| The 23rd US Go Congress in '007 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
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The 2007 US Go Congress is the largest Go event of the year held in the United States. While the event revolves around the multi-day US Open tournament, the Congress also features dozens of smaller tournaments, as well as lectures and game analyses by professional Go players. Check out the events page for information about what goes on during the week of the Go Congress, and head over to the registration page to sign up for the Go Congress.
Regular correspondence
The mailing address for the Congress is:
2007 US Go Congress
c/o Charles G. Robbins
195 W. Broad St.
Salunga, PA 17538 - 1117
Mailing a registration check
If you are mailing a registration check, please make it out to "AGA - US GO Congress" and mail it to the following address:
2007 US Go Congress
c/o Tom Boone
5592 Mercury Ct.
Harrisburg, PA 17109
NOTE: Letters must be postmarked by the proper deadline in order to qualify for the registration discount.
Email correspondence
If you wish to contact us via email, our addresses are:
Peter Nassar, Co-Director: pnassar@vet.upenn.edu
Chuck Robbins, Co-Director: crobbins@ctipc.com
Sam Zimmerman, Registrar: szimmerman@ctipc.com
Tom Boone, Treasurer: thomboone@ctipc.com
Jon Hilt, Webmaster: jon@ctipc.com
The Go Congress will be held at Millersville University, in Lancaster County, PA, from Saturday, July 28 through Saturday, August 4, 2007. Millersville University is located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, about 90 miles west of Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1855, Millersville University was originally commissioned to service the needs of rural Lancaster County, but now serves the region as a vibrant public liberal arts university. More information about the area, including local attractions and things to do, can be found here: http://padutchcountry.com/
Just 5 miles northeast of Millersville University is the historic city of Lancaster, PA, as well as Franklin & Marshall University. The cities of Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia, PA are also a 90 minute drive to the south and east, respectively. These cities both have major international airports which will offer direct flights to and from your travel destinations. For more information, see "How do you get to the 2007 US Go Congress".
For family fun, the city of Hershey, PA (the home of the Hershey Chocolates) is only 30 miles to the northwest, and features tours, spas, zoos, as well as an amusement park. Gettysburg National Park, the site of the historic Civil War battle, is also an hour's drive west. Longwood Gardens, the world's premier horticultural display garden, and the Brandywine River Museum, home of the artwork of the famed Wyeth family, are only 40 miles to the east. Finally, Millersville is in the heart of Amish Country, a region famous for its handmade Amish quilts and crafts.
Registration Fee
For adults over 22 the registration fee is $350, but if you register before June 1st you will get a $100 discount.
For young adults 19-22 the fee is $275 with a discount of $75 before June 1st.
For youth 18 and under the fee is $150 with a $50 discount before June 1st.
Adult non-players are $75 and youth non-players are $50.
Meal Plans
The adult base meal plan is $220 and includes Saturday 7/28 dinner through Saturday 8/4 lunch, and if you're coming a day early or staying a day later you can add those meals for an additional charge.
The youth meal plan is for females 15 and under and males 12 and under and costs $100. Age 2 and under eat free. Like the adult plan, meals for the day before and after are available for an additional charge.
The Closing Ceremonies Banquet (Saturday 8/4 Dinner) is $30.
Lodging
Dorm rooms hold one or two people and run $205 - $335. One and two bed hotel-style rooms hold 1 - 4 people and run $280 - $900. Single and double suites hold 1 - 2 people a room and 2 or 4 people a suite and run $320 - $390.
Location of Millersville University
The location of Millersville University, Millersville, PA, may be found here.
Driving Directions to Millersville University
Directions to Millersville University by car.
Airlines
Baltimore International Airport (Airport Code: BWI), 90 miles south of Millersville, PA.
Philadelphia International Airport (Airport Code: PHL), 90 miles east of Millersville, PA.
Harrisburg International Airport (Airport Code: MDT), 35 miles northwest of Millersville, PA.
Baltimore and Philadelphia International Airports will be the least expensive travel options.
Express shuttle buses will be available from all three airports to take you to and from the Congress site. Shuttle buses will run all day on Saturday, July 28th and on Sunday, August 5th. Shuttle buses to and from Baltimore and Philadelphia will be $20.00 each way. Shuttle buses to and from Harrisburg Airport will be $30.00 each way.
So that we may plan for your shuttle bus trip accordingly, we have set up a page on the Congress registration website where you will be asked to enter the following information:
1. The name of the airport from which will you be arriving and departing.
2. The date, time, airline name, and flight number of your arrival.
3. The date, time, airline name, and flight number of your departure.
For those who need special travel arrangements at other times, please contact the Congress registrar, Sam Zimmerman.
Amtrak Train Service
Amtrak has a station stop just 5 miles from the Congress site.
If heading to the Congress via Amtrak, you will want to disembark at the Lancaster Train Station (station code: LNC). From the station, one can take a short taxi ride to Millersville University.
The Amtrak Station address in Lancaster is:
53 McGovern Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602.
Millersville University is 5.0 miles (about 13 minutes) from the Lancaster train station. A map is viewable here.
