AZVT - 2009 Conference

General Information:
Network with your peers and enjoy wonderful educational opportunities in a beautiful locale! Jackson, Wyoming is the major gateway for millions of tourists visiting Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the National Elk Refuge. With a population of 8,600, the town of Jackson sits at the Southern end of the 60 mile long Jackson Hole Valley. There is much to do in the town of Jackson and in the surrounding areas. Check out the National Park websites and the Jackson Chamber of Commerce websites for activities, links here, here and here.

Full Information can be downloaded from this PDF Document.

Pre-conference Activities:

Thursday 1 October 2009

Guided hike a Rendezvous Backcountry Tours (Maximum participants a 6) $80.00
8:00 AM Meet a representative from Rendezvous in front of the Virginian Lodge for a guided hike in the Southern part of the Grand Tetons. Lunch is included on this hike. They also provide backpacks and water bottles for those that do not have them. This is a moderately challenging hike with an elevation gain of 1,957 feet over the course of three miles to the Mesquite Divide (9,197 ft.) where youall find great views of the Grand Teton and the surrounding wilderness. Continue uphill for another two miles and climb to the summit of Taylor Mountain (10,352) where youall scramble over rocks to the summit marker. Youall be back at the Virginian by 3:30 or 4:00 PM.

Trail Ride - Turpin Meadow Ranch (Maximum participants a 25) $55.00
12:30 PM Representatives from Turpin Meadow will pick up participants in front of the Virginian and take them to the ranch. Turpin Meadows Ranch is 35 miles Northeast of Jackson outside the entrance to Grand Teton National Park at 6,900 feet in the Rocky Mountains. This 2-hour trail ride offers unmatched scenic views of the Grand Tetons.

Friday 2 October 2009

Whitewater Rafting (Maximum participants a 32) $55.00
8:45 AM Meet representatives from Teton Expeditions in the lobby of the Virginian Lodge. They will take you to their office next door and give you the rundown on what to expect on this high-volume Class III whitewater trip. After changing into wetsuits you will make your way to the river and be in your raft by 9:30 AM enjoying the water and beautiful views of the Tetons. This trip lasts 3.5 a 4 hours.

Snake River Scenic Float Trip (No maximum) $48.00
9:15 AM Meet a representative from Teton Expeditions in the lobby of the Virginian Lodge where you will learn what to expect on this scenic float. Youall be on the river by 10:00 AM kicking back with incredible views of the mountains and eagles, elk and other wildlife. Round trip time is approximately 3.5 a 4 hours. Lunch on the river is included!

Lunch and Tour at the National Museum of Wildlife Art (Maximum participants a 42) $38.00
12:15 PM Meet in front of the Virginian Lodge for transportation to the museum. Lunch will be served on arrival in the Memberas Lounge with stunning views of the National Elk Refuge. After lunch, there will be a guided tour of the museum. At 2:45, Buckboard Transportation will take you either back to the Virginian or drop you off at the town square if youad like to shop or just take a look around. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, site of the icebreaker at 5:30 PM, is on the town square.

MedARKS Workshops (Maximum participants a 15/session) $50.00/session
This 2-part workshop will expose participants to the basics as well as to the more advanced features of Medical Animal Record Keeping System (MedARKS), the animal records keeping system used in zoos worldwide. Part one will provide participants with limited experience with MedARKS an introduction to MedARKS, and the benefits it can bring to you and your job. There will be an introduction to data entry, and tips and short cuts on making MedARKS work for you, or for your particular needs.
Part two will show participants who currently have a working knowledge of MedARKS how to exploit the programas more advanced features including narcotic tracking, data transfers, making reports and forms and data quality routines. There will also be an introduction to some of the recent new MedARKS features.
Participants will need to bring their own laptop. Class size will be limited to 15 people per session. Bring questions and/or topics for discussion that are of interest to you and your needs.
Basic: 8:00 AM a 12:00 AM, Buffalo Room, Virginian Lodge
Advanced: 1:00 PM a 5:00 PM, Buffalo Room, Virginian Lodge

Icebreaker
5:30 pm a 7:30 pm
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
25 N. Cache Street
Jackson, WY
The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is on the famous Jackson town square. AZVT has reserved the entire bar until 7:30 when it will be open to the public. Hearty hors daouvres will be served and there will be a cash bar. Sorry, no minors. Check your map in your goody bag obtained during registration for shuttle stops and times. The bar is less than a mile from the Virginian Lodge and is an easy walk. For those of you attending the National Museum of Wildlife Art lunch and tour, the bus driver will gladly drop you off on the town square in plenty of time to enjoy some shopping or sightseeing before the Icebreaker begins. The bar will have live music beginning at 9:00 PM.

