Dear LCRP Participants,

Lots of information to share with all of you, but may I begin by saying how pleased I am to be working with you – and for you – on this exciting grant. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions, comments, any criticism, whatever. I’m the new girl on the block with lots to learn.

As you all know, the conference in St. Louis will be upon us very soon. The hotel (the Millennium) and cars (Hertz) are now booked for the week of July 10-17, 2004 (Saturday to Saturday). This change -- from Sunday to Sunday -- is to allow for some individual choices for things to do in the St. Louis area and for anyone to take advantage of the Cardinals/Cubs baseball game on Sunday afternoon; Michelle Dawson has kindly been in touch with you about the ballgame already. The hotel is right across from the Gateway Arch and its surrounding park, which is right on the river – a perfect location.

Global Travel (208-882-7775) will be handling all flights; the contact person is Jill. Global now has the participant list, so you can make arrangements any time from now on. LCRP will pay for over-Saturday-night roundtrip flights and reimburse for mileage up to the equivalent of that flight amount if you are driving. Anything over that amount must be assumed by the individual. We have gotten a marvelous deal for the weekly car rentals – full-sized cars, one per district – and have indicated on the reservation the (tentative) drivers (the driver per district is based on the drivers from past trips; this can change). The car rental and insurance must be paid for by the driver, but that individual will be reimbursed for the rental only; the project will not assume liability -- as in the past. (Certain American Express credit card plans cover rental car insurance: you might want to look into one of those plans.)

The grant is picking up the tab for some incredibly wonderful events this year, as the attached schedule demonstrates. This schedule is also posted on Rediscovery and will be updated when appropriate. We will also be posting notes about the schedule and links to area attractions; please look periodically in the Activities section of the site. The per diem has been established at $240 plus $30 for travel incidentals, or a total of $270/person. M-F breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners (one being the heavy hors d’oeuvres during the later portion of the closing ceremonies) are taken care of; both Saturdays and Sunday will be on your own, as well as two lunches and three dinners.

The events that will be ticketed ahead for you include the Arch on Monday, July 12 (this excursion includes the Lewis and Clark exhibit, the IMAX/National Geographic Lewis and Clark movie, and the tram ride to the top of the Arch) and the fabulous Missouri Historical Society and History Museum, housed in the Jefferson Memorial Building in Forest Park. We have reservations for tours beginning at 3:00 on July 15, and the seven-years-in-preparation Lewis and Clark Touring Exhibit will still be in-house while we are there, as well as much more than we could probably take in! If there is interest in a tour by riverboat, we will make arrangements for you, but will need to know if you want to take a boat cruise by February 27.

If you are bringing your spouse or another guest, we will need to know by February 27 so that we can adjust the hotel guest list. NOTE: by February 27, we must know if you will be attending, if you are bringing a spouse/other, or if you need to deviate from the Saturday-Saturday flights or hotel block reservation; if the latter applies, please contact Bob Kearney and discuss your individual request. We have asked the hotel to reserve ca. 25 rooms for the nights of July 17 and 18, so that you will have a roof over your head if you decide to stay longer than the conference; be aware that those nights are at your personal expense and no per diem will cover meals or a car on Sunday (you may, of course, rent the car for longer at your own expense); ticket amounts for events not attended will be deducted from the per diem.

Hilarie Davis and Michelle Dawson have knocked themselves out preplanning such an exciting week in such an important city! Hats off to them! Now, your job: begin to make careful decisions regarding travel, participation, and the conference in general, and let us know your preferences by the end of this month. Then our job is to sew up all the details and have a smashing time of it come summer.

I can be reached by telephone at 208-310-9659 or 208-882-4899, or by email at the above address and a default address (louiseb@moscow.com). Don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to meeting you in person. The name-only business just doesn’t cut it!

Louise Barber