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2013 DDA Meeting - First Announcement Letter

44th Annual Meeting of the Division on Dynamical Astronomy - DDA 2013
Paraty, Brazil, May 5-9, 2013

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FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT
==================

The Division on Dynamical Astronomy of the American Astronomical Society, 
and the National Observatory in Rio de Janeiro invite you to attend the 
44th Annual Meeting of the DDA, that will be held in Paraty, Brazil, 
during May 5 to 9, 2013.

Please read this e-mail carefully since it contains relevant information 
on the meeting, in particular, regarding the VISA ISSUES.

These informations can also be found in the meeting webpage at:
http://dda.harvard.edu/meetings/2013/

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Invited Speakers
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Jerry A. Sellwood (Rutgers University) - Brouwer Award Talk 
Cristián Beaugé (Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina) 
David Nesvorny (Southwest Research Institute) 
Julio A. Fernández (Universidad de la República, Uruguay) 
Pablo M. Cincotta (Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina) 
Patryk S. Lykawka (Kinki University, Japan) 
Tatiana A. Michtchenko (IAG/USP, Brazil) 

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Scientific Organizing Committee
-------------------------------
Matija Cuk - Co-chair - cuk@eps.harvard.edu
Sylvio Ferraz Mello - Co-chair - sylvio@astro.iag.usp.br
Alice Monet

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Local Organizing Committee
--------------------------
Daniela Lazzaro - Co-chair - lazzaro@on.br
Fernando Roig - Co-chair - froig@on.br
Valerio Carruba
Gastão B. Lima Neto
William I. Newman
Antonio F. B. A. Prado
Teresinha Stuchi
Tadashi Yokoyama

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Secretariat
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Meta Marketing e Eventos
Email: dda2013@metaeventos.net
Phone: +55 21 2220 2097
Fax: +55 21 2220 2305

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Important Dates
---------------
January 10 - Regular abstract submission starts
January 10 - Early registration starts
February 01 - Student stipend application deadline 
              (for non-South American students)
February 15 - Regular abstract submission deadline
February 15 - Early registration deadline
March 15 - Student stipends application deadline 
           (for South American students)
March 27 - Late abstract submission deadline
March 27 - Regular registration deadline
March 27 - Hotel reservation deadline
March 27 - Transport reservation deadline 
           (shuttle service Rio/Paraty)
May 05 - On site registration

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Abstracts
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Abstract submission will be managed by the AAS. The submission link is 
available at the meeting webpage.

Regular submission starts on January 10, 8 AM (East Time), and ends 
on February 14, 9 PM. Late (poster only) submission starts on February 
16, 8 AM, and ends on March 27, 9 PM.

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Registration
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Early registration is now open. Participants must fill and submit the 
on-line Registration Form available at:
https://www.metaeventos.net/inscricoes/index.php?id=453

The following fees (in USD) are applicable:
DDA Member:                  $300 Early - $350 Regular - $400 On site
Student and Emeritus Member: $200 Early - $200 Regular - $300 On site
Non-Member:                  $350 Early - $400 Regular - $450 On site
Accompanying Person:         $50 per person
Banquet (optional):          $50 per person

Early registration deadline is February 15. Regular registration 
deadline is March 27.

These fees include welcome reception, participant's material, abstract 
book, coffee breaks and transport between Rio and Paraty (ONLY at the 
fixed schedules provided by the organizers, see below).

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Venue
-----
The DDA meeting will be held in the auditorium of the House of Culture 
(Casa da Cultura), located at Rua Dona Geralda 177, in downtown Paraty.  

The city of Paraty (which means "white fish" in the Tupi indian language) 
is located over the sea, 155 miles West of Rio de Janeiro and 172 miles 
NE of São Paulo. It was founded in 1597 and has an  historical downtown 
with a well preserved colonial architecture.

The venue is at walking distance from several hotels and restaurants in 
the historical neighborhood.

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How to Arrive
-------------
The Rio de Janeiro International Airport (Galeão - GIG) is served by 
several major airlines. There are direct flights daily from/to Atlanta, 
Miami, New York, Charlotte, Houston, Washington, Paris, London, Frankfurt, 
Lisbon and Rome. 

Arrival flights to Rio de Janeiro from the USA are mostly scheduled 
between 10 AM and 1 PM (Local Time). Departure flights to the USA are 
mostly scheduled between 8 PM and 12 PM. We request participants to try 
to book their flights within these time windows in order to facilitate 
the transport to/from Paraty (see below).

The travel between Rio de Janeiro and Paraty takes about 4 hours.

Alternatively, participants may fly to/from São Paulo International 
Airport (Guarulhos - GRU). The travel between São Paulo and Paraty 
takes about 4,5 hours.

--------------------------------------------------
Transport to/from Paraty ::: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
--------------------------------------------------
The organizers will offer a free shuttle service between Rio de Janeiro 
International Airport and Paraty, at the following tentative schedules:
- Sunday, May 5, morning...........Rio-Paraty
- Sunday, May 5, early afternoon...Rio-Paraty
- Thursday, May 9, afternoon.......Paraty-Rio

Additional services might be offered on Saturday, May 4, if there is 
enough demand. The exact departure times of the shuttles will be informed 
in a future announcement.

