• Preliminary Schedule
• Registration Form
• Abstract Form
• Directions to Brandeis University

This year’s annual activities will include both a day in honor of late, longtime AAVSO Director Janet A. Mattei and the 93rd Annual Membership Meeting of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. The events of Friday, October 29, will all be in honor of Janet and will include a memorial gathering in the morning, a scientific session in the afternoon, and an Open House and buffet dinner at AAVSO Headquarters in the evening. The AAVSO Membership Meeting will be held the following evening. As decided by the Council in 2002, the 2004 annual meeting is a mini-meeting, without the usual Saturday paper session and banquet.

A Day in Honor of Janet A. Mattei
Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, will be the setting for the day-long activities honoring Janet. Brandeis was Janet's alma mater, and her four years there as a Wien International Scholar had a profound impact on her and on her life. She remained very active in the Wien Scholar Program and alumni affairs, and was serving on the alumni board at the time of her death. The memorial gathering in the morning will include invited speakers and will offer attendees who wish to do so an opportunity to share their thoughts of Janet. The scientific session in the afternoon will include invited and contributed presentations on variable star astronomy and astronomy education and outreach, subjects to which Janet was deeply committed. (Those interested in presenting a contributed paper should submit an abstract form.) Levin Ballroom in the Nathaniel H. and Suzanne Usdan Student Center on the Brandeis campus will be the setting for the day’s events (if you are coming by car, please be sure to read the Parking at Brandeis section for information on where to park). An open house and dinner buffet will be held at AAVSO Headquarters in Cambridge to conclude the day’s events.

AAVSO Membership Meeting
The 2004 Annual Membership Meeting will be held at the Home Suites Inn in Waltham, MA. Reports from the Secretary, Treasurer, Committee Chairs, and the Interim Director will be presented. The AAVSO Council election results (both new council members and officers) will also be announced. Following the membership meeting those interested will walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner (Dutch treat).

Parking at Brandeis University
There is no on-campus parking available, so all attendees will need to park in Satellite parking lot J. J Lot is located about a 5-minute shuttle ride from the Usdan Student Center and the day’s activities. There will be shuttle buses for AAVSO’ers running between J Lot and the Student Center all day long, beginning at 9 am. Please allow extra time in the morning when arriving for Janet’s memorial gathering to be shuttled over from J Lot. Drivers may wish to drop off their passengers at the Student Center before driving to J Lot. If you have a handicapped-parking permit and need this service, please contact AAVSO Headquarters as soon as possible.

Accommodations
Sleeping rooms have been reserved for AAVSO meeting attendees (at special group rate) at both the Home Suites Inn and the Holiday Inn Express. Both properties are in Waltham, located right next to each other. If you wish to compare amenities you can visit the following web site that includes links for both hotels: http://www.parklodgehotels.com/

Home Suites Inn
455 Totten Pond Road Waltham, MA 02451
Toll Free: 1-866-419-0900
The following rate has been obtained for AAVSO meeting attendees:

$85.00 (US funds) per night, single or double occupancy
(9.7% room tax not included)
(check-in after 3:00pm, check-out by 11:00am)

Holiday Inn Express
385 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451
Toll Free: 1-866-419-0900
The following rate has been obtained for AAVSO meeting attendees:

$79.00 (US funds) per night, single or double occupancy
(9.7% room tax not included)
(check-in after 3:00pm, check-out by 11:00am)

Please make reservations by calling the hotel of your choice at the number indicated before October 7, 2004. Also, please be sure to mention that you will be participating in the AAVSO meeting when making your room reservations.

Transportation
Transportation from the Home Suites Inn/Holiday Inn Express to Brandeis University for the events honoring Janet and also to AAVSO HQ for the open house and buffet dinner will be provided.

Waltham is located about 30 minutes west of Boston. There are several shuttle services that will transport a passenger from Boston Logan Airport to Waltham for approximately $25.

J C Transportation
www.jctransportationshuttle.com
1-800-571-2281

Waltham Newton Airport Express
www.wnae.com
617-987-2300

The Airporter
www.theairporter.com
1-877-899-6161

Please fill out the registration form no later than October 10, 2004 to: AAVSO, 25 Birch St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.