SCCR (and SASci) 2008 FEBRUARY “20 QUESTIONS”
Q1: I have a couple books to donate to the exhibit/benefit sale, but they’re not about research. Is that OK?
A1: Yes. Just figure that we’ll ask $10 for each book at the conference exhibit/benefit sale (proceeds going to scholarship funds for New Orleans college students). Think in terms of something a person would consider a great buy at $10. This can be scholarly, non-scholarly, a cookbook, for children, whatever. Most of what people are sending and promising to bring are academic books. We are counting on all attendees to each donate one book, to make this benefit sale a success. For our part, we’ve gotten a dozen publishers to contribute books.
Q2: Where can I stay in New Orleans? The Le Pavillon is now full.
A2: The rates we got at the Le Pavillon were excellent, especially considering the quality of what you’ll see at this classy hotel. SCCR/SASci attendees have actually booked over half the rooms in the entire hotel for February 20, 21, and 22. For those who didn’t book rooms in time, here are a few places we’ve been recommending. The Ambassador Hotel is advertising $65.80 for those nights, the Queen and Crescent is at $64.75 and the Pelham is offering $66.85. The two hotels closest to the Le Pavillon (visible from the Le Pavillon entranceway) are Drury Inn across the street (504-529-7800) and Homewood Suites (504-581-5599). Another good option is Royal St. Charles (800-265-1856, ask for “Winter Sale Special”).
Q3: From the airport, should I take a shuttle or a taxi?
A3: There are no buses from the airport. Taxis are $28 for 1 person, 1 way. The
Airport Shuttle is $15.00 1 person, 1 way. Taxis will get you there quicker.
Q4: How do I drive to the Le Pavillon from out of town?
A4: From West (Baton Rouge, or airport)
Take I-10 East
Continue on I-10 until Exit 234 B (Poydras Street)
Exit to the right down to Poydras Street
After 5 blocks on Poydras hotel is on corner of Poydras & Baronne
Streets on left
From From East (Slidell, Mississippi, Alabama)
Take I-10 West to Exit 235 B (Canal Street), you'll be in the city of New Orleans
Go one block to Canal Street
Continue down Canal Street to Baronne Street
Take right @ Baronne Street to Poydras Street
Hotel is on corner of Poydras and Baronne, you'll need to be in left lane of traffic on Baronne so you can take a left onto Poydras. Take very next left to get to hotel
Q5: Is there parking at the Le Pavillon?
A5: Yes, but it’s relatively expensive. We are getting an $18/day parking rate (discounted from normal $28/day rate) in the lot next to the hotel (it’s all valet-style). There is also public parking in the area. Be sure that you identify yourself as with SCCR to get that discounted rate. The discount is only for people staying at the hotel overnight, and it allows for multiple in’s and out’s.
Q6: It would be great to have some floating staff members or clearly marked individuals to ask questions to during the conference (schedule, logistics, New Orleans, etc).
A6: That was a good idea. We’ll try to wear something to identify ourselves as ready to answer questions. The hotel has an excellent concierge desk, and we’ll staff the registration desk well to be responsive. We suggest that you write your name in large bold letters on your program and hold onto your program while at the Le Pavillon. It will be informative.
Q7: I’ve been to some academic conferences where well-known people form cliques, so much so that junior academics are too intimidated to approach them. But I don’t know what to do about this.
A7: That’s a social scientific question. We can only set our own example of being humble and respectful toward everyone we encounter at the conference, including the hotel staff, and urge everyone to do the same. We’re all in this together.
Q8: I would like to volunteer to help. What should I do?
A8: Please write to HYPERLINK "mailto:sccr2008@selu.edu" sccr2008@selu.edu to volunteer, and remind us of this again at the registration desk.
Q9: Will a written version of the papers be available (online perhaps)? Are any conference publications planned?
A9: There are no plans. The abstracts will stay posted on-line, and many people initiate book projects with presenters at paper sessions. We organizers need to get on with (back to) life after the conference. As you know, a subscription to the journal Cross Cultural Research comes with membership in SCCR, and many SCCR members submit articles to this fine journal.
