We are getting down to the wire so Cindy and I decided we should have another meeting to work on details. We've scheduled the Dean's conference room for 2 p.m. next Tuesday, 9/12. If you can't get away to attend in person, please try to join us by conference call. Please RSVP to Cindy or me by Monday afternoon. We plan to talk about registrations, explain issues with the hotel, and develop an action plan for the days of the conference. Let me know if you have agenda items. Agenda to follow.

Tom -

Cindy - will attend

Paula - will attend

Kevin - not available to attend

Diana - will attend

Jennifer -

Ann - will attend

Frances -

Julie - will attend

Sean -

Matthew -

Janice -

Lisa - teleconference at 406-444-2957

Some of you may have noticed that the rates posted on Mandalay Bay's website for 9/24 and 9/25 have dropped like a rock over the past few days. As of today, the regular rate is $129/$129. Our group's contract rate is $159/$159. I've been told a group that reserved 1000 rooms cancelled in the last few days, which is why the rate is so low for our dates. (If you look at 9/22, 9/23, 9/26 and 9/27, you'll see they are still $329/$309/$169/$189.)

So, in an effort to make things right, everyone who books under the WestPac group will be upgraded to THEhotel, Mandalay's luxury tower. The rooms are all suites with parlors and 1-1/2 baths, wireless internet and in-room fax/printers. See photos at http://www.mandalaybay.com/pictures/thehotel/.

Also, for anyone who has booked additional nights (9/22, 9/23, 9/26 or 9/27), the hotel will honor our conference rate of $159.

Also, I've asked for discounted tickets to see the 7:30 Mamma Mia show on Monday.

Just a reminder (and for clarification), our next meeting will be Thursday, July 6, at 10 a.m. in the Dean's conference room. If you want to be conferenced in, just give me (895-2413) or Cindy (895-2327) a call by 9:30.

Here is the too-cool poker chip Cindy and I ordered for the Westpac conference. We will be sending 75 to AALL to be handed out at the Westpac luncheon and the remaining chips will be giveaways at the conference in September. Also, Sarah made neat bookmarks with Tom's conference logo and dates to be handed out at AALL.

Cindy and I would like to schedule our next meeting for May 10th at 2 p.m. Where would you like to meet, on campus or downtown?

WestPac's bison mascot, Willie, is going to be featured in a video at the variety show at AALL. We've been asked to help film Willie in Las Vegas. This is a great opportunity for us to publicize the September meeting and raise interest in Las Vegas. Matthew has generously agreed to coordinate filming. Cindy and I were brainstorming and came up with some possible ideas (other than our local libraries, which of course will be included):

Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Dancing fountains at Bellagio
Volcano at Mirage
Lazy River at Mandalay Bay
Lenin statue at Mandalay Bay
Pyramids at Luxor
Holding cards playing poker
In front of a slot machine
Oscar Goodman
Elvis
Blue Man Group
Celine Dion/Elton John
Rita Rudner
Penn & Teller - apparently they do a meet and greet with fans after the show, so this is actually doable

Siegfried & Roy statue at Mirage
Lance Burton
Showgirls - with a small "s"
Atomic Energy Museum
Elvis-a-Rama Museum
Liberace Museum
Red Rock
Petroglyphs at Valley of Fire
Lake Mead
Hoover Dam
Mt. Charleston
"Climbing" the Stratosphere
Caesar's Palace
Eiffel Tower
other Strip marquees

Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson is going to send Willie to me later this week, and we have a mini DVD camcorder available for checkout from the law school, so hopefully can get started in the next week or so. Contact Matthew, Cindy or me with your ideas.

(This video was mentioned in the Fall 2005 WestPac News.)