American Society of Hematology

Registration

How to Register

Online:	Registration now open for members and non-members
The registration form, which can be faxed or mailed as indicated below, is now available.
Fax:	888-273-5706 – U.S. and Canada (toll free) 703-631-6288 – International
Mail:	ASH Registration Center c/o J. Spargo & Associates 11208 Waples Mill Road, Suite 112 Fairfax, VA 22030
On Site:	Registration will be held in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall G, beginning Thursday, December 3, at 3:00 p.m.

Questions? Contact the ASH Registration Center:
Phone: 888-273-5704 – U.S. and Canada (toll free)
703-449-6418 – International

E-Mail: ashregistration@jspargo.com

Agents are available to help you from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday. The ASH Registration Center will be closed on weekends and holidays (prior to the meeting).

Early-Bird Registration: July 21 – August 3

For ASH Members Only
Online Only

ASH members who have paid their dues for 2009 are eligible for early-bird registration. Early-bird registration is only available online; registration forms cannot be faxed or mailed. Members can register for the annual meeting and make hotel reservations online beginning July 21. You must register for the annual meeting before making a hotel reservation.

The deadline for online early-bird registration is August 3. Please be sure to enter your member ID number and type your name as it appears in ASH’s online membership directory. Beginning August 4, members and non-members can register for the annual meeting and make hotel reservations online, by fax, or by mail.

Advance Registration: August 4 – November 5

ASH encourages meeting attendees to register online .

Advance registration can also be made by faxing a completed registration form with your credit card information to 888-273-5706 (U.S. and Canada toll free) or 703-631-6288 (international). The registration form may also be mailed along with payment to the ASH Registration Center. Wire transfers will not be accepted.

To qualify for the advance registration fees, registration forms and full payment must be received by November 5. Attendees whose registration forms are received after November 5 will be charged the on-site registration rates.

All registrants will receive a confirmation either by fax, mail, or e-mail within 72 hours of receipt. Meeting badges and the Abstract Book will be mailed to all early-bird and advance registrants in mid-November.

On-Site Registration: After November 5

Registrants whose forms are received after November 5 will be charged on-site registration fees. On-site registration will begin on Thursday, December 3, at 3:00 p.m. in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall G.

Registration Hours

Thursday, December 3	3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 4	7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 5	7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 6	7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, December 7	7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 8	7:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

To avoid long lines at the on-site registration counters, ASH encourages you to register online.

Registration Fees

Registration Categories	Advance	On-Site
Member (Active and International)	$350	$400
Non-Member	$725	$800
Associate Member	$95	$95
Non-Member in Training	$195	N/A
Allied Health Professional	$350	$400
Spouse/Guest	$90	$90
Honorary/Emeritus Member	No Charge	No Charge

Registration fees can be paid by credit card or by check.

What is included in the registration fee?

Abstract Book**
Abstracts on CD-ROM
Hematology 2009 (Education Program Book)
Program Book
Admission to the General, Special-Interest, Education, Scientific, Oral, and Poster Sessions
Admission to the exhibit hall*
Admission to receptions in the poster hall*
Daily coffee breaks*

*Spouse/guest registrants will receive only the items marked with an asterisk.

**Note the Abstract Book does not contain the annual meeting schedule or final program details. This information will be available online in early November, and attendees are encouraged to use the online meeting scheduler.

Cancellation Policies

Meeting Cancellation Policy
The American Society of Hematology reserves the right to modify or cancel any or all activities associated with this meeting due to unforeseen circumstances. In the event that we have to unexpectedly cancel this annual meeting, the full registration fee, less a processing charge, will be returned to each registrant.

Registration Cancellation Policy
Registration cancellations must be submitted to the ASH Registration Center in writing by November 25 to receive a refund, less a $25 processing fee (see page 43 for contact information). Refunds will not be granted after November 25.

Registration Badges

Badges will be mailed to online early-bird and advance registrants beginning the week of November 9. If you do not receive your badge by the last week of November, please go to the registration area in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall G, to pick up your badge and meeting materials.

Meeting Materials

The Abstract Book will be mailed to all online early-bird and advance registrants in mid-November. Please bring your Abstract Book to the annual meeting. Additional copies of the Abstract Book will be available for purchase on site at a cost of $65 for members and $95 for non-members.

Group Registration

If you are planning to register a group of 12 or more attendees, please contact the ASH Registration Center.

Registration Categories

Applications for Active and International membership are considered by the Executive Committee twice per year; applications received between now and the annual meeting will not be processed in time for applicants to receive status as an ASH member for the 2009 annual meeting. Please consider applying by March 1, 2010, to become a member in time for the 2010 annual meeting.

Associate membership applications, which are reviewed on a rolling basis, must be received by November 5, 2009, in order to be eligible for reduced member meeting registration rates. Applicants who are accepted will be billed for their 2009 membership dues immediately upon approval. Dues must be paid in full in order to qualify for the Associate member meeting registration rate.

Membership applications will not be processed at the on-site Membership Desk during the annual meeting.

Active Member
An individual with a doctoral degree (or its equivalent) who is a permanent resident of any North American country (Canada, Mexico, or the United States) and who has manifested a continuous interest in any discipline important to hematology as evidenced by work in the field, original contributions, and attendance at meetings concerning hematology, is eligible for Active membership. Active membership applications must have been received by March 2, 2009, in order for applicants to qualify for reduced registration rates for the 2009 annual meeting.

