Accommodations

Participants should make their own arrangements directly with the properties listed below. Special rates for the meeting are available at the properties shown below for Friday and Saturday nights. When making reservations participants should state that they are a guest of the American Mathematical Society or AMS. The AMS is not responsible for rate changes or for the quality of the accommodations. Hotels have varying cancellation or early checkout penalties; be sure to ask for details when making your reservation.

Because of several large events in the area at the time of our meeting, hotel availability is limited. We have secured room blocks at the following two hotels. To guarantee a room reservation, we advise making your travel plans early.

Courtyard by Marriott Worcester, 72 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605; 508-363-0300, toll free: 888-887-7948; fax: 508-363-3563; http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/boswr-courtyard-worcester/. The hotel is approximately 0.69 miles from the meeting site. Rates start at US\$116 per night. Rates quoted do not include the sales and occupancy tax of 12%. Be sure to check cancellation and early checkout policies. Amenities include spacious hotel rooms featuring new luxury bedding, large workspaces, free wireless high speed Internet access, indoor pool, whirlpool, exercise room, cozy fireplace lounge, restaurant serving breakfast, and complimentary on-site parking. Deadline for reservations is April 3, 2009.

Beechwood Hotel, 363 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, 508-754-0731; toll free: 800-344-2589; fax: 508-754-0731; http://www.beechwoodhotel.com/. This luxury hotel is located approximately 2.34 miles from the meeting site. Rates start at US\$149 per night. Rates quoted do not include the sales and occupancy tax of 12%. Be sure to check cancellation and early checkout policies. Amenities include complimentary continental breakfast and newspapers, free wireless high speed Internet, jogging track and fitness center. Complimentary parking and fine dining restaurant are on site. Deadline for reservations is March 27, 2009.

Below is a list of other hotels in the area that may have a small number of rooms available. No rooms were specifically reserved for participants at these hotels.

Crowne Plaza Hotel Worcester, 10 Lincoln Square, Worcester, MA 01608; 508-791-1600; toll free: 877-227-6963; fax: 508-7911796; http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/wrccp?_requestid=3046986. The hotel is located approximately 0.75 miles from the meeting site. Amenities include health club facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzi/hot tub, and free wireless access; parking garage is available on site with a fee of US\$5 for self parking or US\$8 for valet.

Hilton Garden Inn Worcester, 35 Major Taylor Boulevard, Worcester, MA 01608, 508-753-5700; fax: 508- 753-5780; http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=UU500HMBPAQW0CSGBJC32EQ?ctyhocn=BEDWOGI. The hotel is located approximately one mile from the meeting site. Amenities include well-appointed guest rooms with large work desk; complimentary high speed Internet; fitness room; pool; onsite dining: Great American Grill and Uno Chicago Grill; and parking garage across from hotel with a daily fee of US\$8.95. Valet parking is also available daily from 6:00 a.m-11:00 p.m. with a fee of US\$12.95.

Hampton Inn Worcester, 110 Summer Street, Worcester, MA 01608, 508-757-0400, fax: 508-831-9839; http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=WORMAHX. The hotel is located approximately 1.09 miles from the meeting site. Amenities include free breakfast buffet, complimentary high speed Internet, complimentary parking, and exercise room.

Food Service

The campus center is open all day Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. and Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 midnight. Eating facilities include 48 Cafe Dunkin Donuts: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Campus Center Food Court: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-12:00 midnight and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; The Goat's Head Restaurant: Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. and Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Within walking distance or a short drive one can find a variety of choices for dining at http://www.wpi.edu/About/Visitors/dining.html. Additional information and recommendations will be provided on site.

Local Information

The WPI visitors guide featuring directions and a campus map can be found at http://www.wpi.edu/About/Visitors/index.html.

Other Activities

AMS Book Sale: Stop by the on-site AMS Bookstore and review the newest titles from the AMS, 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

There are numerous campus lots available for parking on the weekends as well as on-street parking. The quadrangle area is not available on the weekend. The lots for parking are Higgins House, Gordon Library, West Street, and Stoddard Complex. Please see campus map for location and directions. http://www.wpi.edu/About/Visitors/campusmap.html.

