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Texas Master Naturalist 8th Annual Statewide Meeting and Advanced Training

Texas Master Naturalist
8th Annual Statewide Meeting and Advanced Training

October 12-14, 2007

Hilton-San Antonio Airport
San Antonio, Texas

Dear Master Naturalist Participant:

We are pleased to extend an invitation to ALL Master Naturalist participants and their guests to attend our 8th Annual Texas Master Naturalist Meeting & Advanced Training. All Master Naturalist affiliates are invited to attend—this includes those Certified, in training, advisors of local chapters, local chapter partners, sponsors, family members and special guests.

The 2007 Annual Meeting & Advanced Training will offer many new opportunities in a new location! This year's gathering will be a special one commemorating the 10th Anniversary of our founding Texas Master Naturalist Chapter—the Alamo Area Chapter as well as our chapters celebrating their 5th Anniversary. There will be several new chapter enhancement and Advanced Training topics to choose from. Our schedule of events will offer great opportunities to meet your fellow Master Naturalist peers from our 38 Chapters across the state and share new ideas from the past year. Hear what projects your peers are contributing their volunteer time towards and make new acquaintances all at the same time. An awards banquet for the whole family to take part in, the Master Naturalist Store and other big surprises are also on the agenda. So, come out for a weekend filled with fun, fellowship, and a Fiesta—Texas Master Naturalist style!!!

Scholarships

The Master Naturalist program and Texas Parks & Wildlife will have one small grant/scholarship available to each Chapter to help offset the registration cost associated with the Annual Meeting & Advanced Training for an attending member. The scholarship recipient must be selected and pre-approved by the local Chapter with notification given to the contact listed here. Scholarship winners shall contact Sonny Arnold for further registration instructions. All scholarship recipients must register prior to the latest listed deadline. For more details, contact Sonny Arnold at (979) 458-1099 or sarnold@ag.tamu.edu. Sorry, scholarships are not refundable or transferable and cannot be honored after the deadline.

The Master Naturalist Store

While at the Annual Meeting and Advanced Training, be sure to stop by the Master Naturalist store where there will be vendors featuring naturalist inspired books, crafts and our Master Naturalist clothing collection.

New this Year... Awards Banquet

New this year is a genuine Awards Banquet the whole family can participate in! As a Texas Master Naturalist, you work hard volunteering and training all year, or in some cases, over the past several years, which often means time spent away from your family. We’re adding a traditional awards banquet to the agenda this year so that you can invite your family members to share in your accomplishments and success as a Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer! For more information on purchasing banquet tickets for your family members see the registration form.

New this Year... Fund Raiser Raffle & Silent Auction

For each raffle item you bring as a donation to the meeting, receive a free raffle ticket to increase your chances of winning. Bring 5 silent auction items each valued at $10 or more and receive a $10 BUMP-UP BID PASS that could be used to increase one of your bids at the silent auction. All proceeds from the event will go to support scholarships, project fair awards and non-profit organizations donating their services for this year's annual meeting.

New This year... A Natural Taste of Texas BBQ and Fiesta Cook-off

Your chapter has a unique opportunity to participate in this year's annual meeting, by showcasing your area's special flavor at our first ever fiesta social—a Fiesta cook-off, kick-off Welcoming event. We encourage all of the chapters to sponsor a food booth highlighting a signature dish from your area. Samples of your dish will serve as hors d'oeuvres during this social in addition to the wild game samples provided by the TPWD Game Wardens and a ceremoniously roasted feral hog. Chapters are asked to decorate your area, provide sample amounts of the food of your choice to fellow members attending the event and have your cook off team man your booth. Multiple Prizes will be given. Let us know if your chuck wagon is coming! Contact Michelle Haggerty for more details. Extra tickets for family members can be purchased for this event. See registration page for details.

Returning this year... Project Fair

This event is planned for Saturday, October 13th at the Annual Meeting. Each Chapter will have the opportunity to showcase an exemplary project of their choice at the third annual Project Fair. This will provide an opportunity to share a successful project and give other chapters ideas to take home and implement. Plan to exhibit an example of the service project work that your members have completed with pride! Contact Michelle Haggerty or Sonny Arnold for more information and display guidelines for this year's event at mhaggerty@wfscgate.tamu.edu or sarnold@ag.tamu.edu. Come see which volunteer projects will be honored as "Exemplary Project" Award Winners this year.

