Venturing Around Town and Beyond – Maine Day Trips!

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Greetings!

Being the good nurses that we are, I suspect that when most of us attend a conference, we dutifully attend all the conference sessions that we can manage, meet up with a few friends and acquaintances (there is never time to see everyone), and then leave just in time to make it home for the next event on our busy calendars–all without seeing anything beyond the four walls of the hotel and the sights to and from the airport from the windows of the hotel shuttle!

c1624But this year’s INANE conference in August could be different!  Here is the perfect opportunity for a blend of work and fun…a lovely New England setting at the peak of ideal summer weather (not too hot, not too cold–just right!) and a host of things to see and do, many of them off the beaten track. To heighten the fun, Leslie and the Planning Committee have arranged a special opportunity for INANE attendees with Norm Forgey of Maine Day Trip: personalized guided tours for you and your traveling companions. Your trip can take any direction at any pace you wish! Norm is reserving the dates from Saturday, August 2nd, through Thursday, August 7th exclusively for us. Whether you are flying to Portland, or taking the bus or train–here’s your chance to forego a rental car and see a bit more of this beautiful state beyond the environs of the city of Portland. Make a reservation and Norm will meet you at the entrance of the Regency Hotel for a total day of fun, sightseeing, and relaxation!

Norm Forgey, founder and owner of Maine Day Trip

Norm Forgey, founder and owner of Maine Day Trip

You may notice that Norm’s trips are available before and after INANE as well as throughout the time that our exciting and irresistible conference will be happening. For conference participants, I am sure you will not be inclined to take off for a day trip during this time (see paragraph one if you don’t believe me!). But if you have others traveling with you who are not attending the conference, this is a perfect opportunity for them to get out and about. Norm will schedule trips for groups of one to ten people and create the itinerary based on folks’ interests.

The challenge is that our companions often do not know anyone else, but might appreciate connecting with others to share a day of adventure. And, you might be interested in connecting with other INANE folks for a day trip before or after our conference. You can contact Norm and tell him: 1) day you want to tour; 2) number of people; and 3) what you’d like to see. He’ll create tours based on the input he receives and confirm directly with you when the planning is finalized.

Note that this is a little different from the way Norm usually schedules his trips, but he is willing to be flexible to offer the maximum number of attendees and friends a great day trip. For another way to connect with others about planning and gauge interest about dates and itineraries, consider leaving a comment on this post. Either way, remember that your perfect off-site adventure awaits! Visit our Traveling Further Afield page now to start planning!

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A journalist’s hotel room in Sochi

I’ve been watching the Olympics and had a good laugh at some of the horror stories about hotel accommodations for journalists. I haven’t been to the Regency (yet) but Leslie assures me that all the hotel rooms have desks big enough for computers and the water that comes out of the tap is clear, fresh, and safe for bathing, drinking, and brushing your teeth! If you haven’t do so yet, take this as a reminder to register for the conference, reserve your hotel room, and make your travel plans to Portland. The regular registration rate is in effect for another ten weeks so don’t delay. It will go up by $100 on May 1st. I suspect by that time the Casco Bay Cruise and Lobster Bake will be sold out and the best hotel rooms will be reserved. Don’t wait too long and be disappointed!

I look forward to seeing my colleagues in Portland in August. It’s going to be a terrific conference!

Peggy

For the Planning Committee: Leslie Nicoll, Margaret Comerford Freda, Shawn Kennedy, Lisa Marshall and Jean Proehl

Made in Maine: Movies

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Maine is not a great movie making destination but we have had a few films made here that show of the beauty of the state. If you have a few free minutes, consider adding one of this to your “must watch” list in the next few months.

main_postpremiereEmpire Falls (2005). A made-for-TV miniseries that was good, not great (as is so often the case, the book was better). It was filmed primarily in Waterville. There was lots of excitement when Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Helen Hunt and the rest of the cast came to town. Aidan Quinn was arrested for drunk driving, which, given the extent of things to do in Waterville (ie, not much) is not too surprising.

The Preacher’s Wife (1996). This remake of the 1947 The Bishop’s Wife was primarily filmed in New Jersey–but the ice skating scene was shot in Deering Oaks Park in Portland. The cast and crew arrived in mid-February, man_without_a_facenormally ideal ice skating weather but Portland was having an unusual warm spell so no snow or ice anywhere in sight! They improvised but the scene ended up being much shorter than originally intended.

