Information for the 52^nd Annual Conference in Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Greetings Message from the Host

Dear AACS members,

As the local coordinator, I would like to welcome you to come to Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, on October 15-17, 2010, for the annual AACS meeting.  Founded in 1834, Wake Forest is a private, collegiate university with a student body of less than 5,000 undergraduate students.  Constantly ranked among the nation’s top universities, Wake Forest University takes pride in our commitment and diversity in teaching and research. Hosting the annual AACS conference would affirm our educational mission and reinforce our commitment to strengthen our campus as a nexus for thinkers, scholars, students, and practitioners from different disciplines, ultimately enriching our understanding of the field of Chinese Studies. 

Winston Salem is situated between Charlotte and Raleigh, and within a 5 to 6-hour driving distance to Washington, DC and Atlanta. The city is also surrounded by towns known for their specialties and unique features. One can try the famous barbeque in Lexington, tour world-class furniture markets in High Point, visit the hometown of the Andy Griffith Show’s “Mayberry” in Mount Airy, and marvel at the grandeur of Asheville’s Biltmore House. Within Winston Salem itself, there are also various places to visit, such as Old Salem, a historical Moravian community, and numerous local vineyards for wine-tasting. We look forward to seeing you here and are anxious to listen to your fresh ideas and impeccable studies.  With your participation, I am confident that we will have a fulfilling and productive meeting next year.  If you have any comments or suggestions about the meeting, please feel free to contact me.

                                                                                                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                                         Wei-chin Lee, Professor of Political Science

                                                                                                                                                                               Wake Forest University

                                                                                                                                                                               leewei@wfu.edu

Local airport Information and transportation

        Piedmont International Airport (www.flyfrompti.com) is located between Greensboro and Winston-Salem, North Carolina (airport code: GSO, or using “Greensboro, NC” for your airfare search).  The airport is 30 miles away from the downtown hotel and serves several airlines: United, Northwest, US Airways, Continental, Delta, Allegiant, American Airline.  If you are looking for some bargain tickets, RDU (Raleigh-Durham airport) airport is under 2 hours away and Charlotte airport is about 1 ½ hours away.  However, you may need to rent a car to come to Winston-Salem. 

        The Hawthorne Inn and Conference Center offers shuttle service to and from the airport if it is prearranged at least one week prior.  The charge is $55.00 per trip and the van can accommodate 6 people per trip. Please make hotel shuttle arrangements with your reservationist upon making reservations.  You can also take a taxi ($51, a fixed rate for one or two passengers per trip and an additional $3 for the third passenger, one way, 2009 rate) or use the shuttle service ($35 per person, hourly service, 2009 rate) on the airport’s ground floor/baggage claim area. Taxi and shuttle services are provided by Central Piedmont Transportation (Tel: 336-668-9808 or 1-877-796-5466).
 

Hotel accommodations for the 2010 Meeting

The Hawthorne Inn and Conference Center (420 High St., Winston-Salem, NC  27101. Tel: 336-777-3000 / Fax: 336-777-3282) has 50 rooms (double bed or King size, non-smoking rooms) prepared for conference participants in the 2010 meeting, Oct. 15-17.  The hotel offers free high speed internet and free well-equipped Fitness Center.  The hotel website www.hawthorneinn.com offers directional maps, along with other visitor information.

The hotel will honor reservations at the group/convention rate until the cut-off date, Thursday, September 9, 2010.  Reservations received after the cut-off date are not guaranteed the convention rate and will be honored on a space available basis only.  The hotel will also honor the room rate 4 days pre- and post- conference dates.  These rates are exclusive of state and local tax, which is currently 13.75%.  This rate does include complimentary hot breakfast.

Reservations can be made by

-calling toll-free 1-800-972-3774. When calling the reservations department, please state the name of the meeting (American Association for Chinese Studies) in order to receive the quoted convention rate.

-on-line reservation: www.hawthorneinn.com. Go to “Reserve Online” link.  Enter your arrival/departure dates and your group code “26E46X”.  The reservation system will automatically calculate at your discounted group rate.

             The standard cancellation policy for individual guests rooms reserved within a group block is twenty-four (24) hours (by 4pm) prior to scheduled date of arrival. “No Show” guests will be billed one night’s room and tax in accordance with the guarantee given (i.e., deposit, individual credit card, company credit card, Master Account).  Any remaining nights of a “no show” assignment will be cancelled unless we are instructed by you to reinstate the reservation.

         Standard check-in time is 3pm and check-out is 12 pm.  You may inquire with the hotel’s front desk for the arrangement of luggage or other personal belongings before or after the stated check-in or check-out times.