Below are a few frequently asked questions concerning the 16th Annual Meeting. If you have a question that is not answered below, please contact Mary Pearl Meuth at mpmeuth@tamu.edu or 979-845-7294.
Registration Questions
When is the deadline for registration?
The deadline to register for the 16th Annual Meeting is October 9th at 11:59 PM.
What does the registration fee for the Annual Meeting include?
Each registration fee is slightly different, depending on which level you register at. The details for each of these registration levels are listed below:
[accordion title=”Single Occupancy: $465″]This registration fee includes all conference fees for ONE person for the full three days of Advanced Training, a hotel room with 1 King Bed for two nights, all hotel amenities as listed, and all meals included on the agenda for the three days.
ON SITE AMENITIES
Complimentary amenities provided by Horseshoe Bay Resort while staying on property include:
- Free unlimited Wi-Fi Internet Access in Hotel Guest Rooms
- In room coffee and tea
- Self-parking for the weekend
- Access to hotel, paseo and yacht club pools – each with towel services
- 24-hour use of tennis and fitness center
- Lobby daily newspaper
- One-time bicycle rental for two
- Access to golf practice facilities
This registration fee includes all conference fees for ONE person for the full three days of advanced training in a shared hotel room with one other registrant at this same registration rate with 2 Queen Bed OR 1 King Bed for two nights, all hotel amenities as listed, and all meals included on the agenda for the three days.
ON SITE AMENITIES
Complimentary amenities provided by Horseshoe Bay Resort while staying on property include:
- Free unlimited Wi-Fi Internet Access in Hotel Guest Rooms
- In room coffee and tea
- Self-parking for the weekend
- Access to hotel, paseo and yacht club pools – each with towel services
- 24-hour use of tennis and fitness center
- Lobby daily newspaper
- One-time bicycle rental for two
- Access to golf practice facilities
This registration fee includes all conference fees for ONE person for the full three days of advanced training in a shared hotel room with three other registrants at this same registration rate with 2 Queen Bed for two nights, all hotel amenities as listed, and all meals included on the agenda for the three days.
ON SITE AMENITIES
Complimentary amenities provided by Horseshoe Bay Resort while staying on property include:
- Free unlimited Wi-Fi Internet Access in Hotel Guest Rooms
- In room coffee and tea
- Self-parking for the weekend
- Access to hotel, paseo and yacht club pools – each with towel services
- 24-hour use of tennis and fitness center
- Lobby daily newspaper
- One-time bicycle rental for two
- Access to golf practice facilities
This registration fee includes all conference fees for ONE person for the full three days of advanced training in a shared Paseo Apartment with five other registrants at this same registration rate, all hotel amenities as listed, and all meals included on the agenda for the three days. The Paseo Apartments include a kitchenette, a living room with a Queen sofa bed, patio, dining area, 2 bedrooms – each with a Queen Bed, and each with a private bathroom.
ON SITE AMENITIES
Complimentary amenities provided by Horseshoe Bay Resort while staying on property include:
- Free unlimited Wi-Fi Internet Access in Hotel Guest Rooms
- In room coffee and tea
- Self-parking for the weekend
- Access to hotel, paseo and yacht club pools – each with towel services
- 24-hour use of tennis and fitness center
- Lobby daily newspaper
- One-time bicycle rental for two
- Access to golf practice facilities
This registration fee includes all conference fees for ONE person for the attendance of ONE day of the Annual Meeting of their choice (Friday, Saturday or Sunday), including the meals being offered that day on the agenda. This option does NOT include any lodging or any hotel amenities as listed.
[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Two Day Commuter: $175″]
This registration fee includes all conference fees for ONE person for the attendance of TWO days of the Annual Meeting of their choice (Friday, Saturday or Sunday), including the meals being offered that day on the agenda. This option does NOT include any lodging or any hotel amenities as listed.
[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Three Day Commuter: $215″]
This registration fee includes all conference fees for ONE person for the attendance of ALL THREE days of the Annual Meeting, including the meals being offered that day on the agenda. This option does NOT include any lodging or any hotel amenities as listed.
[/accordion]
What is the Discount Code that I see on the first page of registration?
The Discount Code on the first page is for those Texas Master Naturalist Volunteers who have been elected to receive a scholarship from their Chapter President. The TMN State Office is happy to once again offer a scholarship to one member from each Chapter. The Chapter Presidents have been notified and will work with the Chapter members to make their selection of that member to receive the scholarship. These scholarships are available to ONE person from each Chapter for $75 off of either a Single or Double Occupancy registration level. Once the recipient has been verified, they will need to email Ashley Steinbach, ashley.steinbach@ag.tamu.edu, in order to receive the scholarship code to apply it to their registration and deduct the $75 scholarship from their Single or Double Occupancy registration level.
Scholarship recipients MUST be verified by a Chapter President, have contacted me via email to receive the scholarship code, and registered for the Annual Meeting by October 9th at 11:59 PM (when registration closes).
What if my spouse (a non TMN volunteer) wants to stay with me and join us for meals only, but doesn’t want to attend the Advanced Training sessions or field trips?
