It’s time!
The 2024 ACOEL Annual Meeting is coming up fast at the JW Marriott Houston downtown on November 7-9. Houston in November is a warm, welcoming and exciting destination, and we’d love to show you everything that the fourth largest U.S. city has to offer. Our side events include a field trip to NASA, a boat trip up the Houston Ship Channel to see one of the largest industrial complexes in the U.S. and visit an environmental justice community, a dinner at the Wiess Energy Hall in the Houston Museum of Natural Science, an outdoor reception at the Houston Botanical Gardens with its new Christmas lights display, and one of the most vibrant dining scenes in the world.
In addition to these planned events, other opportunities keep popping up that will highlight your visit. The Fine Arts Museum of Houston just announced that it will bring a world-class exhibit of the life work of Paul Gauguin to Houston this Fall – the only location that this exhibit will visit in the United States. For music lovers, Bonnie Raitt and Marc Anthony will have (separate) concerts in Houston that weekend. For anachronistic fun, the world’s largest Renaissance Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary in nearby Plantersville. Our region is also one of the top birding destinations in the world with several top rookeries located nearby. And for sports fans, our NFL team the Houston Texans will play the Detroit Lions at home on Sunday, Nov. 10. I can’t help noting that the Houston Astros remain in first place atop the American League’s West Division, which makes a World Series game in Houston that week a distinct possibility.
But the hotel’s room block is going fast, and the side events may fill up quickly. Please see our conference website at https://acoel.org/2024-registration/ for the latest agenda information on location, hotel prices, and local events. Early registration ends on Oct. 7 (prices go up $150 then).
If you have questions, please feel free to contact our event planner Jonni Adams at [email protected]. Thanks, and see everyone in Houston!
Tracy Hester, President-Elect
Alex Dunn, Chair of the Annual Conference Committee
Don’t Delay ACOEL Fellows!!!
What better to do in the first week of October but get registered for the 2024 ACOEL Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott Houston Downtown! The room block at the hotel is filling up as are the many side events associated with this terrific gathering from November 7-9. Please visit: https://acoel.org/2024-registration/ to see the latest agenda (yes, there’s new speakers confirmed and even more exciting information than before!), location, favorable hotel room price, and compelling activities! You have to read the whole agenda to get the full feel, but among the offerings are:
- Extended stay options of up to three days before and after the meeting at our discounted room rates to take advantage of the many sightseeing activities in the area.
- Special discounts for Active NGO, Government and Academic Fellows, as well as all Emeritus Fellows.
- A special Wednesday trip to NASA!
- A Keynote by the fabulous Kenneth Medlock III, Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies at the James A. Baker Institute; a second Keynote by Jane Stricker, Executive Director of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative!
- A Thursday briefing and trip on the Houston Ship Channel to see first-hand how energy moves around Houston, and learn about its impact on surrounding communities.
- A Friday reception at the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Wiess Energy Hall!
- Panels on crisis management (ethics), sustainability disclosures, energy transition – both as a whole and for its impact on environmental justice communities – and our always popular US Supreme Court Review (and ahem, there were there a few cases to track this term)!
- A wonderful spouse and companion agenda including joining us for breakfast, a book club, a historic home tour, and art walk.
Rooms are available at just $298 a night at the JW Marriott Houston Downtown. Use this link for booking: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1704213329673&key=GRP&app=resvlink With any questions, call 713-237-1111.
See the meeting and activities agenda on the ACOEL Web Site: https://acoel.org/2024-registration/
We hope to see you there!
Tracy Hester, President-Elect
Alexandra Dunn, Chair of the Annual Meeting Committee
