Home  Who Are We?  Who's in Charge?  Why Join?  News  Meetings  Links		The Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops 2012 AAIC 24th Annual Meeting Industrial Crops: Developing Sustainable Solutions Sonoma, California November 12-15th, 2012

Hosted by Dr. Colleen McMahan (AAIC President 2012)

Meeting 

2012 Program Guide - Final Program is now available!

Unless otherwise indicated, all conference events will take place at:

The Lodge at Sonoma
1325 Broadway
Sonoma CA 95476

Registration

Full registration includes:

    * Admission to Plenary session, all technical and poster sessions.
    * Conference abstracts book.
    * Welcome package.
    * Opening Reception: Monday, November 12, 6-8pm, Stone Building
    * Lunches and morning and afternoon refreshment breaks Tuesday-Thursday
    * Awards banquet: Thursday, November 15, 6:00pm-10:00pm, Stone Building

AAIC Member:    Early registration (before Sept 15) $450.00
                            after Sept 15, 2012                       $500.00
                            Student                                         $150.00

Non-member:       Early registration (before Sept 15) $500.00
                            after Sept 15, 2012                       $550.00
                            Student                                         $200.00

Single day:            $150.00 (includes lunch and refreshment breaks)

Awards Banquet:    $75.00 (vegetarian option available)

  Direct online registration with Acteva - Now Available!

 

Deadlines

Call for Abstracts:  Due Date Extended:  September 10, 2012 by 5pm PST

Go here for guidelines for abstract submission and sample abstract (requires Adobe^® Reader^®).

Go here for poster formatting information (requires Adobe^® Reader^®).

Accommodations 

• The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa

  1325 Broadway at Leveroni & Napa Roads · Sonoma, California 95476 USA

  Telephone:707-935-6600
  Fax:707-935-6829
  
  Toll Free: 888-710-8008
   

  Website: http://www.thelodgeatsonoma.com

  Reservation tips:
  
      * Mention AAIC2012 meeting when making your reservation. Links below will reflect the group rate.
      * Rates below available Sunday 11/11 through Thursday 11/15.
      * Reservations must be made by Friday, October 19, 2012, and are subject to availability. (Book early before rooms are sold out!)
      * If your room choice is not available, or you have difficulty with on-line reservations contact Registrar Valerie Teetor at 520-621-2817 or teetor@ag.arizona.edu
  
  Standard room (1King bed or 2 Double beds) $109.00/night
  
  Cottage room (larger room, 1King bed or 2Double beds plus sleeper sofa and fireplace) $159.00/night
  
  plus applicable state and local taxes (currently 10% + 0.35 commerce fee per room per night)
   

Air and Ground Transportation 

Three international airports service the Bay Area: San Francisco (SFO) 55 miles, Oakland (OAK) 57 miles, and Sacramento (SAC) 72 miles.

The hotel does not offer shuttle service to airports. On-site parking is complimentary.

One way taxi service ranges from $200-$300.

Shuttle option to/from airports include:

Shuttle California    shuttlecalifornia.com   707-648-7008

8am-8pm $110 first person, $10 for each additional (one way)

Higher rates outside core hours
 

Tours & Events 

•   Benziger Family Winery Tour plus Sonoma Square:

Monday, November 12, 2012 10am-3pm

Benziger Winery and Sonoma Square:    $75/person

Includes:
    * transportation to/from the Lodge at Sonoma
    * private tractor tram vineyard tour
    * wine tasting
    * lunch with wine (or soft drinks) at the Barn at the Oak Terrace
    * 10% off all purchases
    * all taxes and gratuities

Set just above the wine country village of Glen Ellen, Benziger Family Winery occupies one of the most beautiful spots in Sonoma Valley. You will enjoy a private tram tour through terraced vineyards, with stops along the way at various exhibits, a visit to the crush pad, barrel aging caves, and the Tasting Room. The tour will offer a close-up look at the Biodynamic farming approach, a history of one of California's oldest family wineries, and breathtaking views of the valley.

On our way back to the Lodge we will stop at charming downtown Sonoma. The Sonoma Plaza is the old town square and the largest of its kind in California. The Plaza's eight acres and the surrounding street grid were laid out by General Mariano Guadelupe Vallejo in 1836, turning Sonoma from a mission town to a Mexican style pueblo. For a short time, Sonoma was the center of traffic and trade north of San Francisco. Today the Plaza is lined with charming shops, popular restaurants and Sonoma Valley agricultural specialties, including world-renowned cheeses and wines. Casually explore galleries, shops, and the many historical landmarks.
 

•     Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Tour and Cornerstone Sonoma
  
  Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 12:30pm-5pm
  
  Burbank House/Cornerstone Gardens Tour:    $20/person
  
  Includes:
  
      * transportation to/from The Lodge at Sonoma
      * Entrance to Luther Burbank Home and Gardens
      * Docent-led tours at Burbank home and Cornerstone Sonoma
  
  Luther Burbank Home and Gardens is a city of Santa Rosa public park containing the former home, greenhouse, and gardens of noted American horticulturist Luther Burbank. This Registered National, State & City Historic Landmark is where Burbank experimented with plants for most of his 50 year career. Private docent-led tours will guide you through the gardens, museum, and Burbank's original greenhouse which survived the 1906 earthquake, despite the fact the surrounding city of Santa Rosa was essentially destroyed. "I firmly believe, from what I have seen, that this is the chosen spot of all this earth as far as Nature is concerned". Luther Burbank.
  
  Cornerstone Sonoma features nine acres of garden installations created by world renowned designers, three distinctive wine tasting venues, a handful of gracious home and garden shops and galleries, and a cafe offering gourmet eat in or take away items. Since opening in 2004, Cornerstone's Gardens has drawn international acclaim from publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Garden Design magazine. Newsweek states, "Cornerstone showcases the best in cutting-edge international landscape design," and the site is featured in "1001 Gardens to See Before you Die".
  
   Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Website

•     Tour of United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,
  
  Western Regional Research Center
  
  Albany, CA
  
  Friday, November 16, 2012 9am-12pm
  
  The WRRC has graciously invited all AAIC 2012 attendees to tour the center Friday morning following the meeting. The center is located near SFO and OAK airports, and BART (bay area rapid transit) which reaches both airports. There is free parking onsite. We will arrange carpools for those needing transportation from the hotel to the WRRC, and transportation to BART following the tour.
  
  If you are interested in attending, please email Grace Chen at grace.chen@ars.usda.gov. All attendees must be cleared in advance. US citizens/permanent residents must bring a photo ID. Foreign nationals please provide name, affiliation, and nationality. You will also need to provide a government-issued photo ID.