The congress will be held in Montreal from Sunday 8 August to Thursday 12 August (with a possibility of a post convention day on Friday 13 August).

For the first time, this ISO congress has been organized in parallel with the AIO (American Institute of Organbuilders) annual convention with which we will share sections of the program. This is a unique opportunity to mix the two memberships and to benefit from each organization's specificity. The AIO convention will run from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 August. ISO participants will have the possibility to enroll for attending the AIO lectures (at the time of registration only - see info below)

For the first time also, ISO members will have the opportunity to access a "supplier's exhibition" (a feature of the AIO conventions) where 30 or so organbuilders' suppliers will display their products. Ample time will be made available during the program for the participants to wander around the stands.

We will be based in Laval, a town facing the island of Montreal, at the three-star Sheraton Hotel.

Note that because of the joint ISO-AIO events, we are expecting a large attendance. In order to preserve the quality of the organs and workshops visits, we may be obliged to fix a limit to the number of participants. Enroll early (form available in March) to avoid disapointment. Registration will be done on a strict first- enrolled first-served basis.

You will find below an overall view of the programme (subject to changes):

PROGRAMME
	Saturday 7 August Arrival ISO participants
	Sunday 8 August - Montreal I Opening ISO session at McGill University Organ visits:   Redpath Hall (1981 H Wolff)   Grand Séminaire (1990 Guilbault-Thérien)   Christ Church Cathedral (1980 K Wilhelm)   Basilique Notre Dame - Music & Light show (1890 Casavant)
	Monday 9 August - Montreal II Joint Session with AIO: "History of Organbuilding in Quebec" ISO General meeting I Organ visits:   St Léon (1995 Guilbault-Thérien)   Oratoire St Joseph (1960 Beckerath)   Visitation (1993 H Wolff)
	Tuesday 10 August - St Hyacinthe (jointly with AIO) Workshop visits in St Hyacinthe:   Casavant Frères   Orgues Letourneau Organ visits:   St Hyacinthe Cathedral (1885 Casavant)   St Gilbert (1993 Letourneau)
	Wednesday 11 August - Montreal III ISO General meeting II Organ visits:   St Rédempteur (1993 K Wilhelm)   Marie Reine des Coeurs (1965 Casavant)   Immaculée-Conception (1961 Beckerath) Concert St Jean-Baptiste (1915 Casavant) (with AIO) Closing gala AIO
	Thursday 12 August - Cantons de l'Est - Eastern Townships Organ visits:   St-Paul d'Abbotsford (Warren/Juget-Sinclair)   Ste-Cécile Milton (1892 Casavant /Létourneau)   St-Benoit du Lac (1999 K Wilhelm) Visit Chambly Closing ISO congress dinner in Chambly
	Friday 13 August - Post convention Organ visits:   Vaudreuil St-Michel (1871 Mitchell / Létourneau)   Lachine Sts-Anges Gardiens (1920 Casavant)   Pointe-St-Charles (1909 Casavant) Visit and cocktail at Juget-Sinclair workshop Dinner at Prince Arthur / Duluth
Registering for the ISO congress Registration forms will be available in March. At the time this text is published, we anticipate a cost similar to the previous ISO congresses. As usual, the cost will cover the hotel, transportation during the congress, access to all activities and most of the meals. Payment by credit card only. Because of the constraints on the logistics, we may be forced to limit attendance. Registration will be done on a strict first fully registered-first served basis. Note that a full registration includes the credit card payment. People who belong to both the AIO and the ISO will have the choice of registering with one or the other organization (Note that the cost will be equivalent!) For the ISO members who would like to attend some of the AIO lectures days, it will be possible to create a program "à la carte" mixing AIO and ISO days at no extra cost. For logistics reasons, this option will only be available at the time of registration. A formal spouse program will not be offered, but there will be a dedicated information desk which will offer daily suggestions. President's Fund Award This year, for the fifth time, one young Organ Builder, employed by an ISO member firm, will be awarded this Award to attend the ISO Congress. The ISO Board decided to fund this award from income of the ISO President's Fund to stimulate interest in ISO among young organ builders, and provide learning and social opportunities for the recipient. The Recipient will receive a free registration to the Congress. The employer is encouraged to continue his/her wages for the week to attend. The applicant should pay for travel and additional expenses (unless the employer generously wishes to contribute to this, too). Any employee (including apprentice, trainee, etc.) born after 1 August 1980 may apply by sending to the ISO Secretary, if possible by e-mail: 1. A one sentence recommendation from his employer 2. A one sentence recommendation from a fellow employee 3. A one paragraph statement by the applicant him-/herself, stating why he/she thinks it will be valuable for him/her to attend the Congress. NOTE: The three above statements must not in any way reveal the identity or town/state of the applicant and/or his/her employer 4. Name, address and employer of applicant The Secretary will forward all applications received before 1 May 2010, with item 4 deleted (thus identities concealed), to the two ISO Vice-presidents and the Fund Advisor who will make the Award (or withhold it if they deem no applicant qualified). Their decision will be final. The Recipient will be notified before 1 June 2010 and will be specially recognized at the Congress as having won the "2010 ISO PRESIDENT'S FUND AWARD". Arriving in Montreal You will need a valid passport to enter Canada and, in some cases, a visa. Check www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visa-exempt.asp or your local Canadian consulate. People from overseas will arrive in Montreal at Pierre-Elliott Trudeau Airport (code: YUL) which is about 20km from Laval. Information transport to the hotel will be made available at the time of registration. Our closer colleagues who wish to drive will find a free car parking at the hotel. Hotel We have selected the three-star Sheraton Hotel for the congress: www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton Although it would have been nice to stay in downtown Montreal, the requirements of the joint organization made it impossible to find an appropriate venue. The Sheraton Laval will offer many amenities from comfortable rooms, lectures facilities, exhibitors' hall, free parking, etc. The subway can take you from Laval to Downtown Montreal in 25 minutes. A taxi ride from the hotel to Downtown will cost you about $ 50. Montreal in summer Some miscellaneous information: Cosmopolitan and open to the world, Montreal has acquired a unique position, with its refined yet relaxed atmosphere and its warm hospitality, mixing with great success European charm with North American vitality. Montreal is a city set on an island with a population of 1.6 millions. The overall metropolis has approximately 3.3 million people. Although Montreal is in the French-speaking province of Québec, English is widely spoken. The Canadian currency is the CAN$ (1CAN$= approx US$0.95, 0.67€, £0.6) In August expect an average temperature of 21°C (70F) during the day. Questions? For any questions regarding the ISO congress, contact us at ISOmontreal2010@gmail.com For general travel information, you may want to check www.tourisme-montreal.org/Travel-Information/FAQs AIO website: www.pipeorgan.org

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