The Man Without a Face (1993). Mel Gibson’s directorial debut was filmed on Deer Isle with additional scenes in Camden, Rockport, Lincolnville, and on the Bowdoin College campus in Brunswick. This movie gives very nice views of he state and the story isn’t bad, either.

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The Pitkin Cottage on the Bluffs, Cliff Island

The Whales of August (1987). This film was notable for bringing together a number of famous stars for a final reunion: Bette Davis, Lillian Gish, Vincent Price, Ann Sothern, and Harry Carey, Jr. It was notable in my book for being a little…tedious, but maybe if I re-watched it today I would appreciate it more. It was filmed entirely on Cliff Island in the Pitkin House. You can visit Cliff Island and the Pitkin House (view it from the outside, not go in) from Portland. Take the Casco Bay Ferry to Cliff Island (1.5 hours one way) and walk about 30 minutes to the Bluffs. There is a general store on the island which makes sandwiches and serves ice cream, if you wanted to pack a picnic or have a snack.

Scene from Mt. Battie, looking over Camden Harbor with Penobscot Bay in the distance

Scene from Peyton Place on Mt. Battie, looking over Camden Harbor with Penobscot Bay in the distance

Peyton Place (1957). This steamy pot-boiler (although not as steamy as the book) was filmed primarily in Camden with additional scenes shot in Belfast and Rockland. Lana Turner did not come to Maine for filming (who knows why? I don’t) so her scenes were shot on a sound stage at 20th Century-Fox, creating some continuity glitches in the movie. Interestingly, in the book, the fictional town of Peyton Place was based on Gilmanton, NH but the movie was made in Maine. Another movie with a New England flip-flop was On Golden Pond (1981) with Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn. In the book, Golden Pond was in Maine but the movie was filmed on Squam Lake in New Hampshire.

Carousel (1956). In the original plan, most of Carousel was supposed to be filmed in Boothbay Harbor but in the end, only bit and pieces of the original on-location scenes remain. Various theories are offered for why this is although it seems that lighting was a major problem (all the evening and night scenes came out too dark and had to be re-shot on a sound stage) and well as technical difficulties related to the type of film (Cinemascope 55 mm vs. traditional 35 mm film). The famous scene where Gordon MacRae (Billy Bigelow) sings “Soliloquy” was filmed on a beach in Malibu, California. This drives me bananas since beaches in California look nothing like beaches in Maine! Personally, I find watching Carousel to be a bit of a slog (right up there with the original Oklahoma! starring [surprise!] Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones). This video of “June is Busting Out All Over” gives some nice views of Boothbay Harbor as well as some terrific choreography–and it’s 120 minutes shorter than the movie, which means you can do something else with the 2 hours of time you saved not watching the whole movie!

2723907894_c084ffe295Don’t be confused by A Summer Place (1959). This is another pot- boiler and I will admit, one of my guilty pleasures. The story takes place on fictional Pine Island, Maine but the entire movie was filmed in California–Monterey, Carmel, and various sound stages on the Warner Brothers lot. The house at the end, where Ken and Sylvia are living, is the Della summer place posterWalker house, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is still extant and can be see at 26333 Scenic Road, Carmel Point. Googling I note that it was open a few years ago as part of a fundraising house tour! I would love to see it someday.

The Program for INANE 2014 is Finalized!

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For INANE 2014, the Planning Committee has worked hard to be ahead of the curve for every aspect of this conference. Our latest accomplishment? The conference program has been finalized and published–one month ahead of our initial projected date (which was March 1st). Part of the reason this task was completed early was that we had an excellent pool of abstract submissions to select from, so putting the program together was a relatively easy–and very enjoyable–endeavor.

lectureWe are excited about the program and hope that attendees will be, too. We wanted a variety of presentations and topics with a blend of “seasoned” INANE presenters as well as new faces. We also sought to have international representation and have met that goal, with presenters from Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia (by way of Yale in Connecticut!). In all, there will be a total of nine breakout sessions and thirteen poster presentations.

