We hope that you will find the response to your
question in these questions which are frequently asked by people
registering for our conferences; however, should your question
not be here, please call the United Engineering Foundation office and
we'll do our best to answer it (1-212-591-7836).
Barbara K. Hickernell, CAE
Conferences Director
Payments
1. What credit cards do you accept?
1A. Mastercard, Visa and American Express
2. Do you accept purchase orders?
2A. Yes
3. Can I make payment by bank transfer?
3A. Yes.
| The Chase Manhattan Bank, NY Midtown East Region 111 West 40th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10018 |
ABA #021-0000-21 United Engineering Foundation Account #014-1-141929 |
4. Can I pay on site?
4A. Payment is required at least two weeks prior
to the conference to guarantee your registration. Only in extraordinary
circumstances and with prior permission of the UEF would this be
waived.
5. Will you take my personal check for payment?
5A. Yes, as long as it is drawn in U.S. dollars on
a U.S. bank.
6. My company check hasn't arrived at your office
and it's the first day of the conference. What should I do?
6A. Give your credit card number to the site staff
to guarantee payment until the check arrives.
1. What AV equipment is normally provided?
1A. One overhead projector and one slide projector.
2. What if I need a computer projector or video projector?
2A. (For US conferences) Let the Foundation
office know your AV needs as soon as possible and at least one
month before the conference. If another conference has not requested
the equipment, it should be available for you.
(For conferences outside of the US) The Foundation needs to know your AV needs as soon as possible (at least two months before the conference) so that we can investigate the availability and cost of rental of this equipment.
3. Is there a "speaker ready" room?
3A. For larger conferences (> 100 participants)
we try to provide one; for smaller conferences, speakers may
use the meeting room before the morning session or during the
afternoon breaks.
1. What do you mean by casual dress?
1A. We discourage suits and ties.
2. What do we do in the afternoons?
2A. We encourage discussion and recreation with other
conference participants.
Pre/Post Conference Accommodations
1. I sent my request for pre conference accommodations
to the hotel and they tell me that they have no rooms available.
How is this so?
1A. Pre/Post conference accommodations are on an
availability basis only. The hotel does not guarantee them.
Thus we recommend that you send your request in as soon as possible.
2. Since the hotel is sold out prior to the conference,
do you have any suggestions for accommodations?
2A. We generally have names of other hotels in the
area; however, we cannot guarantee that they will have a room
at the price you wish to pay.
1. I'm an invited speaker. Must I send an application.
1A. Yes, everyone must send an application so that
we have correct names, titles, addresses, etc.
2. Will I get a confirmation of my application?
2A. No.
1. I'm an invited speaker. Must I send a registration?
1A. Yes, everyone must register so that we have correct
information to send to the hotel about arrival/departure dates,
any guests, special meal requirements, etc.
2. Will I get a confirmation of my registration?
2A. Yes. It will be faxed and mailed to you.
3. When will I receive the final program?
3A. At the conference site.
4. What happens if I miss the "early bird"
special?
4A. You lose the discount and pay the regular fee.
5. May I fax you my registration card and payment
form?
5A. Yes.
1. I'm bringing my spouse who will not participate
in any conference functions (meals, receptions, or excursions).
Is there a charge?
1A. This depends on the hotel and you will need to
call the Foundation office to confirm any such charges.
Most US hotels will not charge; however, some will. Most European
hotels will charge for the second person in the room.
2. If my guest is not participating in any conference
functions, must I identify him/her on my registration card?
2A. Yes. Note that the guest will not participate
in any functions.
3. My spouse will accompany me to the conference
and wishes to have only dinners with the group. Is this possible?
3A. No. The Foundation contracts with
the hotels to have all meal functions at the hotels for participants
and either all meals or none for a given guest.
4. What provisions are made for a guest program?
4A. The guests basically self organize with our suggestions.
5. I am a graduate student and want to bring a guest.
What is the fee?
5A. Call the UEF office to verify the fee; however,
since a graduate student conference fee is based on
sharing a room with another participant, you'll
now have to pay for the entire room yourself plus the guest fee.
1. I'm a vegetarian. Can the hotel accommodate me?
1A. Yes. Please note on the registration card that
you are requesting vegetarian meals. At the registration site
you will be given a special card which you place on the table
at meals so that the waitstaff can identify your meal needs.
Note: We're defining a vegetarian as someone who eats no meat
of any kind - no beef, no pork, poultry, or fish. If you are
any other kind of vegetarian,
please be specific (e.g., vegan).
2. I have food allergies. Can the hotel accommodate
me?
2A. Probably. We will put you directly in touch
with the banquet manager or chef at the hotel so that special
meals can be prepared for you.
3. I am bringing my children. How much do I have
to pay for their meals?
3A. Contact the UEF office and we will get the price
from the hotel banquet manager. Each hotel has a different policy
regarding food prices for children. For example, an infant is
free, but a 2 year- old may be charged 65% of the cost of the
adult meal. Some hotels will charge full price for a
12 year old, but others may charge the same 65%
that you would pay for your 2 year-old. The
Foundation passes through the actual cost to you.
1. The conference chair told me I am being supported
for part of my conference fee and I received an invoice for the
entire fee. Why?
1A. It could be for any number of reasons. Here
are some possibilities:
(a) The Engineering Foundation did not receive a
support list from the chair and thus did not send out official
letters of support.
(b) The funding the chair hoped for did not materialize.
2. My session chair said I would be supported for
part of my conference fee and I received an invoice for the entire
fee. Why?
2A. Any financial support is at the chair's discretion.
All support is administered by the Foundation via a support
letter. If you did not receive such a letter, please contact
the chair directly.
3. I'm being supported for $300. Must I pay the
entire fee?
3A. No, you would pay the conference fee less $300.
1. My abstract didn't look good in the abstract book
- you just printed my faxed version.
1A. We ask everyone to send us an original. We print
what we get. Our staff is too small to re-key abstracts.
2. You cut my abstract off at one page in the abstract
book.
2A. We asked for a one page abstract.
1. The information on the Participants List is incorrect.
1A. Did you make corrections on your registration
card? The information we sent to you in the registration packet
is the information in our computer. We need you to update it
before the conference. If, however, you are already at a conference,
let the site staff know your corrections.
1. What is your refund policy?
1A. Cancellation must be received in writing at least
two weeks prior to the start of the conference in order for a
full refund to be issued. Cancellations received thereafter are
subject to a $100 cancellation fee and any direct costs incurred
by the Foundation.
2. I had to cancel several days before the conference.
What refund can I expect and when can I expect it?
2A. About 6-8 weeks after the conference you will
receive what you paid the Foundation minus $100 and
any direct costs incurred by the Foundation. The Foundation
must give final room and meal counts to the hotel at least three
business days prior to the start of the conference and cannot
give refunds once those numbers are given to the hotel.
3. My plane was fogged in and I arrived late. Can
I get a refund for the night I missed?
3A. Sorry, because of guarantees made with the hotel
for room and meal functions, no shows, late arrivals, and early
departures cannot receive fee adjustments.
4. I had to leave the conference early. Can I get
a refund for the days I had to miss?
4A. Sorry, but we have guaranteed both rooms and
meals with the hotels and have already prepaid the hotel.
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