A Capital Meeting Inside the Beltway!

Preparations are being made to hold the 1998 Visitor Studies Conference in
Washington, DC.  The ANA Hotel will be VSAs conference hotel from August 4
through August 8 and is large enough to house all participants and provide
adequate meeting space for the pre-conference workshops (August 4 & 5), and
the keynote sessions, poster sessions, and concurrent programs (August 6
through the morning of the 8th ).  The hotel is located at 2401 M St., NW,
just outside of Georgetown and is about 3 blocks from the Foggy Bottom subway
station.  For those who feel a need to physically unwind, the hotel provides a
complimentary lap pool, and a 16,000 sq. ft. health club with complete
exercise facilities including squash and racquetball courts, fully equipped
exercise and weight rooms, massage, sauna, steam room, tanning booths,
whirlpool, and aerobics classes.  There will be a charge for the use of the
health club which is also used by Washingtonians in an effort to keep fit.
Who knows, you may find yourself lifting weights with Brooke Shields who works
out there when she’s in town!

Space has been set aside for the second annual April Award Luncheon and is
large enough that seating will not have to be limited this year.  As plans are
firmed up, information regarding this event such as menu choices,
entertainment, and cost will be published, but we expect to have space for
everyone who wants to attend.
Our Local Committee is chaired by Zahava Doering (Institutional Studies,
Smithsonian Institution) who is working with Kerry DiGiacomo from the same
office, Randi Korn  (Randi Korn & Associates), and Pat Butler (Trustee of the
Historic Alexandria Foundation).  We already know that workshop space is being
held at the Air and Space Museum and that an evening reception will be held at
the Smithsonian Castle.  The reception will take place on Thursday evening
when Smithsonian art museums will be open (Art Night on the Mall).  Randi is
gathering information for some delightful evening activities in Old Town
Alexandria.

Conference Co-chairs are Pat Shettel, VSAs Secretary, and Elaine Beck, a board
member and Curator of Education at the North Carolina Historic Sites, both
experienced conference planners.  They are working with Marta Quintana,
President of API Conference Management, who will be handling registration by
phone, API’s website, email, fax, and in person at the hotel.  Marta will also
reserve your room at the ANA and will arrange roommates if you wish to share.
Rates are:  single rooms and couples, $105 (government per diem in Washington
is $126); double rooms (two beds), $125.  Visa and Master cards will be
accepted.

For other conference information, you can contact Pat Shettel: 202-342-5034 or
[log in to unmask], Ross Loomis: 970-491-6059 or [log in to unmask],
Sue Allen for program information: 415-353-0471 or [log in to unmask], or
Minda Borun for workshop information: 215-448-1103 or [log in to unmask]

Join us in our nation’s capital for a great conference inside the beltway!
For a few days in August, you, too, will be an insider!

(This article was written for the first issue of Visitor Studies Today! and
was submitted to Kris Morrissey on 2/25/98.)