Convention
Michigan Inland Lakes Convention
We invite you to the 2018 Michigan Inland lakes Convention! This year, we are meeting jointly with the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) Annual Volunteer Monitoring Conference.
October 4-5
with an opening reception on October 3
Crowne Plaza Grand Rapids - Airport
Convention Registration: Now through September 28
Registration is now open! Full registration: $195. Visit the registration page to learn about Early Bird rates as well as discounts for speakers and students. The deadline to apply for student scholarships was September 1.
Agenda
The Convention will kick off with a welcome reception on Wednesday evening, October 3. Thursday morning, two outstanding keynote speakers - Bill Creal, former Water Resources Division Chief for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and Lisa Borre of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies - will set the tone for the Convention along the theme of "Working Together for Healthy Lakes" - on local, state, and global scales. We will break out into thematic sessions on Thursday afternoon, followed by an evening reception highlighting posters and educational displays. Friday morning, the thematic breakout sessions will continue, and Friday afternoon will offer a variety of workshops, field trips, and breakout sessions. View full session descriptions for Thursday and Friday.
Session themes include:
- Invasive Species
- Lake Management
- Lake Monitoring
- Water Law
- Lake Levels
- Fisheries Management
- Public Health/Septic Systems
- Lake Stewardship
- Aquatic Plants
- Natural Shorelines
- Volunteer Monitoring/Citizen Science
- Water Conservation
- Contaminants
Schedule at a Glance
Wednesday, October 3 |
|
| 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Opening Reception |
Thursday, October 4 |
|
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Welcome and Keynote: William Creal |
| 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. | Break |
| 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. | Keynote: Lisa Borre |
| Noon - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Early afternoon concurrent sessions |
| 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. | Late afternoon concurrent sessions |
| 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Reception: Posters and Educational Displays |
Friday, October 5 |
|
| 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. | Early morning concurrent sessions |
| 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Late morning concurrent sessions |
| 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Afternoon concurrent sessions, workshops, and field trips |
Lodging and Travel
- Convention Hotel: The Convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza Grand Rapids - Airport. Lodging rates at the conference hotel will start at $119 per night. To guarantee the Convention rate, use this link. You may also call the hotel directly at 616-957-1770 to make your reservation; please mention Block Code LAS.
- Map to Convention hotel
- Things to do in Grand Rapids
Call for Educational Displays
We invite you to showcase your non-profit organization or government agency with an informational, educational display. All displays will be housed in the Atrium directly outside the Convention meeting rooms, sharing space with the coffee breaks and Thursday evening reception. You will be provided with an 8-foot table with a table cloth, and can have access to electricity if desired. There is no cost to provide a display, but at least one person from your organization must be registered for part or all of the Convention. Use this Educational Display Application Form to request space. Questions? Contact Lois Wolfson at Michigan State University (wolfson1@msu.edu, 517-353-9222) or Julia Kirkwood at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (kirkwoodj@michigan.gov, 269-312-2760). Deadline for inclusion: September 15, 2018.
Photo Contest
Submit your favorite photos featuring Michigan's inland lakes for consideration in our 2018 Photo Contest! Top entries will be featured at the Convention, and eligible for cash prizes. Vote for your favorites by looking for posts tagged with #MILCPhotoContest2018 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Entries must be posted no later than September 4, 2018 Deadline extended to September 20! Photo contest details and rules.
Continuing Education Credits
Up to 8 MDARD Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits can be earned by participating in the Convention. Master Citizen Planners can earn 1.5 credits per session, to a maximum of 9 credits for attending the entire Convention. The Wildlife Society will allow a maximum of 9 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Category I of the Certified Wildlife Biologist ® Renewal/Professional Development Certificate Program for participation in the Convention.
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Convention Sponsors