Post-conference Activities:

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Trail Ride - Dry Ridge Outfitters, Victor, Idaho (Maximum participants - 20) $85.00
8:30 AM Meet in front of the Virginian Lodge to travel to Moose Creek Ranch in Victor, Idaho via the beautiful Teton Pass through the mountains. The folks at Dry Ridge Outfitters will lead a 1/2 day trail ride through the spectacular natural setting of pristine lakes and open meadows framing long distance views of the Grand Tetons. Lunch is included. You will be sent a gear list and release form after signing up for this activity. “If you enjoy your ride, tip your guide!” Transportation back to Jackson leaves Moose Creek Ranch at 3:00 PM.

Guided Hike - Taggart Lake Trail, Grand Teton National Park (Maximum participants a 15) $50.00
9:15 AM Meet in front of the Virginian Lodge for transportation to the Taggart Lake trailhead in Grand Teton National Park. There you will be met by a member of the Wyoming Sierra Club who will guide you on a beautiful 4 mile hike. In addition, a Sierra Club member will speak on the geology of the area. This hike has an elevation gain/loss of 300 a 500 feet. This is a moderate hike and is appropriate for beginning hikers in good shape. You will need to bring good shoes, water, snacks and possibly rain gear. You will also need to have a National Park pass or purchase one at the park gate for $12.00. Park passes are good for 7 days. The hike will take approximately 2 1/2 a 3 1/2 hours. Proceeds from this activity, excluding transportation fees, will go to the Wyoming Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Jackson, Wyoming is the major gateway for millions of tourists visiting Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the National Elk Refuge. With a population of 8600, the town of Jackson sits at the southern end of the 60 mile long Jackson Hole valley.

View Larger Map

There is a free shuttle that will take you anywhere you want to go in Jackson. There is a stop less than a block from the Virginian Lodge. There is also bus service to other places in the Jackson Hole area such as Teton Village.

There is much to do while staying in the Jackson area. Begin your search for fun by visiting the Jackson Chamber of Commerce website by clicking here. Also check out the official websites for the parks by clicking here and here. Park entrance fee is good for both parks. Check the website for prices. If possible, I would suggest adding a day or two to your stay. And, you may want to add to your stay before the conference due to facility closings in the area. Some facilities begin closing in September and some activities are not available into October. Many national park facilities close the middle of October. During the conference, we will tour only the lower loop of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park boasts the largest concentration of wildlife in North America. Thereas much more to see and it would be a shame to miss it!

In addition to wildlife viewing, hiking, and camping, here are some activities for your consideration during your stay:

For you film buffs, The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival will be held 28 Sep to 2 Oct at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. Hereas the link: www.jhfestival.org/festival/festival2009.htm

The National Museum of Wildlife Art has a aDiscover the Wildlife Before You See the Wildlifea activity for families which includes an early morning breakfast. Groups meet with a wildlife specialist and a museum guide who will discuss wildlife of the area, how to look at the areaas natural habitat, what time of day the animals are active, and the best kept local aviewinga secrets. If youave never been to the area, you might consider this activity. Contact the museum for more information: www.wildlifeart.org

If you plan on hiking while you are in the area, consider the book aDay Hikes in Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Holea by Robert Stone.

The AZA-accredited Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is located in West Yellowstone, Montana just outside the West entrance to Yellowstone National Park. For more information, visit their website at www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org

Jackson Temperature(High/Low) and Precipitation(Inches) October 2007 and 2008:

Date	2007	2008
10/1	62/28 - 0.0	73/30 - 0.0
10/2	48/25 - 0.0	71/30 - 0.0
10/3	49/40 - 0.0	64/39 - 0.0
10/4	49/37 - 0.0	48/42 - 0.0
10/5	52/37 - 0.02	48/41 - 0.0
10/6	43/34 - 0.02	51/31 - 0.0

Wednesday 30 September	Early Arrivals
Thursday 1 October	Arrivals Registration a Pioneer Room, Virginian Lodge Pre-conference activities (Turpin Meadows trail ride, Rendezvous guided hike) Executive Committee Meeting (all former and current board members invited)
Friday 2 October	MedARKS workshops Pre-conference activities (whitewater rafting, scenic float, National Museum of Wildlife Art lunch and tour) Registration a Pioneer Room, Virginian Lodge Icebreaker at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Saturday 3 October	Buffalo/Frontier Rooms, Virginian Lodge Welcome/attendee introductions Presentations Break, Pioneer Room Presentations Lunch on own Presentations Break a Espresso service, Pioneer Room Poster Presentations Business Meeting Break (no catering service) Working dinner a Buffalo/Frontier Rooms Presentations Round-table discussion
Sunday 4 October	North American Wildlife Conservation Day Breakfast, Pioneer Room Bus Tour of Grand Teton National Park and the Lower Loop of Yellowstone National Park Lunch at Old Faithful Complete the Tour of Parks Return to the Virginian
Monday 5 October	Buffalo/Frontier Rooms, Virginian Lodge Presentations Break, Pioneer Room Presentations Lunch on own Presentations Break, Pioneer Room Presentations Banquet a Buffalo/Frontier Rooms Silent Auction, Pioneer Room Silent Auction a Please use the address below if you wish to ship your auction items to the conference. Please do not send before September 1; items must arrive no later than September 29. Shipping address: General Delivery C/O Virginia Crossett Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians 1070 Maple Way Jackson, WY 83002
Tuesday 6 October	Post-conference Activities (whitewater rafting, scenic float, Driggs trail ride, Sierra Club guided hike)

