91st Annual National Plant Board
Meeting
Savannah, Georgia
August 13 - 17
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
The Georgia Department of Agriculture cordially invites you to attend and participate in the 2017 National
Plant Board Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia. Meeting dates are Sunday, August 13 through Thursday,
August 17, 2017. Registration deadline (electronic or returning registration forms and payment) is July 14,
2017. Please see the attached agenda for planned program.
REGISTRATION
Please register online or return the attached Registration Form no later than July 14, 2017. The Full
Registration fee is $450 if registration and payment is received by July 14, 2017 (or $475 after July 14,
2017). Full meeting registration includes a breakfast buffet each morning, breaks, lunches, Tuesday’s Banquet,
and Wednesday’s activities (box lunch, tour, dinner cruise).
Guest Registration is $225 ($250 after July 14). Guest registration includes the Sunday’s Reception, Tuesday’s
Banquet, and Wednesday’s activities (box lunch, tour, dinner cruise) only.
Daily Registration includes the meals and breaks offered on that day’s program.
Please make checks payable to “National Plant Board”. Mail or e-mail completed registration forms and
payment to:
Georgia Department of Agriculture
1109 Experiment Street
Redding Building
Griffin, GA 30223
[email protected] (email)
Credit card payments will be accepted, for an additional fee. To register and pay online, visit
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-plant-board-91st-annual-meeting-tickets-34241737960 (Password:
National#91)
Please contact Tammie Beasley ([email protected]; 229-386-3464) if you need assistance with
your online registration.
ACCOMODATIONS
The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia. The Hyatt Regency is located in the
Historic District and overlooks River Street and the Savannah River. The room rate is $115 plus taxes (13%
tax; $1.00 local tax; $5.00 hotel/motel tax). Public parking is extremely limited. Valet parking is available
($30/night, minus 20% for NPB). Reservations can be made on-line (https://aws.passkey.com/go/npb91).
The room reservation deadline is Saturday, July 22, 2017. Early reservations are encouraged due to the
popularity of this meeting location and limited number of rooms. After July 22, 2017, any rooms available will
be released and room availability (and rate) is not guaranteed.
TRANSPORTATION
The Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) is a 25-minute drive from the Hyatt Regency. A cab ride is
about $30 or you can make a reservation with KShuttle (www.kshuttle.com). 1-way trips are $20 and roundtrip is $30.
WEATHER AND ATTIRE
August day-time temperatures in Savannah average in the low 90s and overnight temperatures rarely dip below
70○F. Humidity can be relatively high (70% average for the day). The days are typically sunny but pop-up rain
showers are also possible so business casual dress is encouraged. Drink lots of water and bring your sunscreen!
EXHIBITS
Limited exhibit space will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
GUEST OPPORTUNITY
Enjoy the sites and shops of this historic city with a tour of Savannah and tour of historic Bonaventure
Cemetery (http://bonaventurecemeterytours.com/).
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Savannah is a city rich in history and is very pedestrian friendly in the Historic District. For those choosing to
enjoy the sights of Savannah, there are many tour options available including those highlighting the city’s
architecture and horticulture including the squares (see www.savannah.com/savannahs-historic-squares/).
For those participating in activities we have arranged for Wednesday afternoon, we have 2 options:
Option A
Trip to Wormsloe, a plantation from Georgia’s colonial period. This is not Hollywood’s Tara
Plantation, but if you like history, a visit to Wormsloe might be the way to go. Visitors can
interact with costumed interpreters, view a museum with artifacts unearthed at Wormsloe, and
enjoy a short film about the site and the founding of Georgia. See
http://gastateparks.org/Wormsloe for more information.
Option B
Trip to the Chatham County Mosquito Control. Almost 13.7 million people visited Savannah in
2015. Nearly 300,000 people reside in Chatham County (where Savannah is located). Chatham
County has a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, coastal barrier islands, and urban
landscapes. From interacting with backyard beekeepers to outdoor activities, how do you protect
residents and visitors from mosquitoes yet maintain a low profile? Visitors here will learn how
the Chatham County Mosquito Control uses an integrated mosquito management (IMM)
strategy.
We will enjoy a dinner cruise on the Savannah River Wednesday evening. Riverboat boarding will begin at
6:00 p.m. and the boat will leave dock at 7:00 p.m. We will return to dock at 9:00 p.m.
Please indicate on your Registration if you will participate in any of Wednesday’s planned activities.
HOST CONTACTS
Please give us a call or an email with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in Savannah!
Mike Evans
404-586-1142
[email protected]
Janice Sloan
404-586-1140
[email protected]
Tammie Beasley
229-386-3464
[email protected]