Austin, TX

- Hyatt Regency Austin -

Sept. 13-16, 2009

Conference Location and General Information

Austin is the state capital of Texas and “The Live Music Capital of the World®,” and for the past two decades, Austin has made history as a leader in both technology and creativity. From the launch of Dell to the growth of Austin as a music and film center, Austin is gaining attention worldwide as a hub for education, business, health, green living and as a welcoming community. The average temperature in September ranges from a high of 90 to a low of 70.

Located less than 15 minutes drive time (or about four songs’ worth) from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin has received many top rankings including: among the Top 25 Cities in America by Travel + Leisure; among the top 10 greenest cities in the U.S. according to a survey by Popular Science; ranks #2 on Prevention Magazine’s list of the “top ten cities for taking a stroll;” and Natural Home magazine ranks Austin #2 among America’s Top Ten Eco-Friendly Communities.

There is plenty to do in the Austin area, and complete information can be found at www.austintexas.org. To help you plan your stay, we will also provide extensive information about the local area at the registration desk onsite. Prior to the conference, the Texas Parks & Wildlife staff will post their top picks for fun. Stay tuned!

About Austin

The limestone hills and peridot-colored waters have always and continue to define Austin's legacy and charm. The hills that circle the city and the play of sunlight on those hills inspired short story writer O. Henry, once a resident of Austin, to describe the town as looking as though it wore "a violet crown."

That purplish haze still settles over the city at sunset to paint a spectacular view, particularly from Mt. Bonnell. At 785 feet, it is one of the highest points within the city limits. Mystery, romance and tragedy surround the craggy landmark. Tales of ill-fated lovers leaping to their death from the precipice inspired the legend that the first time a couple climbs the 99 steps to the top of Mt. Bonnell, they fall in love. On the second trip, they get engaged. But, beware, the third climb could prove fatal.

The mid-1800s brought growth to Austin, as the population increased from 629 in 1850 to nearly 3,500 in 1860. A flurry of construction on Capitol Hill resulted in several new landmarks —a new limestone Capitol (1853), the Governor's Mansion (1856), and the Old General Land Office (1857).

The 1880s signaled a boom period for Austin. In 1886, an impressive skyline began to take shape even prior to the start of construction on the new state Capitol when cattle baron Col. Jesse Driskill opened the spectacular Driskill Hotel. Touted as "one of the finest hotels in the whole country," the Victorian structure remains one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. The hotel figures prominently in the careers of both U.S. Presidents with Austin connections. President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird shared their first date at the Driskill, and he also awaited results from the 1964 presidential election from the hotel. In 2000, then-Governor George W. Bush set up office at The Driskill while he awaited results from the contested election.

Long regarded as a cultural, political, environmental and educational center of Texas, Austin attracts a diverse mix of writers, musicians, politicians, teachers, environmentalists and average citizens—all looking for a place where the water is clean, people are tolerant, the quality of life ranks higher than average and where pockets of small, unique neighborhoods exist within a larger, urban city.

Throughout its history, Austin has doubled in population every 20 years. The past two decades were no exception. With 657,000 people living within the city limits, Austin now ranks as the country's 16th largest city. The total metropolitan area includes 1.2 million.

Much of the city's most recent growth is a result of a technology boom. In 1967, Tracor Industries set up shop in far northwest Austin. Others soon followed—IBM, Texas Instruments, 3M, Motorola, Advanced Micro Devices, Samsung, Dell. From buffalo chips to computer chips, the little trading post by the river has emerged as the focal point of the Silicon Hills.

Important Reminders:

Sponsors/Exhibitors: For information on sponsoring an event, contact Cindy Delaney at 802-865-5202 or via email at cindy@delaneymeetingevent.com.

Committee Chairs: Please don't forget to assign someone to take notes and photographs during your meeting! After your meeting, you can drop off your committee notes, power point presentations and images in the Association's Annual Meeting Business Office, located at the Pre Registration Counter.

To email your materials, please send them to us at info@delaneymeetingevent.com.

Contact:

For information regarding the conference, please contact Cindy Delaney, at 802-865-5202 or via email cindy@delaneymeetingevent.com.