Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 02:32:08 EST From: Davidogray@aol.com To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg329$foo@default> Subject: Number of participants for the ICPS World Conference
Hello to Don, and to all the readers of this list,
I saw your post on the CP listserve and as I am the primary organizer for the
Conference, I thought I should respond.
First, let me say the conference is not yet sold out; if you or anyone else
wants to register, there are still over 70 places available. I can provide
more information for registering if you request it.
The BACPS has volunteered to host the event in the San Francisco Bay Area; no
other group in the United States seemed interested in hosting a conference
this year. We started this planning process over 14 months ago, and a group
of members have met many many times over many months to work on the hundreds
of details that are involved in putting on the conference. These meetings
were announced at the BACPS general meetings and were open to all.
We were unable to find a free location for the Conference, as had been the
case for the previous conferences. As space is in high demand in the Bay Area
and as we had to reserve a hall long in advance, we had to choose an
arbitrary number of seats in our search for the venue.
None of the previous conferences have attracted more than 160 people. This
conference will also be the most expensive conference and will likely be less
well-attended than the ones in Bonn and Atlanta.
The members of the organizing committee felt the large room in Building A at
the Fort Mason Center was a good balance between expense and capacity. It
also has adjoining rooms for related events, such as exhibitions and retail
areas. We also feel we have secured a most beautiful site for the Conference,
right on San Francisco Bay.
We also strongly encouraged a very early registration so that if there was
more interest than anticipated, we could seek other spaces for a larger
audience. We had over 90 people register early.
There *will* be a sales area, and it will be open to the general public if
the vendors are willing. As well, there are going to be workshops open to the
general public, albeit on a space-available basis, and a photography show and
contest. We have taken steps to make this conference a more diverse and
appealing one to hobbyists, who in past conferences were put off by many of
the scholarly talks.
I hope you will take the opportunity of the conference in San Francisco to
join us, the dozens of researchers, botanists, nurserymen, conservationists,
and hobbyists who will be gathered in appreciating not just the plants, but
the people who appreciate the plants.
For those of you who have already registered, let me apologize for my long
delay in sending more registration information ( especially those hotel
numbers ); that information will go out Wed. the 2nd of Feb. Please do not
hesitate to write me with your questions or comments.
Sincerely, and as always,
Cheers,
David O. Gray
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