2013 Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

The 2013 TCAFS annual meeting will be held at LaToretta Lake Resort and Spa on Lake  Conroe in Montgomery on January 17-19, 2013.

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The theme of the Plenary Session is “Large Rivers and Reservoirs: Concepts & Challenges.” The meeting will consist of two continuing education courses, an evening social on Thursday, plenary and contributed sessions, our banquet/auction on Friday evening, and the TCAFS business meeting on Saturday.  For additional information, contact Richard Ott (richard.ott@tpwd.state.tx.us).  See information below on program overview, registration, and lodging to help plan your trip.

A draft verison of the Program is available for download.

Preliminary Program Overview:

Registration (Thursday, 1:00 – 5:30 PM and Friday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM)

Continuing Education Workshops (Thursday, 2:00 – 5:00 PM)

1)  Fish Pathology,  by  Greg Southard,  2:00 – 3:20 pm

2)  Processing images from Recreation-grade side scan sonar with Dr Depth software for use in a GIS.,  Dan Bennett,  3:40 – 5:00 pm

To sign up for the workshop, check the appropriate spot on the meeting registration form or contact Dan Bennett (dan.bennett@tpwd.state.tx.us; 903-566-2161) and/or  Richard Ott (richard.ott@tpwd.state.tx.us; 903-566-2161).

Student/Professional Mixer (Thursday, 5:30 – 7:30 PM) Just across the parking lot from the convention hotel at the adjacent convention center in Versailles  Room 2. There will be plenty of fun, networking opportunities for students. Beverages will be provided.

Plenary Session (Friday, 8:00 – 10:00 AM)   Three invited speakers will discuss issues and challenges to river and reservoir operation from the controlling authority perspective. Speakers will be Mike Rickman, Deputy Director – North Texas Municipal Water District; Dave Schuller – Lake Houston Sports and Recreation Foundation; and Jace Houston, General Manager – San Jacinto River Authority. A question and answer session will follow for the speaker panel.

Lunch (Friday, time period TBD) Friday’s lunch will be on your own, including the Student-Mentor Lunch.  To sign up for the student-mentor lunch, check the appropriate spot on the meeting registration form or contact Mandy Scott (mandy.scott@tpwd.state.tx.us; 325-651-5556).

Contributed Papers and Presentations (Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday, 8:00 – 10:00 AM)

Banquet and Auction (Friday, 6:30 – 10:00 PM) Supper and beverages will be provided as part of the registration price along with the famously entertaining TCAFS auction and raffle.

Past-presidents Breakfast (Saturday, 7:00 am) Past Presidents and current Chapter Officers will meet for a complimentary breakfast in the convention center’s Prime Restaurant in the private dining room adjacent to the restaurant.

TCAFS Business Meeting (Saturday, 10:20 AM – 12:00 PM)

Registration
Early registration fee will be $90 for professionals and $45 for students,  and includes access to continuing education workshops, Thursday night Student/Professional Mixer, all plenary and technical sessions, the Friday night banquet. Important – The deadline for early registration is January 7, 2013. Late registration will increase by $15 for professionals and $10 for students. Fees for extra guest banquet tickets will be $35.

Resort Information
LaToretta Lake Resort and Spa is located in Montgomery Texas on the banks of Lake Conroe.  From Houston take I-45 North toward Dallas, Exit 87A TX-105 W,  and travel 12 miles on TX-105 to Walden Road and turn right. Travel 2 miles on Walden Road and Turn right on La Torretta Boulevard.  From Dallas take I-45 South toward Houston, take exit 88 and turn right  on Loop 336 W,  turn right again  on TX-105 W and  travel 10 miles  to Walden Road. Turn right on Walden Road and travel  2 miles to La Torretta Boulevard.

More information on the hotel and convention center can be found at: http://www.latorrettalakeresort.com/.  Check-in time: 4:00 pm; Check-out time: 12:00 Noon.

I encourage all those needing commercial lodging to stay at the conference hotel to ensure we meet our room block obligations.  Room rates are $77 single king and $135 for a two double-size suite.  A $10 resort fee will apply per room per night. Resort fee includes 24 hr internet access, unlimited phone calls, all incoming faxes, in-room coffee and tea, and access to all of the resort activities (refer to the resort web site for details)  http://www.latorrettalakeresort.com/  Please also note that in order to get the reduced rate at the resort the first night’s lodging will be charged to your credit card at the time the reservation is made. The number to call to make your reservation is 877-286-9590.  Please identify yourselves as being with the “Texas Chapter, American Fisheries Society” in order to secure the group rate. You can also book your reservation online. If you book online, make sure to click the box in the lower right corner of the reservation page and enter the code TCAFS (you will get the opportunity to select a single or double suite). Important – the cutoff date for making your reservation is December 18, 2012 

Exhibitors

Exhibitors interested in obtaining space for their product should contact:

Brad Littrell
213 Hyltin St.
Hutto, TX 78634
512-557-0752
blittrell@bio-west.com

and/or

Greg Conley
11810 FM 848
Tyler, TX 75707
903-566-2581
greg.conley@tpwd.state.tx.us