In addition to the breakouts and poster sessions, the conference is anchored by an exciting group of excellent and diverse keynote speakers: Jessica Nicoll will be speaking on Maine art and artists; Jeffrey Beall and Carolyn Yucha on the controversial subject of Open Access; Diana Mason and Charles Graeber on responsible reporting in healthcare, told in the context of a chilling serial killer on the loose in hospitals for almost 16 years; and a truly memorable closing presentation by poet Richard Blanco. The Planning Committee believes that this year’s INANE really has something for everyone!

If you have been waiting for the full conference program to register, wait no more! Registration is open now–our online credit processing system is safe and secure. If you have problems with registration or need more information, send me a message using our Feedback Form and I’ll get back to you right away.

bender-applause_mediumWhat’s next? All the presenters are interested in what attendees want to know and we are soliciting feedback in advance of the conference. Every session page has a box for comments and questions. Take advantage of this feature so that presenters can incorporate your questions into their presentations. In addition, Geri Pearson and Charon Pierson will be soliciting cases for their COPE Forum. Likewise, Jeffrey Beall and Carolyn Yucha will be seeking attendee input on Open Access issues for their interactive forum. The means to share this information will be posted on the website and details will be posted here–stayed tuned! We hope to have forms for both sessions posted in the next few weeks.

As I said, the Planning Committee is very excited about this program–and I hope you agree. I look forward to welcoming my colleagues to Maine in August for what I am sure will be a dynamic, innovative, and groundbreaking INANE!

Leslie
For the Planning Committee: Peggy Chinn, Margaret Comerford Freda, Shawn Kennedy, Lisa Marshall and Jean Proehl

In Memory of Carol A. “Pat” Patsdaughter, PhD, RN, ACRN

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Carol A. “Pat” Patsdaugter

It is with great sadness that we share the news that INANE member Carol “Pat” Patsdaughter, PhD, RN, ACRN, passed away on January 26, 2014.  Pat was a cherished colleague, committed nursing leader, and INANE champion.

Pat’s work as the Associate Editor for the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC) demonstrated a commitment not only to JANAC, but also to nursing and nursing publication.  She was a respected Professor of Nursing at the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International University, where she was known for her ability to mentor students.  Pat was an INANE member for more than a decade, and she was always a presence at INANE Conferences, which she thoroughly enjoyed and where she always made friends. Pat will be remembered fondly and missed deeply.

If you would like to honor Pat’s memory, consider a donation to the Suzanne Smith Development Fund in her honor. This fund was established to support the Mentoring Editors Awards, of which the inaugural four will be awarded next month. These awards provide support for four nurses with an emerging interest in the editorial role–as well as those new to an editorial role–to attend INANE with registration deferred. While the awards and the fund are named after our colleague Suzanne Smith who died in 2013, serving as an editor and mentoring others were also core values and a true part of Pat’s spirit. Honor her work with a donation to the development fund and help her memory and legacy live on through INANE.

A memorial is planned in Fort Lauderdale, FL for Saturday, February 1, 2014.

Developing Editors – You Can Be Part of This Legacy!

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Rheba de Tornyay

Yesterday I received the email notice announcing the publication of the January issue of the Journal of Nursing Education, in which Christine Tanner pays tribute to the amazing legacy of Rheba de Tornyay, who served as Editor of JNE from 1985 to 1991.  Dr. de Tornyay’s accomplishments and contributions to nursing are remarkable, many of which Chris describes in her tribute.  But as Rheba’s successor as Editor of JNE, Chris provides a glimpse into the lasting significance of having a committed mentor.  I know that most of us who now serve as Editors have wonderful stories about those who shepherded our entry in to this rewarding role, and as participants in INANE activities we have all benefited from opportunities to learn from one another and gain collective wisdom in our quest for quality in nursing journal publication.

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Suzanne Smith

Recognizing the vital importance of mentoring in INANE, the 2014 planning committee established the Mentoring Editors Awards to fund attendance at the conference for up to four new nursing journal editors or those with an emerging interest in editing and publishing. This award was conceived early on, when Suzanne Smith was part of our planning activities.  Suzanne, who is remembered for her crucial and important roles as mentor for a host of authors, reviewers, and journal editors, was skeptical at first (as was her nature) but once she thought about the purpose and concept of the awards, became very excited. Our first application for the award came in very early (August). Suzanne had the opportunity to read the application and she was enthusiastic and commented, in an email to the planning committee, “This is exactly the kind of person I want to support for this award!”  She made a donation (in honor of her mom)  to the fund that was established to support the awards and then, in an eerie twist of fate, died three days later. Those of us on the planning committee immediately realized that one way we could honor Suzanne’s memory would be to re-name the award and development fund in her honor: Suzanne Smith Development Fund and Suzanne Smith Mentoring Editors Awards.

