CBS/OPAG-PWS/ET-SPI/INF. 2, p. 2
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
COMMISSION FOR BASIC SYSTEMS (CBS)OPEN PROGRAMME AREA GROUP (OPAG)
ON PUBLIC WEATHER SERVICES (PWS)
MEETING OF THE CBS/OPAG-PWS
EXPERT TEAM ON SERVICES AND
PRODUCTS IMPROVEMENT (ET/SPI)
BOHEMIA, NEW YORK, USA, 13-17 AUGUST 2012 / CBS/OPAG-PWS/ET-SPI/INF. 2
(05.VI.2012)
______
ENGLISH ONLY
LOGISTICAL INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
(Prepared by Mr John L. Guiney, Chairperson of the CBS/OPAG-PWS ET/SPI,
and Chief, Meteorological Services Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Eastern Region Headquarters)
1. Meeting Venue
The “Meeting of the CBS-OPAG/PWS Expert Team on Services and Products Improvement (ET/SPI)”, will be held in Bohemia, New York, United States of America, at the NOAA/NWS Eastern Region Headquarters (located in Bohemia), from 13 to 17 August 2012.
2. Registration of Participants
Registration of participants will take place at the meeting venue on the morning of
13 August 2012. Participants are kindly requested to collect their identification badges from the Local Secretariat at the time of registration.
3. Working Language
The working language of the meeting will be English.
4. Hotel Information
Hotel arrangements have been made for all participants at the Three Village Inn, which is located in Stony Brook, New York, USA. The room rate is USD $193.00 per night. A tax exempt form has been filed with the hotel on behalf of all participants which will allow local taxes to be waived.
The hotel offers complementary wireless Internet access. Additional information regarding the hotel can be found in the enclosed Hotel Fact Sheet. A map of the Town of Stony Brook is also included.
A variety of stores and several restaurants/sandwich shops are within walking distance of the hotel.
Each participant is requested to call the hotel and provide a credit card number to hold your room reservation. Please call +001 631 751 0555, ask for Ms Carrie Bope, and provide her with your name and credit card information. Please call and provide this information, as soon as possible, but not later than 6 July 2012.
5. Transportation
Participants will arrive at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, which is located about 81 km (50 miles) from the hotel. The Local Secretariat (NWS Eastern Region Headquarters) will make arrangements to meet you at the airport. Using Attachment 1 below, please provide your airline arrival and departure information, as soon as possible, but not later than 23 July 2012. Please e-mail this information to Mrs Margaret Mahoney () and Mr John Guiney ().
6. Entry Requirements for the United States
The United States Department of State has advised that the following countries participate in the United States visa waiver program, and, as such, a visa is not required for nationals from Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Nationals from Kenya and Hong Kong, China, require a non-immigrant visa. Please refer to the following links for further information:
U.S. Embassy – China / http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/U.S. Embassy – Hong Kong, China / http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/
U.S. Embassy – Moscow / http://moscow.usembassy.gov/
U.S. Embassy – Nairobi / http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/
7. NOAA Visitor Clearance Process
IMPORTANT: All visitors to NOAA facilities are required to provide identification information prior to their visit. Please complete Attachment 2 (see below) and send it via e-mail to
Mr John Guiney (), as soon as possible, but not later than 15 June 2012.
8. Cell Phone Service
There are two primary GSM service providers which operate cell phone networks in the Bohemia and Stony Brook areas. These are: AT&T and T-Mobile. For information on these providers, and the services offered on their systems, please check the following websites:
AT&T: http://www.att.com T-Mobile: http://www.t-mobile.com
9. Currency Exchange and Rate Information
Currency can be exchanged at the airport and local banks. A Capital One Bank, with both teller service and an ATM, is located in Stony Brook within walking distance from the hotel. Additional bank ATMs are located near the NWS Eastern Region Headquarters. Current exchange rates for U.S. Dollars (USD) are listed in the table below*.
COUNTRY: / CURRENCY: / EXCAHNGE RATE (USD):Australia / Australian Dollar (AUD) / 1 USD = 1.0294 AUD
China / Chinese Yuan (CNY) / 1 USD = 6.3651 CNY
Germany / Euro (EUR) / 1 USD = 0.8004 EUR
Hong Kong, China / Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) / 1 USD = 7.7588 HKD
Kenya / Kenyan Shilling (KES) / 1 USD = 86.0 KES
Switzerland / Swiss Franc (CHF) / 1 USD = 0.9609 CHF
Russian Federation / Russian Rouble (RUB) / 1 USD = 33.4985 RUB
United Kingdom / British Pound (GBP) / 1 USD = 0.6503 GBP
*Rates valid as of 4 June 2012
10. Bohemia/Stony Brook, New York USA August Climate Information
The weather in the Bohemia and Stony Brook area in mid-August is typically quite pleasant and warm with high temperatures generally 27-29°C and minimum temperatures about 17-19°C. Precipitation averages 106 mm for the month, primarily in association with afternoon/evening thunderstorms. The Long Island, New York region can be impacted by tropical cyclones and their remnants. The threat of tropical cyclones in the Long Island, New York, is greatest from late August through September. The average hurricane return period for Long Island is 18 years.
Please see Attachment 3 below for the climatological norms and extremes for August at Islip Airport in Bohemia, NY (representative climate location in Bohemia/Stony Brook areas).
11. Additional Information
The NWS Eastern Region Headquarters will assist with any special requirements related to your attendance at the meeting. Should you require further information regarding this event, please contact:
The Local Secretariat
Mrs Margaret MAHONEY
Administrative Assistant
NWS Eastern Region Headquarters
630 Johns Avenue, Suite 202
BOHEMIA, New York 11716
United States of America
Telephone: +001 631 244 0100
Fax: +001 631 244 0109
E-mail:
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Attachment 1
“MEETING OF THE CBS/OPAG-PWS EXPERT TEAM
ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT”
(BOHEMIA, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 13-17 AUGUST 2012)
Airport Arrival/Departure Form
1. NAME:Title: / Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms
Surname (Last):
First:
2. ORGANIZATION/AFFILIATION:
Organization:
Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
Cell Phone (Mobile):
E-mail:
3. AIRLINE INFORMATION:
Arrival Date/Time:
Airport:
Airline Name:
Flight Number:
Departure Date/Time:
Airport:
Airline Name:
Flight Number:
4. NAME OF ACCOMPANYING PERSON(S):
Name:
Name:
Please duly fill and return the completed form via e-mail attachment to: Mrs Margaret Mahoney () and to Mr John Guiney (), as soon as possible, but not later than 23 July 2012.
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Attachment 2
“MEETING OF THE CBS/OPAG-PWS EXPERT TEAM
ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT”
(BOHEMIA, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 13-17 AUGUST 2012)
NOAA Visitor Clearance Information Request
IMPORTANT: Please complete and return this form via e-mail to: Mr John Guiney (), as soon as possible, but not later than 15 June 2012.
Visitor First Name:Visitor Last Name:
Passport Number:
Issuing Country:
Country of Citizenship:
Country of Residence:
Country of Birth:
Date of Birth:
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Attachment 3
“MEETING OF THE CBS/OPAG-PWS EXPERT TEAM
ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IMPROVEMENT”
(BOHEMIA, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 13-17 AUGUST 2012)
Climatological Norms and Extremes for August at Islip Airport in Bohemia, NY