Photo & Art Contest

Enter your favorite photo or art work into the Texas Master Naturalist Photo & Art Contest while at the Annual Meeting. Just bring your item(s)—or send them with a friend. Winners will be announced Sunday morning of the conference. Photo & Art Contest entries should be placed on exhibit no later than 5:00 pm in the designated area on Friday, October 12th. Judging will take place by popular vote of attendees during designated times. Photos should be brought to the meeting labeled on the back including the participant's name, chapter, category and a title for the work.

Photo & Art Contest Rules

All entries must be submitted by a Master Naturalist. All entries must be the original photos and art work of a Texas Master Naturalist volunteer. Photograph categories include: 1) Wildlife 2) Plants 3) Scenery 4) Chapter Projects and/or Master Naturalist(s) at work or play. Photographs (black & white or color) will compete together in each category. Photographs should be unmatted, unframed and be of a standard size up to "8x10" and have no digital enhancements. Entries are limited to one per category per individual. Art entries may include original drawings, paintings, carvings and sculpture. All art entries compete in one category. In the event there are less than five entries in a given photo or art category a placement ribbon will not be awarded.

Returning This Year - Chapter Scrapbook Contest

Each Texas Master Naturalist chapter has the opportunity to enter their chapter scrapbook for this contest. Judging will be done by popular vote of attendees. One scrapbook per chapter please. Each chapter setting up their book by Friday evening will automatically be eligible for the contest. Winners will be determined by popular vote by meeting attendees and announced Sunday morning.

Annual Meeting Volunteer Service Project

A volunteer service project has become a Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting Tradition! Learn, Serve and Earn all at the same time through an actual on-the-ground project! After all, natural resource training and volunteer service is what we're all about, isn't it?!? Learn more about the volunteer service projects at the annual meeting on the registration page.

Registration Fees

NOTE: Registration is no longer available for the 2007 Master Naturalist Conference.

$125, Early Registration (until September 18, 2007)
$150, Late Registration (September 19, 2007 until September 25, 2007)

Payment must be postmarked by September 18, 2007 in order to avoid the late fee. Event Management and Planning (EM&P) cannot invoice; therefore, payment of the conference registration fee must be received prior to admission to the conference.

For payment processing purposes, the vendor identification number for TTI-EM&P is 37277277275000. The federal identification number is 74-2270624.

You may pay your registration fee by check, money order, credit card, or purchase voucher. Please make checks or money orders payable to TTI-TMN and mail your payment to EM&P. EM&P also accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards.

If paying by check or money order, you may register online and then mail your payment. Payment will still need to be postmarked by September 18, 2007 in order to avoid the late fee.

Cancellations

Only cancellations received in writing by EM&P by 5:00 p.m. September 25, 2007, will be refunded, less a $25 handling fee. No refunds will be made after September 25, 2007.

Accommodations

Our Host Hotel

The Hilton-San Antonio Airport (view local map online), located at 611 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas 78216, is our host hotel this year! The hotel is just 2 miles from the San Antonio International Airport and minutes from downtown and City-owned natural areas by having easy access to all major highways and interstates and numerous other city attractions like the world famous Riverwalk, amusement parks and the San Antonio Zoo! The Hotel boasts spacious rooms, tastefully decorated in Texas decor. Wireless High Speed Internet, a restaurant, sports bar, heated pool and whirlpool, gift shop and ample parking are among this hotel's standard full service amenities. For more hotel information and features visit www.sanantonioairport.hilton.com.

Room Costs

$85.00 per room per night for a King sized room OR a Double room. King sized rooms allow up to two people with a king-sized bed. Double Rooms allow up to four people per room with two double beds. Roll-a-way beds can be ordered at an extra cost. On a budget? Consider rooming with a few friends or family members to cut down on lodging expenses. You will need to make your room arrangements and payments directly with the Hilton. If needed, room rates may be extended three days prior to and/or after the event, based on availability.

Booking Your Room(s)

Be sure to book your room online or by phone today! To make reservations Phone: (888) 728-3031 or visit: www.sanantonioairport.hilton.com.

Make sure you mention (or input on-line) our special group rate code [TPWD-TMN] when booking a room.

Room rates are guaranteed when reservations are made and secured with your own credit card by September 14th, 2007.

Annual Meeting Registration and Fees

Your lodging accommodations must be made on your own directly with the Hilton and are separate from the Annual Meeting per person registration fee. This means you get the opportunity to make your own room arrangements and your choice of room style all at an affordable price!! Meals, most training, and in some cases, transportation to off-site sessions will be covered with your paid Annual Meeting Registration. Food/meals—Friday evening thru Sunday morning—are included with each individual meeting registration.

