Dear Hubbard Brook community,

 We are excited to be back in person this year for the Annual Cooperators’ Meeting and look forward to seeing many of you July 13-14!  As we gather together in-person after two years of meeting remotely, pandemic complications have contributed to some large  changes from past years, so please read on for more details.

First - the biggest change: the Cooperators’ Meeting will be held at Plymouth State University (PSU) at the Merrill Place Conference Center. Parking is across the street in Hyde Parking Lot #304. Masks must be worn at all times while inside the center regardless of vaccination/booster status. The exception is when eating/drinking. Both breakfast and lunch will be provided during the meetings and are included with your registration. Be  sure to  pay your registration fee before you arrive, as your name tag will serve as your 'meal ticket' to streamline food service.

Dormitory style lodging is available at PSU: Plymouth State University eStore. Hubbard Brook On Campus Accommodations (nbsstore.net)  PSU Lodging reservations will close Thursday, June 30th.

Next - the talk lineup looks great! Thank you to everyone who signed up to give talks - everyone has been accommodated (see attached draft schedule). A big thank-you to Jackie Matthes for organizing the schedule.  As you prepare your talk, please keep in mind that your allotted time includes your introduction, the talk itself, and short questions; so plan accordingly. Additional time for discussion is reserved at the end of each set of talks. Speakers should plan to upload talks to a shared laptop well in advance of their session. 

Please note that on the afternoon of the second day (Thurs. July 14th) there will be no committee meetings. Instead, a number of informal field trips will run to Hubbard Brook to get us out in the woods together. Peter Groffman has wrangled field trip leaders/locations and a sign-up sheet can be found here: Hubbard Brook field trips - July 14, 2022.xlsx - Google Sheets. Please sign up by July 8 to help trip leaders plan.

The cookout and 'barn' (now tent) dance are back! Wed. evening (July 13), but will be held at Pleasant View Farm rather than at the Forest Service. The informal cookout starts at 6:00 and will include burgers (veggie included), side salads, drinks and ice cream bars. Please note that this is an infomal cookout and not a catered meal as we have had in the past. Many thanks to our local High School Interact Club, who will be flipping burgers and to Hazel Westney and Tammy Wooster for organizing and setting up the food. We need all to help out, and will have a sign-up sheet for assistants at the meeting. Another change: No alcohol is permitted during the event. The SCC seeks to promote alcohol-free socializing for all at these events, so please respect this change. And great news! The Caravan Band is back for the dance from 7:00 to 10:00, so some of our traditions are unchanged.

Finally, we are still investigating streaming options (Viewing Only) for the meeting. We will follow up with  any additional updates July 6th, so stay tuned!

All the best,

Christy Goodale and Lynn Christenson

Co-Chairs, Hubbard Brook Scientific Coordinating Committee (SCC)