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The AAR Annual Meeting, November 17-20, is less than two weeks away! Excitement is building and final plans are being made to make this the best meeting ever. Here are the 1-2-3s to help you navigate the Annual Meeting.
AAR & SBL Shuttle
The AAR and SBL have made arrangements for those who are staying in our hotel block to have continuous service to the McCormick Place Convention Center. We will have multiple shuttles running from a location near your hotel to take you to all the sites where the sessions are being held.
For those who are not staying in one of our conference hotels, but would like to purchase a shuttle pass, the option is available for an additional $25 during Annual Meeting registration. Please note that transportation could take up to 45 minutes, so it is imperative that you allow enough time to arrive at your destination.
More information on shuttles, public transportation, and locations in Chicago can be found on the AAR web site.
Name Badges & Registration
Registration is located in McCormick Place West, 3rd floor, Hall F2.
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Name badges are in the mail for preregistrants. Bring your name badge to Registration and pick up a badge holder, lanyard, and your tote bag. With those in hand, you can head directly to sessions and exhibits.
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Lost name badge? Did the post office not come through with the mail? Replacements are available at the Name Badge Reprint booth at Registration.
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PLAN YOUR DAY
Whether you are riding the hotel shuttle or arriving at McCormick Place via your own transportation, plan on staying the entire day. All AAR & SBL daytime sessions (until 6:30 pm) are going to be held in the McCormick Convention Center. Anything you might possibly need throughout the day should be brought with you. We will have a coat and bag check at McCormick Place in the West Building. Coats can be checked for $3 and bags for $4.
Plan Your Evening
While all day sessions (until 6:30 pm) will be held at McCormick Place, all evening sessions and receptions will be held in one of our downtown properties: the Hilton Chicago or the Palmer House Hilton. If you plan on attending a session until 6:30 pm, and need to arrive downtown at 7:00 pm, there might not be enough time to make the start of your event.
Wear Your Walking Shoes
For those of you who will be riding the hotel shuttle, you will most likely have to walk from your hotel entrance to a shuttle stop that could be a few blocks away. Once you arrive at McCormick Place, plan on getting a workout! The Convention Center comprises four state-of-the-art buildings: the North and South Buildings, the West Building, and the East Building (Lakeside Center). These buildings have a combined 2.6 million square feet of space, 1.2 million square feet all on one level, making it the nation’s largest convention center. Most AAR and SBL sessions will be in the West Building, where Registration and the Exhibit Hall are located, but others will be in the East (Lakeside Center) and the North and South Buildings.
PROGRAM BOOKS AND MORE
Program Books were mailed to everyone who registered before September 15.
PLEASE BRING YOUR PROGRAM BOOK TO CHICAGO WITH YOU, AS WE HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY.
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If you registered after September 15, you may pick up your Program Book at Registration
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AAR and SBL programs can be found in the At-A-Glance and the Mobile App, available to all attendees. (see below)
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Annual Meetings At-A-Glance is stuffed into all attendees' tote bags contains brief session information on all AAR, SBL, and additional meetings.
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MOBILE APP
Access the free Annual Meetings app! AAR and SBL introduces the use of Mobile Meeting Guide technology to provide members with a technically reliable, intuitive, and functional meeting solution. The app will provide attendees with:
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The entire event program, including both AAR and SBL programs and Additional Meetings
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Exhibitor info, including an interactive Exhibit Hall map
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Maps of conference hotels
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Create and customize your own schedule, make notes about sessions, and share information and your schedule with colleagues and friends via built-in social networking
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Because the solution features an intuitive offline program that is native to Android, Blackberry, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices, no Internet connection is needed!
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Schedule changes are downloaded in the background when Internet access is available.
Don’t have a smart phone? Don’t worry! A similar web-based solution is accessible via your computer or laptop.
The app is available now in the App Store and Android Market—simply search for SBLAAR12. On the AAR and SBL websites, we have posted answers to frequently asked questions as well as an introductory guide to the app. You will also find a Mobile App HelpDesk in the registration area in the McCormick Place West Convention Center. You can send questions via email to rwilliams@aarweb.org.
