CALL FOR HOSTS CONFERENCES of the ASSOCIATION OF INTERNET RESEARCHERS (2004 and 2005) Association Web site: http://aoir.org The Association of Internet Researchers (A.(o).I.R.) invites applications from sites willing to host the association's annual conference, held each year in September/October. In keeping with the association's international membership and orientation applicants from outside the U.S. are particularly encouraged to submit proposals. Sites are being sought for the 2004 and 2005 conferences. The current and previous conference web sites are linked from http://aoir.org FORMAT OF PROPOSALS All proposals should be submitted via e-mail to: sjones@uic.edu Proposals will be evaluated by the AoIR executive committee. Please answer all questions below in the format in which they are presented. Applications may be of any length but should be as complete as possible. The association's executive committee may ask for clarification and/or additional information. Feel free to include information and details yourself. DEADLINE First preference for 2004 sites will be given to proposals received by January 31, but all proposals will be considered until a suitable site is found. Members of the AoIR executive committee will be available at the AoIR 2002 conference in Maastricht (October 13 - 16) to meet with those intending to submit a proposal, and will be available via email at any time to answer questions. QUESTIONNAIRE Please include answers to the questions below in the site proposal: 1. What is your location's accessibility? Is it convenient for those travelling from points around the world? Is there a major airport nearby (how distant is it)? Describe the specific site (i.e. building(s)) in which the conference would be held. What number of rooms are available and what are their capacities? What technological support is available in those rooms (e.g. ethernet, projectors, etc)? Please provide indication that these rooms are actually available during the dates you propose for the conference. What is your site's maximum capacity? Has there been previous conferences at your site? If so, please list a few examples. Do you have references or reviews of those previous conferences? If so, please provide them. 2. What kind of support will your site provide? Is there a commitment for funds for the conference? If so, to what level of funding is the commitment? Is the commitment firm (evidence of commitment letters, verbal agreements, etc., should be provided)? Are there conference coordinating agencies available on whom you could draw to help manage registration and the events? 3. Is the site affordable? Will you be able to provide quality accommodations at reasonable cost? Please give an estimate of the cost of hotel rooms and meals. Provide indication that adequate hotel rooms are actually available during the proposed conference dates. How many participants will your site/hotels be able to accommodate? What is the state of local transportation at the conference site? 4. Are there special attractions, tours, locations, at which dinners/receptions might be held, or that attendees might like to visit? 5. Is there opportunity for partnerships and sponsorships that your site can uniquely provide? Please list and explain. 6. Is there a specific year for which you are proposing your site? If not chosen for next year, would your site be willing to host the conference in a subsequent year? Are there specific dates you would like to propose (typically the conference runs three full days)? 7. Is there a person you can identify as a "local host/liaison" who will serve on the local conference committee and liason with aoir? do you have a representative or set of representatives that you would like to put on the AoIR program committee? Have they had experience managing conferences before or are there people immediately available that can guide and assist them? Do you have someone in mind in AoIR from another location than the hosting location that you would like to have Chair the conference? 8. Have you read the AoIR conference guidelines? Are there any exceptions to those guidelines that are desired for you to be able to host the conference in the way that you would like? 9. Are there any special ways that your institution furthers the interdisciplinary, international nature of the Association of Internet Researchers?