This is a break from tradition by holding the convention in late Winter to avoid competition from the big Star Parties.  It is deliberately set to run through only one night to minimize lodging costs.  It is set as close to the middle of the Region as we could to help our members from the "edges" to get there and back in a half day of driving.  The date is inside the school year, but a family with school children could do the convention over a weekend with no school schedule problems.

The Holiday Inn in Columbia is a "resort type" with indoor pool and play areas so that a non-astronomy spouse or family members can relax with a late-Winter holiday.  The rooms will accomodate up to four people at the same price.  See their web page here for more details.

Registration  Registration is $30.  Additional members of the same family can register for only $15 but only one door prize ticket will be issued to a family, though, to protect the single registrants.  Please download and print out the registration form here.  Please register EARLY to help us with our planning.  We are offering each member club two "scholarships" for free registration for students (up to 21 years old with student ID).  See registration form.

Meals We will have a very nice buffet banquet meal on Saturday night for only $15 for registrants (full or family).  We must pay for 75 meals whether subscribed to or not, so please support us in this.  Reservations will CLOSE on Friday, March 6 at 5:00 pm.  The registration form has places to make your meal reservations.

Rooms The Holiday Inn has set aside 40 rooms for us.  The rooms will cost about $100 per night and we need to fill all of them to avoid steep penalties.  Up to four people can be in the room for the same price.  For those coming early who want to stay on Friday night, the rate will be the same and such reservations will count toward our 40 room-night committment.  To get this rate, and help us qualify for the room-night credit, you must reserve a room on your own  by Feb 5, 2009 at 573-445-8531.  Tell them you are with the Alliance for Astronomy event and ask for group block AAI.  After this date, rates will be at their regular rack rates ( about $120 with taxes).  You will have to give a credit card to reserve the room, but cancellation can be made with no charge BEFORE 6:00 pm of the day before your reservation.

Activities All of the official convention activities will take place in the Holiday Inn.  They have a very nice meeting room set aside for our use.  The CMAA has offered to open Morrison Observatory on Friday night, March 6, weather permitting.  Morrison features an historic Clark refractor and we used to hold MSRAL conventions there regularly.  See the web page here.

T-Shirts  We are offering commemorative T-shirts - see registration form.  This is the design