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2006 Student Colloquium Highlights Available Post 2006 ACSM Annual Meeting

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Money Saving Tips for Attending the 53rd ACSM Annual Meeting
Michelle Gray, M.S.,University of Arkansas
Central States Chapter

It is that time of year to begin planning for the 2006 ACSM Annual Meeting. In a student’s career it is imperative for him/her to become involved in ACSM, but many cannot afford to travel to the meeting site, pay for registration, housing, and food. Here are a few other ways to become a part of the 53rd Annual event while being money conscious.

One sure fire way to become involved early in one’s career is to become a member of ACSM. This particular organization offers discounts to its members at conferences as well as when taking certification exams. Being a student member is relatively inexpensive ($80.00 per year) and offers up to $30.00 discount on the registration fee, not including the honor of being in a society with such renowned individuals.

Also, making arrangements in advance is one key way to ensure that you will save money. By booking flights in advance, there is typically a cheaper charge. Also, ACSM rewards its early birds. The early bird registration for a student member is $20.00 less than the late registration. Not only does the college reward its members, but the early registration for non-members is $30.00 when compared to the late fee.

Conference hotels are always nice to stay in because the conference is just an elevator ride away; however, they are always more expensive than a neighboring hotel. The location of the Annual Meeting is always within walking distance to many hotels and restaurants; therefore, staying off campus at a cheaper residence is often the way to go for a student. For instance, the conference hotel is $149.00/night and the student hotel is $125.00/night and only 1.5 blocks from the convention center
However, if you do not mind the walk there are hotel options available less than 0.5 miles from the convention center for less than $100.00/night. In order to take advantage of these savings spend a few moments investigating your favorite hotel search engine. In addition, when choosing a hotel, it is helpful to look for a free continental breakfast offer. This option is often overlooked, but that money spent on that tasty sausage biscuit every morning will add up to equal a nice dinner at a fashionable restaurant over the course of a few days.

Visit here for a direct link to the student hotel

Sharing has always been the polite thing to do and is money-wise to share a room at the conference. Simply sharing with one friend will cut the cost of the hotel in half and, of course, with four the cost is minimal. With this in mind, it is much cheaper to car pool with a group of friends rather than fly. While flying is fast, it is draining on a budget. Consider talking three of your closest classmates to sit in a car for a few hours and save a ton of money. This will also cut down on the amount spent on cab fares if there is at least one car among a group.

ACSM is intent on making the Annual Meeting available to everyone. If you live in the Denver area and are considering the conference, but are unsure about incurring the cost of an unknown adventure, the Student Affairs Committee is currently offering a one day free pass. To receive this offer, simply present yourself to the help desk near the registration area and ask for a free pass to a day of your choice. We are convinced that one experience is all that is needed for a return visit to the conference in the coming years. Volunteering time at the registration desk is another money saving strategy. Putting forth a mere four hours of your time is worth half of your registration fee to the college. To benefit from this program look for the email in Mid-February or contact Karen Pierce (kjpierce@acsm.org). Note: you must be pre-registered in order to be eligible for this offer.

There are always opportunities to come to the meetings without creating debt. It is wise to also look to your university or department for help as well. Many times if a student is presenting a paper there will be travel grants available. There typically are time constraints and must be submitted well in advance, but are definitely worth the time it takes to complete the necessary paperwork. Try asking faculty and other graduate students at your school if any such grants exist.

Included below is a chart of the amount money that can be saved by using the information given above. Good luck and the Student Affairs Committee welcomes you to the 53rd Annual Meeting. See you in Denver.

*The above graph is based on attending May 30-June 3. It does not include any other meals than breakfast or extracurricular expenses.