Download the app to your mobile device from the Android Market and App Store now, use the web version of the app that is available here, or scan the appropriate QR code displayed below and on signage throughout the meeting. We hope you will find the app useful!
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VISIT THE EXHIBIT HALL!
A priority for anyone attending the Annual Meetings is a visit to the Exhibit Hall! The Exhibit Hall is located in McCormick Place West, 3rd floor, Hall F2. Why visit?
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Publishers feature the newest, latest, and greatest publications within the field.
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Publishers often offer deep discounts off list prices at the meeting!
Search It Out!
Looking for a specific book or publisher? Look no farther than the Search It Out kiosk in the front of the Exhibit Hall. This kiosk offers a searchable database of books, authors, and publishers. The results will appear on a map of the exhibit floor, highlighting the name and location of the publisher.
The kiosk can also display the exhibit hall map with a complete list of publishers for reference. You can find an list of exhibitors and an Exhibit Hall map in the Program Book, At-A-Glance, and in the mobile app.
Enter to Win in the Exhibit Hall!
Plan to visit the Exhibit Hall and enter to win four raffle giveaways.
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AAR Booth Giveaways: Visit the AAR booth (#301) in the Exhibit Hall and drop off your business card to enter four additional drawings:
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“Books Under Discussion” at the 2012 AAR Annual Meeting
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The 2012 AAR Award Winning Books
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Free 2013 AAR membership
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Free 2013 Annual Meetings registration in Baltimore
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PROGRAM AND SESSION UPDATES
Look for program updates or changes at:
Access the online Program Book to read about updates to sessions and more!
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ANNUAL MEETING SPECIAL SERVICES
Accessibility
For attendees with accessibility concerns, we offer the following assistance:
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The 2012 Easy Access Chicago guide can be picked up at the AAR Member Services Desk located in the AAR & SBL registration area in McCormick Place West.
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Two dedicated ADA only shuttles will be on call throughout the meeting for attendees with accessibility concerns. You may call the shuttle from the Transportation Desk in McCormick Place, from the AAR Member Desk, or directly as needed. (1-312-949-8749)
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A lounge for attendees will be available in room McCormick Place West - 196C.
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A first aid room will be available in each building of McCormick Place with cots and trained staff.
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If you have questions about this service, please contact Soraya Shahrak at sshahrak@aarweb.org.
Sabbath Observant Attendees
Because the majority of the conference hotels are at a distance from the McCormick Place Convention Center, the following services will be provided for Sabbath observant attendees on Saturday, November 17:
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We will offer an escorted walk on Saturday, November 17. It will depart from the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue from the front entrance on Michigan Ave. The first walk will depart at 8:00 AM, in time to reach McCormick Place for morning sessions, and the second walk will depart at 12:00 PM, in time to reach McCormick Place for the afternoon sessions.
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We have reserved room 186C in McCormick Place West for your use on Saturday, November 17. Coffee and tea service will be available in the lounge.
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A kosher vendor will offer food and beverage in the Exhibit Hall during the show hours. If you would like to sign up for the walk or have questions about these services, please contact us at AnnualMeeting@sbl-site.org.
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LOUNGES
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Prayer Room, McCormick Place West-177 - For people of all faiths who need a moment of prayer, quiet reflection, or meditation.
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Women’s Lounge, McCormick Place West-193B – Featuring special programming sponsored by the Women’s Caucus. Nursing mothers may find it a welcome private space.
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Students Lounge, McCormick Place West-195 – Special programming sponsored by the Graduate Student Committee.
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SERVICES AND CONVENIENCES
Hungry? Food at the Annual Meeting
Chicago has a ton of great places to eat! Ask at your hotel concierge for recommendations.
While you are at McCormick Place, you will have lots of options as well. Food Courts are located on the 2nd floor of the West Building and level 2.5 of the South Building. Other food outlets are scattered throughout the McCormick Place complex.
