1) What are SCICOMP and ScicomP 6?

SCICOMP is the IBM System Scientific User Group. It's open to all users of
IBM systems of all sizes who do scientific or other forms of technical 
computing on them. ScicomP 6 is our 6th international meeting; every other
meeting in in the US, and this one is here in Berkeley, hosted by LBL and
NERSC. The organization and its bylaws are described in detail on the web
at
        http://www.spscicomp.org/

2) Do we need to register to attend?

Yes, all attendees need to register; use the form on the web at
        http://www.spscicomp.org/ScicomP6/register.html

3) Do we have to pay to attend?

Yes, except for very few execptions, all attendees must pay the registration
fees, as outlined on the web page at
        http://www.spscicomp.org/ScicomP6/register.html
The main exceptions are for speakers, who pay the early registration fee, and
students, who are being offfered reduced rates for this meeting; students must
provide proof of student status to receive the lower rates. Any others will be
handled on a case-by-case basis, as they arise.

4) How can we pay registration fees?

You can write us a check, fax us credit card information, have the lab send us
a check for you, or pay at the meeting. When you fill in the registration form
on the web, it will return another form to you, which you can print out, fill
in with credit card info, and fax to us. This is the most secure way we
have to handle your credit card numbers.

Note that registration is not complete until payment is received and processed,
and last-minute registrants (or payers) are not guaranteed attendance at the
meeting, or participation in the social event, as space may not be available,
at that time. Also, if you wait to pay at the meeting, you will be charged
late-registration fees. All this is spelled out on the registration page at
        http://www.spscicomp.org/ScicomP6/register.html

5) Do we need to make our own hotel reservations?

Yes, contact the Berkeley Radisson at the Berkeley Marina at (510) 548-7920 or
(800) 333-3333 to make reservations. Note that if you live locally (check with
your admin for the definition of this constraint), you will not likely be able
to get hotel expenses reimbursed. If you choose to stay in the hotel, there
should be space available in the meeting room block, but don't wait to reserve
it. For more info on these matters see the web page at
        http://www.spscicomp.org/ScicomP6/hotelinfo.html

6) How can we propose to give a talk?

We'd love to have as many talks as we can get from anyone with experience
on either the big SP systems or the clusters. Submit an abstract via the
web page at
        http://www.spscicomp.org/ScicomP6/userpres.html

7) Can we atttend both the SP-XXL and ScicomP sessions?

Possibly; if your organization is a member of SP-XXL, its staff may be able
to attend both sets of sessions. Nondisclosure will be enforced; check with the
SP-XXL officers for more on this. You must state at registration whether you
are registering for the SP-XXL or ScicomP portions of the meeting. Attendance
at NDA sessions will be controlled by badging based on registration.

8) Will the meeting sessions be broadcast on the internet?

No, the hotel does not have the technical capability to do this, and it's too
expensive for the Lab, SCICOMP or SP-XXL to provide it. Some presentation
materials will be available on the web after the meeting.

9) Will there be network access at the meeting?

Yes, we will be providing it for speakers, and limited access will be available
for attendees.

10) Will there be shuttle buses to and from LBL or other locations in the
Bay Area?

No, it would be quite expensive for us to provide transportation each day.

11) Who can I contact for more information?

Tom DeBoni     (Local Arrangements Chair)  TMDeBoni@LBL.GOV   510-486-8617
David Skinner  (ScicomP Secretary)         DESkinner@LBL.GOV  510-486-4748