SPT2007 - Second Circular (february 2007) The conference SPT2007 (Symmetry and Perturbation Theory) will take place in Otranto (South-East Italy, near Lecce) on 2-9 June 2007. See the web site www.sptspt.it for this series of conferences. See http://www.sptspt.it/spt2007.html for this venue. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Prospective participants to SPT2007, we are getting nearer to meeting time, and there are several news: (1) Hotel reservation is now possible. (2) Information about Airport/Hotel (or Train Station/Hotel) transfer and other "local" matters is available. (3) (pre)-Registration is opened since several weeks and continues. (4) Financial help forms are online. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (1) HOTEL RESERVATION It is now possible to make your reservation at Hotel Daniela (prices are as published on our website). A form to this effect will be available through our website by the end of this week (actually there you find a link to the Hotel's company site or more specifically the page prepared for our meeting). Please note that we have reserved a certain number of rooms for conference participants; these will be given on a "first come first serve" basis. Once these are filled it will still be possible to reserve, but availability is not guaranteed. On the other hand, the rooms we reserved (if not filled) will be kept only until 31/3. In order to reserve, you will be required to transfer to the Hotel an amount of about 1/3 of the total cost of your stay. If you come with accompanying persons (in particular children) please read carefully the reservation form as several further discounts are available in this case. The costs mentioned in our web page and on the Hotel reservation form include Full Board accommodation, inclusive of (normal) drinks at meal. It also includes other services, as mentioned in the reservation form: sunshade and deckchairs on the beach, children Birba Club entertainment (4-12 years old), daily use of tennis court, free use of canoe, sail, wind surf, use of the 2 swimming pools (one for children). Please note that, at difference with previous SPT venues, the special rate is offered only for stays covering the whole conference week (2-9 June). If you want to extend your stay (arriving earlier or leaving later), please contact the Hotel offices to this effect. The Hotel reservation procedure is entirely handled by the Hotel's managing company (TIVIGEST, the same as for previous SPT's), and not in the control of the Organizing (or even less the Scientific) Committee; so please try to solve any problem directly with them. If you come alone but would prefer to share the room with another participant, there is such an option; see the reservation form for this. You are welcome to take as many accompanying person with you as you wish; they will get the same discounted rate as conference participants and are not subject to any conference fee. (If they do not reserve at the same time as you, please however make sure that they mention the conference AND give the name of a reference person among conference participants, to avoid embarassing situations). You are of course free to stay elsewhere than Hotel Daniela if you wish so, albeit this will most probably be more expensive and less convenient; in this case you will have to take care of accommodation by yourself. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (2) LOCAL INFORMATION -- including TRAVEL and TRANSFERS A certain amount of "local" informations is now available through the SPT web site (these pages are actually managed by Raffaele Vitolo and resident on a computer in Lecce to minimize the risk of connection blackouts at critical times -- i.e. very near to the conference). For all matters connected with local issues, refer to these pages; as mentioned there, Raffaele Vitolo will try to help if you need some special information/help/assistance. In particular, you find there information on how to reach Otranto and the conference site (see below for a short summary), and a preliminary schedule of special SPT bus taking you from Brindisi Airport or Lecce train station or airport terminal directly to Hotel Daniela -- this might be useful in planning your travel, in particular flight. On the other hand, it will be quite important for us to know about your intention to use these buses as soon as possible (e.g. once you make your flight or train reservation) so to better plan the service. On the same page, you also find information in case you want to extend your stay in the area by spending some time in other places -- including Lecce. In case your only options about flights is to arrive very late in the evening, arriving the day before and staying in Lecce (the University has conventions with some hotels at reduced fare) is a far better option that arriving late on saturday night: we will only organize transfers on Saturday itself, and a taxi from airport to Otranto would be a rather expensive option, surely more expensive than a night in Lecce. TRAVEL AIR There are several flights a day -- including with low cost companies -- to Brindisi airport. This is linked to Lecce by a shuttle bus, and on June 2 there will be some SPT buses taking you directly to the conference site. These buses will also stop in Lecce; so you also have the option to stroll around Lecce (which is a very beautiful town) for some time before reaching Otranto. Another option might be Bari airport; however, this is rather far from Otranto. In this case, you should take a train to Lecce. It may be worth considering also the option of flying to a different italian airport (e.g. major ones, Roma and Milano; or also airports served by low-cost companies) and then travel by train to Lecce. Italian railways schedules are available online (see also our website) at www.trenitalia.it , where you should also be able to obtain information about fares -- and with some patience and free time to buy your ticket online via credit card. TRAIN If you travel by train, entirely or for the last stretch, you should arrive in Lecce. The SPT buses from Brindisi airport will also stop in Lecce train station (and Lecce airport bus terminal if somebody requires this). There is the possibility of leaving your baggages in the train station over the day if you want to walk around in Lecce. OTHER INFORMATION See the local SPT page for other information, in particular concerning the Salento region and extra activities around the conference (excursions). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (3) REGISTRATION Registration is opened since some time. At this time our list of expected participants still includes both those having registered (which, for your information, are about 60) and those having just subscribed to our mailing list. Please note that at the time of registration you can also propose a talk or poster to be presented at the conference. There is no deadline for registration [but watch out for hotel reservation deadline!], but there is a deadline for proposing a talk (this is needed to plan the program; in case too many talks are proposed, there will be a selection). You can change your title/subject after proposing it (please avoid substantial changes after the deadline for proposals!). It would be helpful if -- once you make up your mind -- you fill the pre-registration form with no further delay: this will help both in evaluating the number of incoming persons (this information will of course be shared with the Hotel) and in planning more scientific matters. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (4) FINANCIAL HELP FORMS Financial help forms are online. As many of you know from previous SPT conferences, we do not have large funds for the conference, and provide convenient rates to all participants rather than covering the costs of some of them. We hope, nevertheless, to be able to cover local expenses of some participant with special needs. Please be sure to also apply to other bodies if you require financial help from organizers; ù and consider that at the time being we are not yet sure to have funds to help any of those who will apply. We trust that applications will come in only in case of real need. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Finally, note that we receive really a lot of spam: if you contact the SPT address please make sure that "spt2007" appears in the subject, to avois your mail is discarded. As usual, any further news will immediately appear on our website; a third circular will be issued in due time. Looking forward to meeting you in Otranto, Giuseppe Gaeta (on behalf of Organizing Committee) 8 February 2007