2018 ANNUAL MEETING: Schedule at-a-Glance

Saturday, September 8, 2018
4:00pm – 7:00pm	Conference Registration Desk Open	2nd Floor, top of escalators
Sunday, September 9, 2018
7:00am – 5:00pm	Conference Registration Desk Open	2nd Floor, top of escalators
7:00am – 3:30pm	Directors' Retreat (invitation only)	Offsite
8:30am – 3:30pm	WORKSHOP: Making the Connection Between State Wildlife Action Plans and the Wildlife Recreation Community {Pre-registration and additional fee required. $25 per person; includes refreshments - lunch will be on your own} This workshop brings together wildlife viewing and nature tourism with Wildlife Diversity Managers, State Wildlife Action Plan coordinators and anyone interested in making creative connections with broader constituencies to achieve conservation successes. The workshop will help you foster agency relevancy and broaden SWAP implementation with emerging constituency groups. Learn from success stories for partnering across committees and working groups to achieve common goals. Find common language, ideas, and best practices while connecting wildlife recreation communities with resource conservation. Develop new and creative ways to engage wildlife recreationalists, citizen scientists, and the nature tourism industry in resource management to implement conservation actions in SWAP.	Grand Salon G
10:00am – 12:00pm	Committee Meeting: Bird Fish Conflict Working Group	Meeting Room 5-6
12:00pm – 5:00pm	Business Center & Internet Café Open	Registration Desk
1:00pm – 5:00pm	WORKSHOP: Assessing Decision Risk in Species Range Maps and Distribution Models for Use in Conservation and Management (view flyer) Have concerns over the application of species distribution models (SDM) in management? What skill sets should agency analysts have for creating defensible SDMs for WAPs and FWS Species Status Assessments (SSA)? What constitutes a "decision-quality" SDM? If you have these and similar questions regarding the application of SDMs to management, consider participating in this open forum workshop on SDMs. Outcomes of the workshop will guide an education and training platform on SDMs being collaboratively developed by the USGS Cooperative Research Units Program, FWS, and AFWA. Discussion topics include: Evaluation of SDM experiences designed to delineate strengths and weaknesses of SDMs; Structure of two proposed courses that train analysts how to generate SDMs, and decision-makers on the proper applications of SDMs; and How best to apply the education process to selected species, with a focus on FWS SSA and state-identified WAP species.	Grand Salon B
1:00pm – 5:00pm	WORKSHOP: Effective Communication: Creating a Trusting Environment {Pre-registration required, although there is no fee to attend} Trust is like the air we breathe. When it’s present, nobody really notices. But when it’s absent, everybody notices. Warren Buffett In this session we will concentrate on the effects or influences leadership has over trust in the work environment. Participants will learn some tools that will help guide them in building trust and have an opportunity to practice using them. Listed below are the objectives for this workshop: Recognize how trust in the workplace affects business results Identify common workplace behaviors that can either break or build trust Demonstrate behaviors that show you trust others as well as give people the confidence to trust in you Use interaction skills to foster open communication and build and maintain trusting relationships Apply trust-building techniques in challenging, low-trust situations	Grand Salon H
1:00pm – 5:00pm	Committee Meeting: Drug Approval Working Group	Meeting Room 5-6
2:00pm – 5:00pm	Exhibitor Set-up	Grand Ballroom Foyer
4:00pm – 6:00pm	Women in Wildlife Conservation Network (WWCN) Power Walk and Networking Start of the AFWA meeting with a walk on the Riverwalk. Join WWCN for a fun opportunity to be outside, network with other conference attendees, and learn more about the WWCN. All are welcome. Be in the lobby of the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel (conference hotel) by 4:00 pm. The WWCN seeks to inspire and empower women in the natural resources and conservation community; to provide a venue to share and learn from all genders; to help women aspire to and succeed in leadership positions; and to welcome all women into the conservation field.	Meet in Marriott Lobby
6:00pm – 8:00pm	Young Guns 10th Annual Happy Hour Don’t let the name fool you, YOUNG GUNS 10 is for everyone attending the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies’ Annual Meeting. Come hang out with AFWA staff at our 10th Annual Happy Hour. Bring your business card and enter to win a $100 Bass Pro Gift Card, courtesy of AFWA. (view flyer) It’s a cash bar, you can order food and stay as long as you like! Come join us!	Offsite - American Social Bar & Kitchen (approximately a 4-minute walk from the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel at 601 S. Harbour Island Blvd.)
