Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL CONFERENCE INFORMATION

• Question: I want to register as a VCS member but haven't paid my dues yet. What can I do?
  Answer: Please contact Barb McGehee at vcs@cox.net.
  
  
• Question: What's new about the 2009 VCS Annual Conference?
  Answer: The conference will begin on Friday, October 16th with the Resident Review and evening Welcome Reception and end on Monday, October 19th at 2:00 pm, a little later than usual.
  
  Our program chair, Dr. Elaine Caplan, has added a FREE pre-conference workshop to the schedule on Friday, October 16th from 8 am until 12 pm.  The focus of the meeting is: Basic Oncology: Update for the General Practitioner and is sponsored by TW Medical.  If you’d like to attend please check a special box on the registration form.
  
  The Veterinary Technicians will now have two days of workshops, Saturday and Sunday, making their experience at VCS even more beneficial. Technicians will attend keynote speeches with the rest of the attendees and then proceed to their own workshop.
  
  Next, the final event of the conference, the awards, will be held on Sunday evening at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, an easy mile walk or cab ride from the hotel. This will be a full dinner with outstanding entertainment in a relaxing atmosphere located in downtown Austin. The event will begin at 6:30 pm.
  
  
• Question: Is there shuttle transportation from the airport to the Hyatt Regency Austin?
  Answer: Getting to and from the airport - and all around town - is easy. Most major rental car companies are available at ABIA. For more information about shuttling to and from the airport, visit http://www.austintexas.org/visitors/plan_your_trip/transportation.
  
  Taxi: Approx $20.00-$27.00
  Amtrak: 1.5 miles; taxi $5. City bus 0.50 cents with 3 stops
  
  Airport Super Shuttle - $12.00 Phone- 512-258-3826 *Services are available 24 hours a day. Guest can pick up the shuttle at the airport without reservations but guest must have concierge arrange pickup from hotel to airport.
  
  Capital Metro is the local transit system. Cost is 0.50 cents.
  
  Shuttle service with chair lifts can be arranged through a local company. Contact concierge for more information.
  
  
• Question: I will be driving (or renting a car) to the conference site each day. How much is parking?
  Answer: The cost to park your car from five to twenty-four hours at the Hyatt Regency Austin is $12.
  
  
• Question: How do I get to the hotel if I'm driving?
  Answer: It’s best to use MapQuest to get accurate driving directions from wherever you are coming from. Hotel information is as follows:
  
  Hyatt Regency Austin
  208 Barton Springs,
  Austin, Texas, USA 78704
  Tel: +1 512 477 1234
  
  Directions from Austin Bergstrom International Airport (8 Miles): Exit airport on Presidential Blvd. Turn left on to TX-71. Turn right on to E Riverside Dr. Turn right on to Barton Springs Rd. Hotel is on the left.
  
  
• Question: What meals are included in my conference registration fee?
  Answer: The following events, meals and breaks are included in your registration fee: Continental breakfast on Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning; an afternoon break for those attending the Resident Review session on Friday; the Welcome Reception and Poster Reception; morning and afternoon breaks on Saturday-Monday; and the Awards banquet at the Stubb’s Bar-B-Q on Sunday evening. You may purchase guest tickets for the Awards Banquet for $50 when you register. There is an additional fee to attend the VCOG and VTCS lunches on Sunday, October 19th.
  
  
• Question: What are the Sponsor Presentations about and when are they?
  Answer: We started the sponsor presentations in 2008 which allowed our platinum, gold and silver level sponsors an opportunity to speak to attendees about new research or new products coming to the market. On Saturday, the general session and VTCS workshops will end at 4:00 pm and the first of two 15 minute presentations will take place from 4:00-4:30 pm. On Sunday, the second set of 15 minute sponsor presentations sessions will take place from 4:30-5:00 pm.
  
  
• Question: When is the last day that I can make a hotel reservation?
  Answer: The VCS room block at the Hyatt Regency Austin will expire on September 24, 2009, however, we encourage you to book your room early as the block sold out before conference registration opened in 2008.

PRESENTATIONS, POSTERS, CE'S AND AWARDS

• Question: When can I submit my abstract?
  Answer: You may submit your abstract beginning April 15, 2009. The deadline to submit your abstract is June 22, 2009. Please see the “Abstract Submission” tab on this website, as well as the “Key Dates” tab for other important information. Notification will take place on or about August 14, 2009.
  
  
• Question: If I am selected to present a poster, what size should it be and where will posters be located?
  Answer: Posters must be no larger than 4' tall x 3' wide (vertical). Two posters will go on each side of the tackboards provided. The poster reception and presentation will take place in the Foothills Ballroom on Saturday, October 17th from 6:30-8:30 pm. Posters may be hung as early as 6:00 pm on Saturday and should be removed at the end of the event or by 9:00 pm.
  
  
• Question: When and where will the presentation schedule be posted?
  Answer: The final grid of presentations will be available on this website by August 21, 2009. You will also receive a confirmation email once the final schedule has been determined. If you have questions about your scheduled presentation time, please contact Barb McGehee at vcs@cox.net. Please note, oftentimes, changes must be made to the presentation schedule. Please check the final grid BEFORE you leave for Austin to make sure that your presentation time or day has not changed.
  
  
• Question: How many hours of Continuing Education credit will be awarded this year?
  Answer: We expect there to be approximately 17 hours of CE credits available.
  
  
• Question: How many resident awards are presented at the VCS conference?
  Answer: Generally, VCS presents four resident awards each year: the E. Gregory MacEwen Memorial Award for Basic Science, the Robert S. Brodey Memorial Award for Clinical Science, the Edward L. Gillette Memorial Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation in Basic Science and the Amiya K. Patnaik Memorial Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation in Clinical Science. Each award is $1,250 and is to be used to pay all expenses associated with attendance at the ACVIM conference. Residents must submit their abstract within six months of completing their residency.

FUTURE CONFERENCES

• Question: Are the dates and locations set for future VCS Conferences?
  Answer: Yes, dates have been confirmed for the 2010 through 2012 conferences:
  • San Diego in 2010, October 29-November 1 at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa
  • Albuquerque in 2011, November 4-7 at the Albuquerque Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa
  • Las Vegas in 2012, October 18-21 at the M Resort. This conference will be held in conjunction with the ACVR Annual Conference.

The 2010 Mid-year conference is scheduled for Las Vegas, NV, March 7-10, 2010, Red Rock Casino ~ Resort ~ Spa.

2009 draft proceedings