'Blazing the Trail'- PUG 2005 Annual Conference

14th April 2005

Planning is under way for the annual PUG conference — October 15-19, 2005. This year's conference theme is “Blazing the Trail” – truly appropriate for the location, the desert southwest city of Phoenix, Arizona. Pointe South Mountain Resort, just 10 minutes south of the airport, will be the location for the conference (www.pointesouthmountain.com).

There are a number of changes they are making this year in response to member feedback. The most beneficial change will be a reduction in the cost to attend the conference. It is their hope that the reduced fee will enable members from organizations with tighter budget restrictions to join them in 2005.

As an added incentive, they will be providing an additional $200 off the conference fee for those end-users who are selected to be session speakers at the conference. With early bird registration rates, this means you could pay less than $400 to attend! Please notify the PUG office immediately if you are interested in being a presenter at this year’s conference. Agenda and registration information are at www.pug.com

They are planning to have more than 30 concurrent sessions to choose from on a range of topics geared for those new to the industry as well as those who are seasoned veterans. They will also have a number of networking opportunities including the special interest group meetings, the opening night reception, and the Polycom-sponsored special event on Tuesday night.

The Polycom Learning Center will also offer classes before the conference begins so you can further benefit from educational opportunities during your trip to Arizona.

There will be time to chat directly with Polycom executives during breakfast, as well as an opportunity to discuss product-related questions with Polycom engineers and support staff. An exhibit hall with over 35 exhibitors will be conveniently located this year right outside the doors to the concurrent session rooms. You will also be able to see the latest in innovations from Polycom and other industry vendors. At the conclusion of the conference, there will be plenty of things to do if you can stay a little longer, including the annual golf outing. There is also the outstanding Desert Oasis pool (HUGE water slides and lazy river for tubing), tennis courts and even horseback riding if that’s your pleasure – with exceptional views of the mountains.

So begin Blazing your Trail to the annual PUG conference – October 15 to 19 in Phoenix.