Conference Communiqué

IPMAAC at St. Pete Beach, Florida June 6-10

Program Committee

By now you should have received your copy of the 1999 IPMAAC Conference Brochure. If you're like me, you've poured over the session descriptions with rising anticipation for the time when you'll actually BE in St. Pete. All those important topics! All those distinguished speakers!! But now you have one really big problem - how will you choose just one presentation in each time slot amongst all those offered??!! Big plot dilemma - dramatic music swells to a crescendo in background. Okay, so that's my dream. Read on for a synopsis of the program in case you haven't opened it yet.

Pre-Conference Workshops

This conference will have an abundance of workshop choices. Understanding Conflict Management in the Public Sector and Assessing and Leveraging Intellectual Capital will be full-day sessions. Half-day sessions include Preparation of Simulations for Selection Procedures; Forming Composite Scores: Discretionary or Computed Weights; Developing and Conducting Oral Examinations; Examination Planning: A Crash Course; Use of Minimum Qualifications in the Employment Process; and IPMA's Competency Module - Developing HR Competencies for Success: the Overview. So consider adding some new skills or updating those you have.

Invited Speakers

Current SIOP President Elaine Pulakos of Personnel Decisions Research Institutes will deliver this year's keynote address. Neal Schmitt of Michigan State University and Walter Borman of the University of South Florida will present on Tuesday and Wednesday as WRIPAC and MAPAC's invited speakers. James Sharf of Sharf & Associates will bring the conference to a dynamic close.

Concurrent Sessions

With four options to choose between during most concurrent sessions, I do hope that the toughest thing about this conference will be deciding which session to attend! The topics are too numerous to describe, but they're all right there in the brochure. If you've been to an IPMAAC Conference, you know that some of the leading practitioners in the field of I/O Psychology will be presenting. If you've never been to one - this is the year to start an annual tradition.

You should definitely be involved in this conference! We still need session chairpersons and roundtable leaders. If you are interested in serving in either of these areas, please contact Déonda Scott at (407) 246-2061 or by e-mail at dscott@ci.orlando.fl.us.

Host Committee

The program schedule is done, preconference brochures have been mailed & received (looks like a great lineup, doesn't it!), and hopefully, many of you have started making plans to join us at the TradeWinds Resort on St. Pete Beach. (If you haven’t started, get busy! June is getting close!)

In previous issues of the ACN we provided information about the hotel, the area, and what you might find or do to make your stay more enjoyable. A quick reminder: staying on the beach, surf, sand, gold, tennis, sailing, boating, jet skies, parasailing, swimming, fishing, baseball, Salvador Dali, roller coasters, etc. If you need more details, check out your October and December issues of the ACN in paper form or online at www.ipmaac.org.

This issue we thought we would help out with information and hints concerning two important questions: how do I get there and what should I pack.

How do I get there?

There are a number of ways to get here but most of you will either be flying or driving so those are the two modes of transportation that we will address.

If your transportation of choice is flying, make your reservations for Tampa International Airport. From the airport to the hotel the most popular option will be to take The Limo, a van shuttle service. Cost is $17 one way or $30 round trip. Your travel agent can make reservations for you with The Limo, you can make reservations at 800-282-6817, or you can wait till you get to the airport and follow the signs to ground transportation. If you prefer, taxi service is available and will cost you about $30 to $35 each way. Of course, rental cars are also available at the airport. If you choose to rent a car at the airport, directions for getting from the airport to the hotel are contained on the insert included with this issue of the ACN. (Note: Avis has an on-site rental agency at the hotel.)

For those of you driving down, up, or over you will find directions to the hotel on an insert included with this issue of the ACN

What should I pack?

We know you are all responsible adults who can answer this question on your own but we thought we would help by providing a little additional information.

The three most important things to remember are:

It is Florida in June
The hotel is on the beach
It is a causal conference

Florida in June means the daytime highs should average in the low 80s (but don’t be surprised if it gets up close to 90) and the lows should average out in the upper 60s/low 70s. Relative humidity could be anywhere from 60% to 80+%. The seabreeze off the Gulf does help!