What to Bring

Dress for the weekend is casual. Bring the appropriate field gear for your preferred Advanced Training Sessions. Don't forget your notepads, bug spray, sunscreen, water bottle, binoculars, comfortable field shoes, hats, and raingear. The training sessions will take place rain or shine—so in other words, dress for the weather! You will need to bring your own toiletries and other personal items. Some other items you might want to bring include; an alarm clock, camera, flashlight, dominos or a musical instrument to play during social times. Your Master Naturalist Chapter t-shirts, hats, pins, etc. to wear, share and show off are also must-bring items. We also ask that each chapter bring one or a few items for the first-ever silent auction.

Volunteers Needed

Numerous opportunities to help at the Annual Meeting are available. If interested in any of the following opportunities please contact Michelle Haggerty at (830) 896-2500 or by email at mhaggerty@wfscgate.tamu.edu.

  • Equipment Unload and Set-up early Friday morning.
  • Registration and Information Table: check-in attendees, hand out registration packets.
  • Room/Field Trip Host: Welcome speakers, assist them with classroom set up, introduce trainers, and assist as runner/classroom helper, present speaker with appreciation gift.
  • Tech Table: assist presenters with setting up AV equipment, troubleshoot when needed.
  • Assist with Social set-up: assist chapters in setting up displays.
  • Photo & Art Contest: help man exhibit, help count votes.
  • Silent Auction: Collect donations prior to meeting, assist with auction set up.
  • Tear Down and Load-Up.
  • Assist with slide show: help collect and scan pictures from chapters and volunteers for inclusion into our Sunday morning slide show.

Driving Directions to the Hilton-San Antonio Airport

Construction along Loop 410 West is still in progress, yet accessing the hotel should not be a concern. Follow the directions below to easily reach the hotel. View a local map online showing the hotel's location. In the event of needing additional assistance, call the hotel at (210) 340-6060.

From Airport

Exit the airport and turn right onto Loop 410 West. Exit San Pedro Blvd. Proceed west on service road to Blanco. Turn right (North) on Blanco to next stop light at Lockhill Selma. Turn right to next intersection (1 block) and take another right to hotel. Hotel entrance on left. Property located on right between Blanco and San Pedro.

From North

IH 35 south to Loop 410 west. Exit San Pedro Blvd, proceed west on service road Blanco. Turn right (North) on Blanco to next stop light at Lockhill Selma. Turn right to next intersection (1 block) and take another right to hotel. Hotel entrance on left and on the North side of service road.

From South

IH 37 North. Exit on Airport Blvd and turn left to 410 west. Exit San Pedro Blvd and proceed west on service road to Blanco. Turn right (North) on Blanco to next stop light at Lockhill Selma. Turn right to next intersection (1 block) and take another right to hotel. Hotel entrance on left.

From East

IH 10 to 37 north, exit Airport Blvd, turn left onto 410 west. Exit San Pedro Blvd and proceed west. Hotel located on right hand side between San Pedro and Blanco. Go to Blanco stoplight, turn right to next stop light at Lockhill Selma. Turn right to next intersection (1 block) and take another right to hotel. Hotel entrance on left.

From West

IH 10 to loop 410 north. Exit Blanco and proceed left on Blanco road. Turn right at Lockhill Selma. Hotel entrance is the second entrance on the right hand side.

From Laredo

IH 35 north to US 281, exit Airport Blvd and take Loop 410 west. Exit at San Pedro Blvd and proceed west on service road to Blanco. Turn right on Blanco to next stop light at Lockhill Selma. Turn right to next intersection (1 block) and take another right to hotel. Hotel entrance on left.

From Del Rio

90 East to 37 (281) North. Take 37 north to Airport Blvd. Exit Loop 410 West, proceed about 2 miles to San Pedro Blvd. Follow service road, hotel located on right hand side between San Pedro and Blanco. Go to Blanco stoplight, turn right to next stop light at Lockhill Selma. Turn right to next intersection (1 block) and take another right to hotel. Hotel entrance on left.

For More Information

Program Contents
Michelle Haggerty
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
Master Naturalist Program Coordinator
309 Sidney Baker South
Kerrville, Texas 78028
ph. (830) 896-2500 · fax (830) 792-6167
mhaggerty@wfscgate.tamu.edu
Registration
Event Management & Planning
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 862-1219 · fax (979) 862-1225 · toll-free (888) 550-5577
events@tamu.edu

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