The Society of Rheology: 78th Annual Meeting (Oct 2006) General Information

Location

The 78th Annual Meeting of The Society of Rheology will be held in Portland, Maine from October 8 to 12, 2006; the associated optional short course will be offered on October 7 and 8. All sessions will be held at the Holiday Inn By the Bay Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Portland, located within walking distance of the Old Port, Portland’s working waterfront, and Arts District.

Portland, Maine

Located on the coast of Maine, Portland sits on a peninsula that juts out into Casco Bay. It nestles between Maine’s forest-covered mountains and spectacular rugged coast. In the Casco Bay region of Greater Portland to Freeport, within a 15-mile radius surrounding the state’s largest city – Portland, you’ll find unspoiled landscapes, beautiful vistas, succulent lobster, stately lighthouses, outdoor adventures, and exceptional shopping. Right here, in Greater Portland, you can experience a bit of what everyone’s talking about, a small piece of “everything maine.”

The past is present throughout the Greater Portland Casco Bay region. Ambling through downtown, you’ll notice the Victorian architecture and cobblestone streets residing graciously beside modern office buildings. In the Old Port, great brick buildings, once warehouses for local merchants, now hold a myriad of original shops, galleries and restaurants. Its history intricately bound to the sea, Portland remains proud of its working waterfront and the celebrated beauty of its rock-bound coast. The waterfront provides access to the sea for commercial shipping and a host of pleasure activities. With some of Maine’s best water-access to islands, historic forts and lighthouses, Greater Portland is a choice destination for maritime enthusiasts. In years past, tall ships plied the waters of Portland Harbor where cargo freighters still operate in one of the deepest, best-protected harbors on the east coast. Today, from the welcoming beacon of Portland Head Light to the salty lobstermen of Casco Bay, the coast remains an area steeped in nautical history and graced with the beauty of the sea.

Portland boasts a thriving arts scene and an exclusive Downtown Arts District. As one of the premier cultural centers in northern New England, Portland’s visual and performing arts rival those of regions much larger in size. Stroll through the world-class Portland Museum of Art, or wander the cobblestone streets in search of local galleries. Shop for gourmet foods in the bustling Public Market and in the evening dive into a nightlife that features award-winning local brews and a flourishing live-music scene. From classical to cutting-edge, performing and visual arts are vibrantly alive in Portland and infuse the region with a surprising sophistication.

Additional information on Portland and the surrounding area can be found the following web sites:

www.portlandmaine.com (Portland)
www.portlandjetport.org (Portland International Jetport)
www.transportme.com (Portland Transportation Information)
www.visitportland.com (Greater Portland and Casco Bay area)
www.freeportusa.com (Freeport, Maine)
www.visitmaine.com (Maine)

State Street. Courtesy of Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland.

Holiday Inn By the Bay

Located in the Victorian seaport city of Portland, Maine, Holiday Inn By the Bay provides sweeping views of Portland Harbor and the White Mountains. Within walking distance of the hotel, you can stroll along the working waterfront, enjoy a boat cruise on the bay, and taste the charm of Old Port’s cozy restaurants, shops, and galleries. Also nearby are the Children’s Museum, Portland Museum of Art, L. L. Bean Factory Outlet Store, Civic Center, and Merrill Auditorium. The famous Portland Head Light and Freeport outlet shopping are only a short drive away.

A block of rooms will be available at the Holiday Inn By the Bay for the participants in the meeting. Free high-speed wireless Internet access is available in all rooms and conference areas of the hotel. Please see the lodging accommodations page for hotel rates and reservation details.

Holiday Inn By the Bay from Portland Harbor.

Air Transportation

The Holiday Inn By the Bay is approximately 10 minutes from the Portland International Jetport, which is served by Continental Airlines, Delta, Northwest, United Express, U.S. Airways, and JetBlue. Courtesy vans between the conference hotel and the jetport are available. At the jetport you may contact the hotel for courtesy van by using the hotel courtesy phone near the baggage claim area. Major rental car agencies are located at the jetport. Taxi fare from the jetport to the conference hotel is approximately $10.

Ground Transportation

Boston is just two hours south of Portland, and you can drive to Portland from most points in New England within four hours. You can also get to Portland by bus or train.

Bus

National and regional bus lines offer numerous daily routes into Portland. Check out the schedules at www.transportme.org.

Downeaster Train

Described as “the most charming” train on the continent by Travel & Leisure, you may take the Amtrak Downeaster Train from several Massachusetts and New Hampshire points. Upon your arrival in Portland, the Portland Explorer bus provides connecting shuttle service to the Old Port and waterfront.

Driving Directions to Holiday Inn By the Bay from I-95

Take I-95 to Exit 44 (formerly Exit 6a).
Continue on I-295 to Exit 7 (Franklin Street).
Stay on Franklin Street for five (5) lights.
At fifth light, take a right onto Middle Street, travel approximately 1 mile. (Middle Street turns into Spring Street.)
Holiday Inn is on the left.

	For more detailed driving directions, please click once on the map below.

Parking

Parking in the parking garages underneath the conference hotel is free to all registered guests of the hotel. Attendees who are commuting may also park at no charge in the conference hotel’s parking garages, provided spaces are available. You can also use the Civic Center parking garage on Spring Street (opposite the conference hotel). There is an hourly charge of $1 (up to $12 per day) to park in this garage.

Registration

Conference registration includes access to all technical sessions and the vendor display, the program and abstract booklets, Monday Society Luncheon, receptions, and coffee breaks. The registration fee does not include the Banquet, which is subject to limited seating. Please see details on the meeting registration page.

On-site registration will be held on Sunday, October 8, 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Holiday Inn By The Bay. Registration will continue each day, Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Welcoming Reception

The Welcoming Reception will be held from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Sunday, October 8 in the Vermont room at the Holiday Inn By the Bay. The Welcoming Reception is sponsored by TA Instruments.

Society Luncheon

The Society Luncheon will be held in the Casco Bay Exhibit Hall at the Holiday Inn By the Bay on Monday, October 9, beginning at 12:00 PM.

Society Reception

The Society Reception will be held in the Portland Museum of Art on Monday, October 9, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The museum is located one block away from Holiday Inn By the Bay. The Society Reception is sponsored in part by Malvern Instruments.

Society Business Meeting

All attendees are encouraged to attend the annual business meeting of The Society of Rheology on Tuesday, October 10, at 6:10 PM. The business meeting will be held in the Massachusetts room at the Holiday Inn By the Bay.

Bingham Award Reception and Banquet

The Bingham Award Reception will start at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 10, in the Casco Bay Exhibit Hall at the Holiday Inn By the Bay. This will be followed by the Bingham Award Banquet at 8:00 PM in the Vermont room. Entry to the Reception has no charge and the tickets to the Banquet can be purchased with meeting registration (see meeting registration page). The Bingham Award Reception is sponsored by Xpansion Instruments.

Poster Session

The poster session will be held from 6:10 PM to 8:10 PM on Wednesday, October 11 in the Casco Bay Exhibit Hall at the Holiday Inn By the Bay. The reception at the Poster Session is sponsored by Anton-Paar USA.

Exhibits

Vendors will demonstrate their products Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, in the New Hampshire room at the Holiday Inn By the Bay. Coffee and refreshments will be served in the exhibit area. Vendors should contact Local Arrangements Committee Chair (Albert Co, University of Maine, 207-581-2282) directly about exhibit space.