MAPLE 2008

Announcing the 2008 Annual Meetings of the

North American Maple Syrup Council (NAMSC)

International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI)

October 24-27, 2008

Amherst, Massachusetts

Click here to download the Registration Forms.

The Massachusetts Maple Producers Association looks forward to welcoming you to our state for these annual meetings. An interesting and varied schedule of events have been planned for your enjoyment. In addition to the NAMSC & IMSI business meetings, we will have technical sessions reporting on the latest research in the field of maple; as well as some non-technical workshops on topics such as wildlife damage in the sugarbush, use of GPS, marketing via the gift basket business and other topics of interest to maple sugaring families. Tours will include visits to some local sugarhouses, the Sugarhill maple syrup jug manufacturing plant, a combination computerized sawmill/educational facility, a community food processing center for speciality foods, and other stops. A Saturday companion tour will offer visits to a butterfly conservatory, Historic Old Deerfield, the Yankee Candle facility, the Amherst College Natural History Museum, and/or other stops. Tuesday October 28^th is departure day, but a number of nearby sugarhouses will be open for a self-guided tour for those interested. Directions will be available at the registration desk.

There will be a trade show of all types of equipment of interest to the maple producer, farmer, and forester; as well as many educational displays. A buffet dinner will be featured as part of the opening night of the trade show.

We will have a special room set aside for a display of maple antiques and collections, as well as some hours set aside for collectors to talk and trade. If you have a collection of spouts, tins, molds, or other maple artifacts; please bring them (along with your spares to trade). Display tables will be available, the room will be staffed during the opening hours and will be locked at night for security.

All of the events in connection with the annual meetings are being held at the University of Massachusetts Campus Center, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Amherst is conveniently located a short drive from both the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-91. For air travelers, Bradley Airport is about 40 minutes away. The Campus Center facility includes the Campus Center Hotel, where a block of rooms is being held for this meeting. Please contact the Campus Center Hotel directly to make hotel room reservations. Their phone number is (413) 549-6000, Ext. 7714. Please make your reservations as soon as possible, as they are undergoing renovations this summer, and not all of their rooms will available. Be sure to specify you are with the North American Maple Syrup Council group in order to get the special rate. Request a room from block #1801.

Additional hotel rooms are also being reserved for us at these two facilities: Howard Johnson, and EconoLodge, both located about 5 minutes away on Rte 9 in Hadley, Massachusetts. Please contact them at: Howard Johnson, 413-586-0114; and EconoLodge, 413-582-7077. Be sure to identify yourself as part of the maple producers group to receive the best rate.

A map and directions to the Campus Center facility will be included with your conference confirmation.

Some of the tours will be on a "first come, first served" basis, so be sure to register early if you want to be assured of a space on a tour. The registration deadline for the conference is September 15th. An additional fee will be charged for registration after that date.

A tentative agenda is included with this announcement. Please pick up your complete and detailed agenda when you check into the conference registration area. If you have any questions about registration, please call Bill Markham, Registration Committee Chairman, at (413) 298-3473. You can e-mail Bill at: bill_markham55@yahoo.com.

For any other questions about the conference, meetings or tours, please call Tom McCrumm, Mass. Maple Association Coordinator, at (413) 628-3268; e-mail info@massmaple.org.

Click here to download the Registration Forms.