Welcome to Work, Stress, and Health 2009 in San Juan, Puerto Rico! San Juan Tours Available We are inviting you to join us in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the 8th International Conference on Occupational Stress and Health. “Work, Stress, and Health 2009: Global Concerns and Approaches” will be held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 5-8, 2009, with Preconference Workshops on November 5. This conference is convened by the American Psychological Association, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Society for Occupational Health Psychology, and the University of Puerto Rico. About the Conference The Work, Stress, and Health conference series is designed to address the constantly changing nature of work and the implications of these changes for the health, safety, and well-being of workers. This year, the conference will highlight work, stress, and health as a subject of global concerns affecting developed and developing countries alike. Numerous topics of interest to labor, management, practitioners, and researchers are covered in the series, such as work and family issues, workplace violence, long hours of work, the aging workforce, and best practices for preventing stress and improving the health of workers and organizations. Expert presentations, panel discussions, and informal get-togethers with leading scientists and practitioners will provide an exciting forum for learning about the latest developments in the field of work, stress, and health. Call for Proposals We invite researchers, business and organizational representatives, labor leaders, and medical and social science professionals from all disciplines related to occupational safety and health to submit proposals for poster presentations, papers, symposia, and roundtable discussions. For more information and online submissions, please visit http://www.apa.org/pi/work/wsh.html Planning Your Trip Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States; therefore, no passports or visas are required for U.S. citizens and U. S. citizens may enter and leave the island without going through customs. The requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States. Puerto Rico’s currency is the U.S. dollar and the official languages are Spanish and English. November temperatures in Puerto Rico range from an average low of 75 ºF (24°C) to an average high of 85 ºF (29°C) , so pack accordingly.  Getting There and Getting Around San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) is easily accessible from around the world. There are direct flights to SJU from New York (JFK); Washington, DC (Dulles); Chicago; Los Angeles; Dallas; Miami, and Orlando. From Europe, direct flights are available from Madrid, Spain. Additional information about travel arrangements and airline discounts is coming soon, so check the WSH website frequently. The conference hotel, the Caribe Hilton, is just a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport (about $20) and a 6-minute taxi ride from Old San Juan (about $10). Getting around the city of San Juan is easy on foot. Additionally, taxis, buses, and "público" vans are available to get you anywhere you want to go. You may also take a no-charge Trolley Tour in historic Old San Juan. The Caribe Hilton Hotel The Caribe Hilton is set on a private 17-acre peninsula. This waterfront resort is situated between historic San Juan and the Condado area, offering a private beach, great accommodations, and a variety of opportunities for recreation. In addition, the hotel offers nine restaurants and lounges. All of the resort’s guest rooms offer private balconies overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or tropical gardens. In addition, each guest room offers a coffeemaker, in-room refrigerator, dual-line telephone with data ports and voice mail, electronic safety deposit box, MP3 alarm clock, a work desk with a chair, and high-speed Internet access (for a small fee). Additional amenities include free Internet access in the lobby, knowledgeable staff, and a non-smoking environment. Recreational opportunities on-site include a fully-equipped fitness center; playground and Camp Coco with supervised activities for children; three lighted tennis courts; bird sanctuary; beach hammocks and umbrellas; sightseeing tours; video arcade; and bicycle rental. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 p.m. All WSH attendees have an excellent group rate of $165 for a single room, $185 for a double room, plus assorted taxes. This rate will be available for stays between November 4 and November 9, 2009 (one day before and one day after the conference). Information about hotel reservations will be available in Summer 2009, so please bookmark the WSH website http://www.apa.org/pi/work/wsh.html. Things To Do For conference attendees who wish to arrive early or to extend their stay beyond the conference, Puerto Rico offers a number of activities and sightseeing opportunities such as: Old San Juan, a 465-year-old neighborhood that has evolved into a charming residential and commercial district; Various castles and forts, including San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal; El Yunque National Rainforest, which is renowned for its variety of tropical flora and fauna, jungle-like foliage, and numerous hiking trails that lead to spectacular waterfalls and crags; The world’s largest Bacardi Rum Distillery, which offers an interactive tour through history and the production process; Río Camuy Cave Park, including the dramatically illuminated 170-foot high Cueva Clara and the 400-foot deep Tres Pueblos Sinkhole; Arecibo Observatory, the site of the world’s largest radio telescope; Hacienda Buena Vista that offers tours of its renovated “working” coffee plantation that recaptures rural life in 19 th century Puerto Rico; Snorkeling or SCUBA diving – Puerto Rico offers a comfortable ocean temperature of 8 1ºF (27ºC) and underwater visibility average ranging from 60 to 75 feet near the beach; Kayak tours of the two protected bioluminescent bays - at La Parguera and in Vieques ; Plaza las Américas, the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean. Visit the official site of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Tourism Company (http://www.gotopuertorico.com/) to learn more about Puerto Rico and San Juan. Important Conference Dates and Deadlines March 16, 2009 – Proposal submission deadline Summer 2009 – Registration & hotel reservation information available on the website June 22, 2009 – Best Practices Intervention Evaluation Competition full manuscript submission deadline August 1, 2009 – Best Student Research Competition full manuscript submission deadline September 1, 2009 – Early Career Achievement Award nomination materials due October 10, 2009 – End of Early Registration period With all that’s awaiting you in San Juan, we know you’ll enjoy the 8th international conference “Work, Stress, and Health 2009: Global Concerns and Approaches.” See you there! For more information and online submissions, please visit http://www.apa.org/pi/work/wsh.html