Conference FAQ
Conference Organizers  |  Venue  Transportation  Info and Schedule  |  Call for Papers  |  EIC Statement  |  Registration  Students  Merchandise  Vendors and Advertising  |  Sponsors  COVID Policy

80th Plains Conference
Rapid City, South Dakota

October 18-21, 2023
Holiday Inn, Rushmore Plaza

2023 PAC logo
"Stars" painting by Martin Red Bear, a Oglala/Sicangu artist, 2017.

 

The 80th Annual PAC logo is a 2017 painting created by Oglala/Sicangu artist, Martin Red Bear. Red Bear’s art and this piece, entitled “Stars,” is inspired by his culture and contemporary societies. An adjunct instructor for Oglala Lakota College, Red Bear works in acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media on canvas, paper, and tanned hides. He resides in Rapid City with his wife, Ida Red Bear.

The 2023 Conference hosts were inspired by Red Bear’s art and its powerful combination of traditional Native American iconography and contemporary Great Plains cultural expression.


Conference Organizers: 

Cassie Vogt and Katie Lamie
conference@plainsanthropologicalsociety.org
South Dakota State Historical Society
Archaeological Research Center


Convention Center and Conference Hotel:

Holiday Inn Rapid City Downtown - Convention Center 

505 N. 5th Street, Rapid City, SD 57701

A discounted rate for the Plains Anthropological Conference is available.

  • $89   Single King with Sofa-sleeper
     
  • $89   Double Queen
     
  • Upgrade to a Double Queen Executive (Double Queen with a sleeper sofa) for $10 more
     

(Rate cannot be guaranteed after 9/26/23)

Reserve your room today!

1. Call 844-516-6415 anytime. Reference Plains Anthropological Conference or group code PA3.

2. Follow this link to book online: Plains Anthropological Conference (does not work with mobile devices)


Transportation to and from Rapid City Regional Airport

Rapid City Regional Airport is located approximately 20 minutes from the Holiday Inn Convention Center in downtown Rapid City. Transportation options to and from the airport include:

  1. Holiday Inn Convention Center shuttle ($12/person, one-way): call 1-605-348-4000 when you land and/or book your shuttle to the airport at the front desk before you checkout.
  2. Rapid Shuttle: 605-399-9999
  3. Lyft
  4. Uber
  5. Rental cars:
    • Hertz: 605-393-0160
    • Budget: 605-393-0488
    • National or Alamo Rental Car: 605-393-2664
    • Avis Rental Car: 605-393-0740 (Discount code courtesy of Visit Rapid City: G975000)
    • Enterprise Rental Car: 605-393-4311

 

Parking fees at the Holiday Inn Convention Center are included in the Hotel Services Fee, which is part of your room booking. Adjacent off-site parking is also available at no charge.


General Information and Schedule

Field Trips -

Wednesday Early Bird Party - Hay Camp Brewing Co. (6:00 - 9:00 pm)

Thursday Evening Reception - Journey Museum (6:30 - 8:30 pm)

Friday Evening Banquet  - Pre-Banquet Happy Hour/Cash Bar with Banquet Buffet to follow ($40). 


Ethics and Inclusion Committee Policy Statement 

The Plains Anthropological Society (PAS) is committed to ensuring the safety, well-being, and inclusion of all our members and guests at PAS­-sponsored functions. We request that all participants at our annual meeting, including guests and other attendees, follow our conference code of conduct (https://plainsanthropologicalsociety.org/conference-conduct-­code) as well as verify they have not been cited or censured under Title IX, by the Register of Professional Archaeologists, or by any other adjudicating body, such as a college or university, nor are they subject to a current restraining or no-contact order issued by a judicial authority that will be violated by attending this conference. Questions about this policy can be directed to the PAS President. 


Call for Papers

See Call for Papers page for abstract and symposia submission dates and details. 

General submission deadlines are:

  • Symposia proposals (emailed): September 16
  • Symposia packages (once approved and submitted online): September 23
  • Paper and Poster abstracts: September 23

 


Registration

Start your Registration Here

Early Registration is available to purchase online through September 24th, 2023. 

Registration Type Online Early
Price
Online Late
Price
On-site
Price
Regular PAS Member* $165 $220 $220
Non-PAS Member $260 $260 $260
Student PAS Member* FREE $75 $75
Tribal PAS Member FREE $75 $75
Saturday Only - SDAS member n/a n/a $30

*Current PAS members are eligible to make presentations (paper, poster) at the conference. 

Other Purchases Online
Price
On-site
Price
Friday Banquet Ticket $40  
Wednesday Tour, all day - Black Hills $50 n/a
Wednesday Tour, all day - Badlands/Pine Ridge  $60 n/a
Saturday Tour, afternoon - Deadwood $30 n/a
PAC 2023 T-shirt $25 $25
PAC 2023 Long sleeve T-shirt $28 $28
PAC 2023 Bandana $15 $15
PAC 2023 Sticker $3 $3
Vendor Registration* (sign up here) $125 n/a
Vendor Extra Table** $60 n/a

* Includes one table and two chairs for two days (10/19 and 10/20)
** One extra table. Must also register for Vendor Registration.

Refund Policy: Conference registrants can request a full refund of registration and banquet payments up to September 16th and a 50% refund up to September 26th. All payments are non-refundable after September 26. However, if the conference is cancelled or postponed for COVID-related reasons, we will fully refund all registration and banquet payments. Conference fees for advertising, vendor tables, tours, merchandise and the banquet are non-refundable.


Students

Student and Tribal members of PAS will receive complimentary registration to attend the Plains Anthropological Conference in Rapid City if they register early (before September 25).

Students are encouraged to submit a poster or paper to the Student Paper Competition (see details)


Conference Merchandise

Pre-orders for 2023 Plains Conference shirts, bandanas, and stickers closes on September 25th. Limited quantities of these items will also be available for purchase on-site at the conference venue.

     PAC merchandise    

Vendors and Advertising 

Vendor and advertisement purchases are open. Please sign up at https://plainsanthropologicalsociety.org/annual-meeting/conference-vendors-and-advertisers.


Sponsors 

We invite individuals and organizations to be a part of the 2023 Plains Anthropological Conference by becoming a Sponsor! We are seeking donations to support initiatives aimed at increasing student and Tribal member participation in PAS, such as helping to offset the cost of attending the conference, banquet tickets for the student paper and poster competition participants, and other activities and events that are open to all members. 

For more information and to donate, visit our donation page at https://plainsanthropologicalsociety.org/form/annual-meeting-donations.


Covid Policy 

We are committed to doing everything we can to making sure that this year's conference is enlightening, enjoyable, and safe. To that end, we urge all attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The science on vaccination leaves no doubt that it is a powerful means of protecting ourselves and those around us against infection and the many individuals and community-level impacts of infection. 
We strongly encourage all attendees to wear masks in indoor spaces, including while presenting posters and attending sessions, workshops, or other meetings. Exceptions to this requirement are for speakers when they are presenting their papers and while eating or drinking. Social distancing is also recommended.

These policies are subject to change based on current CDC and State guidelines.