This is your notification of the upcoming joint ASMFC/GSMFC Artificial Reef Meeting.  It has been scheduled for May 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2004, in Jacksonville, Florida.  On May 5th, the joint ship working group will be meeting, beginning at 1:00 PM through 5:00 PM.  On May 6th, we will hold the joint session, beginning at 9:00 AM and running through 5:00 PM.  On May 7th, we will be having the individual subcommittee breakout sessions.  They will run from 8:30 AM through Noon.  Please make your travel arrangements and hotel reservations accordingly.  Those of you not involved in the joint ship work group won't need to be there for that session.  Those of you who are authorized to travel by either of the Commissions and are on the joint ship work group need to make your arrangements to get there early enough to attend the afternoon session on the 5th.  Those of you who are not on the joint ship work group, but would like to attend, you will need to pay any extra costs associated with your early travel, if any are accrued.  If this is confusing, just give me a call.

The hotel is the Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront.  It is the same hotel that we used for the last joint meeting held in Jacksonville.  It is located at 1201 Riverplace Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207.  The phone number is (904) 398-8800, or you can call toll free at 1(800)445-8667.  The meeting rate is $77.00, so be sure to mention the GSMFC and the rate when making your reservations.  The cutoff date for getting in the room block is April 18th, 2004.  Please, please, please make your reservations by that time so we don't have to intervene with the hotel staff to get you the government rate.  I believe that there is a shuttle that can deliver to the hotel, but it is not a free shuttle.  If you use the shuttle, be sure to keep your receipt for reimbursement.

For those of you not on either of the subcommitteess but are planning to join us, you will need to make your reservations by the cutoff date as well, if you plan to take advantage of the conference rate.  If there are any questions, please feel free to give me a call or contact me by e-mail.  We are in the process of developing the agendas.  Please let me or Carrie Selberg know if you have an agenda item you would like to add.  I look forward to seeing you all there.
Ron

Ron Lukens
Assistant Director
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
Phone:  (228)875-5912
FAX:     (228)875-6604
E-Mail:  rlukens@gsmfc.org