Avery Johnson, former point guard for the San Antonio Spurs NBA championship team, often said, "Nothin' beats bein' there, baby!" Although, for Avery, "there" was the basketball court, his enthusiastic declaration is fitting for AERC members in late February of 2006.

"There" will be the San Antonio Crowne Plaza Hotel, located on the banks of the San Antonio River, only a 12-minute stroll from The Alamo. All of us -- us being the Convention Committee and all the local supporters of the convention from the Central Region and the fringes of the Southwest Region that border Texas -- hope y'all will come to this dynamic Southwestern city in 2006 to convene for our annual meeting and to taste this city's culture, its history, and its geographical distinctiveness.

Between now and February 2006, a number of us from the Central Region will prompt you, by way of informative articles or notes in EN, to fit San Antonio into your shoeing, conditioning, family, work, and whatever, schedule for 2006. We feel there are many reasons, in addition to our AERC convention, for spending a few days in San Antonio.

San Antonio's uniqueness arises most particularly from the fascinating Riverwalk (Paseo Del Rio in Spanish) nestled in the heart of this metropolis, and from the historic monument The Alamo, which is only several hundred yards from the Riverwalk. The following paragraphs offer a taste of what these two jewels of San Antonio hold for you, and how accessible they will be during your stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The Riverwalk

Concrete, steel, and glass dominate the city's downtown skyline, but nestled 20 feet below the regular street grade -- almost completely secluded from traffic and commerce above -- flows the San Antonio River. To a large degree it is still contained, as it has been for millennia, by giant cypress trees. Since the headwaters of the San Antonio River are at the Blue Hole Springs a few miles north of downtown, the river is not large, but is a magic presence in this, the ninth largest city in our country.

In the 1940's the WPA (Works Progress Administration) transformed and contained the natural course of the river with cobblestone and flagstone walkways, arched bridges, and entrance stairways. During the 50 years since then, careful landscaping and tasteful structures have transformed more than two miles of the river into an amazing and romantic Riverwalk. Today, many of San Antonio's most spectacular high-rise hotels, restaurants and sidewalk cafes, night spots, shopping centers and businesses are located here.

Simply slip on your sneakers, walk out the front doors of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, turn left and proceed for about 50 yards, and then descend by a stairway, again on your left, to this enchanting world. You will like it a lot!

Although the exhilarating hum of a metropolis is felt, it is muffled. You can stroll and look; you can stop and gaze. You can sit at tables alongside the river and have a bite to eat or a beverage to sip. At any moment, or bend in the river, you can access the amenities of downtown. If you need to bring home a gift for a family member or friend, there are shopping opportunities ranging from specialty boutiques to the huge and gleaming River Center Mall. If you feel the need to sing, stop in at Dirty Nellie's, an Irish pub, where singin' is the main event.

Finally, realize that this is a public park; there is no fee for being here. And, although you are in the heart of a big city, tourist-friendly security persons -- on foot and in motorized boats -- besides a nice gathering of other strollers, make the Riverwalk safe by night and day.

The Alamo

As you are walking and gazing along the Riverwalk, you can amble your way to The Alamo. Twelve semi-serious minutes of strolling will get you from the Crowne Plaza Hotel to The Alamo. Official maps are provided along the Riverwalk, and lots of friendly folks will gladly point you in the right direction.

However, rather than depending on the posted maps or asking for help, you will enjoy using your honed-by-years-of-endurance-competition map skills. Yes . . . we will have a customized map of the best route to The Alamo, via the Riverwalk, and we will provide it in your convention packet.

Like the Riverwalk, The Alamo is free. The Alamo Plaza Monument, in front of The Alamo, is engraved with the names of the brave individuals who perished there. Reading through that list is quite moving; many names vaguely recalled from classrooms, movies, and books are there. The Alamo compound, which includes various buildings, fortifications, and a museum, is beautifully landscaped and serene; you will enjoy looking around and getting a feel for this place.

The Alamo itself, although not particularly large, demands reverence. This is the emotional center of a moment in history when brave persons held their ground to the death against overwhelming odds. General Santa Anna and his Mexican troops besieged the fortifications for days, and finally overwhelmed the Texan defenders on March 6, 1836.

For many years, "Remember the Alamo" has been an exhortation with "us vs. them" overtones, but in more recent years, since World War II, and especially in our modern era, remembering The Alamo has more universal content. It is not only a Texas or national monument. People worldwide remember The Alamo as a heroic struggle against overwhelming odds. Visitors from across the nation and around the world realize that who won or lost is not the main point. The Alamo is about courage, a universal virtue without which nothing worthwhile ever materializes.

We hope that this concise sketch of two truly wonderful features in this city will pique your appetite for San Antonio in 2006. See you next February at the AERC convention!

For more details about the Riverwalk, The Alamo, and San Antonio, use your computer and favorite search engine. There are many sites that will provide huge amounts of information, including the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.sanantoniocvb.com). If you would like a free visitor information packet (without the electronic hassle), simply call the visitors bureau (1-800-ALAMO-07).