The 2003 Fall Meeting of the Florida Mosquito Control Association will meet at the Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel located at 495 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida. The Sheraton is downtown Miami next to the heart of Miami’s International Banking and Financial District. The room rate is $119 plus local and state tax, currently 12.5%. There is also a $5 per day parking fee. To make reservations call 1-305-373-6000. To ensure the FMCA group rate, you must identify yourself as attending the Florida Mosquito Control Association Meeting and make your reservation by October 15, 2003.

In making reservations be sure you get the Maimi Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel Reservations desk and not the nationwide reservations. Request the FMCA Fall Meeting and group rate. We have a large block of rooms and the nationwide reservations might tell you the hotel is booked. Wrong!!! Now that the hotel has placed the FMCA on their booking calendar, you should have no problems. If you do encounter problems, please contact Shelly or Sandy at 239-694-2174.

Individual room reservations canceled prior to 72 hours of arrival date will receive a full refund, less a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds are made for cancellations received after the 72 hour deadline. Check in time is 3:00 p.m. and check out time is 11:00 a.m. The Sheraton has recently remodeled with guestrooms having hair dryers, iron & ironing board, coffee maker, duel high speed telephone lines with voice mail and data ports, new 27" television sets with internet access and play station. Each room will also have pillow top beds.

Registration will be open at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. There will be a Board of Directors meeting at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will officially begin at 6:30 p.m. with an Early Bird reception. The main meeting will begin 8:00 a.m. on Monday, November17. Monday night will be the President’s Reception with appetizers and cash bar. Tuesday night will be our annual Banquet. The Director’s registration will include a luncheon meeting on Monday. The Commissioner’s registration will include a luncheon meeting on Tuesday.

The Florida Mosquito Control Foundation will be introducing this year’s T. Wayne Miller Scholarship recipient, Mai Vo from the University of North Florida. The Foundation is sponsoring a silent auction and raffle to raise funds for future scholarships. A preview of the auction items will be given at the President’s reception. The auction will be held before the Banquet on Tuesday evening. If you would like to donate an item for the auction, please contact Shelly or Sandy at 239-694-2174. Remember donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Please come to these fun events and support our Foundation!

There will be a VCMS Users Group meeting immediately following the Fall meeting for the remainder of Wednesday and all day Thursday. For more information, call Nancy Page at 727-464-7503.

 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL SHELLY OR SANDY AT 239-694-2174