6:00pm – 9:00pm	Directors’ Reception & Dinner (invitation only) Sponsored by Brandt Information Services, LLC and Ducks Unlimited	Offsite
Monday, September 10, 2018
7:00am - 8:00am	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
7:00am - 8:00am	Directors' Breakfast (invitation only) Sponsored by National Wild Turkey Federation	Il Terrazzo
7:00am - 5:00pm	Conference Registration Desk, Business Center & Internet Café Open	2nd Floor, top of escalators
7:00am - 5:00pm	Exhibits Open — Stop by and show your support!	Grand Ballroom Foyer
8:00am	Guest Gathering	Hotel Lobby
8:00am - 9:45am	Welcome & Plenary Session: Outdoors Rising: Facing Forward (view schedule)	Grand Salon E-F
9:30am - 4:00pm	Guest Activity: Museum Day in St. Petersburg Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of downtown St. Petersburg, and visit up to three world class museums: Dali Museum ($24), Fine Arts Museum of St. Petersburg ($17), Morean Arts Center - Chihuly Collection ($19.95). Visit any, or all (as time allows) and pay the applicable entrance fees at the door. {Pre-registration is required. Transportation to and from hotel will be provided. Museum fees and lunch are on your own.}	Offsite
9:30am - 10:30am	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
10:00am - 11:00am	Monarch Status and Conservation Planning Meeting	Grand Salon H
10:00am - 12:00pm	WAFWA Executive Committee Meeting (invitation only)	Meeting Room 1
10:00am - 12:00pm	National Wildlife Health Initiative (invitation only)	Florida Salon III
10:00am - 12:00pm	National Pheasant Plan Management Board Meeting	Grand Salon B
10:00am - 12:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Climate Change Committee | Grand Salon C Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards Ceremony (10:00 - 11:00) Climate Change Committee Meeting (11:00 - 12:00) Education, Outreach, & Diversity Pre-Meeting (10:00 - 10:45) | Grand Salon D Finance Committee (11:00 - 12:00) | Room #1801 Forestry Working Group – Ag Conservation | Florida Salon I-III International Relations Committee | Meeting Room 5 Law Enforcement Business Meeting | Grand Salon A Legislative & Federal Budget Committee | Florida Salon V National Grants Committee (10:00 - 11:00) | Florida Salon VI PIF/Shorebird/Waterbird Working Group | Meeting Room 4 Subcommittee on Water | Florida Salon IV Wildlife Viewing & Nature Tourism Working Group (10:45 - 12:00) | Grand Salon D	Multiple Locations
11:00am - 12:00pm	Mid-America Monarch Conservation Board of Directors Meeting	Florida Salon VI
12:00pm - 1:00pm	Directors' Lunch (invitation only) Sponsored by Archery Trade Association	Il Terrazzo
12:00pm - 1:00pm	Attendee Lunch - On Your Own	N/A
1:00pm - 3:00pm	Smart Energy: USGS Science and Tools to Inform Planning and Development (view flyer)	Meeting Room 4
1:00pm - 3:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Project WILD Subcommittee Meeting | Grand Salon B Law Enforcement Committee | Grand Salon A	Multiple Locations
1:00pm - 5:00pm	National Deer Alliance Board Meeting	Florida Salon III
1:00pm - 5:00pm	Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative Council 1:00 – 4:00 pm (by invitation only) 4:00 – 5:00 pm (open to public)	Grand Salon C
1:00pm - 5:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Bird Conservation Committee: Part I | Florida Salon V CRP Working Group | Florida Salon I-II Executive Committee | Florida Salon IV Invasive Species Committee | Meeting Room 5-6 Legal Committee Business Meeting | Grand Salon D	Multiple Locations
2:30pm - 3:30pm	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
