CONFERENCE VENUE -
THE BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER

The 1998 MTS - Oceans Community Conference will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC), centrally located to the Inner Harbor, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and other popular attractions, as well as all conference hotels. The BCC is a fifteen-minute ride from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) by taxi or shuttle.

Conference sessions will take place in Rooms 301-313 on the 300 Level of the BCC, with exhibits taking place on the 100 Level. All meeting rooms can be accessed via the Charles Street entrance of the BCC.

The Registration Desk is located outside of Exhibit Hall A.

Participants should be aware that the BCC maintains a no-smoking policy throughout the building.

REGISTRATION
Advanced Registration: All attendees, including speakers, session chair and exhibitors are required to register. Pre-registration will speed up check-in time at the conference.

The registration fees are:

Quoted in USD	On/Before 10/16/98	After 10/16/98
Member	$385.00	$435.00
Non-Member	$440.00	$490.00
Emeritus Members	$200.00	$200.00
Student Member	$100.00	$120.00
Student Non-Member	$125.00	$145.00
One Day Pass	$125.00	$150.00
One Day Student Pass	$50.00	$60.00
Exhibits-Only Day Pass	$15.00	$15.00

Members, Non-Members, Emeritus Members and Exhibitor Technical Registrants (one per booth) are entitled to: all technical sessions, admission to the exhibit hall, refreshments, Ice Breaker Reception, Exhibit Hall Reception, MTS Awards Luncheon, Banquet at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, two lunch tickets and a copy of the conference proceedings.

Student Members and Student Non-Members are entitled to: all technical sessions, admission to the exhibit hall, refreshments, two lunch tickets and a copy of the conference proceedings.

Non-Member full registration and Non-Member Student registration include a one-year membership in MTS.

One Day Registrants and Student One Day Registrants are entitled to technical sessions, admission to the exhibit hall and 1 lunch ticket.

Exhibits Only Day Pass Registrants are entitled to the exhibition for that day.

A letter signed by the student’s advisor on the educational institution’s letterhead must accompany the registration form. The letter should state the following, “I certify that (student’s name) is a full-time student taking three or more courses per semester and is currently working toward a (type of degree) degree in (specify field of study) at (institution’s name) and is expected to graduate by (date).”

CANCELLATION POLICY
Requests for refunds (up to November 6th) must be in writing. There will be a $25 service change. No refunds will be made after November 6th, however, substitutions may be permitted.

REGISTRATION HOURS
The conference registration desk will be located outside of Exhibit Hall A at the Baltimore Convention Center via the Charles Street entrance.

Sunday November 15th 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday November 16th 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 17th 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday November 18th 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday November 19th 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

PROCEEDINGS
All full registration conference participants will receive a voucher to pick up their copy of the Conference Proceedings.

Additional Proceedings are available for purchase at the Registration Desk. Paper copy -$80.00, CD-ROM copy - $40.00.

EXHIBIT HOURS
Monday November 16th 5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Opening Reception
Tuesday November 17th 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday November 18th 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday November 19th 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Ocean Community Conference’98 (OCC) sponsored by the Marine Technology Society (MTS) is recognized as one of the most important and largest conferences featuring products and services for the oceanographic community. A specific time has been allocated for conference attendees to visit their preferred exhibitors. Lunch will be available in the exhibit area.

The Oceans Community Conference’98 is being hosted in Baltimore, a historic city and one of the Nation’s largest and most modern ports. Major attractions include Harborplace, a revitalized downtown area surrounding the Inner Harbor and a model for many harbor restoration projects nationwide. The National Aquarium is a world-renowned attraction and the site for the MTS evening social. Other attractions include the Maryland Science Center, the Charles Street Corridor, and several visiting oceanographic ships in harbor for the Ocean Community Conference.

Space has been made available for more than 140 exhibitors to celebrate the International Year of the Ocean with MTS. This unprecedented opportunity will provide your organization a unique setting to display to a global audience the latest in marine technology products, services, and educational tools leading us into the 21st Century. There is also ample opportunity to sponsor special events throughout the conference.

SPEAKERS BRIEFING SESSION
A Speakers’ Briefing Session will be arranged for all speakers on the day of their presentation. The objective of the briefing session is to review planning for individual sessions as well as allow speakers and session chairpersons to get to know each other. Speakers are invited to attend the briefing session on the day of their presentation.

SOCIAL EVENTS
Additional tickets are available on the registration form or at the registration desk.

Ice Breaker Reception
Baltimore Hilton and Towers
Sunday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
After registering for the conference at the Convention Center, come greet old friends in the Versailles Room of the Baltimore Hilton and Towers where old world beauty can be found just a skywalk away. Light finger food and a cash bar will be provided. The Ice Breaker reception is included with your full conference registration. Additional tickets are available on the registration form or at the registration desk for $25.00.

MTS Awards Luncheon
Baltimore Convention Center
Monday, November 16, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
The annual Awards Luncheon will be held in the Baltimore Convention Center. The Awards Luncheon is included with your full conference registration. Additional tickets are available on the registration form or at the registration desk for $30.00.

Exhibit Hall Reception
Hall A – Baltimore Convention Center
Monday, November 16, 5:45 p.m.–- 8:00 p.m.
Treat yourself to an evening at the ball park and visit with our grand slam exhibitors The theme is baseball (Camden Yard is a home run away) and our menu is hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and crab cakes along with baseball favorites popcorn, pretzels and peanuts! Each registrant gets a free drink ticket and a cash bar will be available. The Exhibit Hall Reception is included with your full conference registration. Additional tickets are available on the registration form or at the registration desk for $35.00.

Dinner at the Baltimore Aquarium
Wednesday, November 18, 7:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Join us for Hors d’oeuvres, drinks and dinner while you venture into the domain of dazzling reef fish, sleek sharks, playful dolphins and thousands of other creatures at a private evening at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, centerpiece of Baltimore’s world-famous Inner Harbor.

Enjoy a private performance of the Dolphin Show, gaze in amazement as scuba divers hand-feed hundreds of colorful tropical fish in the Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit, watch as scuba divers feed the largest collection of stingrays in the country and an Aviculturist provides both fun and factual information about the unique life-styles of puffins while feeding these enchanting seabirds. The Dinner at the Aquarium is included with your full conference registration. Additional tickets are available on the registration form or at the registration desk for $75.00.

SHIP OPEN HOUSE AT WATERFRONT
Tuesday November 17, 1998 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.*
Wednesday November 18, 1998 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.*
The Marine Technology Society is fortunate to have several institutions contributing research platforms which will be available for public viewing. NOAA has planned for two vessels to participate, the 90’ RUDE and the 65’ BAY HYDROGRAPHER. Both vessels employ the latest hydrographic technologies for nautical charting and surveying. The United States Coast Guard is planning to have one of their newest buoy tenders, the JAMES RANKIN, featuring the latest in station keeping and positioning technologies. Tyco International, a new player in marine telecommunications, may provide one of their local cable-laying ships, and the US Environmental Protection Agency will supply the PETER ANDERSON, a superior environmental research platform. We also expect visits from the US Army Corps of Engineers and possibly one of the Navy’s high-tech vessels.

*Times may vary according to ship availability.