If you are looking for something quick and easy, visit the food concessions area in the back of the Exhibit Hall in McCormick Place West Hall F2 (3rd floor). Sandwiches, drinks, and snacks will be available during Exhibit Hall hours Saturday through Tuesday.
Internet Access
Need to check your e-mail or use the web? Free wifi is available throughout the McCormick Place Convention Center. If you need a computer, the Cyber Café offers computers with Internet connections at the back of the Exhibit Hall.
Child Care
Childcare registration for the Annual Meeting is now open! KiddieCorp childcare is a service subsidized by the AAR and SBL for members with families attending the Annual Meeting. You may register at https://www.kiddiecorp.com/aarsblkids.htm.
Roomate Finder
Need a roommate? See who else is looking to share on the AAR Roommate Finder. Or you can Look Who’s Coming to the Meeting to see if your friends and colleagues are attending.
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SPECIAL EVENTS TO SEE AND DO
Welcome Reception
Join your colleagues for a wine and cheese reception on Friday, November 18, 7:00–9:00 pm in the Hilton Chicago-International Ballroom South. Chicago blues and a relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place to catch up with friends new and old.
Performances and Exhibits
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Sistine Chapel Ceiling Quincentenary Display
Skyline Ballroom (MPW-375A)
In November 2012, Michelangelo’s celebrated frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel mark their 500th anniversary. Over the past five centuries, these multiple panels, either individually or as a group, have been studied by church historians, art historians, religion scholars, theologians, and specialists in popular culture, film, media, and visual culture. At this year’s Annual Meeting, with the permission of the Vatican Museum and the technical expertise of PRG Audiovisual, the AAR is featuring an innovative exhibition featuring a screen-printed 1/3 scale model of these frescoes rigged above the Skyline Ballroom (375A) in McCormick Place West. Attendees can experience this magnificent work without traveling all the way to Rome! In addition, throughout the room will be displayed a variety of copies, parodies, and interpretations of the frescoes which have permeated contemporary society.
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Arts Series: Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible
Sunday, 8:00 pm-10:00 pm
Hilton Chicago - Williford C
This hybrid performance and panel session will provide scholars from a range of specializations and interests the opportunity to take in a recent piece by theatrical performance artist/activist Peterson Toscano and then to engage in a unique, cross-disciplinary, and cross-association scholarly conversation about the work’s aspects and impacts.
Tours
The following Annual Meeting tours still have space available:
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Chicago City and Architectural Tour (Friday, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm)
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Passport to Chicago’s Neighborhoods and Lunch (Saturday, 8:00 am-1:00 pm)
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Swiss Treasures -- From Biblical Papyrus and Parchment to Erasmus, Zwingli, Calvin, and Barth (Sunday, 11:30 am- 2:30 pm)
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Bahá'í House of Worship (Monday, 12:30 pm-4:30 pm)
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Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center (Monday, 12:30 pm-4:30 pm)
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Sacred and Religious Sites of Chicago (Monday, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm)
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To sign up for a tour, log back into the online Annual Meeting registration system with your special code and add the tour(s) of your choice; fax in the form on page 11 of the Annual Meeting Program Book, or call us at 404-727-7972. Sorry, no refunds.
Preconference Workshops
The following Pre-Annual Meeting Workshops still have space available:
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Religion and Media Workshop - Feeling Political: Religion, Media, and the Politics of Emotion, Friday, 9:00 am–4:15 pm
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Leadership Workshop - More Time, Less Budget: The Role of the Department Chair in a New Economic Context, Friday, 12:00 pm-5:00 pm
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Sustainability Workshop - Global Perspectives on (In)equality and Ethics in Ecological Issues, Friday, 1:45 pm–5:00 pm
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To sign up for a workshop, log back into the online Annual Meeting registration system and add the workshop(s) of your choice; fax in the forms on pages 212, 213, or 215 in the Annual Meeting Program Book, or call us at 404-727-7972.
