be directly ahead on the right. The Holiday Inn-Brownstone and The Velvet Cloak Inn are less than one mile from NCSU entrance.

Train: There is an AMTRAK station a short taxi ride from campus. See http://www.amtrak.com for schedules and pricing information.

Car Rental

Avis Rent A Car is the official car rental company for the meeting. Depending on variables such as location, length of rental, and size of vehicle, Avis will offer participants the best available rate which can range from 5%-25% discount off regular rates. Participants must use the assigned Meeting Avis Discount Number (J098887) and meet Avis rate requirements to receive the discount. (Rate discounts are available at all corporate and participating licensee locations.) Reservations can be made by calling 800-331-1600 or online at http://www.avis.com.

All car rentals include unlimited free mileage and are available to renters 25 years and older. Renters must also meet Avis's driver and credit requirements. Return to the same rental location

Weather

Temperatures vary from 65° to 75°F in April with night lows dipping to upper 50's. For the most up-to-date weather information visit http://www.wral.com/weather/.

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.