First IVS Technical Operations Workshop
March 12-14, 2001
Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA USA


E-mail archive
E-mail list of registrants
First Announcement, October 3, 2000
Second Announcement and Pre-Registration, January 11, 2001
Pre-Registration is required for attendance. Forms are due by January 22, 2001.
Third Announcement and Registration, February 5, 2001
Registration is required for attendance. Deadline is February 20, 2001.
Registration closed February 20, 2001.
Class lists posted March 6, 2001 (links under Program and Schedule).
Photos added March 19 and 22, 2001 (link under Photos).
Feedback notes added March 20 and 27, 2001 (link under Feedback).

Objectives

Location

Program and Schedule

Registration

Transportation

Lodging

Local Information

Invitations

Program Committee

Local Organizing Committee

Photos

Feedback

Objectives     The intended audience for this meeting is the technical staff of the stations. The meeting will be oriented towards hands-on training and problem resolution in VLBI operations. We hope that all VLBI stations will be able to send technical representatives. This meeting represents a rare opportunity for both training and communication with personnel from other stations, the coordinating center, and the correlators.

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Location     The workshop will be held at Haystack Observatory in Westford, Massachusetts USA.

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Program and Schedule     The meeting program is being coordinated by a program committee chaired by the Network Coordinator Ed Himwich.

Registration and Reception (hosted by Haystack): Sunday, March 11, 2001, 18h EST at the Sheraton Tara
First session starts: Monday, March 12, 2001, 09h00m EST
Last session ends: Wednesday, March 14, 2001, 18h00m EST

A description of the courses that are offered is available.

Class assignments were completed on March 6. Classes were assigned on the basis of priorities requested and experience levels. Special requests were honored as much as possible. Please contact Nancy Vandenberg if you have any questions or problems with your classes.

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Registration     Registration is now closed.

Please register for the meeting using the registration form. Everyone who plans to attend the meeting must register. Pre-registration was only to obtain an indication of interest level for the list of classes. Indicate your actual choice of classes on the registration form. The Program Committee will assign the class schedules and post them in advance of the meeting. The complete set of course descriptions is available. Individual course descriptions are linked on the registration form.

Registration for the TOW is open to anyone, but priority in class placement will be given those who pre-registered. If you did not pre-register but would like to attend the meeting, please register. We will try to let you know if there is room in the classes by about February 25. Additional people can be accommodated only if it does not cause the meeting and classes to become too large.

The registration fee of $200 will cover morning refreshments, coffee breaks, lunches, and dinners during the meeting, and course materials. The fee will be collected at the registration desk at the meeting. Only cash or checks in USD can be accepted.

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Transportation     Haystack Observatory is about equally distant from two airports, Boston, MA and Manchester, NH. The Manchester airport is closer to the meeting hotel.

There are several choices for ground transportation to the Sheraton Tara from Logan Airport. Use the phone numbers below to reserve a seat.
Flight Line
1-800-245-2525
www.flightlineinc.com
$40 This is a shared ride.
M&L transportation
781-938-8646
$30 for 1 person
$40 for 2
$44 for 3
$50 for 4
This also would be a shared ride
TWC Limo
1-800-223-2325
$65 for 1 person
Superior Courier
1-800-371-6666
$82 for 2 people
$10 each additional person

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Lodging     A block of 35 rooms has been set aside at the Sheraton Tara in Nashua, NH. The hotel has a full-service restaurant and bar. Room rates are $89 + state tax (government) and $109 + state tax (non-government).

Participants are requested to make their own reservations. Please mention "NASA TOW" to get this rate in our block of rooms. Rooms will be released from the block after February 15, 2001 (one month in advance of the workshop) so please make your reservations before then. To make reservations you must contact the hotel directly via phone or fax. They require a credit card to guarantee your room.

If you wish to stay later than March 14, please contact Heidi Johnson and she will extend the reservation so that you can get the reduced rate on the extra nights.

Sheraton Tara
11 Tara Boulevard
Nashua, MA 03602
http://www.sheraton.com/property.taf?prop=826&lc=en
Phone: +1-603-888-9970
Fax: +1-603-888-4112

Driving directions to the hotel from either Manchester or Boston airport are on the hotel's web page. Driving directions from the hotel to Haystack will be available under Local Information, below.

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Local Information    

Driving directions to Haystack have text and maps.

Weather in mid-March in the northeastern US can be variable and unpredictable. Participants are advised to check the local weather conditions before coming.

Other links to local information:
Pheasant Lane shopping mall
Westford area restaurants
Local restaurants in Nashua
Lowell area info
Nashua, NH info
Boston Online
Lincoln Labs visitor info
MIT visitor info

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Invitations     Although IVS cannot provide financial support for attendance at the workshop, we will send a letter of invitation to attend the meeting. If this would be of assistance for your travel plans, please contact Nancy Vandenberg at the IVS Coordinating Center to request a letter.

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Program Committee     The Program Committee is responsible for deciding on the topics to be covered at the workshop and setting up the sessions. The final class schedules will be made after the registration forms are received.

Members of the program committee are:

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Local Organizing Committee     Members of the local organizing committee are:

Please feel free to contact any of us with any questions.

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Photos    Several sets of photographs were taken during the meeting.

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Feedback    Feedback on various topics was solicited during the meeting. The following topics were covered:

  • Field System feedback session, held on Monday evening, was chaired by Hayo Hase with notes taken by Walter Alef. The feedback items were discussed on Tuesday afternoon at Ed Himwich's session on future FS plans.
  • Operations/TOW feedback session, held on Tuesday evening, was chaired by Rich Strand with notes taken by Hayo Hase. These items were discussed at the wrapup session on Wednesday, chaired by Ed Himwich.
  • The TOW evaluation forms were filled out by participants during the last session of the meeting. A summary of the comments on the evaluation forms is available.

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Please address questions or comments to the IVS Coordinating Center
Last updated: April 6, 2001