A Green Meeting
Ann Becker and Associates has always worked with the philosophy of minimizing waste in its events – to save the client’s and the event attendees’ money, and to show respect for all resources, renewable or otherwise. With the 2009 Annual Meeting, we are introducing another initiative that will both reduce meeting costs and have minimal impact on the environment.
All materials for the 2009 Annual Meeting will be posted as they are received on the meeting website. This includes the agenda, participant list, and speaker handouts and presentations. You should download and/or print the materials for the sessions you plan to attend, and bring them with you to the meeting. A very limited number of paper copies will be available onsite to help us all move toward a greener meeting. We will remind you of this policy periodically, but wanted to “plant the seed” early.
Wednesday Arrival and Friday Departure
If you are planning to arrive at the Key Bridge Marriott by early Wednesday evening, January 7, please drop in at our informal hospitality suite between 5:00pm and 7:00pm. Light snacks and beverages will be available, and you will have a chance to catch-up with your colleagues or perhaps go out to dinner. Two optional pre-sessions and the first of two Evaluator meetings begin at 8:30am Thursday morning, and the Annual Meeting officially opens at 10:00am with the NSF plenary session. The meeting will adjourn at 12:00pm on Friday with box lunches, and be followed a one-hour meeting of the I/UCRC Directors Association
Site and Accommodations
The Key Bridge Marriott is located at 1401 Lee Highway in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Francis Scott Key Bridge from the Georgetown district of Washington, DC. Guests can be reached at telephone 1-703-524-6400 and by fax at 1-703-524-8964.
We have reserved a block of guest rooms at the Key Bridge Marriott at the group rate of $179, single/double occupancy, plus state and local taxes (currently 10.25%). Click here to make your guest room reservations and type in your check-in date to begin. Or call the Key Bridge directly at 703-524-6400, or Marriott Reservations at 800-676-2959and be sure to reference the “NSF I/UCRC Annual Meeting.” To secure our group rate and ensure availability, please make your reservations by Monday, December 8, 2008, and before our block fills.
Key Bridge guest amenities include a full-service health club with Universal weight equipment, free weights, sauna, indoor (and seasonal outdoor) swimming pool, and whirlpool; in-room coffee and tea service; and weekday newspaper delivery to your door. Check-in time is 4:00pm; check-out time is 1:00pm.
Registration
If you register and pay by December 8, 2008, the Annual Meeting registration fee is $150. Thereafter and onsite, the fee increases to $175. Registrations secured with a purchase order by this date also qualify for the early rate. NSF staff are required to register and pay the registration fee, which is a reimbursable expense.
Local Transportation and Parking
The Key Bridge Marriott is easily accessible via taxi and public transportation. The Rosslyn Metro station (Blue and Orange lines) is two blocks from the hotel via the pedestrian skywalk. When you exit the station, turn left and follow the signs to the skywalk. Once you get up there, you will see the Key Bridge Marriott.
Georgetown University also offers a neighborhood shuttle from the Rosslyn Metro to the Key Bridge Marriott from 7:00am to 11:00pm. It costs $1.00 and departs from the front entrance of the Metro station. It generally runs every 15 minutes and also picks up and drops off in front of the hotel.
Taxi fare is approximately $15.00 - $18.00 from Washington Reagan National Airport and $50.00 - $60.00 from Washington Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International Airports. Please note that the Key Bridge Marriott does not offer shuttle service directly to and from these airports. If you wish to reserve SuperShuttle transportation, click here.
The maximum daily hotel parking rate at the Key Bridge Marriott is $12.00 per day Sunday through Thursday for overnight guests and non-guests, and $10.00 per day Friday and Saturday.
Shipping
Should you need to ship anything to the Key Bridge, please label your parcel(s) as follows and it will be held for your arrival:
Key Bridge Marriott
Attn: Jon Kaufman
Director of Events
1401 Lee Highway
Arlington, VA 22209
Hold for <guest name>, arriving <arrival date>, NSF I/UCRC Annual Meeting, January 7 - 9, 2009
Box ___ of ___
High-Speed Internet Access for Guests
Wireless Internet access is available in all public areas of the hotel. Wired Internet is available in guest rooms for $9.95 per day, which includes unlimited local and long distance (domestic), and meeting rooms. [Is this still true? What are the exact specs for Internet access? People want to know.]
Climate and Attire
Temperatures for the Washington, DC, area in January typically range from 27-43oF, but we always encourage our attendees to check their favorite weather sources before traveling. (We have seen ice storms and early cherry blossoms over the years.)
Business and business-casual attire are both appropriate for the meeting, and we remind you to bring what you may need to utilize the hotel’s exercise facilities or walk about town on your own.
Meals
Meals include Wednesday evening hospitality (light snacks), two continental breakfasts, buffet lunch on Thursday and box lunch on Friday, breaks, and the Thursday evening reception (heavy hors d’oeuvres). For dinner suggestions on Wednesday or Thursday evening, the Key Bridge has excellent in-house options. The concierge will also be happy to assist you if you are looking for something in particular in the neighborhood or DC area.
Cancellation and Transferability
Cancellations must be received in writing by Monday, December 29, 2008, in order for your registration fee to be refunded less a $25 administration fee, and all refunds will be processed after the meeting. Refunds will not be made if no written cancellation is received and you do not attend the Meeting (“no show”). Cancellation may be made to Kate Ryan by email kryan@abecker.com, or by fax 262-334-3808.
Registrations are transferable within your Center; just let us know who is replacing whom, so that the onsite materials can be as current as possible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kate Ryan, 262-334-3844.
Thank you and good wishes to you for the upcoming holidays!
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