TIPS AND REMINDERS FOR SOBA 2013 CONFERENCE ATTENDEES

Getting to the Hotel from the Airport

The Portland light rail and streetcar system is operated by Tri-Met, a part of the regional three-county government. The light rail is called MAX and the Red Line runs from the airport (PDX) to downtown with a stop right next to the conference hotel, The DoubleTree by Hilton in the Lloyd District. MAX runs every 15 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day. It takes about 25 minutes for the trip from PDX to the Lloyd Center Station. If you go to the Convention Center Station you have gone too far.

From PDX take the MAX Red Line towards Portland City Center/Beaverton Transit Center. The PDX MAX Station is located just outside after you exit from baggage claim. The Red Line travels south from PDX and will make 7 stops before arriving at the Lloyd Center NE 11th Station, where you will disembark. :

Fares are $2.50 for Adults 18-64, $1.65 for Youth, and $1 for Honored Citizens (65 and over). Ticket machines are located near baggage claim on the lower level. View airport map (flypdx.com). Single-use tickets are good for two hours. If you are arriving on Sunday, September 29 or Monday, September 30 you may want to but a $5 day pass, since there are no evening conference events on those days and you will be on your own. From the MAX Lloyd Center Station you can easily ride the Red, Blue, or Green Line across the river to downtown or to other Portland destinations. The all-day pass allows you unlimited travel and transfer between lines, buses, and streetcar systems for the operating day the ticket is purchased, which can end after midnight. The ticket is not good for a full 24-hour period.

How to use the ticket machine

  1. Select the fare you want by pressing one of the buttons on the video screen. Look at the screen to find out how much you need to pay.
  2. Insert payment. Most machines accept debit/credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and Discover), coins (including $1 coins) and bills ($1, $5, $10 and $20). Some machines labeled "Card Only" accept debit/credit cards only.
  3. Collect your tickets and change from the tray at the bottom left.

Contactless cards

Some ticket machines accept "contactless" credit cards (those equipped with a microchip) as well as traditional swipe cards. If you have a contactless card, just tap it on the target where indicated. Contactless credit cards include Visa© payWave©, MasterCard© PayPass©, and American Express© ExpressPay©.

You can easily roll your luggage on board. The first train of the day arrives at PDX at 4:44 a.m. on weekdays and 4:45 a.m. on weekends. The last train departs PDX at 11:49 p.m., daily.

For complete information about Portland Light Rail and Streetcar schedules and prices go to:

Weather and Appropriate Dress

Naturally, we have ordered perfect weather for the Conference! However, it remains to be seen if our order will be filled so we suggest that you plan for good and not-so-good weather.

Portland’s climate is relatively mild all year. The National Weather Service data shows that the high temperature in Portland on October 1st averages 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The average recorded low temperature in Portland on October 1 is 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Portland receives an average of 2.88 inches of precipitation during the entire month of October with most of it falling later in the month.

Portland residents generally keep a light jacket handy in the fall. A rain coat is also a good idea. Unless you are extremely sensitive to low temperatures, you can leave your parkas and woolen caps at home. Visitors from the South might want to bring an extra-long-sleeve shirt or sweater in case the evening temperatures seem a little cool.

During the conference, of course, we are generally a pretty relaxed crowd with some people wearing business casual while others break out the jeans and tee-shirts. Many people tend to dress up for the Banquet on Wednesday night. A coat and tie for men and dress for women are not uncommon. But be yourself!

A couple of notes: Please plan to bring some workout or jogging clothes as well as something that you are okay with getting wet. On Monday we are launching the inaugural Nick 5K, which we hope will become a successful annual fund-raiser for our Lacey Nichols Education Fund. Athletic shorts, shoes, and a running top are recommended for this event. You can certainly enter as a walker and wear comfortable shoes and street clothes. On Wednesday afternoon, we will be taking attendees to the Portland Boathouse for a little hands-on paddling experience in local dragon boats. Footwear that can get wet, light-weight shorts or pants that dry quickly, and a top that moves comfortably with you as you paddle are recommended for this event.

Door Prizes and Silent Auction

We are seeking items of apparel, promotional items, small mementos that we can use as door prizes. Hats, tee-shirts, bags, key chains, cups, bottles (not glass) etc. have become the tradition, so if you get a chance to rummage around in the agency footlocker and can find some trinkets or other fun giveaways for us to give out as door prizes, please bring them. If you have a more than you want to pack with you, feel free to ship them to us at 435 Commercial St. NE, Salem, OR 97309-5065.

If you have something a little nicer or something that represents your home state or locality, please consider donating them for our silent auction, which will benefit the Lacey Nichols Education Fund.