SAH has evolved over the past 75 years and we continue to reshape our annual conference to broaden our global presence. SAH maintains its original vision for our conference, which is to provide an international platform for its members to present new interpretive research on the history of the built environment. As we look forward to the SAH’s next 75 years, it is an appropriate time to draw on member feedback and take steps to improve our processes and keep up with technology, while meeting the expectations of our members. In the coming weeks and months you will probably notice some differences from previous conferences, and we would like to share them with you now so that you are aware of them.
Early Registration
The most significant modification is that registration will open earlier for the 2016 conference. As more and more attendees travel from all over the globe to attend the conference, we need to allow everyone enough time to plan their travel so the
early registration will open on November 17, 2015. Traditionally, registration opened in early January, which we found was placing a financial strain on our members when holiday bills, tuition payments and the customary monthly responsibilities come due. Opening registration in November offers attendees more time to plan, apply for visas, and book flights and accommodations. Please visit
sah.org/2016 for key dates concerning registration.
Registration Rates
As the SAH conference is not funded, except through the registration and tour fees, the SAH Board has approved a small increase in the conference registration rates to narrow the gap between expenses and the registration and tour revenue. You may have noticed that most of our conferences do not draw financial sponsorship to offset conference fees. So, in order to meet those expenses, the fees will increase in 2016. Although SAH is a 501(c) (3) tax exempt organization, it is not exempt from sales tax or other fees and surcharges imposed by the cities and states where we gather year after year.
Printed Program Book
The printed program has become a substantial expense as the number of sessions and other conference events continue to grow. Last year the majority of attendees relied on the conference’s mobile guide and website for the most up-to-date information. We are not going to discontinue the printing of the printed program book; however, it will only be mailed to those who have memberships that include print publications. SAH will have a limited number of copies available for sale at the conference, on a first come first served basis.
The SAH conference mobile guide and website will provide you with the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and accurate conference information. Changes to the conference program will be available online and in the mobile guide as they occur and will be posted to the traditional bulletin board found onsite at the conference information desk. It is important that everyone receive the most current information, which a printed brochure by its nature is unable to support. The official posting of the sessions and papers delivered at the conference will still be the September issue of
JSAH.
Green Initiative
SAH and its members feel it is an obligation to help protect our environment, therefore only essential program information will be included in the print version to reduce the number of pages and the ever increasing costs related to designing, printing and mailing the brochure. You also will notice that the shape of the printed program now will be an 8 ½” x 5 ½” booklet to save on printing costs.
Thank you for your continued support of SAH which continues its commitment to advancing scholarly research on the history of the built environment.