International Member
An individual with a doctoral degree (or its equivalent) who has made a contribution to the field of hematology and resides outside Canada, Mexico, or the United States may be elected to International membership. International membership applications must have been received by March 2, 2009, in order for applicants to qualify for reduced registration rates for the 2009 annual meeting.

Associate Member
Post-doctoral fellows with an MD or equivalent medical degree who reside in Canada, Mexico, or the United States and are enrolled in approved hematology or oncology training programs are eligible for Associate membership. Trainees who have received a PhD degree, are within four years of having attained the PhD, and are in a post-doctoral position in a hematology- and/or oncology-related field or training program are also eligible for Associate membership. Associate membership concludes the December following completion of the fellowship program or after a maximum of four years, whichever comes first. Subsequently, the Associate membership is automatically converted to the Society’s Active member status. Associate membership applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; applicants who apply by November 5, 2009, and are accepted will be billed for their 2009 membership dues immediately upon approval. Dues must be paid in full in order to qualify for the Associate member meeting registration rate.

Honorary Member
Non-members may be recommended for this distinction in recognition of outstanding contributions to any discipline of importance to hematology and are elected by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. These members receive complimentary annual meeting registration.

Emeritus Member
Any member of the Society at age 65 or upon professional retirement, or any member who by reason of permanent disability or undue hardship has been rendered unable to continue Active membership, may request transfer to the status of Emeritus membership by written application to the ASH Secretary. Requests are considered by the Executive Committee every April and December. These members receive complimentary annual meeting registration.

Non-Member in Training (Advance registration only!)

Any resident or post-doctoral fellow with an MD or PhD in a recognized hematology or oncology training program, or undergraduate, graduate, or medical student may register as a non-member in training. To receive the non-member-in-training advance registration rate of $195, you must register online or complete the Attendee Advance Registration Form by November 5. Non-members in training who register after the Advance registration deadline of November 5 will be charged the non-member rate of $800.

Resident or post-doctoral fellows:
During the online registration process, you will need to provide:

Program director’s name and contact information
Name of the program that you are enrolled in
Length (in years) of the program
Program start date (month and year)
Expected program completion date (month and year)

Undergraduate, graduate, or medical students:
During the online registration process, you will need to provide:

Name of your university/institution
Name and contact information for your school counselor
Field of study
Start date and expected month and year of graduation

A verification letter (on official letterhead confirming that the registrant is a trainee) is required. If registering by mail, the verification letter must be included with the registration form. For those who register online, an e-mail notification will automatically be sent to your program director or school counselor requesting a signed letter of verification.

Individuals who registered for the non-member-in-training category last year and are still enrolled in their training programs will not need to send a letter verifying their enrollment status.

If the verification letter is not received within 10 business days from the time that the individual registers online, the registrant’s meeting registration and housing reservation will be cancelled. Therefore, ASH strongly encourages that the verification letter be sent by e-mail (in PDF format) to NMIT@hematology.org, but verification may also be mailed to the address below. Fax copies will not be accepted.

American Society of Hematology
Attn: Meetings Department/Non-Members in Training
1900 M Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

If registering by mail, your completed registration form with verification letter and payment should also be sent to the address above.

Individuals will be officially registered for the meeting once ASH confirms their training status. For those who register by mail, please allow two weeks (three weeks for international registrants) to receive a registration confirmation letter from ASH.

ASH’s new North American Student Benefit is designed for trainees in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico who are undergraduate or graduate students, residents (in post-graduate years 1-3 for Canadians), and PhD candidates who have an interest in hematology, but are not yet enrolled in a hematology-related training program. The new benefit provides a complimentary online subscription to Blood, advance annual meeting notifications, and eligibility for reduced meeting registration at the non-member in training rate. For information on how to participate in this program, please contact membership@hematology.org.

Allied Health Professional
Individuals qualified for this category include:

Registered nurses
Pharmacists
Physician assistants
Health-care technicians
Other health-care professionals

Individuals with an MD or PhD degree generally will not qualify for this category. To register for this category, an individual will need to provide evidence of status as an allied health professional.

Verification of one’s status as an allied health professional must be submitted prior to the meeting to receive meeting materials in advance. ASH strongly encourages registrants to send their verification by e-mail in PDF format to alliedhealth@hematology.org, but verification may also be sent by mail to the address below. Fax copies will not be accepted.

American Society of Hematology
Attn: Meetings Department/Allied Health Professional
1900 M Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

Verification entails providing a letter from the registrant’s immediate supervisor on institutional letterhead confirming the name of the organization and the registrant’s position there, a copy of a state license, proof of membership in another affiliated association, or a copy of an institutional identification card. Registrants who do not provide verification will be charged the ASH non-member registration rate.

Allied health professionals may register for the meeting online beginning August 4; however, if the verification of status is not received within 10 business days from the time that the individual registers, the applicant’s meeting registration and housing reservation will be cancelled.

Spouse/Guest
Spouses and guests are welcome to register for the ASH annual meeting. Spouses and guests will receive a badge that will allow them access to the exhibit hall and all ASH-sponsored social events. This registration rate does not include entrance to the Education and Scientific Program sessions, and registrants will not receive the Abstract Book or the Education Program Book.