E-Mails sent to 17th World Congress Mailing List Registrants

April 23, 2003

The organizing committee has been extremely busy lately, with the Congress only 4 months away! Here are some updates: The deadline for early registration discounts has been extended to May 2! This has been noted on the website, along with other changes. The scientific committee has accepted approximately 500 abstracts. These will be posted on the website within a month so that viewers can find what may be of particular interest, and even plan their schedules ahead of time. In addition to the plenary speakers, symposia, workshops, theme sessions with oral presentations and poster sessions, there will be 3 debates and 3 special sessions. Pharmaceutical companies are planning a lunch symposium and an Internet café. The Internet café will allow convenient access to the Internet so you can quickly check your email, look up references, take care of matters at home, or whatever you want without even having to bring your laptop! The Congress hotel, the Hilton Waikoloa Village, has solved its online reservation problem, so this can now be done easily, and the Congress rates, which are the lowest rates available, will be confirmed. We wish to stress that this hotel is unique, one of the worlds finest resorts, and we are fortunate to have negotiated the rates that we did three years ago. Although some parts of the world have been affected by the recent travel fears, this appears to be minimal in Hawaii, and the Big Island is doing particularly well. Hawaii is, of course, one of the safest of all travel destinations. Social Activities You may never want to leave the Hilton because of its beauty and the many onsite activities, but if you do, here are some more possibilities to consider (previous updates describing other activities may be viewed on our website). Are you a scuba diver? This is the place to do it. Do you wish you were but you have never been certified? Consider snorkeling its easy to learn, you stay on the surface of the water. Excursions take you to the areas where the fish are right below the surface. Go by sailboat, or try the zodiac raft excursion along the Kona coast where all gear is provided including lunch and drinks for $84. Or stay dry and go on an honest-to-goodness high-tech submarine with viewing portals to see Kona's natural 25-acre coral reef. $91. Prefer to ride a horse on dry land? The Big Island is paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) country. From $64. All these activities and many more are easily arranged through the American Express Travel Service office at the Hilton. Aloha, The Organizing Committee 17th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine Email: icpm2003@aol.com Web: hawaiiresidency.org/icpm2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please visit the ICPM 2003 Website at http://www.hawaiiresidency.org/icpm2003