ABLE Bioblog

That conference came and went so quickly!  I can’t believe it is already almost August. The ABLE Web team (and other board members) have continued to pour in hours to keep the organization up to date though.  So…here is a quick post to give you a peek into what’s going on at ABLE: 

1. ABLE 2010 pictures are now uploaded!  This year, we decided to just put a few up publicly. But, if your a member of ABLE, you can login, click on “Conference Materials” and link to all 112 pictures.  Enjoy!
2. September 1st will be the deadline to submit short articles, comments, thoughts, events, etc. to LABSTRACTS.  Email directly to the Labstracts editor.
3. Manuscripts to submit for presentations at ABLE 2010 (Volume 32 Proceedings publication) should be due around October 1st, 2010.  Online form will be available soon!
4. Submissions to ABLE 2011 (New Mexico State University) major workshop presentations will be due by October 31, 2010. Online form will be available soon!

Get them all on your calendars as you prepare for Fall! Watch for an email through the ABLE Listserv when the online forms are available.

Mark
ABLE Web Manager
http://www.ableweb.org

Wait a second…where did the meeting go?  Is it really gone already?!?  Today we enjoyed some fast-paced mini-workshops, posters, and a not-too-painful business meeting. We can’t wait to use you volunteers for continuing to improve ABLE.  I gotta say though, Jen and Mindy did a great job.  THANKS!!  Especially for the fantastic banquet tonight complete with lobster, dancing, spectacular views, wonderful live music and wine (you didn’t get any?  You should have been at my table!!  ) Everyone joins me in saying “WOW” and “Halifax RAWKS!” and “We wish you rest.”

Many participants will stretch their Halifax stay with planned excursions, family trips, or hang-out time tomorrow (Sat).  But, I’ve gotta head back.  Any of you stretchers are welcome to post a comment and let us know how the trips went. They look spectacular, and I’m sad I’ll miss it. It was great to meet so many new people, and to have so many new people (90?) experience ABLE this year. I’m sad to say goodbye, just as every year; but, will look forward to seeing my “once-a-year friends” in New Mexico in June 2011!!

Mark

Wednesday’s workshops, vendor setups/demonstrations, food, and frivolity all seemed like a great success here at ABLE 2010, Dalhousie-style.  My colleague and I enjoyed torturing our workshop participants into practicing “conversion immersion” on clicker questions, while others commented on how quickly the time went in their morning session.  Posters have started to go up on the 6th-7th floors of the LSC, and we had a “free night” last night to enjoy some of the plenty that Halifax had to offer. (I went the route of locally slaughtered pork chops then some GREAT live music/drinks at the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse.)

Alec and Mike, ABLE board members, enjoy the water (photo by K. Nolan)

It seems like just yesterday that we arrived….but by noon, I suppose we’ll be half-way done with the conference!  Make like a sponge and soak it all up folks! I can’t wait to get the Volume 31 proceedings up online for members (should happen in a week or so), and continue to update the binder materials for this week’s conference (available on the members-only site).

Caio,

Mark

While some of you were enjoying all that Halifax had to offer today, your Board of Directors were busy at work making exciting decisions about ABLE. I gotta say, I love this organization. I hope you do too (even if it is just to come to a cool place every year and find great friends and eat great food and learn great labs and converse about great biology ideas and…)!

Be sure to come to the General Business Meeting this Friday to hear about what is going on (and maybe even volunteer to get involved). Now…it’s almost reception time (2 drink tickets?! Great!!), then the major workshops start tomorrow. Thanks again Jen and Mindy in advance for a great conference!

Mark

My colleague and I arrived in lovely Halifax, Nova Scotia yesterday afternoon, landing practically in the forest.  One of the conference hosts was afraid we’d think we were somewhere in the great wilds of the north…but I just found it beautiful!  We grabbed a taxi to our rooms, and I was pleased to see bedding and towels ready for me (I think I remember one year I was missing a pillow or something?)–the communal bathrooms take me back to my undergraduate dorm days. (Don’t worry, I won’t revert to any dorm pranks like penny-ing doors, streaking, or creating a bathroom sauna; at least I don’t think I will….)

We joined last year’s hosts (Bob-squared) at the Rogue’s Roost for some dinner eats and local brew (great hefeweizen); then the Bob’s took me for a wandering, driving tour of the waterfront and point pleasant park.

I even got a little preview of the LSC (Life Sciences Center) where the workshops are being held starting Wednesday. Looks like ample room, and despite the last-minute worries of the hosts, everything seems to be in order for a great conference. I’m especially excited for our hike around Fort McNab today, the reduced paper printing in our conference folder, the great majors I get to attend, and breathing some more Halifax air.

All the locals have been friendly, but I can’t wait for the bio-friendly ABLErs to arrive today/tomorrow!! Have a safe trip, and look out for those trees…

Mark Walvoord
ABLE Web Manager