March 2005

Media Advisory 2 - 2005 Joint Assembly in New Orleans

Hotel information; Flood prevention field trip planned; Press room information; Press registration form

Contents of this message

1. Hotel Reservations Open 10 March
2. Press Facilities at Joint Assembly
3. Press Field Trip Planned
4. Press registration eligibility information
5. News Media Registration Form

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Note: This advisory does not repeat information in Media Advisory 1 about the four sponsoring organizations of Joint Assembly or important visa regulations for non-U.S. journalists covering the meeting. Please see http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/prrl/prrl0503.html

Reminder: Since 2003, Joint Assembly has replaced AGU's former "Spring Meeting." The partner organizations are different each year. In 2005, AGU is joined by NABS, SEG, and SPD/AAS.

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1. Hotel Reservations Open 10 March

AGU has negotiated special rates with four New Orleans hotels. These rates are available only by booking through ITS, the housing agent for Joint Assembly. Booking will be possible starting around 10 March, and the rates are guaranteed through 20 April, if rooms are still available.

Three of the hotels are within walking distance of the Convention Center; the fourth is about 14 blocks away, with transportation readily available. Rates range from $59 to $135 per night, plus tax, single or double.

Full information is available at http://www.agu.org/meetings/sm05/?content=accomodations

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2. Press Facilities at Joint Assembly

Joint Assembly takes place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, on the banks of the Mississippi River and close to the French Quarter. Press facilities consist of the Press Room and Press Briefing Room.

The Press Room is Room 235, on Level 2. It will be equipped with telephones (no charge for business calls), wi-fi for laptops equipped with appropriate cards, and computers with Internet access. It will be open from 0730h to 1730h daily, Monday to Friday. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served daily.

The Press Briefing Room is Room 326, adjacent to the Press Room. It is the venue for press conferences on some of the newsworthy discoveries to be reported at Joint Assembly. Over 3,100 abstracts were received, and they will be organized into sessions by the Assembly's Program Committee in mid-March. At that time, we will begin the process of developing press conferences, which will be announced in future advisories.

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3. Press Field Trip Planned

We are developing a field trip for press registrants. Although it must be considered tentative at this point, the plan is to meet on Sunday, 22 May, for a tour on the theme of flood prevention in New Orleans. As the city lies below sea level, it is vulnerable to inundation from both hurricanes and the Mississippi River. We expect to visit flood control facilities operated by the Corps of Engineers and other agencies. Details will be forthcoming in future advisories.

Press registrants who would like to participate should so indicate on the Press Registration Form. (If you have already submitted the form, send an e-mail to [email protected] to express your interest.)

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4. Press registration eligibility information

Press registrants receive a badge that provides access to any of the scientific sessions of the meeting, as well as to the Press Room and Briefing Room. No one will be admitted without a valid badge.

Eligibility for press registration is limited to the following persons:

Note: Representatives of publishing houses, for-profit corporations, and the business side of news media must register at the main registration desk at the meeting and pay the appropriate fees, regardless of possession of any of the above documents. They are not accredited as Press at the meeting.

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5. News Media Registration Form

The News Media Registration Form is set up for online submission, but includes a link to a version that can be printed out and faxed or mailed. Go to: http://www.agu.org/meetings/sm05/review/?content=media&show=press_reg

The last day for advance press registration is 13 May. If you register in advance, your badge will be waiting when you arrive. You may also register onsite in the Press Room, Room 235.