All indications suggest that the Boston conference will be one of the biggest ICA has hosted, possibly even breaking the record set in New York in 2005! By the time you read this article we will have received 1,845 conference registrations at the rate of 35 to 60 per day. If you have not made your lodging and airline reservations, PLEASE do so now. We have sold out our original group of three hotels and have added two more: the Hyatt Harborside and Hilton Boston Logan. The Hyatt, like the first three hotels, no longer has rooms available for the full length of the conference, but there may still be single-night rooms available. Others will become available as people cancel along the way; the conference hotels are maintaining waitlists for this possibility.

There are several preconference events and excursions this year. Take a look! See if anything catches your eye. Even if you have already registered, you can return to the registration site and select other items of interest.

One of those options includes the next in the series of books based on the conference Theme Sessions. This edition covers the Singapore sessions held last summer. Matters of Communication: Political, Cultural, Technological Challenges is now available for a preproduction price of $45. You can order on the conference registration form or read more about the book and order at http://www.icahdq.org/conferences/2011/2010Theme.asp.

There have been several peculiarities this registration period. For instance, several registrants did not register for the main event but did register for a preconference. I'm sure those living in the greater Boston area or vicinity may actually be attending only one preconference. However, we are concerned about those coming from Germany, Australia, and other distant lands, who they may think their registration has been taken care of when it has not. If you believe you may fall into this category, please contact the ICA office immediately.

Another interesting development is the exponential increase of individuals creating multiple records. This is especially perplexing as we took steps to prevent duplication. One individual created twelve records! Incidents like are the most frequent reason for not being able to log in-you are mismatching the ID for one of your records with password for another.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to express my concern-as I am sure many of you fine people are as well-for our colleagues in Japan. We certainly hope they are well and safe. As of this printing we have heard from 15 members who are out of danger.

Sadly, we must now we add Alabama-especially Tuscaloosa-to our list of concerns. Huge, fierce tornadoes devastated that part of the United States, again leaving people homeless with most of their belongings also destroyed. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. May both of these groups find their way through these tragedies.