This year’s theme is “Building Bridges to the Future” with a focus on topics and tools for actively leading the NPS forward in the areas of stewardship, education, relevance, and employee support and development. Embedded in the overall program will be a leadership track, directed toward entry and mid-level employees, to provide facilitated, focused supervisory and leadership training and discussions in these areas.

NPS Director Jon Jarvis, also an ANPR member, has confirmed his attendance and will deliver the keynote speech on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Afterward he plans to go to the service project site (see below to sign up). Other presenters include associate directors who will share agency and program direction, aand human resources staff who will assist with job search and development options. Collectively they should provide exciting opportunities to envision and move toward the future identity of the NPS.

Iditarod competitor Liz Parrish is the featured keynote speaker on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The co-founder of Life through Dogs, she will speak about leadership style and motivation. Parrish has been known as "Iditarod's Littlest Musher" and finished the 2008 Iditarod to celebrate her 50th birthday despite being seriously injured early in the race.

She spent a lifetime preparing for the challenge of the Iditarod. Before age 7 she had conquered childhood cancer and meningitis; as an adult she has overcome fibromyalgia, clotting disorders and a compromised spine as a result of the radiation cancer treatments as a 4-year-old. She is the co-author of Crimp! On-By!!, The True Story of a Most Unlikely Iditarod Lead Dog. Her latest book, published last spring, is Be the Lead Dog, 7 Life Changing Lessons Taught by Sled Dogs. She also is a sought-after speaker, coach, musher and innkeeper.

Her talk, "What to Look for in a Leader," will cover how to build your own personal leadership potential . . . by making mistakes! Using examples from her years training for and competing in distance sled dog racing, Parrish's program shows exactly what she uses to develop the lead dogs on her racing team . . . and how you can apply that to your own career and leadership challenges.

A third keynote speaker is Dr. Gary Machlis, NPS science adviser to the director. He will speak on Monday, Nov. 1, about "The State of Science in the NPS." Machlis plays a key role in advancing science within the NPS, advises the NPS director on science policy and programs, and works with the Department of the Interior leadership, NPS managers, stakeholders and the scientific community.

He is a professor of conservation at the University of Idaho, where he has taught courses in protected area management, human ecology and science policy since 1979. From 1995-2003 He served as the NPS visiting chief social scientist from 1995-2003 and as the national coordinator of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network from 1998-2006. He has written several books on conservation.

Online registration is now open (link above). See below for hotel reservations information. Reserve your spot now.

Program and Community Service Project
The program and training committees has created an array of sessions to include keynote presentations and breakout groups on “Building Bridges to the Future” topics. A draft agenda is detailed here.

In addition, an outdoor service project with Oregon State Parks will demonstrate collaborative stewardship. Attendees will partnering with others to undertake trail construction at Pilot Butte State Park, about two miles from the venue hotel. The service project also may include planting of native plants, building a split-rail fence, thinning a juniper colony, general trail maintenance and litter patrol.

Please sign up for the community service project on the registration page.

To offer program suggestions or to volunteer your assistance, contact Rendezvous planning coordinators Kale Bowling, montananshelby@yahoo.com, or Pat Grediagan pat_grediagin@hotmail.com.

Location and Hotel
The Rendezvous venue is The Riverhouse nestled along the beautiful Deschutes River, just minutes from downtown Bend and Mount Bachelor. Visit the hotel website at www.riverhouse.com.You can make reservations now by calling 1-800-547-3928. Ask for the Association of National Park Rangers room block (the special room rate may be honored past the Sept 30 deadline).

Daily room rates are $90 for a standard room and $69 for a standard room for members in the seasonal and student category (capped at 15 percent of the room block). The occupancy tax is about 10 percent.

Traveling to Bend
Flights to central Oregon arrive in Redmond (Roberts Field Airport, RDM), about 20 minutes from Bend. Allegiant Air flies from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Mesa, Arizona, at low cost but only on Mondays and Fridays. Round trip is possible for $100-$200 (including tax). Monitor the Allegiant website to determine how to get the lowest fares, which can change at anytime. United Airlines flies direct from Denver and San Francisco; Delta files direct from Salt Lake City; Alaska/Horizon Air flies direct from Seattle, Los Angeles and Portland.

Shuttle buses also travel from Portland or Redmond.

Plan to come to Bend early or stay after the Rendezvous ends. The area offers outstanding outdoor recreation and in-town activities. Several NPS sites — John Day Fossil Beds, Fort Vancouver, Lewis and Clark, Crater Lake and Lava Beds — are within an easy drive.

Extracurricular Activities
The activities committee has big plans for attendees: a Halloween party on the evening of . . . yes . . . Sunday, Oct. 31; raffles; and the popular photography contest. It’s not too early to think now about what original photo or fun raffle prize you’d like to bring to Bend. This committee is seeking some able, fun-loving volunteers to assist them with these activities.

Golf, Anyone?
ANPR has secured tee times at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, immediately following the close of the conference at the course adjacent to and affiliated with The Riverhouse. It's called the River's Edge. Join ANPR president Scot McElveen for a round of golf in hopefully 50-degree temperatures. Contact him to sign up: ANPRScotM@aol.com

ANPR has negotiated a price of $40 per player if we get 12 or more players to sign up. (The normal rate for playing this course with a cart at this time of year is $51 per player.)

Newcomers/First-timers Special
As is the tradition, those attending their first Rendezvous, at the time of registration, receive a free, one-year membership to ANPR if they're not already members. In addition, a special continental breakfast with the ANPR Board of Directors will be held for these "newcomers."

Raffle Prizes and Auction Items
Daily raffles and silent auctions are planned so be sure to bring items to donate. If you can't attend you may mail raffle items. Contact Beth Spencer (bethgs81@gmail.com) or Roger Rudolph (rogerarudolph@gmail.com) for specific mailing details.

Tradeshow and Receptions
Exhibitors will display products, equipment and services of interest to NPS employees during a two-day trade show. Prospective exhibitors may download the information and application here in PDF format.

Annual Photography Contest
It's not too early to start thinking about the annual photography contest. Keep the contest in mind as you visit national park areas throughout the year. Prizes will go to the top three photographers.

• Photos should be of a national or international park unit
• Submit photos without matting or frames
• Provide photos in 8-inch by 10-inch size or less
• No more than two photo entries per person
• Participants must be members of ANPR

Winners will be asked to provide a digital copy of their photo for publication in Ranger magazine.

Contact Liz at lizandclair@att.net with questions.

Hospitality
The hotel will provide a suite (open each evening of the Rendezvous) to serve as our hospitality room. Various refreshments and munchies will be provided by ANPR for attendees.

Miscellaneous
Rendezvous T-shirts with the official Rendezvous logo are available for preordering on the preregistration form. These preordered shirts will be distributed at the Rendezvous. Other ANPR promotional items will be sold onsite.

Scholarships awarded
Prospective first-time Rendezvous attendees were encouraged to apply for financial help to attend this Rendezvous. The entry deadline has now passed. Please check back next year to submit a scholarship application for the Rendezvous in Williamsburg, Va.