The 2010 meetings of The Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America Conference will be held January 14 – 17, 2010 in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. We will share ideas, see old colleagues and discuss the most recent research in lowland South America. The event is organized by Steve Rubenstein, hosted by Trinity University and located in one of the city’s finest hotels on a quiet bend of the famous San Antonio Riverwalk (http://thesanantonioriverwalk.com).
As in past years, we will have lengthy sessions to present individual research to our full membership. We have instituted a new (and we think exciting) series of forums to assure that all have the opportunity to present. These smaller groups will present papers on related topics, and allow for more focused discussion and sharing. Poster sessions and discussions round out a conference in which everyone will find exciting ideas and stimulating discussion. We are especially interested in seeing innovative, multi-media poster presentations.
In addition to the scholarly agenda, we have set aside time for socializing and exploring San Antonio, one of the few U.S. cities that maintains its Spanish heritage. There will be an opening reception at Richard Reed’s house and a Friday evening tour of Nelson Rockefeller’s pre-Columbian and Latin American folk art at the San Antonio Museum of Art. In your free time, you can walk or jog or take the river taxi along the San Antonio River from its headwaters in Brackenridge Park, through downtown, and south to the Missions National Historical Park, and its18th century Spanish Missions.
Closer to the hotel you will find excellent food, music and shopping. We are right around the bend from Jim Cullum’s jazz band at The Landing, which itself is just around the corner from the Alamo. If your interest is in cowboys and cattle drives, you will find the Buckhorn Saloon and the Briscoe Western Art Museum. As San Antonio is predominantly Hispanic, we have the Smithsonian Institution’s Alameda National Center for Latino Arts & Culture, the largest museum of Latino art and culture in the country. There is a world to experience in San Antonio and nearby Austin and the Hill Country; we invite you to stay an extra day and discover it. And for those coming from winter, we assure you that the weather will perfect for exploring.
Conference sessions will be at the Hotel Contessa, the city’s newest luxury hotel. With an atrium over the Riverwalk, the setting captures both the historic and cultural essence of San Antonio. We have reserved 50 suites at prices normally charged for double rooms. Every suite will have a luxury bedroom, an oversized bath and a separate sitting room (with a sleeper sofa for those who choose to share).
Amenities abound, but to name a few, every suite will have wireless internet access, flat screen TVs and an over-sized bathroom. There is a spa, fitness room and pool available to relax and replenish or simply make your stay even more accommodating. We ask members to stay with us at the Hotel Contessa. In exchange for the room discount, we assured the hotel we would use our full block of rooms. We can arrange for suites of 3 or even 4 people for those on a tight budget.
To minimize the costs of SALSA 2010, we have negotiated with the hotel to provide a continental breakfast during morning sessions, and snacks and drinks available throughout the afternoon. Registration will also cover evening receptions and the annual dinner on Saturday. Registration costs may be higher this meeting than last, but we are confident that the result will be a savings for you. Despite this, we know many younger colleagues are on a tight budget; students may arrange a registration discount through Mike Cepek (cepek@salsa-tipiti.org).
Transportation
Transportation to SALSA 2010 is easy. The Hotel Contessa, located on the Riverwalk is a ten minute ride from San Antonio International Airport. Taxicabs are available outside baggage claim. Taxis allow four to travel for the price of one, making it even cheaper than the SA Trans shuttle van. We will provide shuttle service to the opening reception, at Richard Reed’s house, and by river taxi to the San Antonio Museum of Art on Friday.
Accommodations
Please register for your hotel room along with your conference registration. All reservations for hotel rooms must be made by December 7, 2009. We ask you to stay with us at the Hotel Contessa; SALSA has negotiated a low rate for suites and is committed to using its block. If you intend to share a room, please provide the name of your roommate on the registration form. You may submit payment for one half of the $175.00 per night room rate ($87.50) if your roommate registers and submits payment for his or her share.
If you wish to share a room but need assistance in finding a roommate, please contact Richard Reed.
Registration and Paper Submission
Please note that registration and paper submission processes are distinct. Use the registration form to register for the conference through Trinity University. An online registration system will be available soon; if you wish to register immediately, use the fax or telephone numbers listed on the registration form. To submit abstracts of papers to be presented at the conference, please see the call for papers and use the separate participation and paper submission form to contact program chair Steven Rubenstein at the University of Liverpool.
REGISTRATION FORM
Registration Form: pdf version
Registration Form: Plain text version (.txt)