Greetings!

On behalf of the Southern California Chapter of the American Scientific Affiliation I would like to thank you for registering for our upcoming Winter Day Conference that will be held on the campus of Azusa Pacific University this coming Saturday. Below is some detailed information about the conference (please read through this as there are, given the theme of this conference, some nuances that you may not have experienced at other conferences).  If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Day/Time/Location:  The conference will be held on Saturday February 22 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Segerstrom Science Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University (https://www.apu.edu/map/69/) If you are driving to APU please park in lot G or lot H (behind or adjacent to Segerstrom – see the attached map for details).  Check-in will start at 8:45 am in the foyer inside the entrance from lot H (at the rear of the building). The program will start promptly at 9:15 so please try to arrive by 9:00 to grab some coffee and meet others in attendance.

Meals:  A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Theme: The theme of this conference is “The Science, Education and Christian Practice of Creation Care”.  In light of that, we are asking you to do some things to increase your environmental/sustainability awareness and also to help us be good stewards of the resources that God has given us:

·        Transportation:  Please consider carpooling or, for those who live close to the APU campus – take public transportation, walk, bike, or even take a scooter!  Yes, there will be plenty of free parking but if you can get there a more sustainable way, why not?

·        Bring reusable food items:  Most people have water bottles or re-usable coffee mugs that they can bring.   Please do so!  We will have disposable coffee cups but let’s try to not use them.  Also, if you have re-usable utensils (metal, bamboo, plastic, or even a re-usable camping ‘spork’) please bring it for lunch.  Yes – we will certainly have disposable utensils available but, once again, please stretch yourself by bringing your own!

·        Bring your own nametag holder:  We will have nametags printed for everyone who pre-registered.  If you have one (and many of you have drawers full of them from past conferences!) please bring your own nametag holder.  Yes – we will have these available as well but if you have one please bring it.

Program:  A conference program is attached for you to review before and during the conference.  There will be 2 times with break-out sessions (11:00-12:30 and 1:30-3:30) so please review the options in advance.   If possible, please download this to your mobile device  (phone, iPad, laptop, etc.).  We will have a limited number of printed programs available but, in the theme of sustainability, please consider using an electronic version instead.

Thanks again for choosing to spend the day with us and I look forward to meeting you this Saturday,

Tom Ferko