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On behalf of the conference committees, I would like to thank all the participants of the conference, coming from 15 coutries, representing many different academic fields. The conference started with a one-day workshop after over-night snow fall of some 10 cm, which changed the conference site into a beautiful fairyland. It was a memorable beginning of a highly successful conference. The conference reception was preceeded by a welcome speech and introduction to Banff and the Banff Centre, by Mr. Jim Olver, Director of Customer Service, the Banff Centre, followed by a video on "Canadian Rockies - Four Seasons." The conference program contained a large number of high-quality papers, in addition to the superb lectures by three eminent key-note speakers, Dr. Chikio Hayashi, Dr. John Gower and Dr. David Hand. It was very encouraging to see so many top-rate frontier researchers and young promising researchers engage in congenial discussion in the dining room, while strolling outside, as well as during the sessions. This was exactly what we wanted to see should happen, that is, creating a genuinely international and inter-disciplinary forum for researchers. In this regard, we have accomplished the goal with resounding success. The banquet was like a family reunion with new members as well as old members. We found Mayor Dennis Shuler's greetings very humorous, relaxing, friendly and informative. In addition to the co-organizer Professor Yasumasa Baba, all the participants and the members of several conference committees, I would like to thank in particular Wolfgang (Professor Dr. Wolfgang Gaul) for his very touching and kind tribute to me as a close family friend and always generous and inspiring colleague in research, Jacqueline (Professor Dr. Jacqueline Meulman) for her kind introduction of me to the audience through our many years of association specifically in the Psychometric Society, and Hamparsum (Professor Dr. Hamparsum Bozdogan) for his honourable proposal that the book based on selected conference papers be dedicated to me, a dream that a few of us can dream. The conference ended with a farewell party on Sunday. It was a sad moment of truth that we must bid a farewell to every one and head back to work. At the same time, there was a great deal of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that all of us have made this Banff conference one of the most successful meetings. During and after the conference, I have received a number of comments from the participants. There is one common point raised by many people: that the Banff Centre has provided us with superb and courteous service and unsurpassed hospitality, including fine meals. In particular, we cannot forget our efficient and friendly coordinator Ms. Michiko Ellis, whose wonderful work significantly contributed to the success of the conference. Mr. Jim Olver's welcome talk and his constant overseeing of a variety of functions were also much appreciated. Thank you all! Wherever you are, let us meet again somewhere and sometime. Should you wish to have another conference in Banff, I would be most delighted. Banff is one of my most favourite places. With very best wishes, Nishi (Shizuhiko Nishisato, Conference Chair) P.S. Important Corrections to the Proceedings The following errors were reported. The errors are strictly due to my careless mistake in handling the paper: (1) Page 176, Volume 2, in the paper by Takashi Nakamura "Cohort Analysis of Data Obtained Using a Multiple Choice Question. In the last five lines, formula numbers (15) and (16) should be (1) and (2), respectively. (2) Page 178 of the same paper. Section 4 and Rereferences are missing: "4. Example The BMLC model is applied to data from the nationwide survey on the Japanese national character conducted every five years since 1953. The data analyzed is concerned with the religious attitude asking 'Without reference to any established religions, do you think a religious attitude is important, or not important?' (#3.2). The response categories are treated here as 'Important,''Not important,' and 'Other+D.K.' The results of the analysis using the BMLC model on all categories simulataneously are compared with those using the BLC model with each category separated. The former model is more useful than the latter in giving us a consistent interpretation. References Akaike, H. (1980). Likelihood and the Bayes Procedure. In J.M. Bernardo, M. H. DeGroot, D.V. Lindley, and A.F.M. Smith (eds.), Bayesian Statistics, 143-166. University Press, Valencia. Nakamura, T. (1982). A Beyesian cohort model for standard cohort table analyses. Proceedings of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 29, 77-97 (in Japanese) Nakamura, T. (1986). Bayesian cohort models for general cohort table analyses. Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 32 , 353-370. Nakamura, T. (1995). Bayesian logit cohort models with age-by-period interaction effects and an over-dispersion parameter and their application to the data from the study of the Japanese national character. Proceedings of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 43, 99-119. (in Japanese)." If you wish to obtain a copy of the corrected paper, please write to S. Nishisato. To the extent feasible, I will make a copy and send it to you. Banff and the Banff Centre for ConferencesThe picturesque town of Banff is located 130 km (82 miles) west of Calgary, the eastern gateway to the Canadian Rockies. It is situated within Banff National Park, at an elevation of 1384 metres (4539 feet). World-renowned Lake Louise is only 64 km (39 miles) west of Banff. The trip from Calgary to Banff lasts one hour and 45 minutes by car or coach as it draws nearer the magnificent granite peaks of Canada's most impressive national parks. The Banff Centre for Conferences is located halfway up Tunnel Mountain, affording magnificent views of the Canadian Rockies (See how to get there) . Its setting is one of rare beauty, with woods surrounding the conference buildings on all sides and with elk as year-round visitors. The Centre offers a superb venue for meetings and accommodation. Banff and Banff Centre for Conferences. Please visit the following sites for information: Site 1--- A beautiful view of Banff from Sulphur Mountain Site 2---Discover Banff Site 3---More on Banff Site 4---The Banff Centre How to Get There (1)By Car from Calgary Airport: Depart airport via Barlow Trail (towards Calgary City Centre), take 16th Avenue West exit, remain on 16th Avenue West and it becomes the Trans-Canada Highway #1, and takes you directly to Banff. (Banff townsite to the Banff Centre): Travelling along the Trans-Canada Highway #1, take the first exit to Banff, make a left turn at the base of the exit ramp, follow Banff Avenue to Wolf Street, turn left onto Wolf Street, continue up Wolf to T-intersection and turn right onto St. Julien Road, this raod leads directly to the Banff Centre. (2) (a) By Bus from Calgary Airport (Banff Airporter): Leave (Bus Bay 4) 8:30 - Arrive (Banff) 10:15; Lv 10:30 - Arr 12:15 Lv 12:30 - Arr 14:15; Lv 14:30 - Arr (16:15) Lv 16:30 - Arr 18:15; Lv 18:30 = Arr 20:15 Lv 20:30 - Arr 22:15' Lv 22:30 - Arr 0:15 (b) From Banff to Calgary Airport (Banff Airporter) (Bus will stop at several locations in Banff - the informatin will be provided during the conference) Lv Banff 5:00 - Arrive at Calgary Airport 7:00 Lv 7:70 - Arr 9:30; Lv 9:30 - Arr 11:30; Lv 11:30 - Arr 13:30 Lv 15:30 - Arr 17:30; Lv 17:30 - Arr 19:30' Lv 19:30 - Arr 21:30 One Way $34.00 Canadian; Return $65.00 Canadian Banff Airporter (403) 762-3330; Toll free 1-888-449-2901
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