Dear Conference Attendee,
On behalf of the Executive Board and Conference Planning Committee, we are pleased to invite you to the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) 2015 Conference in Garden City, New York.
This year the conference will be co-hosted by the Cradle of Aviation Museum and Nassau Community College on Long Island’s Museum Row from Wednesday evening, May 13th through Saturday afternoon, May 16th, 2015. All attendees will get a chance to experience workshops and presentation in both locations and domes. The conference hotel is the Long Island Marriot and is conveniently located a mere 5-minute drive or 10-
minute walk from both of the host sites.
This year’s conference is all about “Universal Knowledge”, and you are invited to share yours! This is truly a representative site: The Cradle of Aviation contains one of the newest and largest digital planetariums in the country, while the 16-foot, opto-mechanical planetarium at NCC represents a typical classroom dome found at most schools. Consider presenting in one of these 2 venues to share your expertise!
Along with this year’s overall theme, each day will have an additional focus such as “Beyond Astronomy”, “The Interactive Planetarium”, and “The Planetarium as a Classroom.” Speakers and workshops are being lined up to support each of these topics. Of course, with the overall theme of”Universal Knowledge,” no topic is off-limits.
So come join us this May in Garden City, NY for a great conference experience. We are looking forward to seeing you!
Sincerely,
Planetarium | Address | Event | Date | Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
The Jet Blue Sky Theater at the Cradle of Aviation has a 76 foot tilted dome with raked stadium seating for 300. It features the Fidelis Bright Digital Planetarium System and Uniview Software for SCISS to create live interactive programing. Nassau Community College is host to a Spitz A4 Opto-mechanical projector with a 16 foot dome and seating for 30 people.
Purchase Conference Tickets Online Now
Conference Hotel
Long Island Marriott
101 James Doolittle Boulevard, Uniondale, NY 11553
Rate: $169/night
For MAPS Conference room rate pricing, book online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/lp76puk
Or call to reserve: 1(800) 832-6255 or (516) 794-3800 and mention: Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) to receive the conference room rate.
Cut-off date: April 15, 2015
Amenities
- Free parking
- Free Wireless Internet in Lobby/Public Areas ($9.95/day for in-room wifi)
- Pool and Fitness Center
Conference Highlights
- Programs for both digital and opto-mechanical planetariums
- Thursday mini-theme: “Beyond Astronomy”
- Opening digital domes up to other disciplines
- Friday mini-theme: “The Interactive Planetarium”
- The importance of live shows to engage audiences
- Saturday mini-theme: “Planetarium as a Classroom”
- How to maximize student learning in a planetarium
- Night sky observing at Jones Beach (will be scheduled according to weather forecast)
- Thursday Night Karaoke at the Hotel Bar
- Margaret Noble Address: Steven Mitch: Past President of MAPS
Other Local Events & Info
- Fri, May 15th – Nitro Circus at Nassau Coliseum (right next to the hotel) Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00004D38B0154E23
- Sat, May 16th – Don Rickles at NYCB theatre (10 minute drive) Tickets: http://concerts.livenation.com/event/00004D799A643605
Nearby Attractions
- Roosevelt Field Mall (10th largest in the U.S.) – 5 minute drive
- Jones Beach State Park (beaches, boardwalk, outdoor recreation along the ocean) – 15 minute drive
- Manhattan (NYC) – 30 minutes by car or train (Long Island Railroad)
Preliminary Conference Schedule
Year | Conference Location | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mystic, CT | Lee Ann Hennig |
| 2023 | Kingsport, TN | Michael McConville |
| 2022 | Orono. ME | Steve Fentress |
| 2021 | Virtual Meeting | Joyce Towne: “Persuasion" Noreen Grice: “Diplomacy" Paul J. Krupinski: “Persistence" Larry Berz: “Passion" |
| 2020 | Virtual Meeting | MAPS Membership |
| 2019 | Columbia, SC | Astronaut, Clay Anderson |
| 2018 | Mystic, CT | Patty Seaton |
| 2017 | St. Louis, Missouri | Dr. David Hurd |
| 2016 | Waldorf, MD | Steve Russo |
| 2015 | Garden City, LI NY | Steve Mitch |
| 2014 | Baltimore, MD | Carter Emmart |
| 2013 | Frederick, MD | Don Knapp |
| 2012 | Toms River, NJ | April Whitt |
| 2011 | Glassboro, NJ | Warminster, PA | Dresher, PA | Joanne Young |
| 2010 | Portland, ME | Susan R. Button |
| 2009 | Lanham-Seabrook, MD | Lee Ann A. Hennig |
| 2008 | Schenectady, NY | Sam Storch |
| 2007 | Wheeling, WV (MAPS/GLPA/SEPA) | James Sweitzer |
| 2006 | Toms River, NJ | Steve Savage |
| 2005 | Philadelphia, PA | George Hamilton |
| 2004 | Richmond, VA (MAPS/SEPA) | Bill Gutsch |
| 2003 | Lanham-Seabrook, MD | Jim Kaler |
| 2002 | Worcester, MA | Derek Pitts |
| 2001 | Pittsburg, PA | Rob Landis |
| 2000 | Prince Frederick, MD | John Stoke |
| 1999 | Lancaster, MD | Pete Connors |
| 1998 | Wheeling, WV | Martin Ratcliffe |
| 1997 | Chadds Ford, PA | Jim Sharp |
| 1996 | Boston, MA | Owen Gingrich |
| 1995 | Raritan Valley Community College, NJ | Don Hall |
| 1994 | Portland, ME | Jack Borden |
| 1993 | Baltimore, MD | George Reed |
| 1992 | Pittsburg, PA | Carolyn Sumners |
| 1991 | Philadelphia, PA | Phil Sadler |
| 1990 | Wheeling, WV | Alan Friedman |
| 1989 | Doylestown, PA (Bucks Co. Planetarium) | Laurence Marschall |
| 1988 | Durham, NH | Margaret Geller |
| 1987 | Centerport, LI NY | Tobias Owen |
| 1986 | Wheeling, WV | Robert Brown |
| 1985 | New York, NY | Isaac Asimov |
| 1984 | Reading, PA | Mark Chartrand |
| 1983 | Rochester, NY (MAPS/GLPA) | Frank Drake |
| 1982 | Lanham-Seabrook, MD | Jack Horkheimer |
| 1981 | Philadelphia, PA | Peter Van De Kamp |
| 1980 | Boston, MA | Fletcher Watson |
| 1979 | Ithaca, NY | Jack Carr |
| 1978 | Durham, NH | Phillip Morrison |
| 1977 | Baltimore, MD | Don Hall? |
| 1976 | Trenton, NJ | |
| 1975 | Hartford, CT | |
| 1974 | Langley, VA (MAPS/SEPA) | |
| 1973 | Pittsburg, PA | |
| 1972 | Dix Hills, LI NY (Half Hollow Hills Planetarium) | |
| 1971 | Reading, PA | Margaret Noble, “The Light Side of the Dark” (First MNA) |