The popularity continues to grow for WOS Conferences. This year a record 46 field trips were offered and yet that still did not meet demand. Currently, only two weeks into the registration period there are almost no openings for Friday and Saturday trips. So, the conference committee found a way to offer a 47th field trip. Gina Sheridan will lead a Saturday field trip to Southern Pend Orielle County. This trip was currently offered on Friday, Sunday and Monday but not on Saturday. Now, the field trip will be offered all four days. I do ask that those of you currently registered to not "switch trips" to this new offering as it will create headaches for our wonderful registrar Cindy McCormack. Instead, this new field trip may allow some new people to register for the conference. Current registration sits at around 140 people, a new record that will continue to be broken as more people register.

Other items of note:

This year there will be commercial tables available during the social periods on Friday and Saturday evening. A feature that has not been present at WOS Conferences for several years. We have three wonderful vendors in KOWA sport optics (Jim Dazenbaker), Flora and Fauna books (Dave Hutchinson) and Aaron Baggenstos Wildlife Photography. WOS will also have a table where WOS items (including the White-headed Woodpecker T-shirt offered at Wenatchee) will be available for purchase.

Finally, we have received comments on some of the struggles that some people had with using the new online registration system. I do apologize for those troubles and if members may remember, I asked for some patience in my "From the Board" column as there is likely to be bugs worked out the first time any new system is used. The board will evaluate this system and help to make changes for the 2013 conference. This online system has helped the registrar in effort and time and that is a very welcome thing.

It is certainly a testament to the wonderful organization that is WOS that annual conferences can exceed 25% of their total membership each year at the conference.

Thank you to all.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA
WOS Spokane Conference Chair