Announcement of AMCOP 64
ANNUAL MIDWESTERN CONFERENCE OF PARASITOLOGISTS
June 7-9th, 2012
Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri 63501
The 64th Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists (AMCOP), a regional affiliate of the American Society of Parasitologists (ASP), will meet June 7-9th, 2012, at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. The meeting will start on Thursday evening, June 7th, with an opening reception. On Friday, June 8th, student papers, the AMCOP symposium, and all posters will be presented, followed by the banquet that evening. On Saturday, June 9th, faculty papers will be given in the morning, followed by the annual business meeting, and presentation of awards. The meetings should conclude before noon on Saturday, June 9th.
The program officer for the meeting is Dr. Lin Twining of Truman State, and the presiding officer is Dr. Shawn Meagher, of Western Illinois University. The AMCOP symposium, will feature Dr. JohnJanovy, Professor Emeritus, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska (Lincoln) who will share his years of experience as a parasitologist and educator through his presentation “The Importance of the Unimportant”, and Dr. Patricia Parker, Professor of Zoological Studies, University of Missouri (St. Louis) and Senior Scientist, Saint Louis Zoo, who will speak on “Understanding the Histories of Parasites of Galapagos Birds”. The banquet speaker will be Dr. Scott Snyder, Professor and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creativity, University of Nebraska (Omaha), speaking on “Parasite Biodiversity: Reflections, Challenges, and Opportunities” Please visit for further information.
Meeting Registration, Lodging & Banquet
Please register for AMCOP 64 (conference registration, lodging, and banquet) by completing the attached form and by returning it with appropriate payment to Dr. Twining at TSU. Checks should be made out to, "AMCOP 64". Registration materials must be received by May 25, 2012. Registration and dormitory check-in will begin at 3:00pm on June 7 at West Campus Suites (at the northwest corner of campus, First and Normal Streets) on the TSU campus. Registration materials may also be picked up at the welcome reception Thursday evening.
Abstracts, Student Awards & Annual Dues
Students and faculty are encouraged to participate by presenting a 10-minute oral paper or a poster involving parasitology. Abstract instructions for the meeting are available at Completed abstracts should be sent to Dr. Douglas Woodmansee by May 28, 2012 ().
Students are eligible to receive the Herrick Award for best poster presentation and the LaRue Award for best oral paper presentation. Undergraduates are eligible for the Cable undergraduate award. The best overall presentation will receive a travel grant to present their research at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Society of Parasitologists.
Payment of annual dues is required to receive the AMCOP 64 abstract book. Dues also support AMCOP, in general, and student awards, in particular. Please remember to pay them! The annual dues form is available at and should be remitted via US Mail to Doug Woodmansee at the address on the form.
Please feel free to make copies of the registration, abstract, and dues forms to distribute to ANYONE that may be interested in the meeting.
Accommodations and Parking
On-campus accommodations will be available at West Campus Suites for $30 per night for double occupancy of a suite, or $35 per night for single occupancy of a suite. Three to four persons may share a suite (two people per bedroom) for $20 per night. If you have a roommate preference, please indicate their name on the registration form. West Campus Suites are air-conditioned. You MUST, however, provide your own linens, i.e. sheets, blankets, pillows,and towels.
A block of hotel rooms have been reserved at Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn. Holiday Inn Express will hold rooms until May 20. Mention the conference to get the lower hotel rate.
Holiday Inn Express: 2702 South Franklin Street (660-627-1100). Comfort Inn: 2209 North Baltimore (660-665-2205).
Other area hotels include: Days Inn (3805 South Baltimore, 660-665-8244), Super 8 (1101 Country Club Drive, 660-665-8826), Knights Inn (2521 South Franklin, 660-665-8352). Ten miles south of Kirksville: Depot Inns and Suites, 1245 N. Brown Street, La Plata.
Parking tags will be available at check-in.
Other Accommodations: Scenic Thousand Hills State Park is 3 miles west of Kirksville just off Highway 6 at the junction of Highway 157. Campsites with nearby modern restrooms and showers are available for a modest fee. Campsites may not be reserved ahead of time, but are usually readily available at this time of year. Call 660-665-6995 for more information about camping. There are also some cabins for rent at Thousand Hills which may be reserved by calling the same number. Thousand Hills State Park surrounds a 700 acre lake where swimming, fishing, and boating are available.
