Annual Meeting 2004
Announced
The 2004 Annual Meeting will be a first of it's type. This will be a truly joint
meeting of NNGA and NAFEX (North American Fruit Explorers). A few times in the
past both organizations held their meetings at the same location with NNGA being
held the first portion of the week and NAFEX the last half of the week. This
meeting will be joint with attendees being able to attend nut and fruit
sessions, which ever they choose. In the past to attend both meetings required a
full week of lodging, two registration fees, two banquet fees and longer absence
from home, seven days not counting double travel time. Most technical sessions
were subjects particular to the members association.
This meeting will be central in the US, in Columbia, Missouri which is 1.5 hours
drive west of St. Louis on I-70. The date is Aug. 15 (Sunday) through Aug. 18.
(Wednesday). Location, Ramada Inn located on I-70. We were able to get a very
low conference lodging rate which includes a restaurant hot buffet breakfast.
All functions will be held in Ramada's conference center in the same building as
lodging, except of course, for the field trips.
Here is the proposed agenda. Board meetings Sat. and Sunday. Sunday afternoon
registration and evening social mixer with cash bar. For your enjoyment a
Dixieland Jazz band will be playing followed with a buffet meal. This will be
followed by members show & tell from both groups. Monday morning, NNGA business
meeting followed by two concurrent fruit and nut technical sessions. Attend the
subjects of your choice. Speakers are invited from research, professional
growers and back yard growers covering all nuts & fruits. Monday evening
auction. Tuesday morning, continuation of papers followed by the field trip to
the University of Missouri Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center. This
will be followed by an optional evening visit to the Les Bourgeois winery and
evening meal overlooking the Missouri River. Due to limited seating only the
first requests (reservations) for this event can be accommodated. Others will
return to the Ramada with dinner on your own. Wednesday morning field trip to
Starks Nursery. That evening, banquet with the featured speaker being Dr.
Chiranjit Parmar from the Himalayan Mountain region delivering a slide
presentation on nuts & fruits of that area. Following his slide presentation the
two groups will separate for their respective business meetings.
Dr. Parmar will also be speaking at the technical sessions. If we can get the
proper import permits from the USDA, Dr. Parmar will bring seeds that can be
purchased by members having previously inspected and passed.
The NNGA's ladies group, CAP, is working with Julie Rhoads with the Univ. to
organize events for the spouses and those accompanying members on Monday and
Wednesday. Nothing has been firmed yet, but in addition to fruit jams,
preserves and crafts on Monday morning they are considering: 1) Tour of State
Farm Flower Gardens near downtown Columbia. This is a very large and beautiful
landscaped area and one of the most beautiful things to see in Columbia. 2)
Columbia Mall is very near the gardens with about 100 stores. 3) Rock Bridge
State Park - large park about 5 miles south of downtown Columbia with raised
walking trails and caves. 4) Self or guided tour of the MU campus located just
south of the downtown area. There is an Art and Archeology museum on campus.
Guided tours can be arranged. 5) Trip to the Lake of the Ozarks which is
located about 70 miles south of Columbia. There are cruise boats that go out on
1-2 hour long cruises all day long and a lunch cruise could be arranged. For
families with children there is also a very large children's playland called
"Miner Mikes" located directly across from the Lake Ozark outlet mall which has
125 stores. If there are any children going, those families could be dropped
off and picked up easily at the mall and the ones wanting to shop could and
those wanting to play at "Miner Mikes" could go across the street to do that.
The goal is to have something for everyone. Mark your calendars now, Aug 15,
through 18, 2004 and plan to attend this joint meeting.