We would love to have them join us! If your spouse wants to attend the Annual Meeting with you, but does not want to attend any of the Advanced Training sessions or field trips, you will need to register yourself at the Single Occupancy registration level, and then call Mary Pearl Meuth at 979-845-7294 in order to register your spouse for meals only. The registration for Single Occupancy Guest-Meals Only is $195. This covers the meals of ONE guest of a Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer attending the Annual Meeting. These meals include the dinner Friday evening, all three meals Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. This registration fee does NOT include the attendance to any of the Annual Meeting advanced training sessions or other special events associated. This does include all hotel amenities as given to the Single Occupancy room.
After I finish my registration, can I add another person at a different registration level? (For example, can I register at the Single Occupancy registration level, while I register my friends under the Double Occupancy registration level?)
Unfortunately, you are not able to add another person’s registration at a different registration level as soon as you finish your own registration without logging out of your account. In order to register another person at a different registration level, you will need to log out of your RegOnline account and begin a brand new registration using a different email address. Then you can continue with registration as normal.
*NOTE* People registered at different registration levels (for example, a Single Occupancy registrant and a Double Occupancy registrant) CANNOT stay in the same room.
How do I make known my needs for special accommodations for my hotel room, such as floor preference, handicap access, etc.?
Please make note of any special needs/requests in the Additional Questions box on the bottom of the Additional Options page during registration, OR you can always email us with any concerns you may have. Email Mary Pearl Meuth at mpmeuth@tamu.edu.
How do I change my registration after it has been completed (Registration type, Agenda selections, etc.)?
To change your registration after it has been completed, please log back in to your RegOnline account at www.regonline.com/texasmasternaturalist16thannualmeeting and click on the “View or Change your Existing Registration” link in order to make changes to your registration type, agenda selections, roommate(s), dietary needs, etc.
*CAREFUL* Do NOT cancel your registration if you wish to change your registration type (for example, changing from a Double Occupancy level to a Single Occupancy level). Completely cancelling your registration and starting over will clear all of your previously made Agenda selections, so you may not be able to re-select an agenda session you wish to attend if it has been filled. You are able to change your registration type by logging back into your account and editing your registration.
Help, I selected an agenda item and it won’t allow me to unselect it. How do I fix that?
If you accidentally chose Agenda items that overlap and want to remove one of those selections in order to continue with your registration, you will need to click your internet browser’s “back” button to return to the previous page. This will clear all of your Agenda item selections and allow you to select the Agenda items that you wish to attend. Make sure you make note of the Agenda items you wish to attend before clicking the “back” button, since doing this will clear all of your Agenda item selections.
Where is the specific talk that I wanted to sign up for? It is listed on the Annual Meeting Agenda, but it is not visible when I try to register.
Quite a few of our sessions have participant limits as set by the presenter. Once these limits are reached, the session will no longer be available and will not appear on the agenda. We’ve got a running list of those sessions that are currently full and will try to keep this updated. If you’d like to be added to the wait list, please email Mary Pearl at mpmeuth@tamu.edu
Full (as of 9-21-2015)
- Doing what comes NATURALLY!; Billy Hutson-Friday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Tackling Those Confusing Composites; Craig Hensley- Friday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Return to the Crossroads, Geology at Big Bend Ranch State Park: Geology, Landscape, Culture, History; Blaine Hall-Friday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
- A Natural History of Milkweeds; Craig Hensley-Friday 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Bird Tales for the Elderly; Cindy Bolch-Friday 8:15 pm to 9:15 pm (Chapter Project Presentation)
- Inks Lake State Park-Partnering with Parks for Projects and Programs; Highland Lakes Chapter Texas Master Naturalists-Saturday field trip 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Nightengale Archeological Center; Chick Hixson- Saturday field trip 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery Tour; Judy Parker-Saturday field trip 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Riparian Plant Walk; Ricky Linex- Saturday 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
- CANCELLED: Texas’ National Wildlife Refuges; Nancy Brown- Saturday 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Geology Field Trip; Charles Beierle- Saturday field trip 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
- Texas Milkweeds and Monarchs; Mark Klym- Saturday 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
- Six Hands-on Naturalist Activities for Kids; Leanna Beauxbeannes- Saturday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- CANCELLED: #FieldNotesFriday: A NATURal Solution for an Online World; Erin Taylor- Saturday 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Natural History Walks: A Walking Workshop; Craig Hensley – Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Plant Identification by Family Association and use of Written and Online Botanical Keys; Ricky Linex- Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
- CANCELLED: Building an Understanding of Nature Through Photography; Carol Henrichs- Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
- Rainwater Harvesting SYSTEMS: Taking it to the Next Level; Chris Maxwell-Gaines- Sunday 9:00 am to 10:00 am
- Poison Ivy: differentiating fact from fiction; Yvonne Eele- Sunday 10:00 am to 11:00 am
- Organics, Water Conservation, Tree Preservation, Drip and Turf; John Kiser- Sunday 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Do I need to call Horseshoe Bay Resort to reserve a hotel room?