Meeting Details
Thursday Evening Social
The opening reception will be held from 6 to 9 pm at the Kirksville Arts Center, 117 South Franklin Street. The Arts Center is about 6 blocks north of campus. There will be beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks. PLEASE NOTE: The snacks are not intended to be a meal!
Friday and Saturday Sessions
All events take place in Truman’s Science facility, Magruder Hall. The Friday morning session will begin with student oral presentations in competition for the LaRue Award in Magruder 2001. After lunch, the AMCOP Symposium will be presented by Dr. John Janovy, Professor Emeritus, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska (Lincoln) and Dr. Patricia Parker, Professor of Zoological Studies, University of Missouri (St. Louis) and Senior Scientist, Saint Louis Zoo. The afternoon will conclude with posters/demonstrations in the cybercafé and main hallway of Magruder Hall, including student posters in competition for the Herrick Award, and a silent auction of parasitological materials (Magruder 2012). The Saturday morning session will feature contributed papers and the annual business meeting. We anticipate closing the meeting before noon.
Silent Auction
AMCOP 64 will feature a silent auction of various parasitological (and other) materials to raise money for our student awards. Individuals wishing to donate items may send them to Lin Twining or Douglas Woodmansee, or you can simply bring them to the meeting.
Social and Banquet (Friday)
The banquet will be held on Friday evening in the Georgian Room of the Student Union Building (SUB). A brief social will precede the banquet. The post-meal speaker will be Dr. Scott Snyder, Professor and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creativity, University of Nebraska (Omaha), speaking on “Parasite Biodiversity: Reflections, Challenges, and Opportunities”. The banquet will be served buffet-style and include a variety of salads, chicken marsala, carved ham, a vegetarian entrée, roasted potatoes, wild rice, cinnamon apples, and green beans. Dessert will be strawberry shortcake. Our food service will be serving as many local foods as possible. If you have special dietary considerations, please let me know ahead of time and we will do our best to meet your needs. NOTE: Banquet tickets should be purchased at the time of registration.
Food (Friday & Saturday)
Continental breakfast will be served on Friday and Saturday mornings outside of Magruder 2001. Snacks and beverages will be provided on Friday after the symposium. Lunch both days is on your own. On Friday, our Main Street Market at the Student Union will be open and available for lunch. Several restaurants are ~15-minute walk from campus, or a short drive. Locations of these facilities will be provided at check-in.
Updates: AMCOP Home Page: As the conference approaches, please be sure to check for additional updates, maps, and other details.
Truman State University: Location & Travel
Truman State University is located in Northeast Missouri at the junction of Highways 6 and 63. Kirksville is approximately 90 miles north of Columbia, MO and 70 miles west of Quincy, Illinois. From the north and south Kirksville may be reached by travelling on route 63. To the south the major east-west highways are I-70 and route 36, both of which intersect with route 63. To the north the major east-west highways are I-80 and route 34 which also connect with highway 63.
The campus of Truman may be reached by following business Route 63 north into town if approaching Kirksville from the south. There will be signage for reaching Truman State University which will bring you onto Franklin Street that runs through campus. Do not take the by-pass. If approaching Kirksville from the north also follow business Route 63 south into town. You can turn right at Normal Street which leads to campus.
If approaching Kirksville from the east, you will be travelling on Highway 6. Follow on to business route 6 or Franklin Street and you will reach the south edge of campus.
A campus map can be accessed at this website address:
Meeting Registration, Banquet & Lodging Registration Form
64th Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists
June 7rd -9th, 2012
Registration deadline: received by May 25, 2012.
Name (as you'd like it on name tag!)______
Institution______
Department______
Mailing Address______
______
Email:______Phone:______
REGISTRATION Fee: Student member - $22.00$______
Professional Member - $44.00$______
BANQUET meal tickets: ______@ $15.00 ea $______
HOUSING – West Campus Suites: (please indicate: male___ female___)
Triple or Quad Occupancy
______nights @ 20 per person per night $ ______
Double Occupancy
______nights @ $30 per person per night (2 persons/suite) $______
Single Occupancy
______nights @ $35/night (1 person/suite)$______
Total $______
Roommate preference______Arrival date/Time______
Departure date/Time______
Please make checks payable to “AMCOP 64”. Return completed form and payment to:
AMCOP 64, c/o Dr. Lin Twining Biology Department, Truman State University 100 East Normal Street Kirksville, MO 63501
For questions, contact Lin Twining 660-785-4634 (office) or 660-341-3778 or email at