Paper and Poster Presentations, Guest Speakers, Roundtable Discussions, Workshops
Estimated 13 a 17 contact hours

Spaying Fish to Prevent Egg Binding a Jane Belovarac

The Turtle Girdle: Plastic Device for Non-surgical Management of Fractured Humerus in an Aquatic Turtle Species a Rita Buice

Endometriosis in Macaques a Colleen Clabbers

Managing the Nematode Load in Giraffe a Colleen Clabbers

Diet of a Tortoisea|and It Doesnat Include Screws! a Heather Darbo

Successful Milk Formulas for Hand-rearing Neonatal Hoofstock at the Wildlife Conservation Society a Lisa Eidlin

Techniques in Asian Elephant Radiography a Grant Fuhrman

Hematology and Plasma Chemistry of Amazon Freshwater Rays: A Comparison of Newly Acquired to Long-term Captive Animals a Abbey Grobe, et al

Cardiac Disease in Gorillas a Mary Jo King-Gallogly

Polar Bear Express: Coordinating an Off-site Dangerous Animal Transport for a Medical Procedure a Julie Lemon

Lingual Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Working Dog in Namibia: An Investigative Approach to Treatment and Possible Causes a Elizabeth Lester

An Advancement in Melegestrol Acetate (MGA) Implant Sterilization Techniques a Krysten Marchese

Bringing Continuing Education into the Workplace a Krysten Marchese

The Effects of Anticoagulant Choice and Sample Processing Time on Hematological Values in Juvenile Whooping Cranes a Joan Maurer

Monitoring Bone Growth of Asian Elephant Calves Through Monthly Radiographs a Sarah OaBrien

The Use of a Pregnancy Test Kit for the Determination of Progesterone Levels in Pregnant African Elephants a Jennifer Sohl, Libby Galvanek

The ABCDas of Managing a Critically Ill Snow Leopard a Donna Stringer

Validation of Comparative Manual Blood Cell Counting Methods a Kristine Trotta

Experimental Treatment Protocol for Acanthocephalan Peritonitis in the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) a Marissa Viens

Hawaiian Endangered Bird Conservation Program: the Challenges of Long Distance Veterinary Care a Kim Williams

Contraception in Zoos: Challenges, Methods, and Optimization of Animal Health - Andrea Aplasca, Laurie Page Peck Scholarship Winner

Guest speakers:

Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program: an Update a Heather Branvold, USFWS

The Wolf Recovery Program in Yellowstone National Park a Mike Jimenez, USFWS

Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance a Franz Camenzind, JHCA

Roundtable Discussions:

Contraception Topics: Answering Your Questions on Methods, Product Updates and Reversibility, Sally Boutelle, AZA Wildlife Contraception Center Program Coordinator

MedARKS Workshops:

Making MedARKS Work for You: Basic and Advanced Workshops, Cyd Teare, Linda DeHoff

The Virginian Lodge
www.virginianlodge.com
1.800.262.4999

$59.00/night Standard Double
Other room types are available; check the lodge for pricing.

Reservations should be made before 30 August.
After that date, rooms may not be available at the AZVT rate.
Due to another conference at this hotel in September, no rooms may be available before 30 September.

Jackson Hole Airport
www.jacksonholeairport.com
   Alltrans - ~$29.00 round trip
   Taxi - ~$28.00 one way
   Car Rentals a there are 4 car rental companies at the airport

Larger airports in the surrounding area include:
   Salt Lake City, Utah (~300 miles from Jackson)
   Bozeman, Montana (~215 miles from Jackson)

Other small airports in the area include:
   West Yellowstone, Montana (~125 miles from Jackson)
   Idaho Falls, Idaho (~90 miles from Jackson) a rent a car or take the shuttle to Jackson. (2008: $70.00 round trip via Alltrans)

The Jackson Hole airport is certainly the most convenient; however, if you plan on renting a car, the drive to Jackson from any of these surrounding airports will provide you with incredible scenery and wildlife. If you decide to drive from the outlying airports, be sure to check transportation websites for road conditions. (Utah - http://commuterlink.utah.gov/, Idaho - http://511.idaho.gov/, Wyoming - http://www.wyoroad.info/, Montana - http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/)

Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians