Hello, all you AIRtimers! Time for another AIR Conference update. Thought I'd forgotten about it, eh? Not a chance. We love stuffing your email box with bits from the far north - check your ports for frost - and will continue right up to the opening of the conference. Today's update includes news on the program, a contest that could win you fame and glory, visa information, PIE, and the usual entreaties to register early. PROGRAM The full program, as you already are aware, I am sure, is now available online. If you haven't seen it already, check out the link as posted by Mia (http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~consalvo/aoir_conference_schedule.xls) or go here: http://wiki.aoir.org/index.php?title=IR8_Program CONTEST As Matthew told me in my briefing when taking on this job, the Australians really "set the bar" in terms of the program. I aim to clear that bar and set a new record. But, I know that my own design skills aren't going to do it. So, I have concocted this idea to have a "program design" contest. If you design the new program I will pay for your registration to AoIR (or the cash equivalent). Is that something you'd like to do? If so, check out the details on the contest here: http://wiki.aoir.org/index.php?title=IR8_Contest VISA You might need a visa to come to Canada. Please check our web site for information about countries whose citizens require visas, and details on how to get a letter of invitation, if necessary: http://wiki.aoir.org/index.php?title=IR8_VISA_info PIE Yes, pie. We're going to have pie at this conference. Thank Holly and Mia for that. And if you want more info on the pie, we'll you should be on the AoIR facebook group, then, shouldn't you? http://sfu.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5212889713 REGISTER If you haven't registered for the conference yet, what are you waiting for? Get on it! Here is the link: http://www.aoir.org/?q=conf HOTELS Are you booked into a hotel? If not, you might be sleeping rough. There is a lot of great information on hotels here: http://wiki.aoir.org/index.php?title=IR8_Location_and_Hotels That's all for now, folks. ...r -- Richard Smith, Professor, School of Communication Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, CANADA V6B 5K3 Phone: 778 782 5116 Web: http://www.sfu.ca/~smith/ New book!: http://arago.cprost.sfu.ca/smith/mawc