APS meeting web log

APS Ornamentals Tour

The APS Ornamentals Tour visited several locations in an around San Antonio that grow potted plants, bedding plants, woody ornamentals and trees for both local and out of state markets. Here tour participants examine daylily plants with the daylily rust fungus that until recently only occurred in Florida. Larry Barnes at Texas A&M organized the tour.

Sessions, sessions, and more sessions...

For many of us, Sunday and Monday were days of choices-- so many great sessions running concurrently, which ones should we go to? Aquatic Plant Pathology.  Flowers: A Unique Microbial Habitat.  Molecular Tools for Nematode Quarantines.  Endophytes: An Emerging Tool for Biological Control.  Just a few of the exciting sessions from the past two days. . .

Grads had a chance to hang out with industry professionals at the Graduate Student Breakfast, bright and early on Monday morning.  Then a great social from 6 to 8 pm Monday night. Others cruised the reunion booths and visited with faculty and friends at other universities. . .

On your way to the exhibition/poster room? The Art in Phytopathology exhibit continues to display some cool picts and various hand-made items representing various aspects of Plant Pathology. . .

But today is a day of giving. I'll be working the APS Foundation booth, and we're hoping a few individuals will stop by and make small monetary donations for the future of plant pathology. . .

Now to the gym, and a quick breakfast. . .

Cheers,
David

Industry-Extension Social

The 2005 iteration of industry-extension social was held Sunday evening at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center just outside of Austin. Five busloads of spirited attendees reached the center at about 7:00 pm (how many actually made it back to Austin will probably never be known). A prize drawing was held, some bogus jokes were told, and the attendees then browsed the woodlands adjacent to the center prior to indulging in an excellent tortilla/taco dinner and some pleasant liquid sundries. The early bus back to Austin arrived quietly at the Hilton around 9:30 pm. I was on that bus and boarded it with all intentions of getting to bed early. However, somewhere between the bus and the elevators at the Hilton I became sidetracked by a group of persuasive old friends and ended up in a blues bar on 6th street. The annual meeting is always like this...around every corner is an old friend and colleague.

Saturday, and 152 handshakes

Saturday was a day of many handshakes and greetings—meeting folks at registration, exhibit and poster set-up, 1st timer’s orientation, and various committee meetings.

I started the day with an APS Foundation meeting, which included a discussion of funds available for JANE, Melhus, and future APS Foundation Student Travel Awards. . . Here is a shot of some of the members of the APS Foundation hard at work:

New meeting participants took part in a "speed-greeting" approach at the 1st Timer's orientation, where everyone shuffled around the room shaking hands and introducing themselves. . . Here is a shot of some of the members at the orientation:

There were lots of great activities happening at the committee meetings. We elected a new chair and vice-chair for 2006 at the Graduate Student Committee meeting, and generated some great ideas for symposia for 2006. Thanks to members of APS Council, the format for the committee system has been changed. Anyone can be a member of ANY committee, and you can be a member of as many committees as you'd like...

More as things progress. A shower and a quick breakfast awaits...
Cheers,
David

Faces in the crowd, I

Joining us this year after a 2 year hiatus as Interim Dean of Washington State University's College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) is Dr. James Cook, formerly of the USDA-ARS Root Disease and Biological Control Research Unit and WSU Department of Plant Pathology in Pullman, WA. For the youngsters and newcomers among us and perhaps online, Dr. Cook is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and leading expert in root health and soil microbial biocontrol. Graduate students: some time spent in scientific conversation with Dr. Cook is time well spent. Welcome back, Jim, from all of us. (click on photo for larger image)

Austin's Evening Pleasures

I arrived in Austin late this afternoon and (in order to move the biological clock from Pacific to Central Time) immediately settled in for a power nap. Once I awoke and got the bedhead in order, I ventured out into the sultry Austin evening. If you happen to be staying in the Hilton (or are venturing out from the Convention Center), once out the main doors hang a right and walk about two blocks and you're on 6th street, Austin's Music strip. A few steps down this street and you'll realize that Austin is very much alive with music, shirt-shops, holy-rollers, faith and tatoo healers, fine and "come at closing time" restaurants, PLENTY OF BICYCLE-MOUNTED POLICE, and free-flowing and inexpensive beer. This venue is NOT akin to the Stalingradian venues of a few earlier (and best-left-unmentioned) APS meetings: The district appears safe for tourists and conventioneers. The music district stretches for a few blocks and air of the strip is filled with a multitude of live latin (mostly Cuban), blues, folk, bluegrass, reggae, and southern rock rhythms. There are actually places on the street where the strains from two or more clubs compete for your ears! Every band that I heard was exceptionally GOOD and every venue (probably because it was a week night) had no cover charge. I heard several particularly good blues bands, one of them original and the other a Stevie Ray Vaughn Double-Trouble Band clone (the band with original numbers was playing at a place called "Rhythm and Blues"). It is readily apparent that the 6th Street strip is the venue of choice for musicians from this region. The Music District seemed safe: with my camera, Maui shirt, and middle-aged belly I had "Joe Tourist" written all over me and I didn't get rolled once during my foray. The city appears to be very APS-friendly as long as common sense is exercised.

