Get excited for our Texas Master Naturalist 2023 Annual Meeting – to be held Thursday, October 12th through Sunday, October 15th this year at the southernmost point of the South Texas Plains ecoregion, surrounded by mesquite and prickly pear brush country in McAllen, Texas.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley is famous for its diversity of birds, butterflies, and endangered species like Ocelots, Texas Tortoises, Sabal Palms, and Piping Plovers that call the region home. McAllen offers some of the best birding and nature exploration opportunities in Texas, with its sunny subtropical climate and prime location along the Central Flyway. For our 24th Annual Meeting, we are excited to gather at the McAllen Convention Center, which sits between multiple nature centers and wildlife refuges along the Rio Grande Valley. McAllen also offers a unique opportunity this year as a prime location to view an annular solar eclipse!
The Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for the Texas Master Naturalist volunteers from around the state to gather, participate in hands-on educational seminars, and receive all their Advanced Training requirements for the year in one weekend. It’s also an opportunity for program participants and supporters to network, share new ideas, and to learn from chapters in different regions of the state.
Countdown to the 2023 Annual Meeting
Call for Proposals
Join Us as a Presenter in 2023!
The Texas Master Naturalist Program welcomes your presentation proposals as contributions to be considered for our Annual Meeting and agenda! Individuals wishing to present are invited to submit their proposals via the “Submit Abstract” button below.
This year’s Annual Meeting will be hosted Thursday, October 12th to Sunday, October 15th, 2023 at the McAllen Convention Center in McAllen, Texas. The Lower Rio Grande Valley is famous for its diversity of birds, butterflies, and endangered species like Ocelots, Texas Tortoises, Sabal Palms, and Piping Plovers that call the region home. McAllen offers some of the best birding and nature exploration opportunities in Texas, with its sunny subtropical climate and prime location along the Central Flyway. For our 24th Annual Meeting, we are excited to gather at the McAllen Convention Center, which sits between multiple nature centers and wildlife refuges along the Rio Grande Valley. McAllen also offers a unique opportunity this year as a prime location to view an annular solar eclipse!
We are planning for an in-person Annual Meeting for 2023! We are asking that all presenters be prepared to host their sessions in person with us this fall; however, special considerations may be given where needed. Sessions are currently scheduled to begin each day of the conference at 8am and end at 5pm with final arrangements and schedule to be shared mid-summer. Sessions will be offered concurrently with one, two, three, and four hour blocks, built-in breaks, and potentially themed days (dependent on final submissions received).
As a workshop presenter, you would have the opportunity to inform and train TMN members from across the state on various natural resource topics providing more in-depth information than their initial core training and curriculum. You are also encouraged to make this an opportunity to enlist and train our program volunteers to assist you, your program, and your work as part of their annual volunteer service commitment.
Deadline for submissions is May 31st!
If you are a speaker for this year’s meeting – please use the Speaker Resource Center for connecting with resources for the upcoming meeting.
Sponsors
All sponsorships receive special recognition through conference communication, fliers, announcements, and programs. Sponsors could make a general contribution to support and sponsor the TMN Annual Meeting at any of the following levels with recognition at each level as given:
Be a Friend
Be an Ecologist
Posted on conference hallway signs
Be a Steward
Posted on Annual Meeting app
Recognition given during awards ceremony
Be a Conservationist
Complimentary Vendor Booth (optional)
Be a Guardian
Reserved table at Annual Meeting awards dinner
Inclusion of collateral materials in attendee registration bags
Be a Naturalist
Organization highlight page on website.
To be a sponsor, please contact, Mary Pearl Meuth – mpmeuth@tamu.edu
McAllen Convention Center
The convention center was designed as a multi-purpose event center that caters everything from conventions to sporting events to board room meetings. The professional event services team at the McAllen Convention Center specializes in making every event memorable, by ensuring every detail is perfectly handled. Whether you’re planning a small board room meeting, a gala, or a large conference, with 174,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, multifunctional space, we have the perfect space for your event.
Retail Guide – One of the best features of the McAllen Convention Center is its proximity to a handful of the city’s best commercial giants. Within walking distance are big retailers such as Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Cavender’s, and so many more.
Restaurants – Several restaurants are within walking distance to the McAllen Convention Center and the hotels. Places such as Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Saltgrass Steak House, P.F. Chang’s, and more are only a few minutes’ walking distance away.
