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and the abstracts are posted on line in a searchable format about 2 months before a meeting. In addition, the same meeting program that members receive in the mail is avail- able in pdf format about one month before the meeting. In order to download this program, you must have access to the online version of the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, which most members can obtain as a benefit of their ASA membership.
Student accessibility
About 250 students attend each meeting. Student partic- ipation in meetings has increased dramatically since the establishment of the ASA Student Council. Students have expressed their appreciation to the Society for keeping its registration fees for ASA students at zero essentially through support from other registrants. A student reception is held at
each meeting to enable students to meet each other and to provide an opportunity to meet recognized acousticians whose books or papers they have admired. At one meeting a student from South America asked me if “that was Leo Beranek across the room.” I introduced the student to Leo, and this student was truly delighted. We continue to increase accessibility within our Society.
Improvement of meetings
The report of the Vision 2010 Committee, which appeared in the previous issue of Acoustics Today, listed a number of ways to improve meetings, and I welcome any comments and suggestions (asa@aip.org) for improving meetings as a vehicle to provide even greater accessibility of information for members.
10 Acoustics Today, October 2006