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NFRA Conference, March 3-5, 2009

We are proud to announce NFRA's 61st Annual Conference and Trade Show will be held in San Diego from March 3-5, 2009.  Attend this conference and join the country's top experts in private concession management of public recreation facilities. 

Each year, this conference attracts operators of resorts, campgrounds, marinas, stores, organization camps, pack stations, and outfitter guides to network and share information.  Government attendees, particularly from the Forest Service, consistently report that they learned more about the details of recreation permit management in this two-day conference than they have in any number of internal training programs.

Located at the beautiful Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa

We've secured a great daily rate for our guests at the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, located right on the beach at Mission Bay.  For our government attendees, the hotel has agreed to match to local Federal per diem rate.

The newly renovated Hilton San Diego Resort offers impeccably appointed rooms on an 18-acre bayfront park. Enjoy lush gardens, rolling lawns and sandy bayfronts just steps from your door. Each room features a large balcony or patio, king or two queen-sized beds, high speed Internet access, coffee maker, 27 inch television with in-room movies, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, voice mail and dataports.

The special NFRA hotel rates are valid 3 days before and 3 days after the conference.  The resort is located just minutes away from the airport, SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, and numerous other San Diego attractions, so we encourage you to combine business with pleasure!

You can make hotel reservations here at our special conference page, or call Hilton at 619-276-4010 and ask for group code NFRA.  A map and directions are here.

A Great Agenda

The final agenda for the conference is still being completed, but the basic outline is as follows:

Tuesday March 3, 2009
12:00 - 1:30              Registration
1:30 - 4:30                General Session          
4:30 - 5:30                NFRA Membership Meeting & Forest Service Meeting
6:00                         Reception
 
Wednesday March 4, 2009
8:30 - 12:00              General Session
12:00 - 1:30              Ranger of the Year Luncheon
1:30 - 5:00                Breakout Sessions

Thursday March 5, 2009
8:30 - 11:30              Breakout Sessions
11:30 - 12:00            Closing Session

We anticipate general session and breakout topics to include:

• Trends and outlook for recreation
• Legislative initiatives affecting regreation
• Discussion of US Forest Service priorities
• A special session for government employees on the economics of the concession business
• Recreation marketing
• Using the Internet to increase profits
• Insurance
• Inventory management
• New products to increase recreation profitability

Registration

Registration rates are the same as in previous years.  Members and government employees may register before February 15 for $275, or for $325 thereafter.  Registration for non-members and non-government employees is $425 (no early discount available).  As in past years, we offer discounts for the multiple employees from the same firm and for spouses. 

You may view all the rates, as well as register and pay online, at the NFRA conference registration page.  Or, you may download and print a registration form here (.pdf file requires Acrobat Reader) and mail it in with a payment by check.  If you have any questions, you may call Mary Buonaguidi at our event manager ConferenceDirect at (760) 942-7104.  Or, you may call Marily Reese of NFRA at (559) 564-2365.

Time for Forest Service to Return to Roots

Sunday, November 9, 2008 (SF Chronicle)
Time for Forest Service to return to roots



Development: Can the Forest Service tackle climate change?
What it means: It's been a dismal eight years for the U.S. Forest Service.
When President Bush took office, the agency gave up on protecting roadless
consumed by firefighting - which now takes up nearly 50
percent of its budget.
But the West's fires are a symptom of a warming climate and an already
stressed environment. The Forest Service needs to tackle the problem at
its roots. How?
First: Protect the highest-quality lands and reconnect landscapes.
Fragmented habitats won't survive future floods, fire and drought.
Second: Engage communities in restoration.
This will create high-wage jobs in the rural areas that most need them.
Reducing hazardous fuels will reduce the cost of firefighting, and the cut
trees and brush could be used for biomass energy, offsetting demand for
oil and gas. Our national forests are a natural showcase for the
responsible development of renewable wind and solar energy.
The Forest Service was created 100 years ago to provide the greatest good
for the greatest number for the longest time. With climate change
threatening our planet, it's time for the agency to reclaim its
conservation mantle.
- Chris Wood From an eagle's-eye view