The Amtrak website can be found here.
The bus to take passengers from Philadelphia International Airport to the US Go Congress will be arriving just outside the Baggage Claim area of Terminal B/C, on the platform marked "Charter Bus: Zone 8". Directions are given below.
The bus is a 47–passenger coach with the name "Elite Carrier" written on the side. The driver will have a sign with the words "Go Congress" on it. He will go into the baggage area with the sign to find anyone who might not have received the message.
In addition, Dr. Andrew Cupino, of the Penn Go Society, Philadelphia, will be waiting at the baggage claim area of Terminal B/C throughout the entire day on Saturday to gather everyone together until the bus arrives. He will be carrying a sign that reads "2007 US Go Congress". Dr. Cupino looks like this: (2nd from left, green shirt, leaning back against mirror). Dr. Cupino will be onhand from approximately 9:15 a.m. until the last bus leaves at 10:00 p.m.
The bus will arrive at the following times:
10:00 a.m.,
2:00 p.m.,
6:00 p.m.,
10:00 p.m.
...and the fee will be $20.00, 1–way. It is approximately a 1 hour and 45 minute ride from the airport to Millersville University.
To reach "Charter Bus: Zone 8", follow the signs from the airport terminal that say "Express Walkway: Baggage Claim". This will take you on a skywalk that passes over a roadway, and then passes over a set of railroad tracks (SEPTA's R1 Regional Rail Line to Central Philadelphia). Continue to follow the sign for Baggage Claim, and you'll ultimately reach a stair/escalator going down to the baggage claim area. Go downstairs.
Once in the baggage claim lounge, look for a sign that says "Charter Bus: Zone 8". Exit through the doors and wait by the blue sign that says "Zone 8: Charter Bus" when it gets close to the time of the bus's arrival.
If, when exiting the Baggage Claim, you see a multi-level parking lot in front of you, you have exited out the wrong door. You've entered a pick-up area (Zones 1 through 4), but for cars and taxis only. Charter buses pick up their passengers from a different platform. Turn around 180 degrees, and head out the exit on the opposite side of the lobby. You will know you are in the proper area if you see train tracks in front of you (SEPTA's R1 Regional Rail Line to Philadelphia) and the airport terminal in the distance.
For a map of the Philadelphia International Airport, please click here.
If, once you arrive, you are unsure as to where to go, there are information desks at various points in the airport, which are also on the above map. You can reach terminal B/C from any of the other terminals in the airport.
If you are having difficulty finding the waiting area or have missed the last bus, please call 717–871–5551. If that is busy, call 717–575–6996 and we will do our best to assist you.
Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming you to the 2007 US Go Congress!
Sincerely,
Sam Zimmerman
2007 AGA Congress Registrar
Baltimore International Airport (BWI): $20.00 fee, payable as you arrive at the Congress.
The shuttle will pick up passengers in front of the Baggage Area #10 (on the lower terminal level) at the following times:
10:00 a.m.,
2:00 p.m.,
6:00 p.m.,
10:00 p.m.
A map of Baltimore International Airport may be found online here.
Game play and the Opening Ceremonies will take place in the Student Memorial Center (SMAC). Meals and the Saturday evening banquet will be available directly across the street at the Gordinier Dining Center.
Housing is a short walk from the playing sites, and the topography is flat. A swimming pool, tennis courts, and informal playing fields will also be available.
A campus map of Millersville University can be found here
Normal highs for late July / early August are 87° F (31° C) and lows are 64° F (18° C).
Record highs can reach 102° F (39° C) and record lows can reach 48° F (9° C). All the playing facilities and housing rooms are air-conditioned.
Full weather services for the area can be found here.
The 2007 Go Congress will provide full refunds minus credit card fees until July 13th, 2006. After July 13th, a $50.00 processing fee will be deducted from the refund.
Yes, you can play in the US Open regardless of your length of stay at the Congress. For those who are staying for only part of the Congress, we ask that you please contact the registrar, Sam Zimmerman, and we will handle such issues on a case-by-case basis.
Rooms will be available on Friday, July 27th and will be listed as an additional option on the Registration webpage. There will be an additional charge for the extra day of $30.00 (double room) or $35.00 (single room) if you register on the website, or $50.00 - $55.00, respectively, if paid for at the door.
If you are not staying overnight on Saturday, 8/4, you will be allowed to deduct the appropriate charge from your room on the registration page, if you are staying in a single or double room, or in a hotel-style room.
For all other special accommodation plans, please contact the registrar as soon as possible, so that we may plan accordingly. Special accommodations may not be available prior to 30 days before the Congress.
All rooms are non-smoking and alcohol-free, and all rooms are air-conditioned.
Dorms
All dorms rooms have two twin beds in the same room.
A single dorm room will have just one occupant, and a double dorm room will have two occupants. There are no TVs in the dorms. Linen service (sheets, pillowcases, and towels) will be provided.
Shared bathrooms are located on the hall floor. Self-service laundry facilities will also be available.
