Council of Writing Program Administrators

Dear WPA 2007 Workshop, Institute, and Conference Participants:

The local arrangements committee is excited to welcome you to WPA 2007 in Tempe, Arizona. With about a month to go before the WPA conference begins, we wanted to pass along some information concerning airport shuttles, check in procedures, and social activities at the conference that may help your planning process.

Arriving in Tempe. If you are arriving by plane at Sky Harbor International Airport and staying at the conference hotel, the Tempe Mission Palms and Conference Center offers transportation for individual travelers to and from Sky Harbor International Airport every ½ hour from 5:30AM – 10:30PM daily. Courtesy phones are located in the baggage claim area. Once you have your luggage, use the courtesy phone to call the hotel and they’ll tell you when the next bus will arrive, and where.If you need to call the Tempe Mission Palms directly for some reason, the phone number is 480 894-1400. Those who are driving to Tempe and staying at the conference hotel may park at no charge at the Tempe Mission Palms.

WORKSHOP: Sunday, July 8 - Wednesday, July 11:

Workshop Check-In. Check-in for the workshop is from noon-3:00 pm on Sunday, July 8, in the Tempe Mission Palms main lobby near the hotel check-in area. At 3:00, the workshop officially begins with a snack reception/get acquainted session sponsored by Houghton Mifflin in the Delores Room, which is just off the courtyard and is the site of all workshop sessions. You can see a floor plan of the hotel at http://www.missionpalms.com/phoenix_meetings_plans.htm.

If you will arrive after 3:00 on Sunday, look for the group in the Delores Room or check at the main desk to learn the group’s current location. If you are staying for one of the Thursday institutes and/or the full conference, we’ll check you in for those events when you check in for the workshop.

Workshop Agenda: http://wpacouncil.org/node/879

Workshop Meals. Your breakfast and lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, as well as morning and afternoon breaks on those days, are included in your workshop tuition. Additionally, dinner on Sunday night is included.

Wednesday Night Outing. We’re still working on a fun outing for Wednesday night and will keep you posted on our plans.

ASSESSMENT INSTITUTE OR RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Thursday JULY 12

Institute Check-In. Check-in for the institutes is from 3:00-6:00 pm on Wednesday, July 12, in the Tempe Mission Palms main lobby near the hotel check-in area. If you will arrive later than 6:00 on Wednesday, a local committee member will be in the main lobby from 7:30-8:30 Thursday morning to check you in. If you are staying for the main conference, we’ll check you in for the conference when you check in for the institute.

Institute Locations and Shuttle. Both the Assessment Institute and the Research Institute will take place at the Tempe Mission Palms from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Thursday, July 12. The Assessment Institute will meet in the Delores Room. The Research Institute is scheduled to meet in the Abbey. Both rooms are on the first floor of the hotel; you can see a floor plan at http://www.missionpalms.com/phoenix_meetings_plans.htm.

Institute Meals. Your lunch on Thursday, as well as a morning and afternoon break, is included in your institute tuition. If you want to purchase breakfast at the Tempe Mission Palms before heading to the institute, the Mission Grill Restaurant serves a full buffet breakfast and offers vegetarian menu items as well.

CONFERENCE Thursday, July 12-Sunday, July 15

Thursday: Conference Check-In. Check-in for the conference is from 2:00-5:30 pm on Thursday, July 12, in the Tempe Mission Palms main lobby near the hotel check-in area. At 5:30, the conference officially begins with Kyoko Sato’s plenary talk. The plenary will be followed with a welcome reception sponsored by McGraw-Hill and Longman Publishers.

Friday: Banquet. Following a 6:30-7:30 cocktail time sponsored by Prentice-Hall and Bedford/St. Martin’s, Friday night’s banquet will start at 7:30 pm and includes an address by Edward White and the annual awards presentations. The banquet is included in your registration fee. The cocktail party will be held at the University Club; the banquet is in the Old Main Ballroom, both on the campus of Arizona State University -- about a ten minute walk from the hotel.

Friday Evening Plans. After the banquet, you are on your own to explore Tempe or just enjoy some downtime. The local committee will include in your packet some venues for enjoying live music and other events in the Tempe area.

Saturday: Outing. Thanks to Allyn & Bacon / Longman’s generous sponsorship, conference goers will enjoy free admission to see the Arizona Diamondbacks play the San Diego Padres, at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The game starts at 6:05 pm, so busses will leave at 4:45 pm sharp from the Tempe Mission Palms. Dinner will be on your own Saturday night (and they have great hot dogs at Chase Field).

Sunday: The conference ends at 10:00 Sunday morning after the closing “Town Hall” session. While you are welcome to explore the Tempe area on your own, literature on other areas of Phoenix and Arizona will be readily available at the Tempe Mission Palms.

Thanks and best,

Greg Glau (for Duane Roen and Barry Maid) Local Arrangements Chairs WPA 2007