ASBC 2002 Annual Meeting - Guest Information

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ASBC Annual Meeting 2002
June 8 - 12
Sheraton El Conquistador Resort and Country Club

Guest Program Activities

Dear ASBC Friends and Colleagues,

Join us as ASBC goes Southwest for the 2002 ASBC Annual Meeting. I know you will find Tucson a striking blend of contrasts shaped by a distinctive heritage and accessible natural wonders.

Tucson, known as the "Old Pueblo" for the walled Spanish
presidio that preceded today's modern city, offers visitors regional architecture, fabulous cuisine, music and art reflecting a colorful and varied past. Proud of its origins, Tucson has incorporated influences of its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Western pioneer ancestors into lifestyles of today.

It was Irishman Hugh O'Connor, who served in the Spanish army, that founded present-day Tucson in 1775. He established the renowned walled Presidio de San Agustin, which is commemorated in the historic downtown El Presidio neighborhood.

Today, Tucson is Arizona's second-largest city, home to the University of Arizona, and one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Five mountain ranges (and the Sonoran Desert) surround the city: the Santa Catalinas, Rincon Mountains, Santa Rita Mountains, Tucson Mountains and Tortolita Mountains.

Tucsonans take a relaxed approach to dress. In the warmer months, April through October, indoor air conditioning can get chilly for some, so be prepared with a lightweight jacket or sweater. Tucson's combination of low humidity and medium altitude makes higher temperatures feel more comfortable. Sunscreen is recommended year-round.

As Tucson was voted "friendliest city" and one of the "top ten U.S. cities to visit" by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, I know you will enjoy the extensive guest program outlined in this brochure. Before and after the meeting, ASBC attendees and guests can check out the "stellar views" from two world-renowned observatories, take a walk on the wild side at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, visit with the scientists-in-residence at Biosphere 2, play cowboy for a day in Tombstone, or visit the numerous historic missions and scenic national parks in the area. Whatever you do, don't forget your camera, as southern Arizona is a photographer's dream!

I hope you will join us in Tucson and experience the magic of the American Southwest!

Sincerely,

Roz Kueter
Guest Program Chair

Your Guest Registration fee includes the following: Introduction to Tucson, welcome and farewell receptions, beer hospitality suites, and continental breakfasts on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday prior to tour departures. All tours are sold separately. Registration information can be found on the Annual Meeting Registration Form.

Sunday, June 9

Introduction to Tucson 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Join us in the Guest Hospitality Room where a representative from the city of Tucson will welcome you and share information about the variety of activities available to you in and around the city as well as at the beautiful Sheraton El Conquistador Hotel.

Welcome Reception 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, June 10 - 12

Guest Continental Breakfast 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Guest program registrants will be provided a continental breakfast prior to tour departures.

Guest Hospitality Room 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Guests not wishing to participate in the tours may gather in the Guest Hospitality Room reserved especially for them.

Wednesday, June 12

Closing Reception 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Guest Program Tours
All buses will board and return to the main entrance of the Sheraton El Conquistador at the days and times listed below. Please note that tours with fewer than 15 registrations will be cancelled. Full refunds will be issued to those who had already registered.

Monday, June 10

San Xavier Mission, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Lunch at Ocotillo Café

Buses begin boarding at 9:30 a.m., depart precisely at 9:45 a.m. and return at 4:30 p.m.
Tour Price: $85.00 per person

Known as the "White Dove of the Desert," your first stop will be the 16th Century San Xavier Mission del Bac. Noted for its beautiful frescoes, recently restored by the same team that restored the Sistine Chapel, this is one of the most photographed missions and finest examples of mission architecture in the country.

The New York Times called the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum "the most distinctive zoo in the United States." It is southern Arizona's most popular visitor attraction and your second stop on the tour. Nestled in Tucson Mountain Park, 14 miles west of downtown Tucson, this outdoor living museum exhibits in a natural environment more than 1300 species of plants and 300 animals native to the Sonoran Desert region. The great Sonoran Desert region is filled with natural beauty and mystery, and this outing provides a unique opportunity to see a comprehensive collection of the plants, animals and geology indigenous to this area.

The Ocotillo Café, an open-air cafeteria-style restaurant will be our lunch stop. Its terraces, overlooking the museum and the Saguaro National Park, make this a refreshing and very scenic place to dine.

Tuesday, June 11

Kartchner Caverns and Lunch

Buses begin boarding at 9:30 a.m., depart precisely at 9:45 a.m. and return at 4:30 p.m.
Tour Price: $85.00 per person

Kartchner Caverns is a stunning, limestone "living" wet cave in southeastern Arizona boasting many world-class features that have been protected since the cave was discovered in 1974. Inside the cave you will walk along a 1.2-mile "barrier free" trail viewing multi-hued stalactites and stalagmites. Dainty white helectites, translucent orange "bacon" and shields of white calcite adorn the walls along the trail. Many of the minerals found in the cave are not found in any other cave in the world. Among the cave's most interesting features is a "soda straw" stalactite measuring one-quarter of an inch wide and 21 feet long, making it the second-longest stalactite in the world. Visitors to the cave will also have the opportunity to explore the Discovery Center featuring world-class exhibits, regional displays and educational information about the caverns and the surrounding landscape, making this one of Tucson's most popular tours.

Wednesday, June 12

Tucson Botanical Garden/Historic El Presido District/ Sabino Canyon and Lunch at La Cocina

Buses begin boarding at 9:15 a.m., depart precisely at 9:30 a.m., and return at 5:00 p.m.
Tour Price: $85.00 per person

The Tucson Botanical Garden is 5-1/2 acres of peace and green. Here you will learn about the plants that are grown in southern Arizona gardens. Guests will also visit downtown Tucson's historic El Presidio neighborhood where they can shop and/or tour the Tucson Museum of Art. Old Town Artisans is a restored 1800's adobe structure covering an entire city block in the El Presidio. It houses unique shops filled with predominately southwestern handcrafted works by local, regional and Latin American artists and artisans. The Tucson Museum of Art boasts over 6,000 pieces of art in the permanent collection and 10-12 changing exhibitions per year. Additional art is on display in restored historic homes built in the late 1800's and owned by the museum.

Finish the day by enjoying a breathtaking outdoor tram ride through Sabino Canyon. As you ride the tram through the canyon, you will see forests of saguaro cacti surrounding the banks of sparkling Sabino Creek and climbing up the rugged canyon walls. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the tram offers majestic views and is a sight not to be missed by anyone who enjoys the great outdoors.

Lunch will be served at La Cocina, set in a historic house over 150 years old. La Cocina serves traditional Mexican food and shares an adjoining courtyard with many unique shops filled with fine traditional handmade arts and crafts.