3_39442_38091_Name-Badge-Ribbons-H1-DONOR-DONOR_LargeReading the tribute to Rheba reminds me how important it is to remember those who have offered so much! You can be part of this legacy in two ways. The funding of the awards will come from our contributions.  Even if you cannot attend the conference, please consider contributing to the Suzanne Smith Development Fund.  In addition, you can nominate yourself or someone else for the award.  If you know of someone who is deserving of the award–an aspiring or emerging author–please consider a nomination. The deadline is February 1st–just two weeks from now.

Award-winner-iconThere is no deadline for making a donation to the Suzanne Smith Development Fund!  To our knowledge, no other fund has been created to honor Suzanne’s memory and contributions to nursing and in particular, dissemination of nursing knowledge through scholarly publications. We are proud to be torch-bearers and leaders in creating this lasting legacy to Suzanne’s memory. The plan is to continue beyond 2014–monies raises will be dedicated to this cause for the 2015 conference and beyond. Please visit the web page for the fund now–you can make your donation online at any time!  You can designate your contribution in memory of, or in honor of another person you wish to acknowledge; your contribution will be listed on the web site along with the name of the person you are honoring. All contributions will be recognized on the website and individual donors will be recognized and acknowledged at INANE 2014. Your donation is important and appreciated.

Thank you for your support of our future editors through your donation to the Suzanne Smith Development Fund. And for those who aspire to editing or disseminating nursing knowledge, please take a minute to apply for a Mentoring Editors Award. Remember, the deadline is February 1, 2014.

Peggy

For the Planning Commitee: Leslie Nicoll (chair), Margaret Freda, Shawn Kennedy, Lisa Marshall, Jean Proehl

Lighthouses in Greater Portland

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Today is an interesting anniversary: 222 years ago, on January 10, 1791, the light at Portland Head Light was lit for the first time. It is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and was commissioned by President George Washington. He never slept there, though–I read that on a travel blog once and had a good chuckle! Portland Head Light is a rubble stone lighthouse.

Everyone attending INANE 2014 will have a visit to Portland Head Light as part of the Discover Portland Trolley Tour on Monday August 4th. I was determined that everyone have a chance to see the lighthouse. I consider it an essential sight for any trip to Maine.

Here’s an interesting video–it shows a visit to the inside of the lighthouse. I’ve never been inside and to the top–it certainly is a nice view. However I hope August 4th is a little sunnier than the day this guy visited.

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2nd Order Fresnel Lens

In the video, he misspeaks–he says the rotating light is a Fresnel (pronounced “fray-nel”) lens but it is not. The light is an aero beacon which replaced the 2nd order Fresnel lens in 1958. (The present aero beacon was installed in 1991.) The old Fresnel lens is on display in the lighthouse museum.

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Portland Breakwater Light in 1855–this is the wooden structure

In the video he looks north towards Spring Point Ledge Light, although I can’t see it. This caisson lighthouse was built 106 years later–it went into operation in 1897. You can read the history of Spring Point Ledge Light here. At little further south, at the entrance to Portland Harbor is the Portland Breakwater Light, more commonly known by its nickname, Bug Light. Portland Breakwater Light was first built as a wooden lighthouse in 1855; the present structure (also a caisson lighthouse, sometimes called a sparkplug light) was built in 1875. Bug Light is visible from Portland; those going to the lobster bake will get a nice view of it en route to Peaks Island.

Cape Elizabeth Light

Cape Elizabeth Light

After looking north, the videographer looks in the other direction (south) towards Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth but again, I can’t see the lighthouse in the video. The official name is Cape Elizabeth Light but everyone calls it Two Lights which is a misnomer as there is only one active light at present. Two cast iron towers were built in 1874, replacing two rubble stone towers that were built in 1828. The west tower was de-activated in 1924 and is now part of a private residence. The east tower is still active. Cape Elizabeth Light marks the entrance to Casco Bay. Cape Elizabeth Light also had a 2nd order Fresnel lens which was replaced in 1994. The original lens is on display in the Cape Elizabeth Town Hall.

