7th Arizona Botany Meeting

The purpose of this email is to invite you to attend the Seventh Arizona Botany Meeting, hosted by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM), the Desert Botanical Garden, and the Arizona Native Plant Society. This year's theme is "Riparian Areas, Springs and Cienegas". The main meeting will be held at ASDM in the Baldwin Education Building on Saturday, February 20st, 2010, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Field trips will be on the 19th and 21nd of February, with an AZNPS Board meeting to be held on the 19th.

Our goal is to again foster a spirit of cooperation for the sharing of ideas among and facilitating collaboration between individuals from academic institutions, local, state, and federal government agencies, and non-governmental organizations from across the state of Arizona that motivated our first meeting (February 2003), and also to provide a forum to meet others who share an interest in the flora of
Arizona and surrounding areas within the Southwest.

The list of scheduled speakers includes: Ronal Tiller (The Nature Conservancy), Evan Gwilliam (National Park Service), Brad Boyle (University of Arizona), and Larry Stevens (Museum of Northern Arizona) will deliver the keynote address titled "The Ecology and Stewardwardship of Arizona Springs". There will also be time for
approximately six short presentations of 15 minutes each. Those interested in presenting a short talk of their work are encouraged to contact Andrew Salywon (asalywon@dbg.org). Space will also be available for relevant poster presentations relevant and tables will be available for display of relevant literature and books or organizations.

Field trips are free and will be offered on Sunday (Feb. 21nd) and the Desert Museum Gardens on Friday (Feb 19th). More information on field trips will follow as planning continues and sites are confirmed. An Arizona Native Plant Society Board meeting will take place on Friday the 19th. Anyone is welcome to attend.

The registration fee for the meeting is $32 and will include an entrance pass to the Desert Museum, lunch, refreshments (coffee & tea), and a 10% discount on at the Museum's Gift Shops. At a separate cost of $18, a social hour will follow the afternoon sessions including a cash bar and dinner. A reduced fee of $15 is offered to undergraduate and graduate students. Early registration for the meeting will be due by 6 February 10. Late registration fee (after 6 Feb) is $45 ($25 students). Registration will not be accepted after 13 February.

Information, preliminary programs and registration materials will be posted on the ASDM website (http://www.desertmuseum.org/azbotany/).

Please spread the word and mark your calendars for AZ Botany 2010. We look forward to seeing you for what we hope to be another successful and productive meeting.

Sincerely,
George Montgomery
Andrew Salywon

For AZ Botany 2010 Organizing Committee:
Wendy Hodgson (DBG)
George Montgomery (ASDM)
Barbara Phillips (AZNPS)
Andrew Salywon (DBG)
Tom Van Devender (SIA)