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Meetings
2007 SARA Annual Meeting and Technical Conference
National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank WV
July 1 - 3, 2007

Conference Registration Fee:

The fee for the 2007 Conference is $55 US for SARA members and members of SARA Affiliate Societies (European Radio Astronmy Club, Society of Amateur Scientists, and SETI League), $65 US for non-members. This fee includes Conference registration and one copy of the published Conference Proceedings, to be distributed at the meeting. It does not include the recommended Meal Plan (see below). Checks (in US Dollars only, drawn on a US bank) should be sent in advance to:

SARA Treasurer Tom Crowley
treasurer_at_radio-astronomy_dot_org
42 Ivy Chase
Atlanta, GA 30342 USA
phone (404)233-6886

Note: It is a long standing policy that family members accompanying a SARA Conference attendee do not have to pay an additional registration fee.

Meal Plan:

Green Bank is a small community with few dining establishments. Thus, SARA has arranged for conference attendees to purchase a meal plan at the NRAO employee's cafeteria for $48 US per person, to include:

The meal plan fee also helps to fund refreshments and coffee during the Conference presentations, and snacks in the Drake Lounge in the evenings. We urge all attendees to elect the Meal Plan, as the NRAO Cafeteria will not be able to accommodate individual ala carte orders from a group as large as ours.

Tom Crowley will handle the meal plan reservations with the registration fees. Please incude meal plan payments for yourself and any accompanying persons, in your registration check.

Conference Proceedings:

A formal bound Proceedings, including technical papers and supplemental material, is being professionally published this year by ARRL. One copy of the Proceedings is included in your paid Conference Registration. A limited number of additional copies will be available at Green Bank for $20 US each. You may, if you wish, reserve and prepay additional Proceedings copies, by including the appropriate amount in your check to our Treasurer.

Lodging:

Attendees should make their own reservations at one of the (regrettably few) motels or Bed & Breakfasts located in the Greenbank vicinity. Do not try to "show up" and expect to find a room, as the motels are not that big and may fill up if anything else is going on in the area.

Dorm Rooms:

There are usually a few dorm rooms at NRAO made available to us which are assigned in the following priority:

  1. Attendees with disabilities / special circumstances
  2. Conference Speakers
  3. Conference Organizers
  4. SARA Officers and Board Members
  5. General SARA Membership

We often do not know until close to conference time exactly how many rooms are available. It is very dependant on how busy NRAO is with visiting scientists. Tom Crowley makes the room assignments. So do not call NRAO asking about these rooms. We will stay in contact with NRAO and email people if rooms become available. If you would like to be placed on the standby list email Tom. And remember, to enhance your standings on the list, contact our Vice President and be a presenter at the conference. We usually only get 8-11 rooms. It is therefore recommended that you do not wait until the last minute to make reservations at local motels, thinking you might get a dorm room. And to enhance your standings for next year, run for an office in SARA and/or be a presenter.

Dorm room prices are comparable to the local motels.

Bed and Breakfasts:

There are a few Bed & Breakfasts within reasonable driving distance:

Becky Warner of NRAO reports: "I cannot recommend one over the other because I have not been in them. I have seen the Sweet Thyme Inn and the Carriage House from the outside and the appearance of both of these is very nice."

Jim Sky and Andrea Peace have stayed a couple times at:

Buffalo Run Lodge
HC 63, Box 38C
Arbovale, West Virginia 24915
(304) 456-3036
Toll Free: (800) CALL WVA (225-5982)
Email: buffalorunlodge@yahoo.com
Hosts: Bruce and Carol Stewart

It's a bit off the road, so Jim suggests calling first for directions. They called it "rustic but fun".

Camping:

There is a campground beside the Boyer Motel for those wanting to make it a family camping vacation. I don't have the phone number but the folks at the Boyer can probably tell you all about it. (Note: NRAO policy does not allow overnight "parking lot camping" in RVs on their facility.)

Nearby Tourist Attractions:

Cass Railroad - a shay steam locomotive ride for the whole family. Located about 10 miles west of Greenbank. An enjoyable hour ride up a nearby mountain and back aboard a restored logging train.

Snowshoe Ski Resort - Nothing going on in summer. But a fun ride if you've heard of it but never been. Kind of an upside down ski resort. By that I mean the hotels are at the top of the mountain, and you ski down and get chair lifted back up. The same mountain also sports a challenging golf course with unusual tee to green elevation changes.

Spruce Knob - State Park about 30 miles north of Greenbank. Views of several states from a mountain lookout tower on a clear day.

Seneca Caverns - A limestone cave tour and rocks for your collection.

Luray Caverns - Luray Virginia. A several hour ride from Greenbank, but well worth it on the way there or on the way home. One of the largest cave tours in the east. Sports an unusual console organ that plays carefully selected stalactites with small solenoid driven hammers.

...know of some more? pass them along to webmaster_at_radio-astronomy_dot_org and we'll post them here for others to enjoy.

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