Dear Forest Entomologists and Health Specialists Everywhere, We are pleased to make the formal announcement for the 6th North American Forest Insect Work Conference to be held in Washington D.C. from May 31 to June 3, 2016. This is a notice to have you save these dates on your calendar. The conference theme is "Toward Healthy Forests: Leadership, Vision, and Action." The theme recognizes the host city, Washington D.C. which serves as the headquarters for federal agencies charged with managing National Forests in the U.S. The main goal of the conference will be to bring researchers, practitioners, and students in contact with agency leadership to inform each other and consider future trends and directions regarding forest health. Special emphasis will be on encouraging the use of research-based information in developing policies and actions that most benefit forest health in the face of a changing global environment. Our next generation of forest entomologists (students and post-docs) are our future leaders. Their exposure to agency leadership policy and the political environment that helps shape it will be critical in their professional development. The Conference will be held at the Washington Marriott at Wardman Park ( <http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasdt-washington-marriott-wardman-park/> http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasdt-washington-marriott-wardman-par…) We have arranged to contract off-season govt. per diem room rates during prime travel season. Organizing Committees have been formed Organizing Committee: Scott Salom ( <mailto:salom@vt.edu> salom(a)vt.edu) - Chair; Bob Rabaglia ( <mailto:brabaglia@fs.fed.us> brabaglia(a)fs.fed.us) and Kier Klepzig ( <mailto:kklepzig@fs.fed.us> kklepzig(a)fs.fed.us) - members Program Committee: Kier Klepzig - Chair; Don Duerr ( <mailto:dduerr@fs.fed.us> dduerr(a)fs.fed.us) Nadir Erbilgin ( <mailto:erbilgin@ualberta.ca> erbilgin(a)ualberta.ca) and Dan Herms ( <mailto:herms.2@osu.edu> herms.2(a)osu.edu) - members The conference will be managed in association with Continuing and Professional Education at Virginia Tech. This group specializes in planning conferences such as ours. We hope to have a website running soon to help facilitate information about the conference. Timely announcements will be made before long to get your input into developing a program. We will also provide details on registration, signing up for field trips, and booking reservations. Please contact the organizers if you have any questions or suggestions. Regards, Scott M. Salom, Ph.D. Professor – Forest Entomology Department of Entomology 216 Price Hall MC 0319 170 Drillfield Drive, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 Phone: 540-231-2794 Fax: 540-231-9131 Dept. Website: <http://www.ento.vt.edu/people/tenure/salom-scott/index.html> http://www.ento.vt.edu/people/tenure/salom-scott/index.html Interfaces of Global Change Website: <http://globalchangephd.com/> http://globalchangephd.com/