General Information

  Registration and Information Desk - Lower Level - Atrium

Conference registration will be open on the Exhibit (Lower) Level in the Atrium outside the entrance to the posters and exhibits (see floorplan on page 4), according to the following schedule:
 

Note that attendees must be registered before attending the Opening General Session on Wednesday, March 24, 7:00 pm.

  Speaker-Ready Room - Lobby Level - Park Tower Suite 8224/8226

All PowerPoint presentations will be loaded at the Conference onto computers dedicated to each session's talks rather than using individual laptops for each presentation. Speakers are required to load their PowerPoint presentations in the Speaker Ready Room on the Lobby Level in Park Tower Suite 8224/8226 at least one day or more before the beginning of their sessions. To facilitate this operation and ensure a smooth presentation, please carefully read the PowerPoint guidelines established by the audiovisual service company before preparing your presentation. If you have questions, send an e-mail to Marsha Ryan, meeting manager, at mryan@genetics-gsa.org.

Important: Once you arrive at the Conference, it is imperative that you check your PowerPoint file in the Speaker-Ready Room at least the day before the presentation. Ask the IT professional to load your file on the Conference computers, incorporate it into the session file, and check it for compatibility. The Speaker-Ready Room will be open as follows:

Authors making Powerpoint and other computer-generated illustrations MUST take their CD, zip disk or laptop to the Speaker-Ready Room at least the day before of their session to allow the IT professional to load the presentation to the session's computer file. If you cannot do this, contact Marsha Ryan who will try to make other arrangements for the presentation to be readied for inclusion in the session.

All platform presenters should report to their session room 30 minutes in advance of the beginning of their session.

NOTE: No 35mm slide projectors will be available in session rooms unless specifically requested by the speaker or session moderator well in advance of the Conference.

  Poster Sessions and Exhibits - Lower Level - Exhibit Hall B/C

All posters will be displayed in the Exhibit Hall. The Hall will be open to Conference registrants on a 24-hour basis beginning at 5:00 pm, Wednesday, March 24, until 10:00 am, Sunday, March 28. Security will be posted at the entrance to the Hall and only individuals with official Drosophila Conference registration badges will be admitted. Guest pass applications may be made at the registration counter during regular registration hours.

Exhibit representatives will be in their booths according to the following schedule:

Authors are expected to be at their boards according to the following schedule:

All posters must be removed from poster boards no later than 10:00 am on Sunday, March 28. After that time, remaining posters will be removed by vendors and may be lost or thrown away. The GSA Administrative Office does not take responsibility for posters that are not removed by 10:00 am on Sunday.

  Opening Mixer - Lobby Level - Marriott Ballroom Salon 3

Meet friends and colleagues at the mixer on Wednesday, March 24, immediately following the Opening General Session. Complimentary finger foods will be served and cash bars will be open to Conference attendees until midnight.

  FlyBase Demonstrations - Lobby Level - Carolinas' Room

The Drosophila Genome Database Project (FlyBase) invites all Conference registrants to view the latest database tools. At times other than scheduled presentations noted below, FlyBase personnel are available in the demonstration room for one-on-one tutorials and discussions.

  Employment Opportunities/Seeking Employment Notices - Lower Level - Atrium

Individuals and institutions offering or seeking employment may post notices and résumés on the "Employment Opportunities" bulletin boards set up near the Registration and Information Desk outside East Hall.

  Message Boards - Lower Level - Atrium

Message boards are located near the Registration and Information Desk.

  Badges

Badges are required for admission to all sessions, the opening mixer, and the posters and exhibits in Exhibit Hall B/C. Security officers have been instructed not to allow individuals without badges to enter the Exhibit Hall. If you lose your badge, a replacement may be requested at the Registration and Information Desk during stated registration desk hours above.

  Smoking

Smoking is allowed only in designated areas and outdoors.

  Parking

Parking is available at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel at a cost of $26 per day.