Reunion 2007

Intro

Come join us at the heart of U.S. space exploration — NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston! "Insiders" are arranging special events to make this a unique opportunity to learn about space history, research on the International Space Station, and our future returning to the moon and going beyond. Families will enjoy one of the top-3 tourist attractions in Texas — Space Center Houston, the center of the event. Registrations are flexible if you can't spend the whole weekend, but you won't want to miss a thing!

Reunion 2007 will be based out of Space Center Houston, with rooms grouped across the street at the Microtel Inn & Suites Houston. Guests will be able to meet up in the hotel lobby or at designated places in Space Center Houston throughout the weekend.

Be sure to book hotel reservations early at the Microtel Inn & Suites Houston (see Accomodations), as this small hotel across the street from NASA will be full well before June. We have blocked a set of rooms at a special rate that is guaranteed until the block is full or May 7, 2007. Rooms may be available after that time, but the reduced group rate is not guaranteed.

Register today! We'd love to see you for the whole reunion, but if your schedule is tight, you're more than welcome to join us to spend the day with fellow alumni, the banquet on Saturday, or just to say hi (just select the Single Day option on the registration form).

Whether you'll be attending or not, make sure to fill out the Bio Update Form. Keep us up-to-date and let us know your current address, family additions, career moves, and anything else you would like to share!

Contact

If you have any questions or ideas regarding this year's NYSCAA reunion in Houston, Texas, please email the reunion organizers at reunion2007_no_spam_please_@i_mean_it.no_spam_whatsoever.nyscaa.org.

Location

Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States. Commercial flights into Houston are through George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

Registration

Register today to attend Reunion 2007!

We have blocked a set of rooms at a special rate at the Microtel Inn & Suites Houston that is guaranteed until the block is full or May 7, 2007 (see Accomodations).

Breakfasts are provided by the Microtel Inn & Suites Houston to those who book rooms at the hotel. Lunches each day are at Space Center Houston, with admission and the meals included in your registration fee. Dinners (Tex mex on Friday and Kemah Waterfront for the banquet on Saturday) are also included in your registration fee. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

Transportation

The Microtel Inn and Suites Houston hotel is across the street from NASA. We will help folks with ride sharing when needed.

Travel Advice and Notes

1. Getting to Houston
   1. Houston has two airports — Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is located far north of the city, and Hobby Airport (HOU) is located south of downtown. The NASA area is even further southeast of the Houston downtown.
   2. IAH is a Continental Airlines hub with nonstop flights around the country. IAH has arrivals from 23 duifferent airlines including Delta, American, U.S. Airways, United, and Northwest, among others.
   3. HOU is a smaller airport featuring budget carriers Southwest, jetBlue, AirTran, Delta, and American.
   4. HOU is more convenient to NASA, but with more nonstops to IAH, your final choice will probably be based on connections and price.
2. Transit from the Airport to the NASA Area
   1. Easiest way to get around suburban Houston (where NASA is located) is via rental car. But don't worry, there are options for sharing cars throughout the weekend!
   2. For those that don't want to rent a car or drive, special shuttle service from either Houston airport to the Microtel hotel has been arranged for our group by Clear Lake Shuttle.

      You must make reservations with them directly so that they will meet your flight and track it if it is late. Call Clear Lake Shuttle at (281) 334-3873 and mention that you are with the "NYSC Alumni" (ask for Jim Harrison if needed). They will group people together if they are arriving or departing around the same time to keep costs down.

      1. From Hobby airport, the cost is $20 (one-way) if you use their regularly scheduled hourly service, or $30 (one-way) for personal service (pickup or drop off on a different schedule). After picking up your bags, meet them outside Baggage Claim at "Curb Zone 12."
      2. From IAH airport, the cost is $105 (one-way) for the first person and only $10 for each additional person. Target an arrival between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm on Thursday afternoon for the best chance of joining up with other Alumni, and Clear Lake Shuttle will match you up to split the costs! Meet the driver at the baggage claim in your arriving terminal, you will see him/her holding an "NYSC Alumni" sign.
   3. Cab rides from IAH airport to the NASA area run $101.25 plus tip for any number of passengers (probably not your first choice!). Cab rides from HOU airport run $34.25 plus tip.
3. Transit within the NASA Area
   1. All events are a short drive from the hotel, with ridesharing and caravanning options available.

Schedule and Activities

We are still busy planning all the activities surrounding this reunion, and just like camp, we can hint at, but not promise, some "out of this world" extras. Alumni activities will be based out of Space Center Houston with full access to all exhibits, displays and tours. Friday will include a special "behind the scenes tour" not available to the public, including "surprise guests." On Saturday morning, families continue to enjoy Space Center Houston, while alumni have our business meeting, share short seminars with other attendees, and everyone meets up for lunch (another "special guest"???). Saturday afternoon is for enjoying the attractions at the Kemah boardwalk, with a closing banquet on the waterfront.

Here is the tentative schedule of events.

Seminars

Interested in presenting a seminar? Email reunion2007_no_spam_please_@i_mean_it.no_spam_whatsoever.nyscaa.org with your topic.

Accomodations

Reunion 2007 will be based out of the Microtel Inn & Suites Houston. Be sure to book hotel reservations early, as this small hotel across the street from NASA will be full well before June. We have blocked a set of rooms at a special rate that is guaranteed until the block is full or May 7, 2007. Rooms may be available after that time, but the reduced group rate is not guaranteed.

• $44.95 Single Queen (up to 2 adults)
• $54.95 Double Queen (up to 4 adults)
• Mini suites are also available while they last!
• Free deluxe continental breakfast is included in the above rates

Contact:
Microtel Inn and Suites Houston (Clear Lake City)
1620 NASA Rd 1
Houston, TX 77058
(281) 335-0800
[ Directions | Google Map ]
Ask for the "NYSCAA Meet" Rate!

Planning to stay elsewhere or with a friend? That's fine, you can still join us for all the activities, but you do need to register for the reunion itself.

Want to share a room? Email reunion2007_no_spam_please_@i_mean_it.no_spam_whatsoever.nyscaa.org with the following information:

• Name
• Phone & email
• Number of desired roommates, up to 4 per room (more than 2 people in a room means sharing a double bed)
• Any requirements or preferences on roommates, e.g., nonsmoking female
• Any roommates you already have confirmed

Volunteers

• Julie Robinson (ID 1985)
• Dan Cohan (TX 1994)
• Neil Davidson (AL 1970)

If you are interested in helping out in planning or during the event, please email us at reunion2007_no_spam_please_@i_mean_it.no_spam_whatsoever.nyscaa.org.