Stay tuned for the latest information on the ITASA 2008 East Coast Conference, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania from February 21st, 2008 to February 23th, 2008!
If you have any questions, please contact info@penn.itasa.org. Thanks and we hope to see you at the conference!
Updates
3/19/08: From all of us here at Penn, we just wanted to thank everyone who attended the conference this year. You made it through the snow and rain to get to Philadelphia and we had a great time hosting you all this weekend! We hope you all made some new friends, learned a few things, or if nothing else, just had a good time :) We'll be sending out links to the video that we showed at banquet and please post your pictures on facebook too!
and lastly...keep an eye out for next year's conference, wherever it may be!
ITASA LOVE,
Penn ITASA 2008 East Coast Conference Team
ITASA 2008 East Coast Conference video: http://www.vimeo.com/7282
2/19/08: Dear Conference Registrants,
Thank you for registering for the ITASA 2008 East Coast Conference! The conference team at Penn has been hard at work to make sure you have a good time next weekend! Please take a few minutes to read over the information in this message to make sure your arrival goes smoothly and that you are prepared for the conference.
PACKING LIST
-Warm clothing and comfortable shoes (it can get quite windy!)
-Umbrella/rain gear
-Digital camera (we will be using them in one of our workshop sessions)
-Semi-formal attire for banquet (guys: dress shirt/dress slacks, girls: dress, skirt/dressy pants & nice top)
-Clothes for the after-party
-Cash for personal expenses (ATM's are also available on campus)
WHERE TO GO
Upon arriving at Penn, please go to the first floor of Houston Hall (3417 Spruce St.) to check-in and pick up your conference folder, nametag (you will need this to access conference events), and hotel key if you are staying at the Sheraton. Check-in will be open at the following times:
Thursday: 6 PM – 11 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 11 AM, 5 PM – 12 AM
Saturday: 9 AM – 11 AM
If you arriving in the middle of Friday (11 am – 5 pm), you should still come to Houston Hall to take part in conference events; we will conduct check-in when it opens again at 5 pm.
HOTEL
You will receive your roommate assignments and key upon checking in with us; everyone who has paid for housing at the Sheraton through us has been assigned to a room of 4.
If you are arriving either very early or very late and have booked housing through us at the Sheraton, please 1) notify Joyce Lin (joyce.lin@itasa.org) beforehand and 2) go directly to the Sheraton to check-in (3549 Chestnut St.) upon arriving. Check-in at the hotel begins at 3 pm.
The Sheraton Hotel and Houston Hall are within 5 minutes walking distance of each other. After checking in at Houston, you are welcome to check-in at the Sheraton and drop off your luggage. We can also temporarily store luggage in Houston, but we are not responsible for any lost belongings.
DIRECTIONS TO HOUSTON HALL - 3417 Spruce St. (Spruce St., between 34th & 36th St.)
*Map of Houston Hall: http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/mapsBldgs/view_map.php3?id=205
From the airport:
Please refer to our website for directions:
http://itasa.org/2008/east/directions/directions.html
From Amtrak 30th Street Station:
You can either take a taxi (about $6-8) or walk down Market Street towards 34th Street. Turn left at the intersection with 34th Street, continuing past Chestnut, Walnut, and Locust until you reach Spruce Street (15 minute walk).
From Chinatown/Greyhound Bus Station:
Take the Market-Frankford line (Westbound) at the SEPTA station located at 11th & Market to the 34th Street stop (34th & Market). Walk 4 blocks to 34th & Spruce Street. Alternatively, a taxi will cost about $8.
*If you get lost on campus and need directions, please call the Houston Hall information desk at 215-898-4636. If you get lost in Philadelphia, please call Eric Tsaur (315-694-8602)*
PARKING
Guests at the Sheraton have the option of parking in the hotel garage for an additional $15/day (this is not covered by the hotel fee). There is also a parking garage located at 40th & Walnut and free street parking past 40th Street. Look here for a map of nearby parking garages: http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/parking/map.html
FOOD
We will provide breakfast (on Friday and Saturday) and Saturday evening banquet. All other meals (lunch Friday and Saturday, as well as dinner Friday) will be on your own. There are many affordable places to eat conveniently located on campus, and a list of recommended restaurants in the area will be provided. In addition, we will be serving light refreshments on Thursday and Friday night.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
*Important Addresses:*
Houston Hall: 3417 Spruce St. (Spruce St. between 34th & 36th)
Sheraton Hotel: 3549 Chestnut St (36th & Chestnut)
See you next week!
ITASA 2008 East Coast Conference Team
2/18/08: Update on Keynotes: We are pleased to announce that we will be presenting a prepared speech by Lee Tung-Hui, former President of Taiwan, during our Saturday keynote session!"
2/11/08: Head over to the Schedule page for updated information and event descriptions!
2/7/08: We are excited to announce the confirmation of 2 keynote speakers: Annette Lu, the current Vice President of Taiwan, and Michelle Krusiec, an acclaimed Taiwanese American actress.
VP Lu will be featured in a taped speech at the Saturday night banquet, and she will be responding to questions that we submit as well. We ask that attendees submit questions that VP Lu will select from to address to us in her taped address. Please visit the Keynote page to send your questions for consideration.
Michelle Krusiec will be delivering a keynote speech on Friday night. Best known for her starring role in Alice Wu's feature film, Saving Face, Krusiec's performance garnered her international recognition with a Best Actress Nomination for Asia's Golden Horse Award, Asia's equivalent to the Academy Award. As a writer, Krusiec penned her one woman show, "Made in Taiwan." It premiered at the prestigious 2002 HBO Aspen Comedy festival to sold out houses. Michelle will be speaking at the ITASA 2008 East Coast Conference on the topic of the Taiwanese American Diaspora.