Dear MAPS Supporter,

The Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society will bring together its members, vendors, and supporters
in Waldorf, MD, for the 2016 conference. This year’s conference will be hosted by the James E. Richmond Science Center from late afternoon on Wednesday July 27 through early afternoon on Saturday July 30th.

This year’s theme of “Innovate, Imagine, Inspire – Taking a New Approach” encourages all of us to incorporate new results, technologies, and pedagogies into bringing astronomy and other information to our audiences. As industry professionals, vendors/exhibitors are an important component of every MAPS conference. The MAPS Board and membership are grateful to vendor sponsorship, which makes it possible to hold a conference that is affordable to MAPS members.

We hope that you will consider supporting the 2016 MAPS conference through sponsorship! Our goal is to provide ample opportunities for you to interact with conference attendees in several ways. Some of the features for sponsors at MAPS 2016 are:

  • Dome time – The 60’ dome houses a digital projection system and 184 unidirectional seats.
  • Talks, Mini-lessons, Workshops, and Panel Discussions – There is ample space in the
    planetarium, auditorium, computer lab, and classrooms for delegate and vendor talks, mini-lessons, workshops, and panel discussions. These spaces are in close proximity for easy movement between them.
  • Vendor Hall – Vendor exhibits will be in part of the cafeteria area. This area is right next to tables where meals and breaks will be enjoyed and is adjacent to the planetarium and auditorium. This open and convenient location will afford many opportunities for interactions between vendors and conference attendees.
  • Educational vendor workshops – Vendors may offer a workshop where they demonstrate and educate existing and prospective ‘customers’ about the use of their equipment, software or content materials. This will incur added sponsor fees as shown in the sponsor schedule of fees. Please submit a standard workshop form to propose.

To request an Exhibit/Sponsor Form, please email the MAPS Program Committee Chair, Kevin Williams at planetarium@buffalostate.edu. Make your selection of options on the Exhibit/Sponsor Form and send with payment and registrations for all your attending representatives to the conference registrar.

Thank you for your consideration of sponsorship. We hope to see you in Waldorf this summer!

Monique Wilson
Director, James E. Richmond Science Center
Conference Host
& Your MAPS Executive Board