How long does it take to plan a SABR convention? Ask anyone who's been involved: The wheels start turning as soon as the convention site is named, and go into motion with each succeeding convention to track what the new host committee likes and doesn't like,.

It's no different with the Bob Davids Chapter, the Baltimore-Washington SABR chapter. There are a multitude of details to get right, given the high advance numbers already pre-registered for the convention, to be held July 30-August 2 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.

The chapter is conducting its annual meeting January 24 in nearby Columbia, Maryland. Coming in from SABR headquarters in Cleveland is SABR President John Zajc and Peter Garver, SABR's new knowledge coordinator.

John and Peter will get together with the chapter's convention planning team following the chapter meeting to go over details that have been firmed up and identify what needs firming up. Even though we're still more than a half-year from the convention, there are things that can't be left to chance.

However, because there are still six months left before the convention, SABR members should have an opportunity to inquire about different aspects of the convention. If you have questions, concerns or general comments e-mail them now to John Zajc at jzajc@sabr.org. He will bring your comments with him and we'll address as many as we can while we're all in the convention city -- so that when you get there, you'll be faced with a minimum number of questions and concerns yourself.