FOUTEENTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
of the
International Association of
Avian Trainers and Educators
February 15th to 18th, 2006
Nashville, TN USA

Accomodations & Transportation • Speakers & Conference Papers • Conference Activities • Conference Itinerary
IAATE Membership - Join or Renew • Register for the Conference


HOSPITALITY

The hospitality suite will be open for breakfast, lunch, breaks and evening entertainment. We will be providing light breakfast items, light lunch items, snacks and beverages. Our evening entertainment will include themed nights: Wednesday will be bird movies (bring any you have to share, i.e., The Birds); Thursday is the Bird Mating Dance competition; Friday will be a Nashville must, a Honky Tonk night; and to finish out the week will be a Pajama Party, a great opportunity to relax after the banquet on Saturday night (please be modest).

Don't forget to bring videos of your shows, programs, appearances and other accomplishments to share with everyone. It's a great opportunity to strut your stuff!.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteering is a great way to get to know people. If you would like to volunteer please sign up on the conference registration sheet.

ICEBREAKER

This year's icebreaker will be held on the third floor of the world famous Wildhorse Saloon. The Wildhorse is a unique attraction; not only is it a bar and restaurant, but it is also a concert site, dance venue and TV studio. The Wildhorse is located at 120 2nd Ave N which is a 6.5 block walk from the hotel. Come prepared to mingle with other conference attendees and enjoy a variety of hors d'oeuvres from their award -winning menu. A cash bar will be provided.

Please bring your government issued picture ID and your conference name badge for entry into the Saloon.

For those of you who are under 21 or if you have special transportation needs, please contact Kim Allgood at (615) 833-1534 ext. 295 or by e-mail at kallgood@nashvillezoo.org for special instructions.

For more information on the Wildhorse, go to www.wildhorsesaloon.com.

ROUNDTABLES


Roundtables are an excellent venue for open discussion on various topics. The floor is open for suggestions. If you have a topic you would like to see this year, email Alicia Douglas. Sign up sheets will be available at the conference

WORKSHOPS


Show Production Techniques

This workshop will cover the design and construction of show equipment, including perches and release boxes. In addition, elements of show production, music, sound effects and sound systems will be covered.

Enrichment

This workshop will be an opportunity for attendees to brainstorm about enrichment for all kinds of birds. It is also a chance for hands-on construction of toys and other enrichment items for birds.

Lures: Their Use and Construction

In this workshop, participants will learn several methods of making and using lures for shows. Topics covered include swinging lures for falcons, teaching a kestrel to hover with a lure, lures to toss for hawks and several others types of lures.

Presentation and Interpretation: Style and Content

In this workshop we will focus on a variety of presentation styles, from shows to classroom settings to one-on-one talks. We will also review interpretation skills and program content. This will be an interactive workshop and it will also be a lot of fun.

Workshops are $10 each.

PRE-CONFERENCE TRIPS

Jack Daniel's Distillery Tour

Experience a unique Tennessee tradition. Located in Lynchburg, a visit to the Jack Daniel's distillery will give you a true taste of rural Tennessee. Join us for a guided tour of the distillery and learn the never changing, secret methods used to make this famous bottle of whiskey. After your tour, enjoy a Tennessee style lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House, where Mr. Jack took many a noonday meal. These home cooked meals include freshly brewed iced tea, cornbread and homemade desserts.

For more information, visit www.jackdaniels.com.

Cost: $55
Limit: 12 people


Birding at Radnor Lake

Calling all bird enthusiasts! Join the birding group destined for Radnor Lake. One of the crown jewels of Tennessee's state park system, this park consists of an 85 acre lake and the surrounding woodland area. For birders, Radnor Lake offers one of the best opportunities in the state to observe an incredible variety of species in every season in a very relaxed environment. Radnor Lake has also hosted its share of rarities, the most surprising of which was Tennessee's first Limpkin! After birding learn the true meaning of a meat-and-three while lunching at the White Trash Café.

For more information: visit Radnor Lake, Bird Finding and White Trash Cafe.

