Who's *planning* to attend TAM 7?

[Hamradioguy]

I'm not sure if a photo exists, but I recall a thermometer registering 47C... The bright face, it burns us!!!

This is close. Mind you, the thermometer was in the shade. Tad bit warmer out in the sun and on the desert floor.

 

[Loxton]

I plan to be there, and of course I'm looking forward to it as always…

 

[NobbyNobbs]

Does anyone plan on driving there from the East Coast, namely anywhere from NYC to DC? I can't afford to fly, but I can contribute a little towards gas and can certainly do a large share of the driving.

I don't check this thread often at all, so if you have a lead on this, please PM me. Thanks!

 

[ejk]

I'm hoping to finally make it to TAM this year and have a few planning questions. When do people generally arrive and leave? Do things get under way Thursday evening so travel during the day is feasible? I know official information will be forthcoming soon, but it would be helpful to plan vaca. time now.

 

[El_Spectre]

I'm hoping to finally make it to TAM this year and have a few planning questions. When do people generally arrive and leave? Do things get under way Thursday evening so travel during the day is feasible? I know official information will be forthcoming soon, but it would be helpful to plan vaca. time now.

Hi EJK. This will be my 4th (and a 1/2) TAM... maybe I can help. I don't know if a formal schedule has been released, but usually things get going around 7 on thursday. There will be people running around getting ready all day thursday, probably. Many die-hards arrive on wednesday and leave as late as monday or tuesday... you will not lack for company if you want it.

 

[ejk]

Thank you so much, that's exactly what I need to know. I hope to see you all there!

 

[Dicon]

To expand a little on what El Spectre said...

The Thursday evening activities are typically a reception and maybe some of the add-on activities (that you have to pay for separate from the main TAM fee), but the actual conference does not begin until Friday morning. The final scheduled items are finished at noon on Sunday.

If someone needs to minimize their time away from home, it would be possible to arrive in Vegas late Thursday night and depart early Sunday afternoon without missing any of the speaker events. I'd only suggest this as a last resort, however, as you'd miss out on a lot of fun unofficial things that happen before and after.

That said, this is all based on past TAMs and could be null and void if they shake up the schedule this year.

 

[SkepticScott]

I don't know the schedule yet either, but what Desktop Icon wrote is correct. Last year, Thursday started with workshop 1200-1700, which cost extra, and then a reception at 1900 followed by a show at 2100 (another optional paid event). The conference ran from 0900 Friday until about 1300 Sunday.

From what I remember, Sunday evening is a busy time at the airport as everyone is leaving, and the lines through security move slowly but smoothly. Arrive two hours before your flight, if not a bit more.

El Spectre wrote
> There will be people running around getting ready all day thursday, probably.

Yes, the staff and some volunteers arrive early. Other people arrive early "just because" and start socializing.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Yes, the staff and some volunteers arrive early. Other people arrive early "just because" and start socializing.

If by "socializing" you mean "drinking" then yes, you are correct.

 

[rustypouch]

If by "socializing" you mean "drinking" then yes, you are correct.

There's drinking at TAM? Why was i not informed?

 

[NobbyNobbs]

A very, very kind JREFer has offered to make travel arrangements for me.

The next thing on my list I need to beg for is a place to zonk. Does anybody have room? Honestly, all I need is a 2'x6' piece of floor space.

Additionally, I know there's some sort of scholarship-type thing to apply for admission. How do I apply for that? What are the prerequisites?

I know this sounds pitiful and moochy, but I really, really want to go and really, really can't afford to.

 

[Ziggy66]

I hope the dates are set in stone because I just bought my plane tickets. My brother, his girlfriend and I are planning a drive to the Grand Canyon afterwards on Monday (13th), returning to Vegas the next day. Not sure what our vehicle arrangement will be. Maybe we can form a caravan with others who might want to drive there?

 

[arthwollipot]

I was planning on doing the grand canyon suring the week before. I was told that it's no good scheduling stuff after TAM because of the need for sleep to recover.

 

[Geek Goddess]

Additionally, I know there's some sort of scholarship-type thing to apply for admission. How do I apply for that? What are the prerequisites?

