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North American Jules Verne Society--June '07 Conference in Albuquerque

From: Rick Walter <rick1walter~at~comcast.net>
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:34:16 -0600
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~gilead.org.il>
Cc: "Dennis Kytasaari" <djk~at~epguides.com>, "Andy & Debbie Rogulich" <ajrogul~at~comcast.net>

Dear Colleagues:

 

An urgent but warm-hearted reminder - the annual conference of the North American Jules Verne Society takes place June 7 - 10, 2007 in one of the most scenic regions on our planet, a region of high desert nestled between a mountain range and a chain of volcanoes, a region intersected by the celebrated Rio Grande. I mean Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

I want to extend all of you the sincerest personal welcome to this unique Vernian event. The Jules Verne Forum takes in every important scholar and enthusiast in the Vernian world, and our membership would be delighted if every one of you could join us.

 

For your information and appreciation, I've attached a Fact Sheet on the conference and a color brochure on Albuquerque. Our society's website at http://www.najvs.org/ will feature ongoing updates on this year's conference. Just click under "Meetings."

 



LOGISTICS

 

The event will take place in one of the leading visitor attractions of the American southwest - Albuquerque's Old Town:

 

· The hotel secured with a special rate for our conference is the Best Western Rio Grande Inn. A block of 40 sleeping rooms have been set aside - $78.00 single occupancy; $88.00 double occupancy plus 12.875% tax. The rate will be available Three Days Prior and Three Days After for those who would like to extend their stay around our conference.

 

· Our hotel is right on the perimeter of Old Town - where the city was founded three centuries ago.

 

· Our sessions will take place in the mini-auditorium at The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, literally a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

 

· Adjacent to The Albuquerque Museum are three other splendid museums-Natural History (volcanoes and dinosaurs), Atomic Science, and Explora (hands-on science).

 

· The zoo, aquarium, and botanic garden are farther off, but also in the "museum district."

 

· First-rate restaurants, needless to say, abound in this prime tourist area.

 

· Our theme will be "Volcanoes and Sky Vessels," since these are elements that Verne and Albuquerque share to an astonishing degree. However, presentations are free to address other topics as well.

 

· Thurs., June 7, is arrival day. The conference officially opens that same evening with a welcoming dinner at 6:00 p.m. Albuquerque time.

 



CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS-

 

We have a phenomenal program of events - featuring both leading scientists and ranking Vernians from, literally, around the world:

 

* Internationally celebrated astronomer Dr. Alan Hale, co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, talks on "Earthrise, comet tracking, and Verne."

 

* Leading vulcanologist Jayne Aubele is keynote speaker. A geologist at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History (NM has the most volcanoes of the 50 states), Jayne will delve deep into Vernian vulcanism-and meanwhile Albuquerque itself has five craters looming on its western skyline!

 

* Our Sunday finale is an exclusive morning tour of the new Anderson-Abruzzi Balloon Museum with its Jules Verne airship and Felix Nadar exhibition.

 

* Society President Jean-Michel Margot introduces the premiere English edition of Verne's unique mystery thriller The Kip Brothers.

 

* University of California Riverside's Professor George Slusser, curator of the Eaton SF Library, addresses his first NAJVS audience on Verne and Rosny aine as SF pioneers.

 

* Sandia Labs engineer Andy Rogulich rates the U.S.S. Nautilus against Captain Nemo's Nautilus.

 

* Dashing in from Dublin, Ireland, translation specialist Kieran O'Driscoll analyzes English versions of Around the World in 80 Days.

 

* Dr. Sean Chamberlin, marine scientist and geologist at Fullerton College, takes on Verne, Atlantis, and undersea volcanoes.

 

* Dr. Arthur B. Evans, editor of Science Fiction Studies and Wesleyan's acclaimed Verne editions, unveils "Jules Verne's Dream Machines."
 

* Old Dominion University's Dr. Peter Schulman commiserates with The Tribulations of a Chinese Gentleman.
 

* Flying in from the Ivory Coast, Kouassi Jeannot N'GORAN honors African missionaries in Five Weeks in a Balloon.

 

* The ingenious and thought-provoking Tom McCormick scrutinizes "The Great Pearl of Captain Nemo."
 

* University of Florida's Dr. Terry Harpold tracks down "Verne's errant readers: Nemo, Clawbonny, Michel Dufrénoy"
 

* Plus there'll be fascinating presentations from U.S. Vernians Julia Mastro and Ron Stalling; plus I myself will grapple with getting Verne's measure in a talk called "The Wrongheaded League."




* NOTA BENE. At this year's conference, we're premiering an "author's signing table." Jean-Michel Margot will feature the new edition of Kip Brothers, Art Evans the several Wesleyan volumes he's edited, Peter Schulman his Begum's Millions, and I'll be there with the new Meteor Hunt and the Naval Institute's 20,000 Leagues. We'd love to have you join us with Verniana that YOU'VE published.

 



CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS & PAPERS--

 

Time slots for talks and papers are 25 minutes long. As of today there a few time slots are still left. If you have material you'd like to present on ANY valuable Vernian topic (not just volcanoes or sky vessels), please inform me as soon as possible at: rick1walter~at~comcast.net Also, please tell me what technical needs you may have.

 

I hope, dear colleagues, that you'll give my invitation your most serious consideration. And let me add that my wife Barbara was formerly meeting planner and travel coordinator in the College of Business at the University of Houston. We would be glad to help you with any of the practical arrangements.

 

Again, we all hope you'll be able to accept this invitation and will be overjoyed if you're able to join us this June. If you have any questions, or if I can help in any way, please let me know.

 



All the best,

 

Rick Walter in Albuquerque

 

Vice President of NAJVS &

Host of the 2007 Conference

 

• application/msword attachment: NAJVS_Conference_2007--Fact_Sheet.doc

• application/pdf attachment: Albuquerque_Brochure.pdf

Received on Mon 16 Apr 2007 - 13:51:14 IDT

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