Dear all - Those of you intending to present papers at the International Congress of Biological Invasions (ICBI) need to submit your abstracts by Aug 20. This includes any papers intended for the session on pinewood nematode sponsored by our IUFRO WP on Invasive Species in International Trade. Since this session will be part of the ICBI, abstracts on this topic DO need to be submitted via the Congress website by Aug 20. Full papers for the Congress will be due October 1. Here's the Congress web link: http://www.icbi2013.org/web/index.aspx which also has information about the hotel for the Congress. Note that this is NOT the same hotel as we will use for the IUFRO/IFQRG meeting the following week. Logistics of our joint IUFRO WP and IFQRG meeting (to be held AFTER the ICBI - October 27-November1): October 27: A one-day field trip is planned to Mountain Lao, where PWN is in active eradication. Attendees of the field trip may bring their bags, as we will be dropped off at the end of the field trip at our new hotel, Haimengyuan Hotel, which is very near the Qingdao Agricultural University meeting site. The university has offered to provide buffet meals while we are there, so meal costs should be quite reasonable. Hotel rooms will be 300-400 RMB/night, (less than 70 USD) and include breakfast. For hotel information see: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297458-d1840755-Reviews-Haimengyua… Please use the attached form to let us know if you plan to attend, and what topic you'd like to speak on. Our IUFRO meeting will comprise the first part of the IFQRG (their usual "science" section), but I encourage you to stay for the entire IFQRG, as it will be a great way to see how science gets used by regulators in the international arena. Eric has asked for supporting documents you'd like distributed to participants to be sent him by October 1 (eallen@nrcan.gov.ca<mailto:eallen@nrcan.gov.ca>). He'll post them to the IFQRG website and send you the secret code to access it. You should download the documents before you come, and if you want a hard copy to refer to during the discussions, you need to bring it with you. Also, I need to know if you plan to attend the field trip, as the price per participant will depend on how many go. We are getting a very good price on the bus, so it should cost well below $100 USD (maybe as low as $50), including lunch. I'm attaching a form for you to use to advise us of your intentions. The Chinese are really being helpful with the costs, so come enjoy their hospitality and make some new friends and colleagues. I'm also attaching Eric's mailing re IFQRG. This organization gets more at incorporating science into IPPC policy. For newbies I attach a short description of the two organizations. If you have questions about either one, feel free to call or write. You need to register with ICBI (and pay registration) if you plan to attend that Congress. (Please note their registration covers lunches and dinners during the Congress.) For the joint IUFRO/IFQRG meeting that follows, Just send the form with your talk title (if any) and planned dates of attendance to EITHER Eric or to me, and we will share the information. The organizers will collect the field trip cost in Qingdao, and there is no other registration fee. Hope to see you in Qingdao! Kerry Britton PS: please forgive me if you are on both lists and got this message twice! Dr. Kerry O. Britton National Pathologist for U.S.D.A. Forest Service Research & Development 1601 N. Kent Street, RPC-4 Arlington, VA 22209 phone: 703-605-4170 FAX: 703-605-5133 email: kbritton01@fs.fed.us<mailto:kbritton01@fs.fed.us> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.