As SESUG ‘04’s Conference Chairs, we are pleased to invite you to Nashville and the 12th annual SouthEast SAS Users Group conference. The event promises to be full of opportunities to learn about SAS, to network with colleagues, and to have fun! We've selected a great conference city and a fantastic conference hotel – the Loews Vanderbilt.

The Sunday night opening session features David Kelley of SAS Institute as our Keynote Speaker, to be followed by a hilarious Halloween Party and costume contest. Be sure to bring your best costume!

Monday is a full day of activity with nine concurrent sessions in the morning and afternoon. Lunch is on your own – you’ll have a chance to sample one of the dozens of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel or walk the campus of Vanderbilt University. In the early evening, we will have the SAS demo room mixer and reception featuring the Nashville Party Authority. Come hear the DJ, listen to great music, and participate in the country line dance instruction. Neil and Mel, the SESUG Dixie Chicks, will meet you on the dance floor. So, don’t forget to pack your blue suede shoes. We work and play hard!

Tuesday morning boasts seven concurrent sessions. Over lunch, covered by registration fees, enjoy the “meet-the-presenters” format or choose to join the planning session for SESUG ‘05. In the afternoon, SESUG offers an exciting presentation by Barrett Joyner, renowned in the SAS Community, followed by Closing Session ceremonies, which will include plenty of surprises, giveaways, raffle prizes, and a sneak preview of SESUG ‘05 to be held in Portsmouth, VA.

Cast your vote in the first ever SESUG United States Presidential Election. Write-ins permitted and no hanging chads. Results will be announced at the closing session. As goes SESUG, so goes the nation!

Training seminars taught by technical experts will be offered on Saturday and Sunday. And, new this year, the Hands On Workshops will be a separate section with invited presenters. The Exhibit and Demo room will be open both days, and SAS Institute will be presenting several papers during the regular sessions.

So, let this conference make a difference in how you use SAS. We are enjoying planning the learning experiences and fun times that the SESUG conference will offer, and we look forward to working with you. Register soon, and we can’t wait to see all y’all in Nashville!

Neil Howard, Academic Chair, i3 Statprobe
Imelda Go, Operations Chair, SC Department of Education