Continental Dialogue Meeting
October 5-6, 2010
Brandeis University -- Waltham, MA

Logistics

The meeting will take place at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.  If you have any logistical questions, please contact Debbie Lee (dlee@resolv.org; 202-965-6381) or Beth Weaver (bweaver@resolv.org; 202-965-6211) of RESOLVE.

Please note that some funding is available to assist participants with travel costs. If you are interested in participating and these expenses would preclude your attendance, please contact Debbie Lee (dlee@resolv.org; 202-965-6381) or Beth Weaver (bweaver@resolv.org; 202-965-6211) of RESOLVE.

Registration

• Online Registration CLOSED
  Online registration is being handled by EnergyMeetings.com and will show up on your credit card as R. L. Martin & Associates, Inc.

Registration for this meeting is limited and will be honored on a “first come-first serve” basis.  Please note that online registration will close on Tuesday, September 28th. After that date, you will be able to register onsite. Registration payment will be accepted onsite by credit card, check, or cash (please bring exact change). Please make checks payable to RESOLVE and mail to RESOLVE, c/o Debbie Lee, 1255 23rd St. NW, Suite 875, Washington D.C. 20037.

Thanks to a private grant, we are able to cover a significant portion of facility costs. There is, however, a registration fee that will cover all meals, refreshments and attendance on one of three concurrent field trips. The cost to attend the full event is $75; the cost for attending the first day only (Tuesday, October 5th) will be $45. This includes attendance on one of the field trips. The cost for attending the second day only (Wednesday, October 6th) will be $30.

Overnight Accommodations

A subsidized rate of $121/night plus tax has been secured for overnight accommodations at the Marriott Boston Newton, which is near the Brandeis University meeting venue.

Attendees must make their own reservations. Please contact the Marriott Boston Newton directly at 617-969-1000 and reference the “Continental Dialogue meeting” group rate.

Please note that the availability of overnight accommodations cannot be guaranteed after Tuesday, September 14, 2010.

Meeting Agenda

Please follow this link  to view a draft meeting agenda. We will be distributing additional background materials closer to the meeting date.

Field Trips

The Sixth Dialogue Meeting will include three field trips, to take place concurrently on the morning of Tuesday, October 5th. Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to attend ONE of the three trips. If you want to attend one of these trips, you will need to indicate which of the trips you plan to attend when registering for the meeting. There are space constraints and logistical considerations for each trip so please plan to register as early as possible to guarantee a spot. The cutoff date for field trip registration is Tuesday, September 28th.

All three trips will depart by bus from the Marriott Boston Newton on October 5th and conclude between 12:15 and 12:30 pm when the buses return to the Marriott. Following the field trips, attendees will proceed to Brandeis University to register and begin the first day of the meeting.

Field Trip #1 – The Asian Longhorn Beetle Experience in Worcester, MA
Worcester, MA is one of the hardest-hit towns in the United States of Asian Longhorn Beetle, first detected there in 2008.  This field trip will include stops that highlight the discovery of and community response to ALB, the impact on community forests, current restoration efforts, and the threat to forests further north.
Departure Time: 7:30 AM

Field Trip #2 – APHIS Otis Lab (Buzzards Bay, MA) - THIS IS FULL
The Otis Lab field trip will focus on the role USDA through the US Forest Service, APHIS, and the Agricultural Research Service plays in attempting to prevent, detect, and control introduced forest pests.  Topics will include agency programs, biological control, seriochemical attractants. This trip will be limited to 10 participants.
Departure Time: 6:30 AM – PLEASE NOTE THIS MEANS MEETING AT 6:15 A.M.

Field Trip #3 – Arnold Arboretum (Boston, MA)
Just recently, Asian Longhorn Beetle was detected across the street from the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. As the oldest public arboretum in North America, the Arnold Arboretum has a long history in dealing with invasive plants and invasive pests. This field trip is expected to be a 90 minute casual walking tour of this amazing facility, with several stops to highlight and discuss the Arboretum’s work with Hemlock woolly adelgid, their recent brushes with Asian Longhorn Beetles, and other topics of interest TBD.  This trip will be limited to 35 participants.
Departure Time: 8:00 AM