Suites
Suites house 2 or 4 people, and all beds are twin beds. For each bed, there is a desk with a shelf, a desk chair, a dresser, and an open closet. Full linen service, including towels, will be available. Self-service laundry facilities will also be available, as well as vending machines and elevator access.
The floor plans for the three varieties are as follows:
A style: Four single rooms, a common living room, and two baths. Both baths are shared by all four occupants.
B style: Two single rooms and one double room (two beds in one room), a common living room, and two baths. Both baths are shared by all four occupants.
C style: One double room (two beds in one room) and one bath. No living room.
Hotel-style
Hotel-style rooms are similar to hotel rooms, just without maid service and no front desk service.
Each room will have two full-sized beds and a bathroom. Each room comes with a desk with shelves, desk chairs, a five-drawer dresser, and a wardrobe closet. Each room will include a television with cable TV, a coat closet, a microfridge, and a bathroom. Full linen service, including towels, will be available. Self-service laundry facilities will also be available, as well as vending machines and elevator access.
Beginners and professionals alike may play in the US Open. You may play in the US Open regardless of your citizenship status.
Both vegetarian and vegan food options will be available on the meal plan.
Wireless and wired internet service will be available on campus, both in the rooms and in the playing sites. The cost for the service will be $10.00, and is payable on the registration website.
Free parking is available on campus at the campus parking lots for the entire duration of the Congress.
For those who wish to stay off-site, a listing of hotels in the area can be found below.
For those who are members of AAA (American Automobile Association), hotel listings may also be found in "New Jersey & Pennsylvania Tourbook" under "Pennsylvania Dutch Country - Lancaster Area" (p. 510).
Best Western Eden Resort and Suites
222 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 17601-4216
Phone: (866) 801-6430 or (717) 569-6444, email: eden@edenresort.com
Distance from Millersville: 8.0 mi (about 16 min), view map and directions
Blue Rock Bed & Breakfast
72 Blue Rock Road, Millersville, PA 17551
Phone: (717) 872 - 7440
Distance from Millersville: 0.5 mi (about 1 min), view map and directions
Continental Inn
2285 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717) 299-0421, Fax: (717) 293-8512, email: info@continentalinn.com
Distance from Millersville: 8.9 mi (about 20 min), view map and directions
Country Inn & Suites
2260 Lincoln Highway East, (Route 30), Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (888) 201-1746 or (717) 299-4460, Fax: (717) 299-5260, email: cx_lncs@countryinns.com
Distance from Millersville: 8.7 mi (about 20 min), view map and directions
Hotel Brunswick
151 N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: (800) 821-9258 or (717) 397-4800, Fax: (717) 397-0565, email: info@hotelbrunswick.com
Distance from Millersville: 4.1 mi (about 10 min), view map and directions
Park Plaza
500 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: (800) 223-8963 or (717) 898-2431
Distance from Millersville: 5.4 mi (about 11 min), view map and directions
Quality Inn & Suites Conference Center
2363 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601-4608
Phone: (800) 892-9875 or (717) 569-0477, Fax: (717) 569-6479
Distance from Millersville: 9.8 mi (about 19 min), view map and directions
Sleep Inn & Suites
310 Primrose Lane, Mountville, PA 17554
Phone: (800) 753-3746 or (717) 285-0444, Fax: (717) 285-0800
Distance from Millersville: 6.2 mi (about 15 min), view map and directions
Westfield Inn & Suites
2929 Hempland Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: (800) 547-1395
Distance from Millersville: 5.4 mi (about 12 min), view map and directions
Willow Valley Family Resorts & Conference Center
2416 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (800) 444-1714 or (717) 464-2711, Fax: (717) 464-4784
Distance from Millersville: 5.8 mi (about 14 min), view map and directions
Individual invitations have been sent out to all the professional Go players in North America asking them to attend the 2007 US Go Congress. Individual invitations have also been sent out to professional players from overseas who have been perennial favorites at previous years' Congresses.
Invitations have also been sent out to professional Go associations in Japan (both the Nihon and Kansai Ki-ins), China, Korea, and Taiwan, inviting them to send a representative to attend this year's Congress.
As soon as we receive confirmation from a particular individual, we will post this information on the "Who's Coming" portion of the website. So stay tuned and keep checking back!
Yes, this is one of the many highlights of the Congress experience!
Every day, the professional players will be performing a number of free services while at the Congress, including playing simultaneous games, presenting formal lectures on Go theory, and giving analyses of actual Congress games from audience members. There will be multiple opportunities each day to have your game analyzed by a professional Go player.
Yes! For the first time, the AGA will establishing a standard lesson fee for private or group professional lessons at the Congress, regardless of which professional player is giving the lesson.
There will be one fee for an individual, 90-minute private lesson, and a second fee for a group, 2-hour lesson. The lesson fees will be posted closer to the time of the Congress.
Sign-up sheets for professional lessons will be available at the Congress and lesson times will be arranged by the pro coordinator, Marilyn Campbell.
