Program Changes

NEW! Gang Tian, who was scheduled to speak on Sunday, September 11, will no longer be presenting an Invited Address at this meeting. There will be no Invited Address on Sunday afternoon.

Accommodations

Participants should make their own arrangements directly with the hotel of their choice as early as possible. Special discounted rates have been negotiated with the hotels listed below. Rates quoted do not include the combined New York state sales (8%) and occupancy tax (5%). Participants must state that they are with the American Mathematical Society (AMS) Meeting at Cornell University to receive the discounted rate. The AMS is not responsible for rate changes or for the quality of the accommodations. Hotels have varying cancellation and early checkout penalties; be sure to ask for details when making your reservation.

Best Western University Inn, 1020 Ellis Hollow Rd., East Hill Plaza, Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-272-6100; 800-937-8376 (toll free); http://www.BestWesternUniversityInnIthaca.com. Rates are US\$136 for single/double occupancy. Amenities include deluxe complimentary continental breakfast, free shuttle service to and from Cornell University, downtown Ithaca Commons, and Tompkins County Airport (7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.); in-room refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave oven; complimentary parking; free wired and wireless Internet in guest rooms; and fitness room. This hotel is pet friendly. This property is located approximately one mile from the campus. Cancellation and early check-out policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation. The deadline for reservations at this rate has been extended to August 26, 2011.

Econo Lodge 2303 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-257-1400; http://www.econolodge.com/hotel/ny127. Rates are US\$119 for single/double occupancy. Amenities include complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, limited free shuttle service within five miles of the hotel (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.), in-room coffee maker, 24-hour complimentary coff:00ee and tea in lobby, complimentary parking, and free in-room wireless Internet. This hotel is pet friendly. This property is located approximately three and one half miles from the campus. Cancellation and early check-out policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation. The deadline for reservations at this rate is August 8, 2011.

Holiday Inn-Downtown Ithaca, 222 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-272-1000; 800-HOLIDAY (toll free); http://www.HiIthaca.com. Rates are US\$149 per night for single/double occupancy for the dates of this meeting. Amenities include cable TV in guest rooms, free shuttle service to Tompkins County Airport (24 hour), in-room coffee maker, limited complimentary parking, free wireless Internet throughout the hotel, indoor heated swimming pool, fitness center and restaurant on property. This property is located approximately one mile from the campus. Cancellation and early check-out policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation. The deadline for reservations at this rate is August 10, 2011.

Homewood Suites by Hilton-Ithaca, 36 Cinema Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-266-0000; 800-CALL-HOME (toll free); http://www.Ithaca.HomewoodSuites.com. Rates are US\$159 for single occupancy. This is an all-suite property and each room has a fully-equipped kitchen with full-size refrigerator, microwave, two-burner stove, and dishwasher. Amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast, free in-room wireless Internet, complimentary beverage service, snack shop, fitness center, indoor heated pool, and basketball and tennis court. This property is pet friendly. This property is located approximately four miles from the campus. Cancellation and early check-out policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation. The deadline for reservations at this rate is August 26, 2011.

Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 130 E. Seneca Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-277-8900; 877-STAY-HGI (toll free); http://www.Ithaca.StayHGI.com. Rates are US\$169 per night for single/double occupancy. Amenities include in-room refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave oven; complimentary parking; free wired and wireless Internet in guest rooms; fitness room; indoor heated pool; and a 24-hour business center with remote printing capabilities. For dining options this hotel offers a breakfast restaurant, on-site Irish pub, on-site Starbucks, convenience store, and room service. This property is located approximately one mile from the campus. Cancellation and early check-out policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation. The deadline for reservations at this rate is August 10, 2011.

Ramada, 2310 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-257-3100; 800-THE-RAMADA (toll free); http://www.RamadaInnIthaca.com. Rates are US\$99.95 per night for single/double occupancy. Amenities include, limited free shuttle service to and from Cornell University and Tompkins County Airport; in-room refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave oven; complimentary parking; high-speed Internet in select guest rooms (be sure to request it, if needed); a heated indoor pool; fitness room; game room;and a business center. For dining options this hotel offers an in-hotel restaurant, lounge, and room service. This hotel is pet friendly. This property is located approximately three miles from the campus. Cancellation and early check-out policies vary; be sure to check when you make your reservation. The deadline for reservations at this rate is August 12, 2011.

Local Information and Maps

A campus map can be found at www.cornell.edu/maps/. Information about the Cornell University Department of Mathematics may be found at www.math.cornell.edu. Please check this page regularly for additional information on this meeting. Please visit the Cornell University website at www.cornell.edu for additional information on the campus.

Other Activities

Book Sales: Stop by the on-site AMS bookstore and review the newest titles from the AMS, enjoy up to 25% off all AMS publications, or take home an AMS t-shirt! Complimentary coffee will be served courtesy of AMS Membership Services.

AMS Editorial Activity: An acquisitions editor from the AMS book program will be present to speak with prospective authors. If you have a book project that you would like to discuss with the AMS, please stop by the book exhibit.

Parking

Hotels are all approximately between one and four miles driving distance from the Cornell Campus. The primary parking garage is on Hoy Road, adjacent to Schoellkopf Field. There is also limited parking available on the weekend adjacent to both Malott Hall and Rockefeller Hall. Parking in many areas of the campus, including the parking garage on Hoy Road and all metered lots, is open after 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday. Please read all signs when entering a lot to be sure of the restrictions. All metered parking on campus is free on weekends. Drivers should carefully read signage as some parking spaces require a permit on the weekend.

