ASCE Annual Conference Information

ASCE's Nineteenth Annual Meeting was held on July 30-August 1, 2009 at The Hilton Miami Hotel at 1601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami, Florida.

The main theme for the meeting was “ Cuba in a World of Uncertainty,” focusing on three sources of uncertainty: (1) internal economic and political reforms; (2) U.S. policy toward Cuba; and (3) the impact of the global financial and economic crisis. Papers and/or panels with these subjects were presented. ASCE also invited papers and panels on subjects related to the Cuban economy and society, including macroeconomics; banking and finance; agriculture and the sugar industry; tourism; social and political aspects of economic development; education; health; environmental policy; law and legal institutions; civil society; gender issues; governance; infrastructure; and civil-military relations.

Oscar Espinosa Chepe´s presentation (Crisis sobre Crisis) at the Opeining Plenary on July 30, 2009.

Premiere Screening 2009 Documentary “Under Cuban Skies” was presented on July 30. Light lunch was provided courtesy of Cuba Study Group. For details see attached flyer. Also you can view a trailer of the documentary at : www.undercubanskies.com/trailers.html

Keynote Speaker on July 31 : Tom Gjelten presented a lecture on "The Bacardi Story and Cuba's Future". Mr. Gjelten is correspondent on economic, intelligence, and national security issues for National Public Radio. He is also author of Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause (Viking, 2008). See Gjelten´s presentation

See Secretary Report for 2008 to 2009 activities presented at the Business Meeting.

ASCE´s Annual Student Award 2009

ASCE sponsors a Student Research Award Competition. The award is an internationally recognized venue for undergraduate and graduate interdisciplinary research dealing with Cuba's domestic issues, its foreign relations, or Cuba in comparative perspective.

Hotel Facilities and Reservations for the Conference
THE HILTON MIAMI DOWNTOWN HOTEL www.hilton.com located on Biscayne Blvd. facing Biscayne Bay, offered a room group discount of only $105.00 per night (plus 13% tax) from July 29 thru August 1 for those attending the ASCE Conference. Negotiated group rate were honored three days before and three days after event based upon availability.

RESERVATIONS SHOULD BE MADE DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL NO LATER THAN JULY 15, 2009 AT 1 305 374 0000 1 (888) 201 1718 OR FAX 1 305 714 3811