Ram Island Ledge Light

Ram Island Ledge Light

At the very end of the video you get a quick glimpse of the Ram Island Ledge Light. It is made of granite that was quarried on Vinalhaven. As lighthouses go, I don’t think it’s all that attractive–my preference is for white, or striped. Ram Island Ledge Light is privately owned by a neurosurgeon from Windham, who paid $190,000 for it at auction in 2010. Ram Island Ledge Light is a “twin” of the Graves Light at the entrance to Boston Harbor. Graves Light is also privately owned and came with a higher price tag: $933,888, the most ever paid for a US lighthouse. It was bought by a Massachusetts couple in 2013. Here’s a bit of trivia: in the 1948 movie, Portrait of Jennie, the climactic storm and tidal wave scene was filmed at Graves Light. As far as I can tell, no movies were ever filmed at any of the other lighthouses I have discussed in this post.

Happy New Year!

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Beautiful-Happy-New-Year-Wishes-2014-3D-Wallpaper2014 has arrived! It’s a bright, sunny morning here in southern Maine–although bitterly cold. I am always happy when it is sunny on New Year’s Day–I feel like the year is starting off on the right foot.

There was a flurry of activity yesterday as people took advantage of the last day of early bird registration. We have 66 attendees for the conference right now. For planning I have been using two benchmarks for attendance: 132 participants in Asheville, NC in 2005 and 145 participants in San Francisco in 2011. At the Regency we have a maximum attendance of 150. With 66 registrations we are at about 44% of capacity, or 50% with the 132 benchmark number.

I find this interesting because INANE has never had registration open a year in advance of the conference before. There was some skepticism among members of the planning committee about whether this was a good idea. My attitude was “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I thought this could be an experiment and we could evaluate at the end whether it was successful.

And I would say, so far, it seems to be a success! But also, we still have plenty of space available for those who want to attend but have not yet registered. Click here to register online–quickly, easily, and securely.

submit-abstract-news1Abstracts for breakout sessions and poster presentations are still being accepted. The deadline is January 15–presenters will be notified by February 15 and the full conference program will be published on March 1. If you were planning on submitting an abstract but didn’t quite get to it–here’s your chance! The abstracts that have been received are excellent but we are not overloaded. So please, take advantage of this opportunity to share your editing innovations with your colleagues.

I have received a lot of positive feedback on my post about visiting Acadia as well as the Sea Dogs game. It seems that many of you will be using the conference as a jumping off point for vacation, which I think is a splendid idea! Maine is beautiful in August. The weather is usually picture perfect and everything is open. If you have questions or specific destinations in mind, let me know and I’ll share my knowledge. I love my adopted state!

Here’s to a safe, happy, and peaceful New Year for all of us! I look forward to welcoming my INANE colleagues to Portland in August–just seven months from now!

Leslie

Planning Committee: Peggy Chinn, Margaret Freda, Shawn Kennedy Lisa Marshall, Jean Proehl

Maine Travel: Acadia Park

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Inspired by Vicki Conn’s question, I thought I would occasionally post on visiting and traveling in Maine. Years ago, one of our governors (I think it might have been Angus King, our current senator) said that we should all “live in Maine and vacation in Maine.” I took his words to heart and have seen quite a bit of my adopted state–although I have never been to Baxter State Park or Rangeley Lake, nor have I climbed Mt. Katadhin. But I’ve done plenty of other traveling and I am happy to share travel hints in anticipation of INANE 2014.

A few caveats: Maine is a large, rural state. If you want to see sights beyond what is feasible in a taxi in and around Portland, you’ll probably need to rent a car. Public transportation to get out and about is not a realistic option. Second, INANE 2014 is scheduled at the height of the summer season so it would be wise to plan an itinerary and make reservations (for rental car, hotel, etc) so you are not disappointed.

Acadia_national_park_mapSo…on to the sightseeing! Vicki asked about Acadia National Park. I would guess that Acadia is the most popular travel destination in Maine and with good reason–it’s beautiful. In August, it’s also crowded but with some planning you can still have an enjoyable visit.

