38th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology

Mixer

The welcome mixer will be held in the Lucy Cuddy Center on campus on the evening of Sunday, August 7. Extra tickets are available for guests; price includes transportation (to on campus location), drinks, and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Excursion

For the excursion, we will board luxurious coach buses on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 9. Our trip will begin with a drive along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet (with one of the highest tides in the world) to Mt. Alyeska. At Alyeska, we will take the tram up to the mountain top (a 2100 ft. rise in elevation) where we will have lunch at the Glacier Express Restaurant. The views from the top are magnificant! We should be able to see Mt. McKinley, several glaciers, and the entire expanse of Cook Inlet. So bring your camera and your binoculars if you have them. There are fabulous hiking paths and a trail for those who wish to hike down the mountain rather than taking the tram. Next we will visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where we will view animals in VERY large natural environments. We will see moose, elk, bison, musk ox, caribou, grizzly bears, black bears, bald eagles, and other birds of prey. Time permitting, we will stop at Bird Point on the way back to Anchorage.

Potters Marsh just outside of Anchorage, site of summer salmon runs and wildlife viewing.

5K Race

The race will be held on campus, using an established path close to the Housing Commons that winds around Behm Lake. The trail is fairly flat; you may observe moose or other wildlife along this route.

The 5K race will follow the path around Behm Lake on campus near student housing. Watch for moose in the creek that runs through campus! Photos by Kelli Hoover.

Barbeque

Following the excursion, the barbeque will be held at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the first visitor attraction devoted entirely to the exploration and display of the art, traditional customs and lifestyle of Alaska Native groups. Situated on a 26-acre wooded site, the Alaska Native Heritage Center features a Welcome-House, numerous exhibits, and five re-created, traditional village settings surrounding a small lake, offering a unique opportunity to learn about and explore the traditional Alaskan Native cultures. We will be treated to performances by native dancers, Athabascan fiddlers, and native guides at each village. Following dinner and entertainment, we will have a DJ to provide a variety of music for dancing. The 5K race awards will be presented at the barbeque. The cost of the barbeque is included in the registration fee. Extra tickets for guests are available during registration; price includes transportation, admission to the Native Heritage Center, entertainment, drinks, and dinner.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Photo at left by Kelli Hoover. Photo below courtesy of Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Banquet

The Society banquet will he held at the Captain Cook hotel in downtown Anchorage on Thursday evening. The Captain Cook is by far the most luxurious hotel in Alaska. The Crow's Nest restaurant located on the top of the hotel deserves a visit, commanding panoramic views of the Chugach Mountain Range and Cook Inlet, where guests can often enjoy whale watching. We will be treated to a fabulous meal featuring local fresh fish and produce. Extra guest tickets are available during registration; price includes transportation, drinks, dinner with wine service, and live band for after dinner dancing. Student awards and the Founder’s lecture award will be presented at the banquet.