2008 Symposium: Northern California Plant Life: Celebrating What We Have With an Eye to the Future

January 14-16, 2008
at California State University, Chico

“Northern California Botanists” would like to thank everyone who participated in their second annual Symposium last January 14-16, 2008.  Everyone who was at the symposium is responsible for its resounding success.  That includes the 297 registered participants, the 12 vendors, the 27 poster presenters, and especially the 38 speakers, 8 session chairs, the workshop leaders, and the keynote speaker.  Many volunteers, as well as the board members of “Northern California Botanists,” put many hours into preparing this symposium, and the enthusiastic response of all of the participants demonstrates the great value of and need for these symposia.  This year Chico State’s Center for Regional and Continuing Education handled all of the background details from symposium registration, to meeting room and dining arrangements, to snacks, meals, and refreshments.  This also greatly contributed to the success of the symposium.  Thank you one and all!

Among the participants were 57 who registered as students (we know that there were more students than that present, so many students registered at the regular rate).  28 student stipends were handed out to help with travel and lodging.  Students were present from at least 11 different universities and 3 community colleges.  Increasing student attendance at this year’s symposium was a major goal of the “Northern California Botanists” and that goal was achieved.

January 17-19, 2009, the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) will be holding a major Conservation Conference in Sacramento.  Thus there will not be a “Northern California Botanists” symposium in 2009.  We highly recommend that you consider attending the CNPS 2009 conference.  You can find more information about “CNPS 2009 Conservation Conference: Strategies and Solutions” at
www.cnps.org/cnps/conservation/conference/2009/. 
"The main goal of this conference is to identify and promote science- and policy-based strategies and solutions to improve the conservation of California’s native flora and natural landscapes.”  There is still time to get involved in the planning of this conference, to offer to present a paper or poster, or to be active in any number of ways in making this conference a success.  Look for “Northern California Botanists” to have a presence at this important conference.

 “Northern California Botanists” annual symposia will return in January of 2010.  Dates and other information will be sent out and posted to our web site as it becomes available during 2009.