I know this sounds pitiful and moochy, but I really, really want to go and really, really can't afford to.

I don't know how to apply, but I do know the person who administers the scholarship program:

send a PM to Paul C. Anagnostopoulos (that's his forum name)

 

[arthwollipot]

Make sure you spell it right.

Paul generally makes an announcement on the forums when scholarship applications are open. I'll be applying myself.

 

[Horatius]

There's drinking at TAM? Why was i not informed?

You were too drunk to listen.

 

[arthwollipot]

Okay. I'm in the process of applying for a visa (tourist visa B2), since I don't have a machine-readable passport and are thus ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program.

The visa itself will cost me US$131. Fine, cool. I can deal with that. But it costs me AU$14 for access to the website that allows me to apply!

I need to schedule an interview at the US Embassy, and I need to bring documentation with me that show:

• Purpose of trip to the U.S.
• Convincing documents to show sufficient funds to cover all expenses in the U.S. or how those expenses will be met by another.
• Proof of intention to leave the U.S. after temporary stay, such as evidence of employment, education, property ownership, family ties and other connections to a residence overseas.

Whuh-tuh-fuh? What sort of documents are they talking about here? Do I need a letter from UnrepentantSinner saying that he's rooming with me in Vegas? A letter from HCMom inviting me to stay? And perhaps I should bring my son to the interview to demonstrate family ties?

A couple of pages later, the site requires "US contact information" (name, phone, work phone and mobile phone - all mandatory, although I can enter "NONE"). I assume this means the details of a person in the US that I am in contact with (Hcmom, can I provide your details?).

Fortunately, this is the first page in the application process that has a "save and finish later" button. That's a nice touch, since I wasn't given any warning that I'd require this.

You guys sure don't make it easy, do you?

 

[wafonso]

Okay. I'm in the process of applying for a visa (tourist visa B2), since I don't have a machine-readable passport and are thus ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program.

The visa itself will cost me US$131. Fine, cool. I can deal with that. But it costs me AU$14 for access to the website that allows me to apply!

Ah, welcome to the wonderful of the US visa request process! Having gone through this before, for a few different categories of visas, I can probably give you a few hints...

I need to schedule an interview at the US Embassy, and I need to bring documentation with me that show:

• Purpose of trip to the U.S.
• Convincing documents to show sufficient funds to cover all expenses in the U.S. or how those expenses will be met by another.
• Proof of intention to leave the U.S. after temporary stay, such as evidence of employment, education, property ownership, family ties and other connections to a residence overseas.

Whuh-tuh-fuh? What sort of documents are they talking about here?

For "purpose of trip", since you're applying for a tourist visa, "tourism" will do just fine. It might be a good idea to take print outs of the JREF web page with the conference dates to your interview, though.

For the "sufficient funds" part, you will have to prove that you have enough money in the bank to cover your expenses during your intended stay. Yes, this includes showing them recent bank statements and payslips, and possibly credit card statements showing how much credit you have available. The payslips also help with the "intention to leave" part, but for that you might also want to take the birth certificate of your son, proof of home ownership (if that's the case), or even car registration documents if you have one. Anything that shows that you have strong ties with Australia. Return tickets, if you already have them, are also good.

Do I need a letter from UnrepentantSinner saying that he's rooming with me in Vegas? A letter from HCMom inviting me to stay? And perhaps I should bring my son to the interview to demonstrate family ties?

All those will help, yes, but taking your son with you may be overkill.

A couple of pages later, the site requires "US contact information" (name, phone, work phone and mobile phone - all mandatory, although I can enter "NONE"). I assume this means the details of a person in the US that I am in contact with (Hcmom, can I provide your details?).

Well, they actually want to know how to contact you when you're in the US, if I recall this correctly. So, those would be the details of wherever you're staying.

You guys sure don't make it easy, do you?

They definitely don't, but I expect them to be much more lenient towards an Australian citizen than if you were, say, Mexican. It could be worse.

 

[arthwollipot]

Thanks wafonso, that's very helpful.

 

[hcmom]

A letter from HCMom inviting me to stay?

(Hcmom, can I provide your details?).

Let me know whatever you need to know or do. I just won't mention that I'm planning on running away back home with you...