AFS Cal-Neva Newsblast
19 February 2021
CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING PLENARY
Plenary speakers announced!
This year’s meeting theme is is “Casting a Wide Net: Diverse Perspectives in Fisheries”. We are very fortunate to have four excellent plenary speakers:
  • Dr. Erika Zavaleta, Professor, UC Santa Cruz – moving science/science education towards inclusivity
  • Dr. Ken Gobalet, Professor Emeritus, CSU Bakersfield – a centuries-long relationship between Californians and fish
  • Dr. Alexis Jackson, Fisheries Project Director, California The Nature Conservancy – using science to better California fisheries management
  • John McManus, Golden Gate Salmon Association – diversity and salmon in California today
SPECIAL INTERACTIVE EVENTS
Virtual venue
At this year's Chapter annual meeting we will be hosting the poster session, student-mentor networking event, and a networking social using the virtual venue Spatial Chat. 
While we can’t be together in person this year, this interactive format will give you the opportunity to mix and mingle, choose what you would like to focus on, and strike up new conversations.

If you are new to Spatial Chat, you may want to check it out before the meeting. Also, when you first “enter” the virtual venue keep an eye out for a sign with instructions on how to navigate your avatar through the different “rooms”.
CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION
Registration site is open again!
Registration for the Chapter annual meeting is open again. We apologize for the temporary closure earlier this week.

Register early for early bird pricing. Prices go up after February 24, 2021. Different pricing is available for AFS members, non-AFS Members, retirees, young professionals, and students.

And don't forget to sign up for the Spawning Run.
PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN FISHERIES AND THE OUTDOORS
Supporting outdoor organizations
In normal conference years we would offer Cal-Neva-themed items to attendees (e.g., conference totebag or other “swag”). This year the Cal-Neva Chapter will be donating an amount comparable to what would normally have been spent on these items to three charitable organizations that promote diversity and inclusion in fisheries and the outdoors: Captain Rollo’s Kids at SeaCast Hope, and LandPaths. In addition, while the Spawning Run is free this year, we are encouraging participants in the run to make a donation to Outdoor Afro of an amount similar to what they would otherwise have paid to register for the run.
Thank-you to Our Sponsors!
We are very grateful to the following organizations for their financial support of our annual meeting: Biomark, East Bay Municipal Utility District (East Bay MUD), Regional San (Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.