The preliminary program for the 2008 HES Conference in Toronto, 27-30 June, is now posted at http://historyofeconomics.org/Conference08/2008Program.htm Please have a look, and let us know ([log in to unmask]) of any mistakes or changes for your own papers and abstracts. Many of you have shared the frustration at conferences of not being able to attend sessions in which you are interested, because harried conference organizers (always!) have unknowingly scheduled you as discussants or chairs at competing sessions. In an attempt to enhance your conference experience, we are asking for you to suggest up to 2 papers you would be interesting in discussing, and up to 2 sessions you would be willing to chair. We will do our best to match preferences and assignments, and hopefully have more of you at the sessions in which you are most interested. Please respond (again to [log in to unmask]) by the end of April. (We have to admit this will also make our organizing job easier.) Preference-matching will only go so far, so we thank you in advance for taking on whatever roles you are ultimately assigned. In order to encourage audience participation, we are suggesting the following guidelines. Each paper/discussant combination generally has 30 minutes in total. Presenters should aim for 15 minutes (20 maximum), and discussants should aim for no more than 5 minutes. That will ideally leave 5 minutes for audience questions. Papers will be posted to the website at they are submitted, so interested audience members will have the opportunity to look at papers in advance of presentations. To further discussion, we will be creating online discussion boards for each session, so questions that don?t get answered or raised in person can be pursued after the session and after the conference. Discussants may, if they wish, also post their remarks to the discussion boards. The deadline for discounted rates on registration is also 30 April, so be sure to submit your registration form before then. Avi Cohen Conference Organizer Deborah Groves Conference Coordinator