The 53rd annual Southern Forest Insect Work Conference will be 20-23 July 2010 (Tuesday - Friday) in Wilmington, North Carolina USA. We have chosen the Hilton Wilmington Riverside as our meeting hotel. Although we soon will be updating the SFIWC website (http://sfiwc.org) with this year's registration form, I encourage you to make your hotel reservation as soon as possible. We have a block of 90 rooms set aside for the group until May 19, so make your reservations by this date. Don't miss out on the special pricing! Here are the details: Date: 20-23 July 2010 Place: Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 301 N. Water St., Wilmington, North Carolina USA Phone reservation: 1-888-324-8170. Online reservation: http://www.wilmingtonhilton.com. Ask for the Southern Forest Insect Work Conference group rate, using the code "SOR". Overnight parking is $9.00/day. Visit http://www.wilmingtonhilton.com for hotel information. Room rates are $98.00 per night plus tax. Remember, this low rate is valid only until May 19, and only for the first 90 rooms (first 30 on Monday, July 19). Make your reservation right away! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And an update on the 2010 SFIWC Program from Kier Klepzig and Fred Stephen (Co-Program Chairs): SFIWC 2010 - Invasives: Theory and Practice The theme of the 2010 SFIWC will be Invasives. We are looking to design a program that allows for broad discussion and scientific exchange of the theory and practice (monitoring, control, mitigation, restoration) of dealing with invasive insects. To that end, we are planning the following Plenary Session - Invasion Theory - Invasion biology - Predicting invasions - Cost/benefits of controlling invasions - Eradication or management - when to let go? Concurrent sessions - will focus on specific insects to encourage discussion and idea exchange on current work, planned research, methods, analyses, etc. These sessions may include - Sirex noctilio - Invasive bark and ambrosia beetles (red bay, Scolytus schevyrewi, thousand cankers disease, etc.) - Hemlock woolly adelgid - Emerald ash borer - others? Additional sessions may include - SPB: Is it an endangered species? - Climate change and insect dynamics We welcome suggestions for the program, and need volunteers to moderate and/or speak. Please volunteer !!! Please send your responses to Kier Klepzig (kklepzig(a)fs.fed.us; 828-257-4307) or Fred Stephen (fstephen(a)uark.edu; 479-575-2451). Thanks! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope to see you in Wilmington on July 20! - Will William P. Shepherd, SFIWC Secretary-Treasurer USDA Forest Service SRS 2500 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 USA Voice: 318-473-7256 FAX: 318-473-7222 E-mail: williamshepherd(a)fs.fed.us SFIWC website: http://sfiwc.org