3:00pm - 5:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Education Working Group | Grand Salon B Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact Meeting | Grand Salon A	Multiple Locations
3:30pm - 5:00pm	National Cooperators' Coalition: CRU Funding Crisis	Florida Salon VI
5:00pm - 6:00pm	Legal Strategies Advisory Council (invitation only)	Grand Salon D
5:00pm - 6:00pm	Committee Meeting: Harvest Information Program Working Group	Grand Salon B
6:30pm - 8:30pm	Canada Night Welcome Social! (view flyer)	Grand Salon E-J
8:30pm – 10:00pm	NCLI Reception (invitation only)	Offsite - Jacksons Bistro (601 Harbor Island Blvd.; 4 minute walk from hotel)
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
7:00am - 5:00pm	Conference Registration Desk, Business Center & Internet Café Open	2nd Floor, top of escalators
7:00am - 8:00am	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
7:00am - 8:00am	Directors' Breakfast (invitation only) Sponsored by Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation	Il Terrazzo
7:00am - 9:00am	Midwest Landscape Initiative Steering Committee	Meeting Room 3
7:00am - 5:00pm	Exhibits Open — Stop by and show your support!	Grand Ballroom Foyer
8:00am	Guest Gathering	Hotel Lobby
8:00am - 10:00am	Committee & Working Group Meetings Outreach Working Group | Grand Salon E Science & Research | Grand Salon D	Multiple Locations
8:00am - 12:00pm	NACLEC Meeting (continued in afternoon)	Florida Salon VI
8:00am - 12:00pm	Sagebrush Executive Oversight Committee	Grand Salon I-J
8:00am - 12:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Committee (9:00 am start) | Meeting Room 5-6 EQIP/CSP Working Groups Joint Meeting | Florida Salon I-II Federal & Tribal Relations Committee (11:00 am end) | Florida Salon IV Fish & Wildlife Trust Fund Committee | Grand Salon A Legal Committee Working Group | Meeting Room 7 Waterfowl Working Group | Grand Salon G Wildlife Diversity Conservation and Funding Committee (formerly Teaming with Wildlife) | Florida Salon V	Multiple Locations
8:30am - 12:30pm	Guest Activity: Kayak - Suncoast Youth Conservation Center Enjoy a biologist-guided paddle along the Noonan Branch Creek Paddling Trail, a two-hour loop trail around the newly created Florida Conservation and Technology Center in Apollo Beach. Paddle through mangrove tunnels and over the mudflats with sting rays, snook and red fish. No experience necessary; fun for all levels. {Pre-registration and $15pp required; light snacks, bottled water, transportation and equipment will be provided.}	Offsite
9:00am - 10:00am	Regional Coordinators Meeting	Meeting Room 3
9:30am - 10:30am	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
10:00am - 12:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Human/Wildlife Conflict Working Group | Grand Salon C Human Dimensions and Social Sciences Organizational Meeting | Grand Salon H Ocean Resources Policy | Grand Salon D
10:00am - 12:00pm	NBCI Management Board Meeting	Grand Salon B
10:00am - 12:00pm	WORKSHOP: National Conservation Outreach Strategy Open to all. Please note, this workshop will be offered twice, from 10:00am - 12:00pm and again from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.	Grand Salon E
12:00pm - 1:00pm	Directors' Lunch (invitation only) Sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises LLC	Il Terrazzo
12:00pm - 1:00pm	Attendee Lunch - On Your Own	N/A
1:00pm - 3:00pm	WORKSHOP: National Conservation Outreach Strategy Open to all. Please note, this workshop will be offered twice, from 10:00am - 12:00pm and again from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.	Grand Salon E