Cost: $35;
Limit: 45 people

Tootsie's Tours

Want to see the sights and sounds of Nashville? Climb on the Tootsie's Tour Bus and learn the stories of Nashville from the experts at Tootsie's. The 3˝ hour tour begins at 9:00 a.m. See the Ryman Auditorium, hear live music at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and get a taste of country music while seeing the homes of famous country musicians. This tour gives you a true sense of Nashville. After the trip there are plenty of places to enjoy lunch on your own or perhaps a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We can provide you with plenty of recommendations on how to spend your afternoon in Nashville.

For more information, visit Tootsies and Country Music Hall of Fame.

Cost: $20; Unlimited

BANQUET


The conference will close with the banquet which will be held at the hotel on Saturday, February 18th. There will be a tasty buffet to enjoy, along with the announcement of the photo contest winners and other conference awards, the conservation door prizes (raffles are illegal in Tennessee) and much more.

NIGHT OUT


You will have two choices for your night out in Nashville on Friday, February 17th. Since there will be walking involved in both options, if you have special transportation needs, contact Jacqueline Walker at (615) 833-1534 ext. 315, or by email.

Your first option is to attend the Grand Ole Opry. Every weekend, the Grand Ole Opry takes the excitement of a live audience, the heritage of the world's longest-running radio show and an incredible mix of talent to the world, broadcasting live over 650 WSM AM and the Opry website. Never knowing which artist might make a surprise appearance, it's where country rocks, bluegrass rules and Western swings. This is a really fun time for the true country music or pop culture fan. It's also going to be at the Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of country music, but it sells out quickly in this venue. Therefore, if you want to attend, you need to get your reservation in to IAATE no later than January 15th so we can make sure you get a ticket. Also, you will have to walk about 4 blocks to get there from the hotel. For more information, go to Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium.

Cost: $35; Limit: 30


Your second option is to visit the various entertainment venues in "The District" on your own. We have recommendations for you, including restaurants, Honky Tonks, bars and clubs, all within a 3 to 7 block walk from the hotel.

For more information, go here.

RAFFLE AND SILENT AUCTIONS


Door prize drawings (raffles are illegal in Tennessee) supporting IAATE will be held throughout the conference, so remember to bring plenty of money. We will also be reinstituting the silent auction this year, so please bring items to be used in either the conservation or general drawings or in the silent auction. Please contact the conference committee at (615) 833-1534 ext. 295 if you are planning to bring items for either drawing and/or the auction. If you would like to mail items for the auction or raffles before hand please mail them to the Nashville Zoo, c/o Kim Allgood, 3777 Nolensville Rd., Nashville, TN 37211. Please indicate if it is for the general or conservation raffle or for the silent auction.

CONFERENCE AWARDS


Once again the IAATE Conservation Committee is proud to announce we are accepting entries for the 8th annual conservation Award. The conservation award is intended to recognize IAATE members’ efforts to promote conservation. Entries can be creative, inspiring, humorous, etc. Examples include participating in research projects, a behavior routine in your show, a fundraiser, etc. The possibilities are endless. The winner will receive a plaque to display at his or her facility. In addition, a donation of $500 will be made in the winner’s name to the conservation organization of his or her choice. The donation can be made to the winner’s own facility with the stipulation that the funds are utilized to support conservation efforts made by that facility.

In addition, IAATE will also be offering grants again. Grants have been awarded to facilitate travel to conservation projects, develop education programs, fund websites and more. Conservation Award and Grant applications can be downloaded from the IAATE website or acquired by contacting Matt Edmonds at wondersofnature@tampabay.rr.com

The winners for both will be announced at the annual conference. Attendance at the conference is not a requirement. Videotapes, pictures, papers, etc. can be included with entry/application.

Entries/applications can be submitted at the conference or mailed to:
Matt Edmonds
Wonders of Nature
2071 52nd Ave N
St. Petersburg, FL 33714 USA

PHOTO CONTEST


The IAATE Photo Contest gets better every year! Start taking those photos for the 2006 Conference and enter them for a chance to win prizes. $250 in Amazon.com gift certificates were awarded last year. Deadline for entries is January 5, 2006. Check the IAATE website for categories, rules and the mailing address for submitting photos.

PROCEEDINGS

Proceedings will be available again this year for $15.00. Reserve your copy in advance on your registration form.

IAATE - The International Association of Avian Trainers & Educators, 350 St. Andrews Fairway Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (901) 685-9122 Fax: (901) 685-7233 E-mail: secretary@iaate.org

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