27th Annual ABLE Conference
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
June 21-25, 2005

Montgomery County
Just a few minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail, nestled between the picturesque Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the New River Valley, with Montgomery County, Virginia as its center, offers the finest in all facets of living. Recently designated as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Montgomery County is home to 84,000 residents and Virginia Tech, the largest state university, and a top 50-research university. Where small town charm with some big city amenities, you have the best of both worlds. From our world class dining and cultural activities, to a beautiful rural setting, and unique recreational opportunities, the U.S.'s oldest river, the New River, oversees the good life in the New River Valley.

Blacksburg
Home of Virginia Tech, Virginia's largest university and a national football powerhouse, Blacksburg is a thriving university town that was named as the "most wired town in the United States" by Reader's Digest. The vibrant downtown area maintains a small town feel with an eclectic collection of boutiques, restaurants and historic sites, while just a mile away high-tech industry prospers in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (CRC). The CRC is the only university related Research Park and is responsible for bringing many jobs to the area. Other universities because of its success are currently studying it. Blacksburg serves as the cultural center of Montgomery County and boasts many artisans and cultural activities. Blacksburg was the first Electronic Village town with all the businesses, schools and homes having Internet available.

Christiansburg
Christiansburg is the second largest town in Virginia and the county seat for Montgomery County and can rightly call itself the Home of Heroes. Residents and long-term visitors have included Davy Crockett, Booker T. Washington, Daniel Boone, Lewis & Clark, George Washington, and many others. The Town of Christiansburg plays a major role in the thriving economic environment of the New River Valley being the home of the NRV Mall and several shopping centers that include many national chain retailers/restaurants. Christiansburg also hosts a wide variety of locally owned businesses including an old fashioned Drive-In, one of the few left in the country and The Summit, a five star restaurant. Christiansburg proudly boasts it is the location where Daniel Boone crossed the Continental Divide entering the wilderness.

Though Blacksburg and Christiansburg are separate municipalities they are connected in many ways, both historically and physically. The Huckleberry Trail is a unique biking/walking path connecting the two towns allowing the residents and visitors to enjoy everything they both have to offer. Whereever you are in Montgomery County you can literally be within 10 minutes of a bustling retail market area or in the solitude and beauty of nature all around you. Outstanding government planning and citizen participation continues to preserve our natural beauty and allow our communities to grow so that our needs are met.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, known as Virginia Tech, was founded in 1872 as the country's first land-grant institution and has evolved into a comprehensive university of national and international prominence. As Virginia's largest university with 25,600 students and one of the top 50 research institutions in the nation, it is an institution that firmly embraces a history of putting knowledge to work. That tradition is rooted in our motto, Ut Prosim: "That I May Serve," and our land-grant missions of instruction, research, and solving the problems of society through public service and outreach activities. The main campus includes 100 buildings, 2,600 acres, an airport and golf course. Virginia Tech also has a Computing and Communications Complex for access to worldwide information.

Eight colleges offer more degree programs than any other university in the state with 60 undergraduate and 110 graduate programs with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. Virginia Tech is one of the nation's leaders in developing and using new instructional technologies. Virginia Tech rankings are as follows:

Of all universities - public or private - U.S. News & World Report ranked Virginia Tech the 46th best value in the country.
Kiplinger Magazine ranked Virginia Tech the 16th Best Value in Public Higher Education in the nation.
Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top 15 schools in the nation in number of patents received.

Department of Biology
The 2005 ABLE Conference will be hosted by the Department of Biology, which is located in Derring Hall, the major building for the workshops. An undergraduate degree in Biology was first established in 1925. A Ph. D. program was added in 1940. In 1945 the department's first Ph. D. was awarded, in Bacteriology. Today the present enrollment in Biology is 1275 majors, the largest undergraduate enrollment in the university, and 85 graduate students. The Department of Biology is now the second largest academic unit on campus based on the number of faculty (39). The addition to the traditional areas of biology, botany, and zoology our major areas of concentration are:

Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology
Microbiology/Virology/Immunology
Ecology and Environmental Biology
Evolution and Systematics
Animal Biology/Behavior/Physiology/Endocrinology
Plant Biology/Mycology/Phycology
Computational Biology/Bioinformatics
Biotechnology

Lodging
A block of on-campus air-conditioned dormitory rooms is being held in Payne Hall, which has six-person suites. Each suite has a bathroom. Each bathroom has multiple showers, restrooms, and sinks. Payne Hall features air-conditioning, private phones, and Ethernet ports. Each guest is provided with two towels, one wash cloth, linens, pillow, and blanket. You may want to consider bringing an alarm clock, radio, clothes hangers, reading light and a calling card. Make your reservations on line at www.studentprograms.vt.edu/conferences and click on the ABLE link. Single rooms $23.63. Double rooms $33.86. ABLE attendees staying at the dormitory may be reached at (540)552-7001.

A block of on-campus air-conditioned rooms is being held at the Donaldson Brown Hotel & Conference Center (DBHCC). Make your reservations no later than May 21, 2005 to be assured a room by calling toll free 877-200-3360. Please mention ABLE to receive the special rate of $78.00 per day. ABLE attendees staying at DBHCC may be reached at (540)231-8000.

A block of off-campus rooms is being held at the Holiday Inn. Make your reservations no later than June 6, 2005 to be assured a room by calling (540)552-7001. Please mention ABLE to receive the special rate of $79.00 per day. ABLE attendees staying at the Inn may be reached at (540)231-8000. The Inn is approximately three blocks from Derring Hall. Consideration should be given to driving to the parking lot near DBHCC when going to Owens Hall or DBHCC for those staying at the Inn who have difficulty walking or are just plain tired.

