We're so glad you've decided to join us at the 142nd installment of the TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Over the next five days, this newsletter-delivered to your inbox each morning-will serve as your daily guide to meeting news and information. Think of today's issue as your meeting orientation session, and read on for some very practical information on where to find everything you need.

Where to Find Registration

Before you can attend technical sessions, social events, or any other activities at TMS2013, you'll need to pick up your registration packet. Visit the East Registration Lobby of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center (click here for a map) during the hours listed below to claim your meeting program, name badge, and other useful items. (Note: You will need to wear your name badge to gain admission to all conference events, including technical sessions.) 

Registration Booth Hours

Sunday, March 3, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Monday, March 4, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 7, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where to Find Food

We know that you are here to feast on knowledge and to digest as much technical information as possible. We also know that you're going to get hungry for real food sooner or later. Here's where you can find quick meals, snacks, and beverages in the Convention Center:

The Cafe: Located in the main lobby of the convention center, the Cafe offers hot and cold beverages and light meal options and seating.

The Mural Cafe: Located in the Parkview Lobby on the second floor of the convention center, the Mural Cafe offers hot and cold beverages and light snacks.

The Coffee Shop: Near the main entrance of the convention center, the Coffee Shop offers hot and cold beverages and light snacks.

Where to Find Free Food

On Tuesday, all full-conference attendees are invited to a complimentary light buffet lunch in the exhibit hall from noon to 2:00 p.m. In addition, full-conference registrants will find a $10 voucher in their registration packets that can be used toward lunch concessions in the exhibit hall on Monday and Wednesday.

Don't want to spend your travel allowance on gourmet coffee? Complimentary mid-morning and mid-afternoon coffee breaks will provide attendees with refreshments during technical sessions.

Where to Find Wireless Internet

Almost as important as where to find food is where to find reliable Internet access. Free wireless internet access is available in public areas of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. This includes the East Registration Lobby, Towerview and Parkview Lobbies, and Cafe. Please select the "FreeInternet" network for access.

Where to Find Translation Services and International Colleagues

Individuals from more than 70 countries will travel from around the world to attend the TMS 2013 Annual Meeting. This year, TMS is offering a Global Networking Lounge, where these international attendees can meet and network with other members from their home countries and from other locations around the world.

Echo International, an international interpretation and translation services organization, is sponsoring this lounge and will be available to assist international attendees. Specifically, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian interpreters will be on-site throughout the week.

The lounge will be open Monday-Wednesday, and located outside of Grand Ballroom C above the Concourse Level in the Convention Center.

Where to Find the Correct Time

For those of you who have traversed many time zones to arrive in San Antonio, please be sure to set your watches for Central Standard Time.

Where to Find Business Services

A full-service UPS Store is located just inside the main entrance of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Services include packing and shipping, photocopying, faxing, laminating, notary, and general supplies for sale. The store is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (It is not, however, open today.)

For more information, you can visit www.theupsstorelocal.com/4180 or email store4180@theupsstore.com.

A big change for 2013 is the way that meeting attendees will access the collected proceedings of the conference. In past years, a CD-ROM containing the complete collected proceedings was included in each full-conference registration package. This year, your registration package will include a postcard detailing instructions on how to download the complete collected proceedings for 2013. Attendees will have two options for accessing proceedings: 

• Get It All: E-book Bundle: Download the TMS 2013 Collected Proceedings e-book bundle in four easy steps to gain access to all of the 11 proceedings publications through a single download. You can then read the e-book bundle on your computer or on your favorite reading device. 
  
  
• Pick and Choose: Wiley Online Library Download: This option allows you to pick and choose from the TMS 2013 Collected Proceedings and download single papers as PDF files. Download as many single papers as you wish and read them on your computer or reading devices. 

The TMS2013 Mobile Application is now available for download, at no charge, from the Apple iTunes Store or through Google Play. Through the App, you will be able to organize and track those events you wish to attend by building a "My Schedule" list, plus quickly narrow current presentations with the "What's on Now?" feature. To download the appropriate version of the App for your device-or to access a website version-click here.

Looking for a way to impact the future of materials science and engineering? Consider a donation to the TMS Foundation. Visit the TMS Foundation Booth in the East Registration Lobby to learn how the Foundation helps students to further their education, enables young professionals to develop essential leadership skills, and promotes materials science and engineering to the wider world.

Premium items are available for donations of $10 or more, so visit the TMS Foundation Booth today to find out how your donation can help future leaders of the materials community.

If you'd like to become a more active participant in TMS, consider attending a technical committee meeting during this week's conference. Technical committee meetings are open to all TMS2013 attendees. At these meetings, many of the society's upcoming plans for conference programming, JOM editorial coverage, and other activities are determined. Because many of the society's major activities stem from technical committee meetings, they are an ideal starting point for anyone interested in becoming more involved in the society.

Approximately 35 technical committees in a variety of technology areas will convene this week. Browse the daily Schedule of Events portion of the TMS2013 Final Program to identify the dates and locations for the technical committee that best matches your interests. Dates and times of committee meetings can also be located through the TMS2013 App or the TMS Personal Conference Scheduler.

Two TMS graduate students, Graham Sanborn and Alex Leary, have been selected to act as reporters at the TMS 2013 Annual Meeting & Exhibition. These student reporters will help to provide attendees with a look at technology being covered at a spectrum of events taking place over the course of the week, and will record their observations and summaries in this TMS2013 daily newsletter. 

Alex Leary is a Materials Science Graduate Student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Graham Sanborn is a Ph.D. Student in Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.

Continuing Education Courses 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Concourse Level Technical Committee Meetings See page 7 of the TMS2013 Final Program for a schedule of today's committee meetings TMS2013 Materials Bowl Elimination Rounds: Noon to 4:00 p.m. Championship Round: 8:00 p.m. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Grand Ballroom C3 Meet the Candidate Employment Poster Session 6:30 p.m. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Room 213 Networking Meeting of the Membership 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Room 217 Student Mixer 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Grand Ballroom C2