Native Plant Society of New Mexico Native Plant Society of New Mexico

The big Conservation Conference is almost here!

Workshops are selling out, hotels are filling up, and those who don’t register soon will be left at home while their friends are having a great time.

Below are some updates and hints to make sure you don’t miss out.

The CNPS 2015 Conference, Celebrating 50 Years of Progress and Promise, begins January 13 with two days of workshops and field trips in the San Jose area. The main conference then takes place Thursday through Saturday January 15-17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, San Jose.

 

	·         Workshops are selling out, but some spaces are still available if you register now. These provide rare opportunities to learn from experts, and for professionals to earn Continuing Education Credits from the AICP, APLD, CLCA, DPR, ISA, PLANET, SRM, and SWS.
	·         Thursday evening is looking awesome. After the Lightning Talks, the joyful welcome reception will bring everyone together before we segue into evening poetry and Songfest and Music Jam in the delightfully-dated disco bar!
	·         This just in: Thursday evening’s “Poets and Writers” event, organized by Malcolm Margolin, will include participation by Robert Hass: native Californian, co-founder of the River of Words, and Poet Laureate of the United States! What’s more, Heyday Press has commissioned a limited edition broadside in honor of the conference, with poetry by Robert Pack Browning and illustration by Jos Sanches. Pack Browning will participate!
	·         Due to high demand, CNPS has negotiated additional discounted room blocks. Interested in carpooling or sharing a hotel room? Parking is cheap, and the venue is transit accessible. The room and ride share board will help if you want to share. Full info is available at http://CNPS.org/2015
	·         Hear big ideas for the future from keynote and plenary speakers, including plenary address by Michael Soulé, and banquet talk by Jared Farmer.
	·         The Friday night mixer and banquet celebration will include scores of great auction items –including some terribly valuable Esri software and some wonderful dream vacations.
	·         The conference concludes Saturday afternoon with a special “Progress and Promise” session starring Jack Dangermond (founder of Esri), Paul Ehrlich (author of the Population Bomb), Rebecca Moore (Google Earth), Peter Raven(godfather of California plant conservation), and Kim Stanley Robinson (award-winning author).
	·         A limited number of special one-day registrations are available for those wishing to attend just the special events –and who are able to act fast before they sell out!
	·         You may now view the final program, including special events and over 300 presenters in 25 themed sessions, plus all-new Lightning Talks!