Having the hotel on the beach means sun, surf and sand so you might want to think about sunglasses, a hat, swimsuit, shorts, t-shirts, sandals, and sunscreen.

Casual dress means casual dress. It means that long sleeve dress shirts, ties, stockings, jackets, etc. are definitely optional! It doesn’t mean we want to see the clothes in which you mow the lawn... Slacks, khakis, walking shorts, polos, golf shirts, pullovers, shells, etc. are all good ideas. So are natural fibers like cotton and silk. Jeans, sure,but like always—it depends on the jeans.

If you need more information about how to get here, what to pack, or any thing else that we can help you with in planning your trip please contact Beverly Waldron at 727-464-3367 or by email at bwaldron@co.pinellas.fl.us.

Driving Directions

From the North

Take I-75 South

(If you live along the east coast and you need to take I-95 to get to Florida you can get to I-75 by taking I-10 West (at Jacksonville) over to I-75. Another choice is to take I-95 to Daytona Beach and then take I-4 West to Tampa.)

Take I-275 South (Towards Tampa, St. Petersburg)

This split is just north of Tampa. It will take you through Tampa, across the Howard Frankland Bridge, and into Pinellas County.

Take Exit 4. Pinellas Bayway

Go west towards St. Pete Beach. 50¢ toll. Watch you speed.

Take a right on Gulf Blvd.

On the Pinellas Bayway you will go through several red lights and cross a draw bridge. Not far past the draw bridge you will come to a red light at Gulf Blvd. where you must go left (toward Tierra Verde) or right (towards Treasure Island). You'll know when you get to this light because there will be a large pink hotel on the left (the Don Cesar). Go right toward Treasure Island.

Go 1.4 miles. At 3^rd red light turn left.

This is the entrance to the hotel. You are there!

From the South

Take I-75 North

Take I-275 North (Towards St. Petersburg)

This split is just north of Sarasota/Bradenton. This will take you across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge ($1 toll).

(Note: if you have trouble with big bridges you can continue on I-75 North and take I-4 West. See "From the East" for details on how to get there from I-4. )

Take Exit 4. Pinellas Bayway

You will go west towards St. Pete Beach. 50¢ toll. Watch you speed.

Take a right on Gulf Blvd.

Go 1.4 miles. At 3^rd red light turn left.

This is the entrance to the hotel. You are there!

From the West

Drop Anchor

Swim ashore.

From the East

Take I-4 West

Take I-275 South (Towards St. Petersburg)

I-4 West ends at I-275. Head south towards St. Petersburg. It will take you through Tampa, across the Howard Frankland Bridge, and into Pinellas County.

Take Exit 4. Pinellas Bayway

Go west towards St. Pete Beach. 50¢ toll. Watch you speed.

Take a right on Gulf Blvd.

Go 1.4 miles. At 3^rd red light turn left.

This is the entrance to the hotel. You are there!

From the Southeast

If you've ever tried to get from the Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale/West Palm Beach area to Tampa/St. Pete, you probably already know you can't get there from here. . . If you don't have a preferred route, I can offer 3 suggestions:

Take Alligator Alley over to I-75 North and follow the "From the South" directions.

Take the Florida Turnpike North to US-192 West. Go west on US-192 to I-4 West and follow the "From the East" directions.

Take the Florida Turnpike North to Yeehaw Junction and State Road 60 West. Take SR 60 across to I-75 North (Brandon), and I-75 North to I-4 West and follow the "From the East" directions.

From the Airport

From the airport exit follow the signs to I-275. You want to take I-275 South toward St. Petersburg. This takes you through Tampa, across the Howard Frankland Bridge, and into Pinellas County.

Take Exit 4. Pinellas Bayway

Go west towards St. Pete Beach. 50¢ toll. Watch you speed.

Take a right on Gulf Blvd.

Go 1.4 miles. At 3^rd red light turn left.

This is the entrance to the hotel. You are there!