Child care will be available from highly qualified, bonded, insured providers. Children from 6 weeks to 14 years may be enrolled. If you are interested in child care, contact the Rhode Island office at 800-343-0062, ext. 202 or via e-mail at meetings@informs.org no later than September 1; firm commitments needed by October 3.
Dallas has a mild climate in October. Temperatures in the day average in the high 60s and drop to the high 40s overnight. Rainfall is moderate.
Dallas is the 8th largest city in the United States. It is a city of contrasts: a little bit of country, a touch of western and a south-of-the-border flavor blended with soaring skyscrapers and neon lights. In 1841, Dallas was a settlement of just 2 log cabins. Today it is the business capital of the Southwest and houses the 3rd largest concentration of corporate headquarters and high-tech companies in the country.
Dallas boasts more restaurants and shopping centers per capita than New York City. The hotel for the meeting is the Hyatt Regency, a very modern building adjacent to an elevated rotating bar and restaurant and the Reunion sports arena. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown's historic West End District where you'll find more than 80 shops and 55 restaurants, street mimes, horse and buggy rides and nightly live musical entertainment. A light rail station is connected to the hotel with transportation throughout the city.
Dallas has plentiful arts districts, museums, galleries and a superb symphony center. Sports play a key role in the city's off-hours entertainment. This is home base for the Dallas Cowboys, the Mavericks basketball team, the Texas Rangers baseball team, the Stars hockey team and the Sidekicks soccer team. Within walking distance from the hotel is the Sixth Floor Museum located at the former Texas School Book Depository, the site of the Kennedy assassination. Numerous theme parks, natural parks and lakes provide ample opportunities for relaxation.
So as not to miss the many e-mails that we are all flooded with, e-mail terminals will be set up in the Colonnade Exhibit Hall to check for messages.
Exhibits will be located in the Colonnade Exhibit Hall. Leading software developers and publishers will showcase the latest software products, technical reference materials and specialized services. Exhibit hours will be:
- Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm
- Monday 9:00am-5:00pm
- Tuesday 9:00am-5:00pm
- Wednesday 9:00am-12noon
The Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion is the official headquarters for the INFORMS Fall Meeting. A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees; conference rates are $115 single, $130 double, $150 triple, $170 quad. Space is limited and may not be available after September 23. Call 800-233-1234 or 214-651-1234 for reservations or fax the reservation form to the hotel at 214-712-7217.
The preliminary and final meeting programs can be accessed on INFORMS Online at http://www.informs.org. Information will be updated periodically.
The INFORMS Job Placement Service, JPS, helps OR/MS professionals locate employment opportunities in academia, government and private industries. Employers from a wide variety of professional interest areas regularly participate in this program. It runs on a semi-annual basis, January-June and July-December.
The INFORMS JPS is now up and running for the Fall Dallas Meeting. Go to http://www.informs.org/JPS/ and check out:
- On-line registration for applicants and employers;
- 24-hour access to job listings and applicant files;
- On-site interviewing facilities at national meetings;
- Hard copy booklets of all active participants;
- Low fees (free for student members)
In its efforts to enhance electronic services to its membership, INFORMS is creating a new Web-based database of presentations related to OR/MS. Why waste your beautiful slide shows on a single performance? Why not make them available to the 12,000 INFORMS members who do not attend your presentation? And to many times that number around the world?
There is now an easy way to do this: the INFORMS Database of Presentations in OR/MS. This site is currently being developed by Professor Ramesh Sharda of Oklahoma State University, sharda@okstate.edu.
If you have presentation-related materials on-line, you can add the URL to the database. If your materials are not already on-line but are in a Web-friendly format -- preferably HTML, PowerPoint, Adobe's portable document format (pdf), or postscript -- then INFORMS will host the file for you. And for at least the next year or so, INFORMS will even convert your materials to one of these formats provided that you are a full-time practitioner.
Check out the URL http://www.informs.org/Presentation/, and add your presentation to the database.
Direct written withdrawals to the INFORMS Rhode Island office. Withdrawals received by September 1 will be reflected in the final version of the meeting program; others received after this date will be listed in the addendum to the program. If you will be unable to attend the meeting, please notify us to withdraw your paper. Withdrawals may be faxed to 401-274-3189 or emailed to ginni.mcgee@informs.org.
