Greetings All Forest Entomologists and Friends,

I write you as the largest snowstorm in the history of Virginia is just starting.

We have been working furiously to get our 6th North American Forest Insect Work Conference organized.  I have several announcement for you to note:

Remember we are convening the meeting on May 31 with an early evening opening reception at the hotel. This is the day after Memorial Day.  The meeting will continue through Friday noon, June 3.

1.  Registration is live and online at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/nafiwc16/registration.html.  There are early and normal registration rates and special deals for students and  retirees.

2.  Reservations for lodgings has been and continues to be available at our conference hotel, the Washington Marriott Wardman Park at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/nafiwc16/location.html

3.  A wide-ranging and timely program is coming together.  thank you to all Concurrent Session organizers for your submissions. There will be a follow-up announcement with specifics on abstract submissions for both workshop invitees and posters.  Kier Klepzig has been leading the effort on developing the program and Robert Jetton is organizing the poster session.  Both are being helped by great teams.  

4.  Bob Rabaglia has put together a nice line-up of field trips listed at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/nafiwc16/tours.html.

Many of them will take place on Tuesday the 31st and are considered pre-meeting activities.  But some athletic events occur at night during the meeting if you are so inclined.   Please visit this link and contact the appropriate person to indicate your interest.  

5.  Sponsorship has been critically important in helping us cover some of the meeting expenses at one of the more expensive meeting locations in the country.  Please visit the Sponsors & Exhibitors Link to see who is supporting our conference at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/nafiwc16/sponsors.html.  If you know of any potential company or organization that might be interested in providing financial support to this conference, please contact John Riggins (jriggins@entomology.msstate.edu) who is chairing the Sponsorship Committee.  No contribution is too small or too large.

That’s it for now.  Please spread the word. The more participants the better.  Looking forward to seeing all of you in just a few months…when it won’t be snowing.

Scott

Scott M. Salom, Ph.D.

Professor 

Department of Entomology

216 Price Hall MC 0319

170 Drillfield Drive, Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA 24061

Phone: 540-231-2794

Dept. Website: http://www.ento.vt.edu/people/tenure/salom-scott/index.html

Interfaces of Global Change Website: http://globalchangephd.com/