Orlando ‘99 - The 17^th International System Safety Conference

When you tell someone that you are going to a conference, usually the response is "Oh really, where is it?" People want to hear that you are going to some place exotic and fun. As far as conferences go, there are a handful of cities that people want to visit. Orlando is one of them. Every year at the International System Safety Conference, attendees ask when it is going to be held in Florida. People want to come here. Well, this is the year and the ISSC will be underway before you know it. We have a great combination of technical, social, and personal opportunities in store for you this year.

The Orlando '99 theme is "System Safety at the Dawn of the New Millennium." As this milestone approaches, it is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the past, present, and future of system safety. We can reflect on our rich history and offer lessons we've learned. We can share ongoing endeavors with the hope that someone may lend expertise or be able to lend assistance in some way. We can take our experiences and use them to predict new and exciting ways to improve the future. An appropriate example is all the Y2K preparation. There are uncountable efforts going on right now to ensure safety when the calendar turns to ’00. These issues, past, present, and future will all be on the table in Orlando.

Our technical program is lining up to be one of the strongest ever. We will offer 3½ days of paper presentations. Tutorials will be offered daily for you to hone your skills, whether you are a beginner or an expert. We are lining up speakers to offer a wide variety of insights at several points in the conference. A tour of Kennedy Space Center, guided by NASA safety officials, will also be offered as an off-site excursion.

One of the most beneficial aspects of coming to an ISSC is to interact with our peers. This event attracts the movers and shakers, those who are responsible for where system safety is today and where it is going tomorrow. If you want to rub elbows with the who's who, we will be offering ample opportunities to hob-knob. There will be a poolside reception to welcome attendees. Our exhibitors are sponsoring a social happy-hour. We are taking you out on the town to Church Street Station for dinner and entertainment. In addition, there will be several luncheons and breaks between sessions where you can mingle.

Even though we plan to keep you busy at the conference, we realize that it is going to be difficult to keep people from the attractions Orlando has to offer. This is truly a family destination and we hope many of you bring yours. The Holiday Inn International Drive Resort has 650 rooms, both in a 13-story high-rise and poolside. There is an abundance of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options within walking distance from the hotel. Most of Orlando's major attractions and theme parks are all less than 10 miles away, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, and Sea World. If you want to dip your toes in the ocean, Cocoa Beach is less than an hour away. Come to town early and/or stay later, as there is plenty to do.

In central Florida, the weather patterns are somewhat predictable in August. Mornings are beautiful, sunny and clear. It gets warm, but we are very familiar with air conditioning. You can plan on experiencing an afternoon thundershower, as this is the lightning capital of the world. These showers usually give way to clearing skies again before dark and the cycle starts again the next day.

Our conference planning team as well as system safety professionals around the state of Florida are looking forward to hosting this year’s ISSC. Our planning team ringer, Convention Planning Services, Inc., are experts in not only running conferences, but know how to get around Orlando's attractions.

So, pack your safety hat, your family, and get ready for Orlando ’99!

See you in August,

Mike Kochmann