2008 Opening Reception—An Opening Night Hoedown!

Connect and convene by joining your fellow conference participants and ISTE members throughout the convention center for networking galore, light food and non–alcoholic beverages. Then get your groove on with live music and dancing with Americana/Roots sensations, One Horse Shy at the Tower View Lobby Stage! A cash bar will be available to those 21 and older.

Don't forget to visit the Global Gallery and Traditional poster sessions. Which will be live during the Opening Reception.

Can't make it to NECC? Join the party in Second Life!

The band will be simulcast in Second Life for all those members and ISTE friends who can't join us in person. The Second Life Lounge will be hoppin', as will ISTE Central and other lounge environments throughout the HGCC.

Concurrently, living history guides in Second Life will give tours of ISTE's recreation of the Alamo campus, which features closely simulated buildings, landscaping, and educational resources.

"Best Boots" Contest

Dust off your favorite pair of boots and enter our first ever "Best Boots" contest, held during the dance and concert in the Tower View Lobby. Compete to win great prizes including local restaurant gift certificates and other awesome stuff!

"Outfit your Cowboy" Quest

Embark on your Texas adventure with the Outfit Your Cowboy Quest! Stop by each of the evening's "trail outposts," including ISTE's Special Focus Lounges, the Texas & Global Galleries, and ISTE Central. Collect a stamp at every stop for your opportunity to win great prizes, including an HP tablet laptop. ISTE would like to thank Hewlett-Packard Company for their generous donation of this prize.

Other Games and Raffles

The New Exhibitor Networking Game
Take a trip around the exhibit hall to visit and welcome our first-time exhibitors, and you can play for a chance to win a 20" widescreen LCD iMac! Check out details on the game card included in your registration bag.

Hunt for the ISTE 100
Locate our ISTE 100 partners at NECC and qualify for more prizes! A completed game card is your chance to win your choice of gift baskets. Get details for both on the game cards included in your registration bag.

ISTE Member Drawings
Enter to win great prizes, including a digital camera and ISTE books! Drop off your Special Ticket from your registration sheet at ISTE Central.

Special Focus Playgrounds

Explore and create at our Special Focus Playgrounds! Create games and simulations, become a media specialist or music composer, and create your own avatar in Second Life!

International Networking Reception

Welcome our guests from around the world at this international reception! Come network, meet colleagues, hear about international initiatives, and enjoy! Hosted by ISTE's International Committee and sponsored by iEARN, Oracle Education Foundation, and TakingITGlobal.org.

NECC 2009 Launch & Ice Cream Social

Join us before the Closing Keynote as we celebrate 30 years of NECC! Our 2009 conference will be in Washington, DC, from June 28–July 1.

We'll kick it off this year by introducing our local Maryland and Virginia affiliates, showing a quick video with highlights of the DC area, and cap it all off with ice cream! Bring your Special Ticket from your registration sheet.

Don't forget the NING—NECC's Online Community

Connect before, during, and after the conference. Join and share here!