Charley's gone, Frances is history and Ivan doesn't scare us.

Let's have a meeting!

The Joint Meeting of

The Southern Association of Forensic Scientists
The Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists
The Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists
The Canadian Society of Forensic Science

September 19-24, 2004

at the Grosvenor Resort at Walt Disney World^�
Orlando, Florida

Four forensic science associations with a combined membership of over 2500 are getting together this September in one of the most popular locations in the world - Walt Disney World^�.   Start making your plans now to be there.  

Bring the family along and visit the four theme parks at Disney^� - The Magic Kingdom^�, Epcot^�, Disney-MGM Studios and the Animal Kingdom^�.   Specially priced ticket packages are now available to those attending the meeting.   

Just down the road is  Universal Orlando  - with Universal Studios  and Islands of Adventure - and Sea World of Orlando.     Fifty miles away is the Kennedy Space Center and miles of white-sand beaches.

Accommodations   

The meeting will be held on Walt Disney World^� property at the Grosvenor Resort.  The hotel is within walking distance of the Downtown Disney^� entertainment, shopping and dining complex and is served by the Disney^� transportation system.    The Grosvenor's "Sherlock Holmes" theme is the perfect setting for a forensic science conference.   Character breakfasts take place in Baskerville's, the hotel restaurant, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Rooms are now available at $89.00 a night (plus tax), single or double.   Rollaway beds are available for $15.00 extra per night.    The meeting rates are available for three days before and after the conference.

For reservations, call 1-800 624 - 4109 (or 1-407 828 - 4444 outside of the U.S.)   Give them the group name G/SAOF  or the Combined Forensic Science Meeting.

Transportation

The Orlando International Airport (MCO) is one of the largest in the country and is served by dozens of airlines with very competitive pricing.   Check with your travel agent or the web for the best fares.  

Transportation from the airport to the hotel is available by moderately-priced shuttles and not-so-moderately priced taxis.  

The official rental car company for the meeting is Budget.  For reservations call toll free 1-800-772-3773 or go online at www.budget.com. Use the Convention Discount # U069024.  Rental arrangements with Budget can also be made at the hotel.

If you are driving, the hotel is located at the Lake Buena Vista exit (68) of Interstate 4.  For detailed directions and maps, click here. 

If you are walking, get started really early.

If you are coming from another planet, the official space port is the Kennedy Space Center.  Teleporters to the hotel are not currently available.

Registration fees

The early meeting registration fee is $160.00 for members of the four organizations and $190.00 for non-members.   This includes the plenary session, the technical sessions, a wine-and-cheese reception, Wednesday's luncheon and banquet (with the Murderwatch Mystery Dinner Theater) and Thursday's 70's disco dance.    Continental breakfasts and  break refreshments will be provided on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Students enrolled in curricula leading to careers in forensic science may register for the scientific program (no meals) for $5.00.  The student must provide a CURRENT Student Identification Card from their college/university to receive this rate.

If you are giving a scientific paper meeting the requirements in the "Call for Papers" (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader), your meeting registration fee (not including workshops) will be refunded.

Workshops prices are not firmly set yet, but are expected to be approximate $60.00 for a half-day workshop, $120.00 for a full-day workshop and $230.00 for a two-day workshop.   (Members of the four organizations will receive a 10% discount on workshop fees.)   The workshop registration price for the one-day and two-day workshops includes a buffet lunch.    You may register for a workshop without registering for the rest of the meeting, but there is expected to be a small surcharge to cover incidental expenses.

All fees are in U.S. dollars.

Registration packets will be mailed to members of the four organizations in July and is now available online (Click here for form - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).   If you are not a member of one of the organizations and would like to receive a registration packet, send your request to [email protected].

Tentative Schedule

The final schedule is still being put together, but most events are in place.  Click here for details.

Workshops

All workshops are now closed.

Workshop schedules, descriptions and prices are now available.   Click here for more information.

Technical papers and poster presentations

Click here for a complete schedule of papers and posters (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

A poster session, adjacent to the exhibitor area will be held Wednesday afternoon.   Depending on the number of submitted presentations, a second session may be held on Thursday.

The technical papers will be broken out into six sections on Thursday and Friday:

                    Drug Chemistry
                    DNA/Serology
                    Toxicology
                    Trace Evidence
                    Questioned Documents
                    General

Presenters of technical papers meeting the requirements stated in the "Call for Papers" will receive a free meeting registration.

Click here for the names and contact information of the section chairpersons and other meeting officials.

Fun Stuff     

Tuesday, September 21 - Join your fellow duffers for a golf tournament on Disney's Magnolia Course, the site of the PGA Tour FUNAI Classic.    Play the course for less than half the normal cost.       The total price to you, expected to be around $70.00, includes taxes, greens fee, use of a cart and a buffet lunch.   We are scheduled for an 8:00 am shotgun start.   Meeting registration not required to play.

Tuesday, September 21 -  Welcoming reception in the exhibitor's area.   Registration includes two drink tickets.  

Wednesday, September 22 - Sit-down luncheon in Baskerville's - menu still under construction

Wednesday, September 22 - Cocktail hour before banquet.   Registration includes one drink ticket.

Wednesday, September 22 - Banquet (planned main course - steak and stuffed prawns) followed by a performance of the MurderWatch Mystery Dinner Theater.   See if you high-powered forensic types can figure out whodunnit.

Thursday, September 23 -  70's Disco Dance - Come dressed in your best polyester and groove to the funky beat.   A professional DJ will spin the vinyl under the glitter ball.   Cash bar.