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The times… they are a changing --- Registration Rate Increase

COMMON has continues to improve its services and educational programs over the years. Unfortunately, the time has come for COMMON's registration rates to align with increased conference costs. The published registration rates for our Fall 2005 IT Education Conference in Orlando reflect these changed rates. This is the first rate increase since Spring, 2003.

We clearly understand that price increases are not popular. Please know that COMMON would not be increasing our registration fees if it were not a necessary measure to ensure success in achieving our primary conference objective. First and foremost, we want to provide relevant, high-quality, real-world education and best practices related to the implementation of IBM iSeries. COMMON is a not-for-profit organization, which, at times, necessitates the passing along of industry cost increases we incur in the areas of audio/video equipment and services, food and beverage, drayage, labor and other behind-the-scenes expenses. All these things contribute significantly to the fulfillment of your conference experience.

To help mitigate the impact of the new pricing for this Fall's event, we encourage you to take advantage of the $200 “Early Bird” advance registration rate, which will end on August 25th. By registering early, you can enjoy this significant savings. Book into the conference hotel, Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center, and you will be saving even more! (See more information on Conference Hotel Rate Differential below.)

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact Ralph Gervasi at ralph_gervasi@common.org .

Conference Hotel Rate Differential

Not only is staying at the official conference hotel more convenient, it is critically important in helping COMMON fulfill its contractual obligations and in offsetting the expenses of meeting space, exhibit hall rental, and many other supplemental costs associated with our conferences. Attendees who stay in other non-official conference hotels do not help COMMON meet these requirements.

COMMON makes every effort to negotiate affordable hotel room rates for our conference attendees (in conjunction with the meeting space and services we need). We cannot always beat the online, excess room inventory discounts that are offered by competing hotels in the area or through other assorted hotel discount services. COMMON specifically offers a significantly lower registration rate for attendees who choose to support COMMON by staying in the COMMON conference hotel(s). We hope saving $200 of $300 off your registration fee will provide sufficient incentive to stay in the official conference hotel(s)! Only attendees who choose to stay at a non-conference hotel will pay the higher registration rate.

We ask for your cooperation and assistance when making your room reservations. Please go through COMMON's Housing Bureau and/or book your reservation via COMMON's Web site.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact Ralph Gervasi at ralph_gervasi@common.org .