Weather
The June temperature in Blacksburg can vary from the low 80s (day) to the high 50s (night). Come prepared for warm days and cool evenings. Bring insect repellant, sun-screen, and rain gear for outdoor activities.

Travel

Maps: Viginia Tech campus (image file | PDF) and road map

By air:Virginia Tech has its own general aviation airport (airport identifier BCB) with instrument capability and is open, from 8:00am to 6:00pm, 7 days a week. Its run-way is 4,539' long and 100' wide. AVGAS and JETA fuel are available. DBHCC is approximately 1.5 miles from the airport so a taxi or car rental would be needed and can be arranged by calling the airport at (540)231-4444.

Roanoke airport is the closest commercial airport and is located 25 miles east of Virginia Tech. All Conference attendees arriving by plane may elect to take the Smart Way Commuter Bus ($3 one way) which leaves the airport every 1-1/2 hours and stops at the Squires Student Center, which is adjacent to the DBHCC. The bus trip takes about one hour. You are advised to check with the Smart Way Bus link www.smartwaybus.com just prior to your departure from home since bus schedules are subject to change.

By bus: The nearest Greyhound bus station (540)343-5436) is located at 26 Salem Ave. in Roanoke. The Smart Way Bus terminal is located in the Valley Metro Terminal next to the Greyhound station. Greyhound passengers should consult www.smartwaybus.com to ensure their arrival time is compatible with Smart Way’s schedule. See above paragraph for more details.

By train:There are Amtrak stations in Clifton Forge, Virginia (75 miles North-East of Virginia Tech) and in Lynchburg, Virginia (96 miles East of Virginia Tech).

By car:Virginia Tech is located off U.S. 460 highway in Blacksburg, Virginia, which is 25 miles west of the Roanoke and 8 miles North of Christiansburg. For the drivers arriving via interstate I-81, take the 118B exit and follow the Virginia Tech signs. This will put you on U.S.460 North. Turn right onto Southgate Drive and go approximately 0.5 miles to the Information / Visitor Center, a small building on your right. Information/Visitor Center hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00pm with an hour off for lunch. For drivers coming South on interstate I-77 you may want to consider exiting I-77 at Princeton WV and take U.S. 460 East to Blacksburg and turn left onto Southgate Drive. It is a scenic drive and much shorter then continuing on I-77 to I-81.

All Conference attendees that will be arriving by cars or vans and are not staying at DBHCC are requested to first stop at the Information / Visitor Center, located at the intersection of Southgate Drive and Duck Pond Drive, to obtain a “One Week” parking pass for your vehicle. This pass will allow you to park in any Faculty/Staff or Student parking area not restricted by signs. Upon receiving your parking pass proceed to DBHCC located on Otey Street. To get to DBHCC take a right out of the Information / Visitor Center parking area and immediately turn left on to Duck Pond Road. Go approximately 0.3 miles and turn right onto Washington Street. Proceed on Washington Street for approximately 0.8 miles and then turn left on to Otey Street. Go approximately 0.25 miles and turn right into the parking lot in front of the DBHCC building and park in the appropriate area. MAKE SURE YOU PARK ONLY IN THE FACULTY / STAFF PARKING AREA AND NOT THE DBHCC PARKING AREA.

Conference attendees who will be arriving by cars or vans and have chosen to stay at DBHCC do not have to stop at the Information / Visitor Center and may drive directly to the driveway in front of DBHCC. See driving instructions in the above paragraph for directions to DBHCC. Unload your suit cases and go into the Hotel and obtain a DBHCC parking pass. Once you obtain your parking pass you must then move your vehicle across the street into the DBHCC parking area. This pass will also allow you to park in any Faculty/Staff or Student parking area not restricted by signs. The Information Visitor's Center is located at the very bottom of the attached campus map (PDF).

Registration

> Click here for online Registration Form

All ABLE attendees are to check-in at Donaldson Brown Hotel & Conference Center (DBHCC)C to pickup their registration packets. Registration will be in the lobby of the DBHCC from 12–5pm on Monday and 8am–5pm on Tuesday. Registration will be moved to the first floor in the North Lobby of Derring Hall 8am on Wednesday.

Summary of Events

Major Workshops

Social Events

Opening Reception: the opening reception will be held in the Owens Banquet Room located in Owens Hall. Owens Dining Hall opened its doors in 1940 and was named after a popular cook on campus (at the time, cooks were called mess stewards). J.J. “Pop” Owens was one of the first Northerners and first Catholics to work on campus around the turn of the century. He was so popular with the cadets that he alone was able to persuade class officers to give up dynamiting as a way of celebrating class night.

Banquet: Friday evening we will travel via buses to Mountain Lake resort for refreshments and dinner. Mountain Lake Chefs have received great reviews and various awards for their delectable meals.

Mountain Lake is one of only two fresh water lakes in Virginia, and is the highest in elevation East of the Mississippi. The lake is approximately 6,000 years old and was formed along an active fault line when several earthquakes caused rockslides that dammed up the northern end of the valley. The lake is fed by cold underground springs, which rarely allow the temperature to rise above 70 degrees on the surface and 46 degrees on the bottom. Due to a unique series of narrow channels and openings on the lake bottom the level has a history of rising and falling depending upon the direction of water flow through these channels to and from the icy-cold ground water lying deep beneath the surface of the earth. The combination of these natural phenomena make Mountain Lake the only one of it's kind in existence!

In 1986 Vestron Pictures chose Mountain Lake for its on-location site for the filming of its box office hit “Dirty Dancing”. The majestic beauty of this grand mountain top hotel will be forever captured in this film.