Registration and Meeting Information

The meetings will be held in Higgins Labs and Salisbury Labs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA. The registration desk and book exhibit will be located in the Price Conference Room, Higgins Labs 102. The desk will be open Saturday, April 25, from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26, from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Fees are US\$40/AMS or CMS members; US\$60/nonmembers; US\$5/emeritus members, students, or unemployed mathematicians. Fees are payable by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

Transportation

By air:

Logan International Airport in Boston, MA (http://www.massport.com/logan/default.aspx) is approximately 46 miles from the Worcester campus. The approximate taxicab fare is US\$120. You may also get to Worcester via the commuter rail system. For fare information, maps, and schedules, visit the MBTA Commuter Rail website http://www.mbta.com/schedules\_and\_maps/rail/ or call 617-222-3200.

T. F. Green Airport in Providence, R. I. (http://www.pvdairport.com/) is approximately 51 miles from the Worcester campus; approximate cab fare is US\$118. See below for shuttle service information.

Manchester Airport in Manchester, N. H. (http://www.flymanchester.com) is approximately 69 miles from the Worcester campus; approximate cab fare is US\$162. Renting a car is advised as there is no discount shuttle service available.

Airport Shuttles:

Knight's Airport Limousine Service (800-822-5456, http://www.knightsairportlimo.com/) provides transportation to and from Logan Airport and T. F. Green Airport. One-way transportation is approximately US\$66 from T. F. Green Airport and approximately US\$55 from Logan Airport. Reservations should be made 24 hours prior to pickup. Visit their website for rates and reservations.

By bus:

The city of Worcester is served by two bus companies, Greyhound Lines, Inc. (http://www.greyhound.com) and Peter Pan Bus Lines (http://www.peterpanbus.com). For Greyhound fares and schedule information, call 800-231-2222. For Peter Pan fares and schedule information, call 800-343-9999.

Commuter Rail

The MBTA Commuter Rail stop located on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester is about 1.5 miles away from campus. The stop is at the end of the Worcester/Framingham line. For fare information, maps, and schedules, visit the MBTA Commuter Rail website http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/ or call 617-222-3200.

Taxi Services

Two taxi services provide transportation in the Worcester area: Yellow Cab, 508-754-3211; and Red Cab, 508-792-9999 & 508-756-9000.

Trains

Amtrak services the city of Worcester from over 500 cities nationwide. The Worcester Amtrak station is located on Shrewsbury Street, about 1.5 miles from the campus. For more information, visit the Amtrak website http://www.amtrak.com or call 800-872-7245.

Driving Directions

Worcester Campus, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280.

From the East

Take Mass. Turnpike (I-90) to Exit 11A (I-495). Proceed north to exit 25B (I-290), then west into Worcester. Take Exit 18 (Lincoln Sq., Rte. 9), turn right at end of ramp, then an immediate right before next traffic light. At next light, proceed straight through, bearing to the right on Salisbury St. At the WPI sign, turn left onto Boynton St., then right onto Institute Rd. Take your first right (Private Way). Admissions visitor parking is located on either side of Bartlett Center, the building that is directly ahead as you enter the Quadrangle area; general visitor parking is on the right as you approach the Quadrangle, adjacent to Alumni Gymnasium. Admissions visitors should pick up a visitor parking pass at the Admissions Office to display in their windshield.

From the North

Take I-495 south to I-290. Follow directions from east.

From the South and West

Take Mass. Turnpike (I-90) to Exit 10 (Auburn). Proceed east on I-290 into Worcester. Take Exit 17 (Lincoln Sq., Rte. 9), turn left at end of ramp, follow Rte. 9 west through Lincoln Sq., straight onto Highland St., then right at light onto West St. Travel one block and cross Institute Road (onto Private Way). Admissions visitor parking is located on either side of Bartlett Center, the building that is directly ahead as you enter the Quadrangle area; general visitor parking is on the right as you approach the Quadrangle, adjacent to Alumni Gymnasium. Admissions visitors should pick up a visitor parking pass at the Admissions Office to display in their windshield.

Information on public transportation is also available.

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

This time of year the temperature varies a good deal but typically offers mid-60 degree days followed by brisk evenings.

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.