No, you do not need to call Horseshoe Bay Resort to reserve a room during the meeting. A room will be reserved for you upon completion of your registration, but you will not receive your room assignment (which is based on your level of registration) until check-in, which begins Friday at 3:00 PM.
Am I able to stay at Horseshoe Bay Resort the night before or after the Annual Meeting?
Yes, you have the option to stay at Horseshoe Bay the night prior to the Annual Meeting (Thursday night) or the night after the Annual Meeting (Sunday night) at the discounted rate. Please contact Mary Pearl Meuth at mpmeuth@tamu.edu if you wish to stay the night before or after the Annual Meeting, and your request will be forwarded on to our Group Reservations Coordinator.
Is there another option to pay for my registration if I am not able to pay online with a Credit/Debit card?
If you are not able to pay online with a Credit/Debit card, you may pay by check. When paying by check, registration is completed and confirmed once the check is received. There will be a $30 charge for all returned/insufficient checks.
- Make check payable to: “Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service”.
- In your check “Notes” section, include your Registrant ID number listed on your confirmation and receipt.
- Include a copy of your registration confirmation and receipt.
- All check payments MUST be postmarked by October 9th, 2015.
- Mail check with a copy of your registration confirmation/receipt to:
Texas Master Naturalist Program
Wildlife and Fisheries Department-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
102 Nagle Hall, 2258 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843
I want to volunteer at the Annual Meeting, but I did not select “Yes” when prompted during my registration. Can I still volunteer at the Annual Meeting?
Yes, there are numerous opportunities to volunteer at the Annual Meeting! If you wish to volunteer and did not mention this during registration, please email Mary Pearl Meuth at mpmeuth@tamu.edu.
How do I print out my selected Agenda items before the Annual Meeting?
You can print out your selected Agenda items from your RegOnline account. To log into your account, go to http://www.regonline.com/texasmasternaturalist16thannualmeeting, click on the “View or Change Your Existing Registration” link, then follow the pages through to your confirmation page to view your full registration details, including the agenda. You can print this page with full Agenda selections. Your agenda selections will also be given to you upon check in once at the Annual Meeting.
What if my selected roommate(s) can no longer attend?
If plans change and your desired roommate(s) change before the registration deadline (October 9th), please contact Mary Pearl Meuth at mpmeuth@tamu.edu.
What if I can no longer attend the Annual Meeting?
Should you need to cancel your registration prior to the close of registration on October 9th, you may do so. However, a $50 processing fee must be charged. Cancellations of registrations cannot be made after October 9th.
Attending the Annual Meeting Questions
How do I get to Horseshoe Bay Resort?
Horseshoe Bay Resort is located at 200 Hi Circle North, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657. For directions from your city, type your starting point into Google Maps.
Where do I need to go when I arrive for the Annual Meeting?
The Texas Master Naturalist check-in table will be in the area labelled “Conference Registration” on the map. You do not need to go to the hotel front desk for Annual Meeting check-in. You will need to go to the hotel front desk in order to check in to the hotel, which begins Friday at 3:00 PM. Please visit the Texas Master Naturalist check-in table first when you arrive at Horseshoe Bay Resort.
When are check-in and check out times?
Check in begins Friday at 3:00 PM and check out is Sunday before 1:00 PM.
Will there be free Wi-Fi at the Annual Meeting?
Yes, there will be free Wi-Fi for everyone at Horseshoe Bay Resort.
When will the Silent Auction be open and where is it located?
The Silent Auction will be located in the Granite Ballroom (rooms E and D on the map below). The hours of operation for the Silent Auction are:
Friday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Silent Auction submissions begin
Friday 8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Last chance to submit Silent Auction donations
Saturday 8:00 AM-9:00 PM: Silent Auction bidding is open
Sunday 7:00 AM-8:00 AM: Winners settle their bids
Where will my Advanced Training sessions be held?
The location of each Advanced Training session can be found on the 16th Annual Meeting Agenda in orange next to the session’s name, and each room can be found on the Horseshoe Bay Resort map below.
There is an Advanced Training session I wish to attend, but I did not preregister for it. Can I still attend that session?
If there is a session that you wish to attend but did not sign up for in your initial registration, you may attend that session only if it is not full. If it is full, a sign will be posted on the door. Please be mindful of those who did preregister for that session. If there are open seats in the room and the presenter has extra materials, you are more than welcome to join that session after all those who preregistered are seated. You MUST preregister for the field trips – walk-ins are not allowed.
What do I need to bring to the Annual Meeting?
Annual Meeting attire is “Master Naturalist casual”. Remember that Advanced Training sessions will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather and look up your Advanced Training Presentation Descriptions to see if you need to bring any other specially noted items (some presentations encourage bringing laptops, smartphones, tablets, cameras, etc.). Don’t forget your water bottle, bag/backpack, bug spray, camera, notebooks, pen/pencil, Master Naturalist Certification and Milestone pins, sunglasses, hat, etc. Bring any toiletries that you need. The rooms at Horseshoe Bay Resort come with bed sheets and pillows, and there is free Wi-Fi available at the Resort.