NEW: 28 MARCH 2008

AGENDA (UPDATED - 3/27/08)

POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (Coming Soon)

MEETING LOCATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Chicago Hilton O'Hare
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago, Illinois

Tel: (1) 773-686-8000
Fax: (1) 773-601-2873
Web: www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIOHHH

We will be meeting in the Dublin-London Room on the Mezzanine Level of the Hilton O'Hare.

RESERVATIONS
A block of rooms is being held for our group for the nights of 31 March-1 April. The government room rate is $149.00 plus 15.4% tax per night ($171.95). The hotel will also offer this rate for the two days before and after our block dates, based on availibility.

All reservations are being made through Brian Jackson at UCAR-JOSS, bjackson_at_ucar.edu, 303-497-8663. Please contact him with any questions or modifications.

Federal attendees - If you have not already done so, please forward your arrival and departures dates and any special hotel requests to Brian Jackson (303-497-8663, bjackson_at_ucar.edu) as soon as possible. Within the following two weeks, Brian will send you your confirmation number. You will be responsible for your own room and tax charges as well as all incidental expenses.

UCAR-supported attendees - See TRAVEL below. Your room and tax charges will be direct-billed to UCAR, but you are responsible for all incidental expenses.

If you have made own reservations at the Hilton already, please send your confirmation number to Brian so that our group gets credit for the room.

Please note that there is a $50.00 Early Departure Fee for those who check out early without providing 24 hours notice.

Check-in: 3:00 p.m. Check-out: 12:00 p.m.

Cancellation Policy: Reservations must be canceled by 6:00 p.m. on the scheduled day of arrival to avoid a no-show charge. Please contact Brian to cancel or change your reservation. Should you need to have your reservation cancelled, you will be provided with a cancellation number. The CONUS M&IE rate for Chicago currently is $64.00.

WORKING LUNCHES
Please note that a working lunch will be provided both days, 31 March and 1 April. It is assumed that all meeting participants will attend.

Federal attendees - Please note that UCAR is not allowed to provide meals for federal employees. Therefore federal employees are requested to contribute $18.00 towards the cost of each lunch (the lunch portion of the M&IE for Chicago). See Payment below.

UCAR-supported attendees - $18.00 for each lunch will be deducted from the travel expense reimbursement claims of those attendees receiving travel support from UCAR.

GROUP DINNERS
There will be a Group Dinner on the evenings of 31 MArch and 1 April. It is assumed that all meeting participants will attend. The location will be announced soon.

If you do not plan to attend the group dinner and have not informed Tom Peterson or Brian Jackson, please contact Brian Jackson as soon as possible.

Federal attendees - Please note that UCAR is not allowed to provide meals for federal employees. Therefore federal employees are requested to contribute $31.00 towards the cost of each dinner (the dinner portion of the M&IE for Chicago). See Payment below.

UCAR-supported attendees - $31.00 for each dinner will be deducted from the travel expense reimbursement claims of those attendees receiving travel support from UCAR.

Transportation to the restaurant will be provided. The buses will leave from in front of the hotel at 5:30 p.m.

PAYMENT
It is now possible for federal attendees to pay for their meals via the Internet. Please note that UCAR accepts Visa and MasterCard only.

Federal attendees may combine the lunches and the group dinner into one payment:

$36.00 - 2 working lunches
$62.00 - 2 Group dinners
---------      
$98.00 - Total

1. Please proceed to www.fin.ucar.edu/epayment/startEpayments.do

2. Under "Payment Select", click on "Other Items" and then from the drop-down menu, choose
"USP Meeting #1 - Chicago - 31 March-1 April - Reg Fee", and then click on the "Next" button.

3. On the following screen, enter the amount above and fill in your billing information.
When you are ready, click on the "Start Process" button.

4. You will receive an e-mail confirming your payment.

If you prefer to pay by check, please make your check payable to "UCAR" and send it to Brian Jackson, UCAR-JOSS, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307. I will mail receipts to those who request one, following the meeting.

PRESENTATIONS
A Apple laptop will be used for all presentation projections. However, if your PowerPoint presentation was prepared on a PC and contains animations, please plan to use your own PC laptop to make your presentation.

DIRECTIONS FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL

• From Domestic Terminals 1, 2, 3 (United Airlines, United Express, Northwest, Continental, US Airways, American Airlines, American Eagle, Delta, Reno Air, Air Canada):

  Proceed to the baggage claim area. From there, you may either go through the exit doors and cross the street to the hotel, or to avoid traffic, go down one more level to the underground tunnels. Follow the signs with the Hilton logo. Once you reach the hotel take the elevators or escalators one level up to the lobby for check-in.

• From the International Terminal, take the train to Terminal 2 and proceed to the baggage claim area. From there, you may either go through the exit doors and cross the street to the hotel, or to avoid traffic, go down one more level to the underground tunnels. Follow the signs with the Hilton logo. Once you reach the hotel take the elevators or escalators one level up to the lobby for check-in.

TRAVEL

Federal attendees are responsible for their own travel arrangements, but should provide Brian with the nights they need hotel reservations (see LODGING above).

UCAR-supported attendees - Travel arrangements for non-fdederal attendees will be handled by Brian Jackson through UCAR. Travel support includes round-trip airfare, lodging, per diem, misc. ground transportation and airport parking.

Please contact Brian as soon as possible regarding your travel plans, if you have not done so already. Please include the following information:

* preferred dates and departure times
* preferred departure airport
* your name as it appears on your driver's license
* any frequent flyer program account numbers
* your seating preference
* your Hilton Honors number

Non-Federal Travel & Local Logistics Contact:
Brian Jackson
Meeting Planner
UCAR Joint Office for Science Support
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307
Email: bjackson_at_ucar.edu
Tel: 303-497-8663
Fax: 303-497-8633