Fall 2000 meeting of the American Geophysical Union

Information for Media Representatives

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Contents of this message
1. General information
2. Hotel information
3. Sponsor
4. Press facilities
5. Press registration
6. AGU 2000 Fall Meeting Press Registration Form
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1. General information
Venue: The annual Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union takes place Friday through Tuesday, December 15 to 19, 2000, at the Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard Street, San Francisco, California 94103.

Pre-registration: As usual, we expect over 8,000 scientists to attend, along with more than 100 science writers and public information officers. Media representatives and PIOs are encouraged to register in advance, using the form at the end of this message. Those who do will avoid waiting on line to receive press credentials at the meeting.

Abstracts: Press pre-registrants will also receive, while supplies last, the Abstract volume by mail or express service. This will help you plan ahead to navigate through the estimated 7,000 oral and poster presentations in the 211 planned sessions at the meeting. Others will receive their copy of the Abstracts, along with the Program Book, upon check-in at the Press Room, where on-site press registration is also possible. Note: the Abstract book will be available in November. Abstracts will also be viewable on the AGU web site. Subsequent advisories will provide the URL, once it is established.

The planned special sessions are listed and described, subject to modification, on the AGU web site: [http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm00_spss.html].

In addition to saving and reviewing this advisory, please consult the AGU web site for information about the meeting and San Francisco.

The URL for general Fall Meeting information is [http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm00top.html].

2. Hotel reservations
To receive the specially negotiated AGU Fall Meeting rates, you must register online at the AGU web site. The URL for hotel information and reservations is [https://www.cmrus.com/agu2000/welcome.asp]. Rates for singles vary from $81 to $140 per night at the 17 hotels in the program. Their distance from the Moscone Center ranges from one block to six miles. You are urged to book your hotel room early in order to secure the location or price range you prefer. The deadline for online registration at meeting rates is November 13.

3. Sponsor
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is a society of over 38,000 members in 115 countries with the purpose of advancing progress in the earth, atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, space, and planetary sciences. AGU is dedicated to fostering high-quality scientific research, disseminating the results of that research both to the scientific community and the general public, enhancing educational opportunities in science, and encouraging international cooperation in geophysics.

4. Press facilities
A Press Room, Briefing Room, and a "quiet room" (intended primarily for broadcast interviews) will be available. A subsequent advisory will provide room numbers for these facilities and phone and fax numbers for the Press Room.

Press Room hours of operation:
December 15-19: 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The room will be equipped with telephones (no charge for business calls), fax machine, copier, and computer with Internet access. Press releases relevant to the meeting will be available, as will a message board. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided daily.

The Briefing Room will be the site of press conferences and can also be used for individual interviews and live feeds. Press conferences pertaining to newsworthy sessions will be developed once all abstracts have been received and will be the subject of subsequent advisories, starting in October.

5. Press Registration
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. A press registration form will be found at the end of this message.

Eligibility for press registration is limited to the following persons:

Working press employed by bona fide news media: must present a press card, business card, or letter of introduction from an editor of the publication.

Freelance science writers: must present a current membership card from NASW, NCSWA (or other regional affiliate of NASW), ISWA, or SEJ, or evidence of by-lined work pertaining to science intended for the general public and published in 1999 or 2000.

Public information officers of scientific societies, educational institutions, and government agencies: must present a business card.

Note: Representatives of, publishing houses, for-profit corporations, and the business side of news media must pre-register through the AGU web site or register at the main registration desk at the meeting and pay the appropriate fees.

Moscone Convention Center
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, California
December 15-19, 2000
(Friday-Tuesday)

Press Registration Form follows.

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AGU 2000 FALL MEETING PRESS REGISTRATION FORM
You are encouraged to register online. An online version of this form is available at [http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/prrl/fm00pressreg.html]. If you prefer, this form may be copied and returned to Harvey Leifert by email or by fax (202-328-0566). Once the Abstract book is available, and while supplies last, it will be sent to registrants, upon request, below. (Others will receive a copy in the Press Room.)

Name: ____________________________________________________________
(to be printed on badge)

Media Affiliation:
____________________________________________________________
(Freelancers: Describe your eligibility per criteria in Media Advisory 00-23 of August 24, 2000.)

Mailing address:
________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________

Fax: ________________________________

Email: _______________________________________________

Abstract Book (Check one box below):
Send Abstracts to me at the above address by USPS First Class Mail.
Send Abstracts to me at above address (no P.O. boxes!) via express service.
Name of service (e.g., FedEx, UPS, etc.) ___________________________
Class of service (e.g., next morning, 2nd day, 3rd day, etc.)
__________________
My Account Number ______________________________
Do not send Abstracts in advance; hold for me in the Press Room.

Date: ____________________

Press pre-registration deadline is Friday, December 8, 2000.
(Form must be received at AGU by that date for your badge to be available upon arrival, avoiding delay. You may also register in the Press Room.)

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