39th Annual Meeting Special Events

No ASHNR meeting would be complete without a special event on Saturday night. This year, our gala evening will be held at a venue truly representative of San Francisco--the recently remodeled Asian Art Museum. Located within walking distance of our host hotel, the Museum holds one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the world, ranging from tiny jades to monumental sculptures both stone and bronze. Ancient and contemporary from India, Persia, Southeast Asia, Tibet China, Japan and Korea are all represented. Attendees will have full access to the permanent galleries, housed in the city's former main library, a 1917 Beaux Arts-style building recognized as one of San Francisco's most important historic structures.

In response to the attendees of our 2003 meeting, the program schedule will allow registrants time to enjoy the special delights that San Francisco offers. Bill Dillon, head of the local arrangements committee, assures me that late September is an ideal time to visit San Francisco. Daytime temperatures average in the low to mid '70s, providing an ideal opportunity to enjoy Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf or any one of the city's eclectic neighborhoods-- from Chinatown to Castro Street.

Our host hotel, the Renaissance Parc 55, is located within two blocks from Union Square--the heart of the City's fashionable shopping district--as well as a terminus or San Francisco's fabled cable cars. Only a few steps away from the hotel is the Powell Street Station on the city's famed Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. Cost-conscious attendees should note that BART operates directly to San Francisco Airport (SFO) and by a shuttle system to the Oakland Airport (OAK).

Be sure to mark your calendars now for what will be a truly memorable meeting in a fabulous city. Our streamlined online registration process will open Jan 1, 2005. Just click on “Register for the 2005 meeting” after January 1st.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Roy A. Holliday, MD

President-Elect and Program Chair