Hello to all,

I indicated that I would check on Rice as a venue for HSF - the info
is below - I cannot stress enough that our facilities fill up quickly
as you can see by the # of dates that are available today. I'm not
going to look into nitty gritty details unless this group makes the
decision to host the event at Rice, but the general guidelines /
prices are below.

I've chaired RiceFest 2 years running which is an event that consumes
Grand Hall, Farnsworth and Kelley Lounge. It's a nice venue - easy
walk throughs from place to place, accessibility is good, the
building is easy to find, etc...

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The Basics

Event Planning - Rice Student Center Home page
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/index.htm

The Grand Hall + Sammy's - Lue indicated we could always get Sammy's
+ Grand Hall on the weekends, but NOT during the week
capable of housing up to 700 people - the room is open on one side
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/Rooms/
GrandHallAndSammys.htm

Farnsworth Pavillion - Capacity: 80 dining/100 lecture - room can be
enclosed
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/Rooms/
FarnsworthPavilion.htm

Kelley Lounge - Capacity: 100 maximum / completely open
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/Rooms/
KelleyLounge.htm

Blair lounge - Capacity 16 / enclosed room
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/Rooms/
BlairLounge.htm

Meyer lounge - Capacity 16 / enclosed room
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/Rooms/
MeyerConferenceRoom.htm

Minor lounge - Capacity: 35 maximum, 25 seated - enclosed room
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/Rooms/
MinerLounge.htm

There are other rooms on the 2nd floor as well if the extra enclosed
rooms aren't enough

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Dates available as of 9/16/05 in 2006

* March 11 & 12
* March 18 & 19 - major rooms (GH, Kelley, Farnsworth, Meyer
conference room is taken)
* April 2 only
* April 16 only
* May 6, 7

Note that graduation is May 13th, closed Memorial Day weekend - most
things are currently available after May 13th weekend, but
unavailable starting in late June / July totally booked for 3 week
conference.

Check availability online
http://scevents.rice.edu/vemspro/

To log in to the online reservation system a user id and password
must be obtained from Lue Vega at 713.348.3778. She's also a contact
person to book / plan the event venue.

If we want to post a banner for the event, look here
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/Forms/BannerRequest.htm

View the Glass Doors Painting Request Form to arrange to paint an
advertisement on the main glass doors of the Student Center.
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/Forms/PaintingRequest.htm

If you have other questions, please ask the Student Center
Reservationist by phone at 713.348.3778.

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Can we charge for registration?

BEFORE the event, but NOT onsite

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Payment
No advance payment / down payment is required

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Food

Sammy's Cafeteria is never open on the weekends. Food would need to
be catered from outside or Rice has catering services - I think their
food is great, but I've heard lots of people complain about their
reliability, however, I don't feel this would be at issue on a
weekend - during the week, their schedule is much more hectic.

Rice catering info / contact is here:
http://salt.rice.edu/catering/index.php?groupid=6

Catering Manager
Olivia Waldron

Ext. 4084
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Parking - bummer at Rice
We are allowed to charge registration for the event, but NOT onsite -
we would have to charge registration online or through some other
means. We cannot collect $ on the actual day(s) of the event.
Parking could be included in the registration rate.

$6.35 for all day / car - we might be able to get a break on this
price, but as I said, I'm not going to go into that level of detail
unless you decide this is where you plan to host the event.

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Audio Visual - available at a cost, we can also provide our own

http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/EventPlanning/Documents/
Portable_Sound_System_Rental.pdf
http://www.rice.edu/projects/lsc/WebPages/Audiovisual/AVPricing.pdf

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Room rates

I've attached the price list - it should be somewhat self explanatory.