[Air-l] AoIR 2004 & 2005 - Call For Hosts

[Steve Jones]

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 at 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?