Bootcamp for Planning Grantees
With so many new centers, sites, and planning grantees this year, we are offering an optional “Bootcamp” on Wednesday afternoon, January 13, from 3:00 to 5:00pm in the Capital View Ballroom (14th floor). This session is open to first year directors and site directors as well. Again, this session is optional and pre-registration is required.

Posters from the Class of 2009
The 12 Centers of the Class of 2009 will present posters of their research at the Thursday evening reception and on Friday morning. Class: Please see the Poster Specifications for more information. Materials for assembling the posters will be available in the Capital View Ballroom (14th floor) beginning at 3:00pm on Wednesday, January 13.

Wednesday Arrival and Friday Departure
If you are planning to arrive at the Key Bridge Marriott by early Wednesday evening, January 13, please drop in at our informal hospitality suite between 5:00pm and 7:00pm in the Capital View Ballroom (14th floor).  Light snacks and beverages will be available, and you will have a chance to meet or catch-up with your colleagues or perhaps go out to dinner.

Thursday morning’s continental breakfast will be available beginning at 7:30am, and followed by an optional pre-session on supplemental funding opportunities at NSF at 8:00am. Evaluators and Operations personnel will also hold meetings during this time. The Annual Meeting officially opens at 9:15am with the NSF plenary session.

The I/UCRC Directors Association will meet in the Capital View Ballroom (14th floor) from 5:00 – 5:30pm on Thursday, adjacent to The Social Hours reception from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

We will adjourn at 12:00pm on Friday and provide box lunches to go.

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 $189, 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 800-676-2959 and 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 14, 2009, 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 14, 2009, the Annual Meeting registration fee is $175.  Thereafter and onsite, the fee increases to $200.  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, in accordance with their attendance plans.

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 approximately three blocks from the hotel via the pedestrian skywalk. Exit the station on the east side (Fort Meyer Drive), and turn left to follow the signs to the skywalk.  Once you get up there, you will see the Key Bridge Marriott across Lee Highway.

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.  (Costs will vary with travel conditions, and number of bags and passengers.) 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: Alaina Austria
Senior Event Manager
1401 Lee Highway
Arlington, VA 22209

Hold for <guest name>, arriving <arrival date>, NSF I/UCRC Annual Meeting, January 13 - 15, 2010

Box ___ of ___

High-Speed Internet Access for Guests
Wireless Internet access is available in the Key Bridge lobby and in Connexion, the lobby bar.  Internet is also available in guest rooms for $12.95 per day, which includes unlimited local and domestic calling. We will also provide wireless access for the Potomac Ballroom, and other meeting space if possible.

Climate and Attire
Temperatures for the Washington, DC, area in January typically range from 27-43°F, 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 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, or the concierge will be happy to assist you in finding something in particular in the neighborhood or DC area.

Cancellation and Transferability
Cancellations must be received in writing by Monday, December 28, 2009, in order for your registration fee to be refunded less a $25 administration fee.  Refunds will not be made if no written cancellation is received and you do not attend the Meeting (“no show”).  Cancellation may be made online via the registration mechanism, or you may notify Louise Robson.

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 about the meeting or hotel reservations, please feel free to contact Kate Ryan, 262-334-3844. For registration questions, contact Louise Robson, 920-467-0920.

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you next year!