Overview Dear WWER Speakers, Moderators and Poster Presenters, Hello to all of you, and thank you for agreeing to participate in the 2003 World Water & Environmental Congress. As you may already know, there are loads of details about the conference, including the technical program, at our conference website. Take a few minutes to peruse this - it should answer most of your questions. What you need to do NOW: Please register early - save up to $100 if you register before May 23! As you know, the Congress is self-supporting, and it is critical that all speakers and session moderators do this. Please register as a "Speaker" even if you are a member of ASCE or one of the Cooperating Organizations to take advantage of the best rates, and we know that all of our Speakers are going to be with us. Online registration is the fastest, most accurate method. If you are paying by check, wire transfer or domestic purchase order you can still register early by printing out the registration form and faxing it to 703-295-6144. Make your hotel reservations at the Philadelphia Adams Mark Hotel. The hotel will fill quickly, so in order to ensure that you get a room, please contact them soon. Reservations must be made by phone or by email at JKucharik@adamsmark.com, as the group reservation discount is not available online. Be sure to ask for the ASCE/EWRI block or you may not find available rooms or get the group rate. If you are coming from overseas, you may need a letter of invitation to obtain your travel visa. If this is the case, please fill out the online form at least 60 days before your travel date so we can get this to you. We cannot email these letters, so please provide the information that we request in the online form. Speakers: Fill out the Speaker Biography form. This will be used by the moderator to introduce you at your session. Fill out the Audio-Visual Information/Request Form if you need anything besides an LCD projector/screen and a microphone. We must receive this by May 23, 2003, or we may not be able to accommodate your request. If you need more or different equipment than is on the form, please contact Lucy King at 703/295-6186 or lking@asce.org. Laptop computers will NOT be provided at the conference. You should plan on bringing your own, or contact your session moderator in advance to arrange to use one. Prepare your presentation. Extensive guidelines have been developed for your reference. Please take advantage of these in order to have the best presentation possible. Poster Presenters: Prepare your presentation. Guidelines have been developed for posters as well. Please take advantage of these in order to have the best presentation possible. Moderators: Prepare your session. Guidelines for this have been prepared for your reference. Please take advantage of these in order to have the best presentation possible. WHEN YOU GET TO PHILADELPHIA: Check into the Adams Mark Hotel Come to the WWER Congress Registration Desk during our hours of operation to pick up your registration packet, badge, proceedings and speaker or moderator ribbon. Come to the Speakers' Breakfast on the day of your presentation. This will give the moderators and speakers an opportunity to meet with each other and plan the last-minute details of their sessions. There will also be a brief presentation by Paul DeBarry, the Conference Technical Chair and Leonore Jordan, the Conference Manager where they will address items that are often raised as questions. MODERATORS: Bios received from your speakers will be given to you onsite at the Speakers' Breakfast. We will also have additional blank forms available at that time. Drop by the speaker ready room at any time that it is open to prepare one last time for your presentation and to check your audio-visual aids. We will have a Caramate slide viewer, a limited number of carousels for use with 35mm slides, an overhead and an LCD projector and screen. Remember, there will NOT be a computer provided for speakers' use, so please either bring your own or arrange with your moderator or another speaker in your session to use one. Important Note! If a speaker is unable to attend the Congress and deliver their presentation, it is their responsibility to contact their Session Moderator to make alternate arrangements. Session Moderators who cannot attend should contact their Track Chair or the Congress Technical Chair, Paul DeBarry. Again, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you all in Philadelphia! Lucy King Conference Coordinator American Society of Civil Engineers 1801 Alexander Bell Drive Reston, VA 20191 703-295-6086 (direct) 703-295-6144 (fax) lking@asce.org