Other Exciting Sessions in Chicago
We are excited about the tremendous lineup of scholarly sessions on the program this year in Chicago. Some of the many highlights include the following sessions:
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Plenary Address (A17-134)
Ivone Gebara: Knowing the Human, Knowing the Divine for the Human: Perspectives from Vulnerable Corners of Today’s World
Saturday, 11:45 am-12:45 pm
McCormick Place West-375B
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The Human Side of The Job Search (A17-200)
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
McCormick Place North-230A
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Social Theory and Religion Cluster (A17-202)
The Centenary of The Elementary Forms of Religious Life - The Enduring Analytical Impact of Émile Durkheim
Saturday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
McCormick Place West-375B
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Arts, Film, Literature, Media, Popular Culture, Visual Culture, and Religion Cluster (A17-301)
The Sistine Chapel at 500: A Variety of Views
Saturday, 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
McCormick Place West-375A
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Presidential Address (A17-403)
Otto Maduro: Reflections on Epistemology, Ethics, and Politics in the Study of the Religious “Stranger”
Saturday - 8:00 PM-9:00 PM
Hilton Chicago-Grand Ballroom
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Sex, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion Cluster (A18-100)
Naming Our History, Rebuilding Our Alliances, Mapping Our Future
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
McCormick Place West-175C
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Ethics Section (A18-103)
The Obama Question: A Progressive Prospective
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
McCormick Place West-375B
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Innovative Job Hunting Strategies in the Academy and Beyond (A18-140)
Sunday, 9:00 am-11:30 am
McCormick Place West-184BC
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Plenary Panel (A18-138)
Migrants’ Religions under Imperial Duress: Approaches from the Sociology and Anthropology of Religions
Sunday, 11:45 am-12:45 pm
McCormick Place West-375B
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Beyond the Academy: Exploring How the AAR Can Engage and Serve Professionals Outside of Higher Education
Sunday, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm
McCormick Place North-132
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The Marty Forum (A18-251)
Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza
Sunday, 3:00 pm-4:30 pm
McCormick Place West-375B
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Conversation with Martha Reineke, 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award Winner (A18-250)
Sunday, 3:00 pm-4:30 pm
McCormick Place West-183A
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Conversation with Holland Cotter, 2012 Religion and the Arts Award Winner (A18-300)
Sunday, 5:00 pm-6:30 pm
McCormick Place West-194A
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Wildcard Session (A18-332)
Critical Conversations on The Cross and the Lynching Tree (Orbis Books, 2011)
Sunday, 5:00 pm-6:30 pm
McCormick Place West-375B
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Templeton Lecture (A18-406)
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama: Spiritual Progress through Scientific Research on Compassion
Sunday - 8:00 PM-9:30 PM
Hilton Chicago-International Ballroom South
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Plenary Address (A19-135)
Harvey Cox: From the Bottom and the Edges
Monday, 11:45 am-12:45 pm
McCormick Place West-375B
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Religions, Social Conflict, and Peace Group (A19-208)
Panel Discussion on Kwok Pui Lan’s and Joerg Rieger’s Occupy Religion: Theology of the Multitude (Rowman and Littlefield, 2012)
Monday, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
McCormick Place West-375B
ADDITIONAL MEETING UPDATE:
M16-307
Tony Blair Faith Foundation & Council on Foreign Relations
Theme: Religion and Foreign Policy
Friday - 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
McCormick Place West-192
Join the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Tony Blair Faith Foundation for a conversation on “The Role of Religion in Foreign Policy.” The panel discussion will feature experts in religion and foreign policy, including Ed Husain, senior fellow in Middle Eastern studies at CFR, Katrina Lantos Swett, chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Monica Duffy Toft, professor at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government. The panelists will draw upon their own experience to discuss the role that religion plays in shaping foreign policy and will take questions from the audience.
CFR’s Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative seeks to connect with, and serve as a resource for, religious and congregational leaders, scholars, and thinkers whose voices are increasingly important to the national foreign policy debate. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation aims to promote respect and understanding about the world's major religions and shows how religious faith can be part of the solution to global challenges. It informs, educates, and inspires how religion motivates the world today. Please arrive at Room W192 by 4:00 p.m.
See you in Chicago!
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