Q10: How safe is the area where the hotel is located?
A10: It is a safe neighborhood. BUT as in any major American city, we would not go out on the street late at night alone. If you are out late, our hotel contact persons recommended that you spend a couple dollars (cabs are plentiful especially in the French Quarter) on a taxi rather than walking back to the hotel. You have NOTHING to worry about if you use common sense. As in any major city, safety depends on the neighborhood, and the time of day/night.
Q11: I am coming to New Orleans alone and I am female. Is there anything I should avoid doing?
A11: See the answer to Q10. New Orleans is viewed with many negative stereotypes. For example, Mardi Gras is stereotyped as a scene of drunks and nudity, which is NOT AT ALL the experience most local people had last week. Common sense is your best safeguard. For example, knowing that drinking is heaviest in some places in the French Quarter, you might consider avoiding certain streets late at night.
Q12: Why is the Banquet so expensive? It exceeds my university’s per diem allowance for food/drink.
A12: SCCR and SASci do not make A DIME on the banquet. It is because the price of hotel catering is high. The banquet cost of $45 will ensure (in the case of Le Pavillon BUT NOT some other hotels) that you will get an excellent meal. The question we as organizers ask is “Why is coffee so expensive?” It seems to be a profit motive. This year we can rationalize food/drink costs as our contribution to the revival of the New Orleans economy. By the way, there are many reasonable places to eat and drink at in the French Quarter.
Q13: Is Le Pavillon in the French Quarter?
A13: It is about 4 blocks from the French Quarter, but technically is located in the New Orleans “Central Business District.”
Q14: What are the amenities at the Le Pavillon?
A14: Please see HYPERLINK "http://www.lepavillon.com" www.lepavillon.com for these details. It does NOT have a very good “business office,” so we have recommended people to bring laptops with wireless. The business office in the lower level has 2 PCs and requires a guest room key. It serves a late-night snack to guests in the main lobby, and there are terry-cloth robes in each room (NOT as gifts, we are told). The rooms are great, and the customer-service orientation is excellent. We hope you have the same “Wow” reaction we had when we first inspected this hotel.
Q15: What do I do if not all the presenters at my session show up?
A15: We wouldn’t want to require people who had timed their talks to stretch out their talks, but you could feel free to divide the extra time among those presenters who are there. We have made numerous efforts to contact every presenter to confirm and reconfirm attendance.
Q16: Is there on-site registration?
A16: Yes, but payment will be by check or cash.
Q17: I’m going to the student social? Can my classmate go too, if he hasn’t registered yet?
A17: He can register on-site, and that includes the fee for the social. We’ve booked a beautiful venue for the social just a 4-minute walk from the Le Pavillon, at the Louisiana Humanities Center at 938 Lafayette Street ( HYPERLINK "http://www.leh.org/lhc_virtual/1st_auditorium.html" http://www.leh.org/lhc_virtual/1st_auditorium.html). This is going to be a very pleasant event, and we really want local, out-of-town, and international students to meet one another throughout the conference and at this social.
Q18: What’s the weather like?
A18: February weather in New Orleans is unpredictable. For the past week the high has been close to 70 and low anywhere from 35-55 depending on the day. New Orleans gets a lot of rain, but also a lot of sunshine. Check the 10-day forecast at weather.com two days before you travel – it’s fairly reliable a few days out for New Orleans. Le Pavillon’s pool is rooftop and it will be too chilly for outdoor swimming. Umbrellas are plentiful and cheap in New Orleans.
Q19: Where is the closest copying center to Le Pavillon?
A19: The hotel is not strong on making copies, so you would indeed have to go off-site for copying. Therefore, PLEASE make any handout copies, etc., before you get to New Orleans. The closest copy store is Kinko’s at 762 Saint Charles Ave., New Orleans 70130 (504- 581-2541), about a five-minute walk from the hotel.
Q20: Where are you going to hold SCCR/SASci in 2009?
A20: It is not formally decided yet, but we are looking seriously at Monterey, California (south of San Jose). We will announce the venue as soon as possible on www.sccr.org.