VSO Annual Meeting Schedule

VSO Annual Meeting Field Trips

Have you signed up yet for a glorious weekend of birding in the beautiful mountains and valleys of Roanoke with the Roanoke Valley Bird Club?  The deadline to register is April 19, and more details can be found in your winter VSO newsletter, as well as on the VSO and the host club’s websites at www.virginiabirds.net and www.roanokevalleybirdclub.com.  Register electronically at the VSO website or by mailing a check with the Registration Form.  As you fill out your registration form you can also purchase a chance to bird with Pete Dunne on Saturday morning.  Prices per person are: registration $40, banquet $36, and raffle $10. 

The Sheraton Roanoke is headquarters for the meeting.  April 8 is the deadline to reserve a room at the special rate of $99 plus tax; this rate will also be honored for three days prior to and after the meeting.  Call 800-563-3535 or 540-563-9300 and identify yourself as part of the Virginia Society of Ornithology 2016 Annual Meeting, or reserve online at https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1510291635&key=1EEF0375. 
When you pick up your registration packet, you may sign up for a boxed lunch to take on your field trips Saturday and/or Sunday.  Lunches will include sandwich, chips, cookie and beverage for $13 each.  Otherwise lunch is on your own at the Sheraton’s award-winning Shula’s 347 Grill or at another of the fine restaurants Roanoke has to offer.  Field trip leaders may have suggestions for restaurants in the vicinity of your trip.  The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle rides to Valley View Mall for its guests, where you will find a wide variety of places to eat.  For breakfast at the hotel you may purchase a hot breakfast buffet or menu item at Pi Kitchen, or lighter fare at the Market, both opening at 6 a.m.

We will start the weekend with several field trips Friday afternoon (preregistration required at 540-580-5214 or RVBC2015@OUTLOOK.COM), followed by a social hour, a short business meeting and a program about the birds of the area presented by Jerry Via.  Saturday and Sunday mornings we will offer a plethora of field trips, which you will sign up for Friday afternoon and evening as you check in at the registration table.  On Saturday, visit the paper session to learn about recent research in the field of ornithology, followed by a social hour and the weekend’s highlight, a banquet featuring acclaimed author and speaker Pete Dunne.

On Friday and Saturday, be sure to look for our silent auction with many wonderful bird and outdoors-oriented items, as well as some exciting gifts and discount coupons for restaurants.  If you’re suffering from “warbler neck” after all the great birding Saturday morning, try a relaxing chair massage; we suggest a donation of $1/minute to the trained massage therapist.

Limited exhibit and vendor space is available.  Prices are $10/individual, $20/business, and nonprofits are free.  Limited advertising space is available in the program.  Rates are $90/full page, $60/half page, $45/quarter page and $25/business card size.

Proposals for the paper session will be accepted until March 20.  Submission guidelines can be found in the winter VSO newsletter or online at www.virginiabirds.net or www.roanokevalleybirdclub.com.

For more information contact Alyce Quinn: twoquinns@yahoo.com or 540-719-0109

Exhibit/vendor space (deadline March 15):
Robin Austin, 540-929-5222, rvbcrobin@yahoo.com

Paper session (deadline March 20):
Carole Massart, carolemassart@msn.com, 540-890-4806

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