Greetings Reef Futures 2018 Attendee!
Now that registration is officially closed, we want to share important details so you can experience an unforgettable conference with over 450 of your colleagues. Below are action items that need to be completed by December 1 (unless otherwise noted), including important information about transportation to and from the Ocean Reef Club (ORC).
SPECIFICS ABOUT THE OCEAN REEF CLUB
· DINING OPTIONS: Complimentary meals included with your conference registration include breakfast and lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Opening Reception Tuesday evening includes a live band and dinner, and we hope you’ll join us for dinner Thursday at the Closing Reception as well(see below). The Ocean Reef Club is a self-contained property, and as such there are limited dining options at the venue. If you plan to eat meals at the ORC, call the Concierge ASAP (#305-367-5931) for reservations. You will need to have room confirmation and/or conference confirmation information in order to book these options. You can peruse the menus at the various restaurants on-site.
· AMENITIES: Check out OCR’s Week at the Reef schedule to see whether activities (yoga, golf, diving, kayaking, etc.) offered by the venue might fit into your conference schedule and sign up if you find yourself with free time. If you wait until you arrive in December for food or event reservations, you will likely be out of luck.
· DRESS CODE: Before packing your suitcase, we encourage you to visit the ORC’s dress code expectations. The ORC even provides a more “humorous” interpretation of their policy from “Dress Code Joan”. :o)
· PACK YOUR CREDIT CARDS: ORC is a cashless property, so any purchases you make onsite will be linked to a credit card payment, including ‘cash’ bar receptions. ORC will link your payment card(s) to your hotel room key (if staying onsite) or create a day pass (if staying offsite). In some cases, this may mean you would need a government-issued payment card in addition to a personal card for certain expenses not covered on p-cards. This will be handled at hotel check-in for guests staying on property and at registration for guests staying offsite. Attendees sharing rooms can get separate passes for each guest at the front desk.
· ENTRY TO THE ORC: A valid government issued ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.) is required to enter the Ocean Reef Club property. Offsite guests will be required to show ID each day as they enter ORC and are required to park in the Yachtsmen or Town Hall parking lots close to Town Hall and Carysfort Hall meeting rooms where the conference is held on property. See below regarding important information regarding using Uber or Lyft.
MANY WORKSHOPS ARE SOLD OUT
Workshop presenters have been contacted to see if they would consider increasing capacity. In the meantime, there are waitlist tickets available for some that are at capacity. Interested in a session that’s sold out? Please email markferne@hotmail.com and you’ll be added to the list. You’ll get a confirmation email a few days before the conference confirming space. Please cancel your workshop ticket ASAP if your plans have changed and you can’t attend a workshop you already signed up for, as we’d like to accommodate as many interested attendees as possible.
DOWNLOAD THE CONFERENCE APP & JOIN A FACEBOOK EVENT
It’s inevitable. Changes happen and we plan to communicate these via the app. Please download the Dryfta app and search for “Reef Futures 2018” under the list of conferences available. The program schedule will be updated with speakers and sessions. By the end of November, you’ll be able to check out abstracts and plan your entire schedule in advance. No more wandering around the venue aimlessly looking for an interesting speaker! We promise to even sneak in a cheesy joke or two. For example, please pretend you are in a gondola in Venice when you sing, “When you’re down by the sea, and an eel bites your knee…THAT’S a Moray!”
Look for Reef Futures 2018 in the Facebook search bar and you should find the event page! Please announce that you’re going and feel free to share. You can also use the discussion aspect of the page to coordinate carpooling or share dinner ideas! Check out the CRC on Twitter and Instagram while you’re at it and share! #ReefFutures2018
OPENING RECEPTION - Honoring Ruth Gates
Join us at 6:30pm Tuesday for the Opening Reception. In addition to live music and dinner included in the cost of your conference registration, we’ve set aside time to reflect on the life and contributions of Dr. Ruth Gates. Please contact Ilsa Kuffner (ikuffner@usgs.gov) or Jennifer Koss (jennifer.koss@noaa.gov) if you would like to share a few words about your memories of Ruth at this event.
CLOSING RECEPTION TICKETS
Join us at the Thursday evening Closing Reception, held at a local favorite – the Caribbean Club! Please be sure to book your Closing Reception ticket ($25) by 5pm on November 29 if you plan to attend; it includes transportation from/to the ORC and dinner, locally catered by Chef Drew’s Food Truck. Discounted drinks and a live band will also be on hand, so bring your dancing shoes and CASH (the Caribbean Club does not accept credit cards). This is also a great opportunity to check out some local non-profit groups! Exhibitors will be onsite to speak about their programs and projects happening right in our Florida backyard. Space is limited for parking at this venue, so we strongly encourage you to utilize the shuttle.
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
Based on your arrival information provided through last week’s survey, one-way shuttle tickets to and from the Miami International Airport (MIA) will be available for purchase between November 20-27 on the registration page. Even if you’re flying into a different airport or live locally, you may sign up for this option if you can find your way to the Miami Airport. If you are planning on renting a car, book before you arrive at the conference, as companies have a limited fleet available in Key Largo and need to plan ahead.
PLANNING TO USE UBER/LYFT? The ORC requires Uber/Lyft drivers to turn over their driver’s licenses at the welcome gate. Historically some drivers refuse, thereby ending your ride nearly 2 miles short of the conference center/check in. Additionally, there are a limited numbers of drivers available given the remote location of the ORC (25 miles north of Key Largo). The conference committee strongly recommends utilizing our low-cost shuttle system or sharing a rental car.
FREE SHUTTLE BETWEEN THE KEY LARGO HOLIDAY INN AND ORC: The Reef Futures Conference will run a shuttle daily Tuesday (12/11/18) through Thursday (12/13/18) departing from the Holiday Inn lobby at 7:00am sharp. The return shuttle leaves the area in front of Carysfort (conference registration location) at the ORC Tuesday at 6pm and 10pm, Wednesday at 6pm and 9pm, and Thursday at 6pm (although we would prefer you jump on the Closing Reception shuttle at that time!).
What are we missing? Email your on-site logistics coordinator and wannabe cruise director Mark Ferne directly at markferne@hotmail.com. Yes – you’re reading that correctly. Hotmail.
Cheers and Best,
The Coral Restoration Consortium