American Phytopathological Society
Potomac Division

News from the Division meeting

• Very good attendance: over 95 registrants
• Student paper awards
  • First Prize: Alyssa Collins, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, for a paper co-authored with K. L. Everts, University of Maryland, Salisbury, MD
  • Honorable mentions to Revital Hermann (co-authors A. L. Lu, J. L. Weaver, H. Frick, and T. A. Evans) and Jiahuai Hu (co-authors E. L. Stromberg, G. W. Moorman, and C. Hong)
• Kate Everts was elected Vice President, and Dan Roberts was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer for 2005-06, a FIRST in the Division's history
• President Bob Davis passed the gavel to incoming president Jay Norelli
• Photo album of the meeting (updated Mar 22, 2005)

Amenities at the hotel included an ice rink (but it was closed), indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center, restaurant and bar, and excellent event space. Room rates were very reasonable ($55 per night, or $75 for ocean front).

Program (complete listing (in Word format) or (in pdf format)

Program highlights (Wed-Fri, Mar 16-18)

• Wed 1:30-3:30 PM: Ecotour of Assateague Island (click here for a virtual visit)
• Wed 4:00-5:30 PM: Extension-Industry Update
• Wed 7:00-9:00 PM: Symposium on Sudden Oak Death, East Coast Perspective
• Thu 8:30 - 10:15 AM: Welcome and Contributed Papers
• Thu: 10:30-noon: Symposium on Durable Resistance
• Thu 1:00-3:00 PM: Graduate student papers, followed by other contributed papers
• Fri 8:00-10:00 AM: Symposium on Diagnostic in a Genomics Era
• Fri 10:15-noon: Roundtable workshop: Tricks of the Trade, Hints for Successful Molecular Methods including Diagnostics (details)

Text of first mailing.
Complete text of second mailing (paper mailing)

Important deadlines:

• Submit titles of contributed papers by Mar 22 to Dan Roberts. Title submission form (MS Word format) or (pdf format).
• Hotel deadline for guaranteed low rates Feb 22 (contact hotel directly, phone 410-524-1000 & 800-641-0011. FAX: 410-524-7766, www.carouselhotel.com/reservations.html)
• Meeting registration by March 1, to APS Headquarters. Registration form (MS Word format) or (pdf format)
• Ballots (pdf format) to Bill Bruckart by March 10 OR bring to the meeting. Follow the instructions! Biographies of candidates
• Applications by students for the Memorial Fund Travel Award to be received by Bob Davis by March 7
• Abstract submission deadline is February 23 for the Graduate Student Competition and March 8 for all others

The Potomac Division will send few hard-copy mailings. If you are not sure whether we have your correct email address, send a note Secretary-Treasurer Dan Roberts (robertsd and add @ba.ars.usda.gov)

Below: ecotour of Assateague Island. Those who weren't there might ask "did everyone comply?" But with the wind chill somewhere near zero, even the most ... eh ... contrary members of the Division were able to resist the temptation!

Note how tour leader Nikki O'Neill (tenth from right, counting hats) knew what was coming, and is well prepared and properly dressed for the occasion.