In order to use this free shuttle service, participants must fill and send 
(by email or fax) the Shuttle Reservation Form, available at:
https://www.metaeventos.net/inscricoes/index.php?id=453

The deadline for sending the shuttle form is March 27.

The shuttle service is free only for registered participants and 
registered accompanying people (including children under 10). The use of
the service by unregistered accompanying people requires the payment of 
$60 (per person, round trip) and may be subject to availability.

NOTE: The shuttle service will be scheduled to suit as many participants 
as possible. The organizers will not reimburse participantes that do not
or cannot use this service for whatever reason (including flight delays).

Participants that cannot set their arrival times to fit the shuttle 
schedule must arrange transportation on their own. The following 
alternatives are available:

- The company Paraty Tours offers a direct transfer service from Rio 
de Janeiro and São Paulo Airports to Paraty, at an approximate cost 
of $75 (per person, one way trip). Check http://www.paratytours.com.br/

- The company Costa Verde offers a regular bus service from the Rio 
de Janeiro Bus Station (Terminal Novo Rio) to Paraty. The service 
departs approximately every 2 hours between 5 AM and 9 PM, and costs 
$30 (per person, one way trip). From the Airport to the Bus Station the 
best option is a taxi (approx. $25-$30).

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Accommodations
--------------
The organizers have made block reservations at two hotels in Paraty. 
Both hotels are located at walking distance from the House of Culture. 
The reservations in these hotels are managed through the meeting 
Secretariat.

Participants must fill and send (only by fax) the Hotel Reservation 
Form available at:
https://www.metaeventos.net/inscricoes/index.php?id=453
 
The deadline for hotel reservation is March 27.

Hotels charge 2 nights upon reservation, not refundable in case of no-show. 
Check the specific cancelation policies with the meeting Secretariat.

The organizers may also offer reservations at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro for 
those participants who wish to stay before/after the meeting. Please,
contact the meeting Secretariat for further information. Participants 
hosted at this hotel in Rio will have free transportation to/from Paraty 
on Sunday/Thursday.

-------------------------------------
Visa Issues ::: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
-------------------------------------
USA CITIZENS NEED A VISA TO ENTER IN BRAZIL.

The simplest option is to get a Tourist Visa at the Brazilian Consulate 
nearest to your residence. The time required to get the visa is usually 
fast, about 10 working days, but we recommend to do it well in advance, 
i.e. AT LEAST 30 TO 40 DAYS BEFORE TRAVEL.

To get a Tourist Visa it is NOT necessary to have a letter of invitation, 
but the Consulate will request to show the RETURN FLIGHT TICKET, as well 
as a passaport with at least 6 month of validity and 2 blank pages.

Some companies offer an express service for visa issue by post. Check 
the following alternatives:
http://www.passportvisasexpress.com/
http://www.brazilvisaservice.com/
http://www.visaexpress.net/brazil/
http://brazil.embassy-online.net/

It appears that employees from USA National Labs and/or military 
institutions (like USNO) must follow specific procedures through their 
home institutions to get the visa. Please, be aware that these procedures 
may take longer than the usual time to get a tourist visa.

Nationals of the following countries DO NOT NEED A VISA to enter in 
Brazil as tourist:

Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, 
Bulgaria, Chile, Cyprus, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, 
Denmark, El Salvador, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, 
Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, 
Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Namibia, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Panama, 
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, 
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, 
Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, 
Ukraine, Uruguay, Vatican, Venezuela.

NOTE: The organizers will not undertake any responsibility over 
participants that miss their travel due to visa problems, nor will 
refund them in any way.

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Letter of Invitation
--------------------
The Registration Form has a specific field to request for a letter of 
invitation. Letters will be sent only to participants who ask for.

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Student Stipends
----------------
The DDA will distribute two student stipends of $600 each for non-South 
American students, on a competititve basis. Check the specific rules in 
the meeting webpage. The deadline for application is February 1.

A limited number of stipends for South American students will be provided 
by the LOC, also on a competitive basis. Please, contact the LOC chairs 
for further information. The deadline for application is March 15.

---------------------------------
Local Time, Currency, and Weather
---------------------------------
Paraty and Rio de Janeiro are located at UTC -3 hours. 

The local currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL or R$). The present exchange 
rate is approx. 1 USD = 2,1 BRL and 1 EUR = 2,7 BRL. You may exchange 
money upon arrival at the airport. Visa, Master and Amex credit cards are 
also widely accepted. 

The weather in May is usually very pleasant, with an average temperature 
of 25ºC (77ºF) and almost no rain. We recommend to bring mid season clothes.

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Advertisement Poster
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May be downloaded at http://staff.on.br/froig/poster-dda2013.pdf
or http://dda.harvard.edu/meetings/2013/poster-dda2013.pdf

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Sponsors
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CAPES - http://www.capes.gov.br/
CNPQ - http://www.cnpq.br/
FAPERJ - http://www.faperj.br/
FAPESP - http://www.fapesp.br/
Observatorio Nacional - http://www.on.br/