INFORMS Annual Meeting, San Francisco 2005

The vibrant city of New Orleans--the birthplace of jazz, city of Spanish and French heritage, home of world-renowned cuisine--has sustained a terrible blow, but will rise again. Yesterday, a lone artist hung his paintings on the fence outside St. Louis Cathedral, just as artists have done for years, as a symbol of the city's resiliency and determination to rebuild and restore. The INFORMS New Orleans Committee and INFORMS Board of Directors salute the city and its citizens, as well as residents of the entire Gulf Coast. We extend our heartfelt sympathy and support in this time of challenge. The INFORMS Annual Meeting may return to New Orleans in the future, but in 2005 we have been forced to relocate the meeting. Fortunately, we have found a new home in another vibrant city - San Francisco. The meeting will be held on the same dates, November 13-16, at the Hilton San Francisco and Renaissance Parc 55. The hotels have cooperated with us to keep the room rate low: $169 single/double occupancy. The Hilton and Renaissance are next door to each other. Registration, exhibits, job placement services, the Sunday and Monday receptions, and most technical sessions will be held at the Hilton. About 16 technical sessions will be held at the Renaissance. We hope you will support INFORMS and your colleagues on the New Orleans Committee, who have worked so diligently to create an exceptional program, by attending the meeting in our new location. However, we understand that, for somepeople, the change in venue will make it impossible to participate; we sincerely regret any inconvenience this causes and appreciate your understanding the extraordinary circumstances necessitating the change.