Alamogordo, New Mexico, September 26-29
Sunday and Wednesday meetings, workshops and meals take place at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 100 Kerry Avenue.
Monday until 3pm we will be at Alameda Park Zoo, 1321 N. White Sands Blvd.
Tuesday starts at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Dog Canyon Road, and then moves to White Sands National Park.
Sunday, September 26
2:30pm Board of Directors Meeting (open to all members)
6:00pm Registration, Opening Reception, Happy Hour and Light Buffet
7:30pm Presentation of Contest Submissions
Monday, September 27
Head to the pavilion at the Alameda Park Zoo (admission fee included in registration fee). Lousy weather? We’ll be at the Holiday Inn Express meeting room.
9:00am Welcome, Announcements, and General Membership Meeting – President Virginia Staat
9:45am Break
10:00am Self-Publishing – A Panel Discussion, David Staat, moderator
11:15am Break
11:30am Show vs. Tell, a Writing Workshop with Virginia Staat
12:30pm Deli Sandwich Box Lunch ($$)
1:00pm Anne Sullivan Writers Forum, Kenita Gibbins, moderator
3:00pm Free time to explore the zoo or head to other local attractions on your own, such as Three Rivers Petroglyph Site (35 miles north of Alamogordo via U.S. 54), New Mexico Museum of Space History, or Tularosa Basin Museum of History, with dinner on your own
Tuesday, September 28
9:00am Carpool to Oliver Lee Memorial State Park (14 miles south of Holiday Inn Express via U.S. 70, U.S 54, and Dog Canyon Road)
9:30am Meet at state park visitor center, explore museum, get car passes (included in registration fee), and caravan to restored Oliver Lee Ranch House for guided tour. Return to main area of park to see historic buildings, a riparian nature trail, desert scenery, and wildlife
12:00pm Meet at the state park’s group picnic area for a Pinwheels box lunch ($$)
1:30pm Carpool to White Sands National Park (14 miles southwest of Holiday Inn Express via U.S. 70), explore the visitor center, watch the video, and head into the dunes.
4:30pm Meet at the White Sands Roadrunner Picnic Area (look for the Laine’s Chateau motorhome) for a Barbecue Supper ($$).
6:00pm Meet at the “Sunset Stroll Meets Here” area in the sand dunes to join the park’s leisurely sunset walk with a park ranger. (Sunset 6:44pm, park closes 8:00pm)
Wednesday, September 29
6:00am Sunrise Photo Shoot (sunrise 7:05am), with breakfast-to-go provided by Holiday Inn Express
9:00am My Best – and Worst – Moments Behind the Camera. A group discussion led by Don Laine
10:30am Break
11:00am Photo Critique
12:00pm Turkey Cobb Salad Lunch ($$)
12:45pm Power of Place – a workshop for both writers & photographers with Virginia Staat
1:45pm Break
2:00-5:00pm Auction
6:00-9:0pm Banquet – Chicken Cordon Bleu ($$), and Awards Ceremony