Dear AALS Colleagues,

Katrina's tragic devastation of New Orleans has necessitated the relocation of the 2006 Annual Meeting and requires moving the meeting one day earlier. On behalf of a unanimously supportive AALS Executive Committee, I am pleased to report the 2006 AALS Annual Meeting will be held in Washington D.C. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (and nearby hotels). The meeting will now run from Tuesday, January 3rd through Saturday, January 7th. Except for special events unique to New Orleans, the meeting schedule will be the same as set forth in the Annual Meeting Program distributed during the summer with a shift to one day earlier. Room rates, event prices, catering costs and most other expenses for the Washington D.C. meeting will be no greater than they would have been in New Orleans.

Now that the final decision has been made to move the meeting site, there are numerous details to be worked out over the next few days, such as revised meeting room assignments, catering arrangements, new locations for off-site events, like special section programs and the Gala Reception, etc. However, you may register for the Annual Meeting and reserve a hotel room by going to www.aals.org/am2006/. A “Schedule at a Glance” has also been posted at the website (click “program”). As more program details are finalized, the information will be shared with the AALS membership through Web postings. Please be patient and allow us time to present the full picture of plans for the upcoming Annual Meeting before inundating the staff with personal inquiries.

I know you will join me in expressing deep appreciation to the entire AALS staff for a timely job exceedingly well done in making sure the 2006 AALS Annual Meeting will be held in a familiar environment that will help assure that the meeting achieves its full potential as a productive gathering of the nation's legal academy.

N. Willam (Bill) Hines
President, AALS