2002 Annual Meeting Information
Dear Colleagues:
After a very pleasant summer and extremely tearful good-bye to my
daughter in early September, I'm finally getting around to working the
details for our 2002 User Program Administrators Meeting, October 21-22.
AGENDA: I have received some excellent topics, which are presented below.
Please rank these in order of priority AND send any further suggestions. I'd
like to make this a working meeting, focusing on more discussion and
interaction. (I've been coming across some real sticky issues that I'd love
to bounce off all of you -- ah, the privilege of being the host!)
Data collection/user program metrics changes (Special guest: Bob
Astheimer, DOE/BES) Tying products to the use of the facility (publications,
awards, etc. -- difficulties, solutions, consolidating efforts . . .)
Database consolidation (can we find a way to share common information?)
Issue round-robin*
*I'm making this up, so bear with me . . . The idea is that we set aside
about four hours on the agenda for this item, draw numbers, and make the
rounds with each facility bringing up one issue that they would like ideas
on. We would discuss for 15-20 minutes, and then move on to the next
facility/issue. If a facility runs out of issues (you know, for you perfect
user program managers out there), they can pass to the next facility in
line. Discussions would include a quick verbal presentation of the issue or
new idea and a freeform discussion of what others do or have been thinking
about doing to improve, change, whatever. If you all really hate this idea,
just rate it low on your list of priorities, no hard feelings!
Please respond with more suggestions and your priority rating of those
above by September 16. A draft of the agenda will be available shortly
thereafter.
LOGISTICS: You may fly into the Albuquerque or Santa Fe airports. ABQ is
about a two-hour drive to Los Alamos; Santa Fe about 1 hour. However, flying
into Santa Fe is considerably more expensive. There are shuttles available
from ABQ to Santa Fe, but you need transportation from there to Los Alamos.
I strongly suggest renting a car, although you can certainly coordinate
efforts to save costs.
As for lodging, unfortunately, Los Alamos is pretty limited and has only
one decent hotel, the Holiday Inn Express. Government rates are $59.95 (w/o
taxes) and this hotel does fill up quickly. Other options are the Hilltop
House, the Los Alamos Inn, or several bed and breakfasts. (I strongly
recommend the Holiday Inn and B&B options over the other two hotels.)
Information on lodging in the Los Alamos area is available on our web site
at http://lansce.lanl.gov/users/ACCOMMODATIONSLOSALAMOS.pdf.
Although it requires a commute, the preferred place of lodging is in one
of Santa Fe's downtown hotels. This requires about a 40-50 minute commute to
the meeting each morning, but we can start at 9:00 to make that easier on
you. Downtown Santa Fe is a pleasant tourist location, with fine shops and
GREAT restaurants around the plaza.
We have blocked a group of rooms at one of Santa Fe's best hotels, the
Eldorado, at the government rate of $99/single, $119/double. You will need
to make your reservations directly with the hotel (1-800-955-4455, http://www.eldoradohotel.com/)
NO LATER THAN September 20. After that date, the government rate may not be
available. Please request the "LANL/User Program Managers Mtg" block.
If you would like more information, assistance, recommendations, etc.,
please contact Monica Abeyta at 505-665-1010 or mcabeyta@lanl.gov. We'd be
happy to help!
WEEKEND ACTIVITY: For those of you interested in participating in a group
outing on Sunday, October 20, please let me know. Depending on the size of
the group, I can research various options. New Mexico is a driving state --
there is lots to do, but often it requires some time in the car. Depending
upon interest and numbers, I'll propose some options and we can take it from
there.
For more information on what to do in the Santa Fe area, visit http://santafe.org/index.html
Also, I am planning a working dinner either Sunday or Monday night,
depending upon what the group wants to do on Sunday during the day. Let me
know your travel plans and tourist desires and we'll take it from there.
MAPS, LOCATIONS, ETC.: I will provide this information along with the
draft agenda late next week.
Looking forward to seeing you all, Audrey
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Audrey L. Archuleta, Group Leader Communications & User Coordination Los Alamos
Neutron Science Center LANSCE-4, MS H831 Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA
505-665-1010(p) 505-667-8830(f)
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