2009 WBWG Biennial Conference (April 15-18) and Bats and Wind Energy Workshop (April 13-15)
The Western Bat Working Group, Bat Conservation International, and Texas Parks and Wildlife are pleased to bring you the 2009 Western Bat Working Group Conference and Wind Energy Workshop at the Town Lake Radisson in fun-filled Austin, Texas. The Bats and Wind Energy Workshop will run Monday April 13th through the afternoon of Wednesday April 15th. Experts in the field of wind energy and bats from North America and Europe will present a primer on the current issues associated with wind energy and bats, provide technical training and standardized protocols for conducting pre- and post-construction bat surveys, and for conducting wind energy site assessments. This workshop will provide state-of-the-art applications for addressing bats and wind energy issues. We will kick off The 2009 Western Bat Working Group Conference Wednesday April 15th with an evening social (Texas style of course). The platform papers will begin Thursday morning with a special session on the latest in wind energy research. This session will include presentations from some of the international instructors from the special wind energy workshop so that they have a chance to share their latest research efforts. Platform papers for the rest of the session will cover a range of conservation, management and research topics as driven by abstract submissions. Back by popular demand, the Poster Session will include Technology Demos like we had in Portland in 2005. Abstracts must be submitted by March 15, 2009 to Michelle Caviness. Your involvement in the Saturday morning workshop will be especially important this year as we will be working on a strategy to raise the awareness and prevention of potential spread of White Nose Syndrome to The West. WNS has continued spread at an alarming rate and there is a good chance its arrival in The West could be human caused. We will be addressing questions such as, "who do we need to reach out to? Partner with? What steps do we need to take to protect roosts? What are the priority roosts? How can we help to better inventory and monitor roosts without potentially escalating the very problem?" We will never have a better opportunity to fight WNS than prior to when it arrives - let's pull together and make it happen starting Saturday morning, April 18, 2009. The Bob Berry Fund will be launched with applications being accepted by late February and the first grants will be awarded at the meeting. Also, you will be saying adios to the outgoing Officers and welcoming your new Board of Officers. A bat conference in Austin wouldn???t be complete without a field trip to Bracken Cave (Thursday evening, dinner included) and of course we will have another spectacular auction with amazing items you can???t possibly live without ??? if you have something to donate please contact Pat Brown. There is yet another great bat t-shirt in the works, and Speleobooks will be joining us. So, get registered, dust off your bat brain, grab your sunscreen, camera, and cowboy boots and join us in Austin! Registration Fees: Student: $160.00 General: $180.00 After March 15: Student: $180.00 General: $200.00 For more information, see : _http://www.wbwg.org/business/biennialmeetings/2009/2009WBWGconference.html_ (http://www.wbwg.org/business/biennialmeetings/2009/2009WBWGconference.html) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1218822736x1201267884/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62)