Transportation
Knowing this year’s meeting is at a far reach for many of our traveling Master Naturalists, we’ve put together some ideas for you to consider as you plan your travel to McAllen:
- Plane
- McAllen Airport – https://mcallenairport.com/ – services American, United, and Allegiant airlines
- Harlingen Airport – https://flythevalley.com/ – services American, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country, and United
- Bus
- Greyhound Bus – https://www.greyhound.com/en-us/bus-to-mcallen – offers bus trips from $50 from many Texas bus hubs
- FlixBus – https://www.flixbus.com/ – offers bus trips from $50 from central locations in San Antonio, Houston, and Austin
- Carpool
- Check with your local chapter members, or chapters in your surrounding area and carpool together! Share the driving responsibilities and learn more about your master naturalist friends.
Lodging
This year’s Annual Meeting will be hosted at the McAllen Convention Center, situated in the center of a multi-facility complex of hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. Conference lodging arrangements have been made at five (5) hotels within walking distance to the Convention Center. Lodging reservations can be made through the links below, and room blocks are being held at first come, first serve.
La Quinta Inn & Suites
Free High-Speed Internet access
Fitness Facility
In-room hair dryer, coffee maker, iron, and full-size ironing board
Television with premium channels and HBO
Guest Laundry facilities
Swimming pool
Business Center
Home2 Suites
Complimentary self –parking
Complimentary use of the Hilton Connectivity Station
Complimentary use of the Fitness Center
Complimentary In Room Internet for all group members
Complimentary “Made To Order” buffet breakfast per in house Guest from 6AM – 10AM.
Complimentary “Evening Social” per in house guest from 5PM – 7:30PM
Cambria Hotel
Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet for registered guests
Complimentary Shuttle service to and from McAllen International Airport
Complimentary parking
Springhill Suites
All suites come equipped with a West Elm Day bed and trundle, coffee maker, mini fridge, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Complimentary Shuttle service to and from McAllen Airport and surrounding areas.
Homewood Suites
Complimentary daily Suite Start® hot breakfast and Welcome Home® reception featuring a complete dinner and beverages Monday-Thursday evenings 5pm-7pm.
Complimentary in-suite high-speed Internet access
Hilton HHonors where guests earn both Points & Miles®
Suite Assurance Guarantee®
Complimentary Shuttle service to and from the airports and (2mi radius) Based upon availability
Registration
Registration for this year’s Annual Meeting will open the first week of August. Registration prices will be released in July. Stay tuned!
Join our TMN Email Listserv to be the first to hear about the Annual Meeting registration and more – https://txmn.tamu.edu/about/contact/
Or follow us on social media to hear news about the upcoming event –
Agenda
The full agenda for the Annual Meeting will be posted in June; however, our skeleton agenda is below:
Silent Auction
One of the highlights of the Annual Meeting each year is our Annual Silent Auction – a fundraising opportunity to support the Texas Master Naturalist Program. This year’s Silent Auction is currently being organized. More information coming soon!
Contests and Awards
We host four Annual Meeting contests each year. All award winners for last year can be seen here in the Annual Meeting 2022 Awards Wrap Up. Details for each are linked below. Pre-Annual Meeting Entries – all due by 5pm on Friday, September 15th.
- Chapter Advisor Awards
- Nominate your chapter’s advisor(s) to be recognized
- Chapter Project Fair
- Submit your chapter project for our virtual fair!
- Video Contest
- Videos of 1 minute to 3 minutes
- Photo, Art & Media Contest
- Hosted by the ________ Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists
- Entries to be submitted online between September 1st-30th
- Note: Photos & Media must be taken somewhere in Texas and within the current year: 2023.
About the Texas Master Naturalist Program
The Texas Master Naturalist Program is sponsored statewide by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The programs mission is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the State of Texas.
The program currently supports 15,000+ volunteers in 48 local chapters across the state. TMN volunteers provide over 400,000 hours of service annually. Many communities and organizations rely on these volunteers for implementing youth education programs; for operating parks, nature centers, and natural areas; and for providing leadership in local natural resource conservation efforts. Texas Master Naturalist volunteers are required to receive 40 hours of basic training, obtain a minimum of 8 hours of advanced training, and perform 40 hours of volunteer service prior to being certified as a Texas Master Naturalist volunteer. To keep their certification current each year, TMN’s are required to obtain an additional 8 hours of advanced training and provide 40 hours of volunteer service annually. For more information, visit our statewide website: http://www.txmn.org.
Any additional questions about the Texas Master Naturalist 2023 Annual Meeting or the Program in general can be directed to Michelle Haggerty (mmhaggerty@tamu.edu) or Mary Pearl Meuth (mpmeuth@tamu.edu).