There are plenty of good restaurants on or near the strip and the prices are exceedingly affordable. A small French restaurant near the Hilton (Chez Nous) delivers a superb Provencal meal and bottle of wine for about $50 US. Most of the other high-end restaurants in the Music District appeared comparably priced and (by the looks of the people waddling out of them) of equal culinary quality. Austin appears to be a splendid value for APS members. Download austin.jpg

Blog’n it up in Austin, Texas

Here it is-- the place to read about all of the happenings at the 2005 APS meeting in Austin, Texas. I’ll be providing daily updates on poster sessions, talks, socials, and the music scene around Austin. Can't make it to the meeting? You can catch a glimpse of the action right here…Attending the meeting, and want to be blog-famous? Find me and stop me for a photo, and we’ll upload a shot of you enjoying the APS meeting, Austin- style…

Grads, make sure to attend the APS Graduate Student Committee (GSC) Meeting, Saturday July 30, from 5:30-7:00 pm. We're going to elect a new chair and a new vice-chair for the upcoming year (2005-2006), generate ideas for symposia for the next annual meeting, talk about the APS Foundation travel award process, and introduce new members to the new and improved APS committee system...I expect to see YOU there!

Have some artwork hidden in your bag? The GSC invites your participation in the Art in Phytopathology exhibit. We’ll display your creation depicting your favorite plant pathogen. And hey, we’ll be presenting small monetary awards for the top graduate student art exhibits—what more of an incentive do you need to participate?

Finish that poster. Rehearse that talk. I'll see you in Austin…

Cheers,
David Schmale III
Chair, APS Graduate Student Committee (2004-2005)

Grove's Austin Perspective

Greetings...if the hyperlink that you "moused' led you here, you are about to read about the upcoming APS Annual Meeting from my perspective. This is my 23nd annual meeting which probably qualifies me as an "old timer".

I have always found the annual meeting a great place to "recharge my professional batteries". The meeting is great place to keep up with new developments, learn new techniques, reconnect with old friends, and a great excuse to visit some of the nicest cities in the US.

The program is "loaded" this year. We have town meetings, leadership forums, workshops, field trips, poster sessions, symposia, special sessions, paper sessions, awards ceremonies, socials, etc. etc. etc. There is no way to absorb everything so I wish everyone the best of luck in absorbing the things of the most importance to you. This can all be somewhat overwhelming to newcomers, so we encourage all newcomers to participate in the "First Timer's Orientation" on Saturday, July 30 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.

What does my schedule look like? Chaos! I will be in Austin for an entire week. I will be in attendance at Friday's leadership forum, the Saturday and Wednesday meetings of APS Council, the poster sessions Sunday-Tuesday, Saturday night's committee meetings, the QOL Fungicide Resistance session on Sunday afternoon, and the socials when and wherever they may be (I've never met a social that I didn't like!). Somewhere in all of the chaos I am planning to visit the abode of my first cousin (whom I haven't seen in 25 years) and the LBJ Presidential Library.

Austin Music

As many of you know Austin, Texas has always had a thriving music scene. Many famous musicians began or kick-started their careers in Austin. My favorites among them include Stevie Ray Vaughn and Janis Joplin, but there are many, many more.

If you'd like to absorb some of the local entertainment during your stay in Austin pay a visit to http://www.austinmetro.com/musicdat.html or http://www.honkytonktx.com/texasmusic/austin.html

I may blog from on or more of these "venues".

Fabulous Cultural Items at Silent Auction

Make sure to stop by the APS-OIP Silent Auction during the Welcome Reception on Sunday, July 31 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Funds raised will support the new Connecting Knowledge with a Growing World workshop series. The workshops will connect plant pathologists from around the world via grants to fund international collaboration. Stop by and browse each item, but don’t limit your bidding to just one. With each winning bid you will take home a unique item and your gift will help to build international relationships worldwide.

Note: If you’ve brought an item to donate, bring it to the registration area by Noon on Sunday, July 31 to have it put in the line up for bidding. Questions? Ask for Michelle Bjerkness or Amy Steigman.