Network and share experiences, ideas and solutions with other professionals -- or, just relax. Refreshments will be available. The lounge, in the Colonnade Exhibit Hall, will be open Monday and Tuesday, 9:00am-5:00pm.
- Cancellations & Refunds
Payments will be refunded only if a written cancellation is received in the INFORMS Rhode Island postmarked no later than October 22. Cancellations may also be faxed to 401-274-3189 or emailed to meetings@informs.org and must meet this deadline.
- On-Site Registration
Meeting registration will be located on the Concourse-Lobby Level during the following hours:
- Saturday, 10/25 4:00pm-8:00pm
- Sunday, 10/26 7:30am-5:00pm
- Monday, 10/27 7:30am-5:00pm
- Tuesday, 10/28 7:30am-5:00pm
- Wednesday, 10/29 7:30am-12noon
The registration fee allows admittance to all technical sessions, the General Reception and to the exhibit hall. Name badges must be worn to all INFORMS sessions, functions and events. Misplaced badges may be replaced at the registration desk by showing your receipt. Meals are not included in the registration fee. If you attend workshops or special paid functions, an additional fee is required. ALL ATTENDEES, INCLUDING SESSION CHAIRS AND SPEAKERS, MUST REGISTER AND PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE.
- Pre-Registration
Attendees are urged to pre-register for the meeting; pre-registration is less expensive, quicker and easier than on-site registration. Complete the pre-registration form and mail it to INFORMS Dallas, 2 Charles Street, Suite 300, Providence, RI 02904 on or before October 1. Fees may be paid by credit card (AMEX, MasterCard or VISA -- fax to 401-274-3189) or by check or money order, payable to INFORMS Dallas '97. Registration payments may also be made via the Web at http://www.informs.org using your credit card; this is a secure server. The deadline for pre-registration is firm; all payments postmarked after the October 1 deadline will be charged the full, on-site registration fee. Registration materials may be picked up in the registration area on the Concourse-Lobby Level.
Rates By 10/1 By 10/1 INFORMS Members $180 $205 Non-Members $220 $245 Student/Retired $65 $65 Guests $25 $25
Special
Services/AssistanceAttendees requiring special accommodations or services for hotel rooms, session rooms or special events may contact Cynthia J. Rinaldi at 800-343-0062, ext. 203, by fax at 401-274-3189 or via e-mail at cynthia.rinaldi@informs.org no later than 2 weeks before the meeting.
DFW International Airport serves all major carriers and Dallas Love Field serves Southwest Airlines. The Hyatt Regency Dallas (300 Reunion Boulevard) is 23 miles from DFW and taxi fare is approximately $35. The Hyatt is 7 miles from Love Field and taxi fare is approximately $12. A Super Shuttle bus is available from both airports for a fare of $11. From DFW, use the courtesy phone in the baggage claim area to obtain instructions on where to meet bus. From Love Field, make a reservation by calling 1-800-258-3826. After you arrive use the courtesy phone in the baggage claim area to get instructions on where to meet the bus. From Love Field, second person in a party of 2 travels for $6.
If you rent a car at DFW, take the South airport exit, 183 East to Dallas. Highway 183 merges with 35E South. Take the Commerce Street/Reunion Blvd. exit. Next take a right on Houston and a right on Reunion. Valet parking is $12/day at the Hyatt. DART light rail service is available for those traveling in Dallas. From the North take the Red Line to Union Station and the tunnel to the Hyatt. DART rail fare is $1.
Get there for less! Call our official travel agency, Conventions in America at 1-800-929-4242, 619-453-3686, FAX 619-453-7976 and ask for Group #560, M-F, 6:30am-5:00pm, Pacific Time. You will receive 5%-10% off the lowest applicable fares on American Airlines, or the lowest available fare on any carrier. Travel between October 22 - November 1, 1997. All attendees booking through CIA will receive free flight insurance and be entered in their quarterly drawing for domestic travel for 2! Alamo Rent A Car is also offering special rates with unlimited free mileage and bonus frequent flyer miles. To call direct: American, 1-800-433-1790 and ask for Starfile # 34O7UC or Alamo, 1-800-732-3232, ID# 269720 GR.