2008 Annual Meeting From the Supplement to the 123rd Annual Meeting

Important Details about the
123rd Annual Meeting

By Sharon K. Tune

General Information

Location of main events: AHA and affiliated societies sessions will be held in the Hilton New York and Sheraton New York. The AHA headquarters office will be located in the second floor promenade area of the Hilton. The Local Arrangements Committee/Press office will be in the Hilton’s Morgan Suite, also on the second floor.

Registration: Meeting registration counters will be located in the Hilton’s second floor promenade and will be open Friday, January 2, from 12:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.; Saturday, January 3, from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, January 4, from 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Onsite member registration will be $170 members, $190 nonmembers, $75 student members, $85 student nonmembers, $75 unemployed, and $40 precollegiate teachers. The registration area will be divided alphabetically into several workstations. Meeting participants can also pay AHA membership dues and purchase AHA publications at the “Membership” and “Publications” counters. Publications can be examined at the Association’s booth 419, located in the Hilton’s Americas Hall. Individuals who have preregistered should go to preregistration counters to collect badges and other meeting material. Exhibitors should go to counters marked “Exhibitors” to collect badges.

Refund Policy: Advance registrants who are unable to attend the convention may request a refund of their registration fee. A copy of the e-mailed preregistration confirmation should accompany a written request. All refunds are subject to a $20 processing fee. No refunds will be issued for requests postmarked after December 19, 2008.

Exhibit Hall: Exhibits will be located in the Hilton’s Americas Hall. It will be open Friday, January 2, from 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.; Saturday, January 3, from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Sunday, January 4, from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; and Monday, January 5, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Job Center: The Job Center (formerly Job Register), located in the Hilton’s Rhinelander Gallery, will be open Friday, January 2, from 12:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.; Saturday, January 3, from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Sunday, January 4, from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; and Monday, January 5, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Admission to AHA sessions, exhibits, and the Job Center requires an AHA badge.

Messaging System and Internet Access

The AHA will employ an electronic two-way messaging system to allow everyone registered for the meeting to communicate. The system will be accessible via a link on the AHA annual meeting page. Meeting attendees are encouraged to use the internet services provided in their hotel rooms and other public locations. Extensive information about the availability and price of internet services, including free wireless options, is posted on the AHA web site. A limited number of internet terminals will also be available in the Hilton’s Americas Hall II during exhibit hall hours. The messaging system will be the designated form of communication for those using the Job Center, and interviewers and interviewees can use it to schedule and confirm interviews. AHA staff answering the phones at the meeting will be able to post messages for attendees directly into the system.

Attendees will be able to sign up to receive an SMS/cell phone text message alert when they have a new message. Persons with messages waiting will be able to use any internet-connected computer to log in using a password that will be printed on their badges. More information will be emailed to those who register for the meeting. Instruction sheets will also be available on site.

Meal Ticket Cashier

Tickets for meal events—except those sponsored by organizations that sell their own tickets—will be available from the meal ticket cashiers at the designated counter in the Hilton’s second floor promenade. All payments must be made in U.S. currency, by cash or credit card. Meal ticket cashiers will have a list of all luncheons and the CWH breakfast, and whether the sponsoring organizations will have tickets available for sale at the annual meeting.

A limited number of tickets for the annual Breakfast Meeting of the AHA Committee on Women Historians will be available through the cashiers on a first come, first served basis. These tickets will be $30. Breakfast tickets prepaid through the meeting preregistration form will be distributed with registration badges.

Eight luncheons will be held during the annual meeting, five on Saturday, January 3, and three on Sunday, January 4.

Schedule of Luncheon Meetings

Saturday, January 3

Sunday, January 4

Affiliated Society Display

The West Promenade on the Hilton’s third floor has been reserved from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 3, for affiliated societies to display materials and to meet with members of the profession.

—Sharon K. Tune is the AHA's convention director.

Last Updated: December 15, 2008 2:00 PM