1:00pm - 3:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Farm Bill Easements Working Group | Florida Salon I-II Feral and Free-Ranging Cat Working Group | Grand Salon G Lead and Fish & Wildlife Working Group | Grand Salon B Migratory Shore & Upland Game Bird Working Group (1:00 - 2:30 pm) | Grand Salon H Bird Conservation Committee Grassland Working Group (2:30 - 3:30 pm) | Grand Salon H Technology & Data Committee | Meeting Room 3	Multiple Locations
1:00pm - 5:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Energy & Wildlife Policy Committee | Grand Salon C Executive Committee | Florida Salon IV Fisheries & Water Resources Policy Committee | Grand Salon I-J Hunting & Shooting Sports Participation Committee | Grand Salon D Resolutions Committee | Florida Salon III Sustainable Use of Wildlife Committee | Grand Salon A	Multiple Locations
1:00pm - 5:00pm	NACLEC Meeting (continued from morning)	Florida Salon VI
2:30pm - 4:00pm	Forest Service Partners Meeting	Meeting Room 5-6
2:30pm - 3:30pm	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
3:00pm - 5:00pm	AFWA State-Federal Interagency Bat Conservation Forum	Grand Salon B
3:00pm - 5:00pm	Cool Tools for Hot Topics: USGS Science Applications for Fish & Wildlife Management (view flyer) Join USGS scientists and colleagues in an interactive session to learn about USGS science-based tools and approaches to address a variety of fish and wildlife management hot topics, including how and when to apply them to specific management issues. Click here for additional information.	Il Terrazzo
3:00pm - 5:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings AFWA 2018 Farm Bill Working Group (invitation only) | Florida Salon I-II Diversity & Inclusion Working Group | Meeting Room 4 Resident Game Bird Working Group (3:30 pm start) | Grand Salon H	Multiple Locations
5:00pm - 7:00pm	Committee Meeting: Drug Approval Working Group	Meeting Room 3
6:00pm - 7:00pm	Reception with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
7:00pm - 9:00pm	Annual Awards Banquet	Grand Salon E-F
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
7:00am - 8:00am	Directors' Breakfast (invitation only) Sponsored by American Sportfishing Association	Il Terrazzo
7:00am - 8:00am	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
7:00am - 2:00pm	Conference Registration Desk, Business Center & Internet Café Open	2nd Floor, top of escalators
7:00am - 10:30am	Exhibits Open — Stop by and show your support!	Grand Ballroom Foyer
8:00am	Guest Gathering	Hotel Lobby
8:00am - 10:00am	MAFWA Executive Committee Meeting	Meeting Room 6
8:00am - 10:00am	Committee & Working Group Meetings Bird Conservation Committee: Part II | Florida Salon VI Education, Outreach & Diversity Committee | Florida Salon V Leadership & Professional Development Committee (10:30 am end) | Meeting Room 5	Multiple Locations
8:00am - 12:00pm	Committee & Working Group Meetings Agricultural Conservation Committee (Part 1 & 2) | Grand Salon G-H Angler & Boating Participation Committee (9:00 am start) | Grand Salon I-J Fish & Wildlife Health Committee (9:00 am start) | Florida Salon I-III Threatened & Endangered Species Policy Committee | Grand Salon E	Multiple Locations
9:30am - 10:30am	Coffee Break with Exhibitors	Grand Ballroom Foyer
10:00am - 12:00pm	Committee Meeting: Wildlife Resources Policy Committee	Florida Salon VI
10:30am - 11:30am	NCLI Alumni / Business Meeting	Meeting Room 5
12:00pm - 1:00pm	Directors' Lunch (invitation only) Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops	Il Terrazzo
12:00pm - 1:00pm	Attendee Lunch - On Your Own	N/A
1:30pm - 2:30pm	Coffee Break	Grand Salon A-D
1:30pm - 5:00pm	AFWA Business Meeting	Grand Salon A-D
6:00pm - 7:30pm	President's Reception Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Boone and Crockett Club	Il Terrazzo