Acadia Park is actually in three parts. The largest and most well known section is on Mt. Desert Island. The most remote part, requiring a boat trip from Stonington is on Isle Au Haut. Schoodic Penisula is the only part of the park on the mainland. Note that even though Mt. Desert Island is an island, you don’t need to take a boat to get there–there is a causeway that connects the island to the mainland.

The Mt. Desert Island part of the park is where the “famous” sights are: Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, Jordan Pond House (serving very popular popovers–reservations are essential), and the carriage roads which are ideal for hiking and biking. There is a 26 mile loop road that will take you through the park and past all the popular spots. The Island Explorer is a free bus service that has itineraries in and through the park and is highly recommended. I’ve never ridden the bus but I have heard that it is very popular and is helping to cut down on traffic and overcrowded parking lots in the park.

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Schoodic Point, looking at the Gulf of Maine

Personally, I like the Schoodic Peninsula section of the park. It’s about an hour further east beyond Mt. Desert. It’s beautiful, unspoiled, and not crowded. When you are at the tip of the peninsula you are actually looking out at the North Atlantic (as opposed to viewing Frenchman’s Bay which is what you see on Mt. Desert). It’s a bit further to get to and you will definitely need a car, but I think it is worth it.

I’ve never been to Isle Au Haut but I’ve heard it’s beautiful. That is a destination that is ideal for hikers–no cars on the island and no way to get around except by foot. Coincidentally, it is the home of Linda Greenlaw, the swordfishing captain (and Colby College graduate) who became famous in the book, The Perfect Storm (and her own re-telling of that storm in the book, The Hungry Ocean).

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Penobscot Narrows Bridge

Travel: From Portland to Bar Harbor is about 3 to 4 hours (driving) depending on what route you take. My preferred route is to take I295 (from Portland) to Augusta, then Route 3 to Belfast, then Rt 1/Rt 3 to Bucksport, Ellsworth, and then to Mt. Desert. This gives you a nice fast interstate start but also includes some pretty views, plus a drive over the Penobscot Narrows Bridge (a stop at the Observatory is recommended!).

Planning a Trip: If you are going to make the trek to Acadia from Portland (or visit before INANE) you should probably plan on spending at least 2 nights in the area. Acadia Park is big–even if you only visit the Mt. Desert Island section. I think you need to give yourself enough time to relax and enjoy the scenery.

There is camping in the park (and campgrounds near the park) but somehow I don’t think INANE attendees will be traveling with tents and sleeping bags! Accommodations on Mt. Desert run the gamut from chain motels (Best Western) to B&Bs to swanky hotels. There are several towns on the island. Bar Harbor is the most well known and many people think Bar Harbor/Acadia Park are synonymous but Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor are also beautiful and have a variety of accommodations.  I recommend using TripAdvisor to do research about where to stay.

If you are a “hub and spoke” traveler (that would be me) you might want to investigate hotels/motels in Ellsworth. You won’t have a view and you won’t be right in downtown Bar Harbor but it is a good jumping off point if you want to see more than Acadia on Mt. Desert such as Schoodic Point and maybe heading to Deer Isle (I’ll write more about that location in a future post).

Last–there is a good airport in Bangor. Depending on how you configure your trip, it might be realistic to fly to Portland before INANE, spend some time after the conference exploring downeast Maine, and then fly home from Bangor. Of course, this itinerary could be reversed.

Comments and questions are invited. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Maine next summer!

Countdown! Two Deadlines Looming

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The remaining 17 days of 2014 are packed with stuff to do, places to go, and people to see!  But for INANE members…there are two items to add — the early bird registration for our dynamite 2014 conference, and getting your abstract in to add to our dynamite program!  Both of these deadlines are coming up on December 31st.

missed-deadline-278x300First–abstracts!  INANE is just about the only place where nursing editors can show off the great things we are doing–and our audience actually appreciates what we are talking about! Editing is a highly specialized, and now high-tech skill, and it takes most of us several years to become proficient.  And, there is always something new to learn.  So take this opportunity to share!  We have two kinds of opportunities…posters (which have become very popular over the past few years) and breakout sessions.  Don’t miss this deadline–it is December 31st!  All the details are here, including a link to the online application form!