Registration and Meeting Information

Registration and the AMS book exhibit will be held in the fifth floor lounge of Malott Hall.  All invited Addresses will be held in Malott Hall. Special Sessions will be held in Malott Hall, Phillips Hall, and Rockefeller Hall. Please refer to the campus map at www.cornell.edu/maps/ for specific locations. The registration desk will be open on Saturday, September 10, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 11, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Fees are US\$52 for AMS members, US\$72 for nonmembers; and US\$5 for students, unemployed mathematicians, and emeritus members. Fees are payable on-site via cash, check, or credit card.

For those with mobility issues, the entrance with the most direct access to the elevator in Malott Hall, is the NW entrance. Please look for signs directing you to this entrance. The only use of this entrance on the weekend is to access the elevator.

Reception

There will be a reception sponsored by the Cornell Mathematics Department. It will take place between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, in the Big Red Barn, which is adjacent to Malott Hall. The AMS thanks our hosts for their gracious hospitality.

Travel

Cornell is approximately a 10-minute drive from Ithaca Tomkins Regional Airport (ITH) and 90-minute drive from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). To view several other airport options please reference the Cornell University website at www.cornell.edu/visiting/ithaca/directions_air.cfm.

By Air: The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) is located on Brown Road, Ithaca, NY, a 10-minute drive from campus and downtown areas. Ithaca is serviced by Delta, Continental Airlines, US Airways, and United.

The exclusive provider for ground transportation for Tompkins Airport is Ithaca Dispatch 607-277-7777; 888-321-1149 (toll free). Reservations are not normally required for ground transportation and there is a desk for this vendor located at the baggage claim at the airport. Fares can range between US\$10-US\$18 one way.

Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is located in Syracuse, NY, approximately 60 miles from Cornell and 90 minutes driving time. Door-to-door taxi and van service (only economical for groups) is available through the following vendors: Ithaca Airline Limousine 607- 273-3030; 800-273-9197, Executive Limousine and Sedan 607-753- 9180, Superior Limousine 607-758-3333, and IthaCar Service 607-229-3500.

By Train: The nearest train stop is located in Syracuse, NY, approximately 90 minutes from Ithaca. Syracuse is connected to the Empire (N.Y.C.-Niagara Falls), Lake Shore Limited (Chicago-Boston), and Maple Leaf (N.Y.C.-Toronto) routes. The train station is located at 131 P&C Parkway, Syracuse, NY, 800-872-7245. Bus service is offered by New York Trailways to Ithaca from Syracuse (800) 225-6815. In addition to bus service from Syracuse to Ithaca, door-to-door taxi and van service is available to and from the Syracuse Amtrak Station. Connections should be reserved ahead of time with the Ithaca Airline Limousine 607- 273-3030; 800-273-9197 (toll free). Taxi service from Syracuse is less economical.

By Car: Travel on Rte. 79 East. Turn left onto Mitchell St./Rte. 366. Follow Mitchell up the hill and bear left onto Ithaca Road. Ithaca Road will become Dryden Road at the stoplight. From Dryden Road, turn left onto Hoy Road at the flashing light. Follow Hoy Road to campus. For more detailed directions from all primary directions or for door-to-door directions please visit www.cornell.edu/visiting/ithaca/directions_car.cfm#doortoinfo.

Car Rental: There are two car rental agencies with offices at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. For reservations with AVIS please dial toll free 800-831-2847 or visit their website at www.avis.com. For reservations with Hertz please dial toll free 800-654-3131 or visit their website at www.hertz.com.

Local Transportation

Taxi Service: Three Ithaca taxi companies operate under the same ownership, Ithaca Dispatch, 888-321-1149. These are the individual companies operating under Ithaca Dispatch: Blue Light Transportation 607-277-CABS (no relation to Cornell's Blue Light Services), Cayuga Taxi 607-277-TAXI, and University Taxi 607-277-7777.

Bus Service within Ithaca: Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) buses service Ithaca and the surrounding areas. Routes 14, 20, and 21 connect campus with the Ithaca bus terminal. TCAT also serves as Cornell's primary form of on-campus transportation. Route 31 serves the Ithaca airport.

Weather

The average high temperature for September is approximately 72 degrees and the average low is approximately 52 degrees. Rain is common for this time of year. Visitors should be prepared for inclement weather and check weather forecasts in advance of their arrival.

Information for International Participants

Visa regulations are continually changing for travel to the United States. Visa applications may take from three to four months to process and require a personal interview, as well as specific personal information. International participants should view the important information about traveling to the U.S. found at http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/biso/visas/ and http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html. If you need a preliminary conference invitation in order to secure a visa, please send your request to dls@ams.org.

If you discover you do need a visa, the National Academies website (see above) provides these tips for successful visa applications:

* Visa applicants are expected to provide evidence that they are intending to return to their country of residence. Therefore, applicants should provide proof of “binding” or sufficient ties to their home country or permanent residence abroad. This may include documentation of the following:

- family ties in home country or country of legal permanent residence

- property ownership

- bank accounts

- employment contract or statement from employer stating that the position will continue when the employee returns;

* Visa applications are more likely to be successful if done in a visitor's home country than in a third country;

* Applicants should present their entire trip itinerary, including travel to any countries other than the United States, at the time of their visa application;

* Include a letter of invitation from the meeting organizer or the U.S. host, specifying the subject, location and dates of the activity, and how travel and local expenses will be covered;

* If travel plans will depend on early approval of the visa application, specify this at the time of the application;

* Provide proof of professional scientific and/or educational status (students should provide a university transcript).

This list is not to be considered complete. Please visit the websites above for the most up-to-date information.