For those of you planning on attending the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival June 5-8, 2013, Kevin Poe has been able to obtain a block of 20 rooms at a greatly reduced rate. See below: Hi Don! Ruby's came through with a block of 20 motel rooms, as I had hoped they would, for SLAS members wishing to attend our 2013 Astro Fest. These would be the outside entry rooms and if checked-in early enough, easy to get rooms on ground floor. If members have secured lodging elsewhere and are content with those arrangements then disregard. Otherwise please extend my apology for the inconvenience of having to cancel other reservations and reschedule with Ruby's. The discounted room reservations are for $77.00 + 12% occupancy tax. As you will see, they have extended the offer to also include Tuesday night if any members would like to arrive early. I would suggest that SLAS folks first try the on-line reservation system as sometimes the reservation desk gets confused with block reservations. Go to: www.bryceres.com/rubys Under special rate scroll to : group/block code: 42G I just tried the system and it worked fine. I would also add that it would be great if SLAS members could commit one way or the other by the end of February so that we can return any unused rooms back to Ruby's. In spite of inflation, 10% annual increase in Bryce Canyon visitation, popularity of this event, etc. Ruby's has continued to provide us with this same rock bottom price over the past several years and I'd like to thank them by making sure no rooms are left unused. As usual our group campsite in Sunset Campground will be available to SLAS members who'd prefer to tent-camp, and I can makes arrangements to have 5-6 RV sites in North Campground provided to SLAS folks with RVs or trailers. Thanks again to all at SLAS for your unwavering support of this event and Bryce Canyon's other astronomy / night sky endeavors. The sacrifices of your personal time and travel expenses as well as the generous sharing of your astronomy equipment and expertise without guest is what makes this the single greatest astronomy gathering in the National Park Service and indeed, one of the most successful annual special events of all 398 National Park Service sites! -poe