The second December 31st deadline is early bird registration.  Of course you can register after this deadline–the big deal about the early bird deadline is that you save $100 over the regular registration rate (from January 1 through April 30), and $200 over the late rate (from May 1 until our registration limit is reached).  The registration form will be inactive for about 12 hours early on January 1 due to time needed to reset the form for the regular rate, so if you want to take advantage of this early bird rate, do it before New Year’s Eve in your time zone!  Notice that we do have a registration limit. The Regency Hotel is a boutique venue and the the conference rooms have a capacity limit–that limit is higher than we have ever had for an INANE conference, but not by much!  We expect a great turnout for this conference, so we just might reach the point of closing registration earlier than usual. Note–you must register in advance to attend INANE. There will be no on-site registration.  Thus another reason to submit your registration in as soon as you can!

Questions along the way?  Just use our handy feedback form…we will get back to you right away!

Leslie will be posting before the end of the month but I am done for 2013. I send everyone my very best wishes for a safe and peaceful holiday season and a very, very happy New Year!

Peggy

The Regency, Room Blocks, and Reservations

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or…Hotel Reservations 101

When I selected the Regency Hotel for INANE 2014, I had to contract for a specific number of sleeping rooms that would be booked from August 3rd to 6th. This is standard for conference planning–it’s how the hotel makes money after all! But it is a balancing act to “guess-timate” the number of rooms. If I contract for too many and then we don’t fill them, I am stuck with paying the bill for the unused rooms. On the other hand, if I don’t contract enough, when someone calls to make a reservation, they may be told that the hotel is “sold out.” Technically, the hotel is not sold out, but our room block is. Certainly I want everyone to be able to stay at the hotel and enjoy the conference room rate for the duration of their stay.

Fortunately, it is not all a big gamble. The Regency is willing to provide some flexibility around the number of rooms in a block, especially when people are making reservations well in advance of the conference. For example, if our contracted estimate turns out to be too low for one of the nights, I can contact the sales staff to add extra rooms. But this flexibility is limited and we’ll get to a point when this is no longer possible. Just as we can sell out our block of rooms, if the hotel is holding a block for us, they have turn down reservations from other potential customers–because those rooms are reserved for us. When summer tourism season gets closer, Regency staff will be less willing to hold rooms and potentially lose  customers. That’s why it is important to have reservations for our attendees confirmed early, before we bump up against summer planning. See what I mean about a balancing act?

I have modified our room block three times–the most recent was today. Reservations for Wednesday, August 6th have been running well ahead of my estimate. We originally booked 5 rooms, then 10. Now it’s up to 40. For the other nights:

  • Sunday Aug 3rd: originally 20; now 35
  • Monday Aug 4th: originally 70; now 95 (“run of the house”–we are hoping to fill the entire hotel)
  • Tuesday Aug 5th: originally 70; now 95
  • Wednesday Aug 6th: originally 5, then 10; now 40

What does this mean for attendees (and why I am going into such excruciating detail)? For purposes of planning and budgeting, it is very helpful to know if we are on target with our room reservations. I also don’t want anyone to be disappointed with their reservation by not being able to book the nights they want at the conference rate.

The good news is, you can make reservations without worrying about a financial penalty if you need to cancel or your plans change. They will ask you for a credit card to guarantee your reservation, but nothing will be charged until you actually set foot in the hotel. You will not be charged for one (or two) nights at the time of your reservation, as is often the case with booking agencies or using services such as Expedia. The cancellation policy is to call and notify them 48 hours prior to your arrival. You can also modify your reservation without penalty. So if you think you might stay three nights, make that reservation. Then if it ends up being two, you can easily cancel one night–as along as you do it more than 48 hours in advance. It helps me enormously in handling the “on-the-ground” details of rooms blocks and so on if you reserve early.

It’s easy to make a reservation: just call the hotel at 1-800-727-3436 or 207-774-4200. The staff at the hotel prefers if you call so you can discuss room types and availability. If calling is impossible (due to time zones or whatever) you can email the reservations manager, Shari Cole at scole@theregency.com. 

And–if you have any problems at all please let me know immediately! Use the contact form to send me a message and I will respond as quickly as possible. I became aware of the need for the room block on Aug 6th to be increased because Elaine Miller ran into a spot of trouble but all is well now. I can work to fix things quickly but only if I know there is a problem!

Even if you are not ready to register for the conference, you can reserve your hotel room (many have done this). Like I said, booking early ensures that you will not be disappointed. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Maine next summer!

Leslie