Due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, the Association for Conservation Information (ACI) has postponed the 2020 ACI Conference, originally scheduled for 2020 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The new dates for the annual conference are July 25-28, 2021, with the Locavore Workshop add-on option July 29. This will be a virtual conference.
The R3 Revolution!
Conservation communication leaders from state and federal natural resource agencies across the country will gather on the historic Santa Fe Plaza in 2021 to explore new ways to help the national Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation (R3) movement by successfully increasing hunting, angling, shooting sports and outdoor recreation participation.
For the past decade we’ve all seen the disturbing headlines…
Do you know tested and proven efforts are already in progress to address the decline and you have an important role in its success?
Join us July 25-28, 2021, with the Locavore Workshop add-on option July 29 at the Drury Plaza Hotel at 828 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501 for the Association for Conservation Information Annual Conference and discover your role in igniting the R3 Revolution!
Conference Agenda
The Agenda for the 2021 Association for Conservation Information Annual Conference is presented below. A pdf is also available for download. A few additional details will be added as they are confirmed. Please check back before the conference to ensure you have the latest version or watch for the ACI Facebook announcement when revisions become available.
2021 ACI Agenda (Revised 08/03/20) (571.4 KiB)
Agenda Revised 08/03/20
SUNDAY, JULY 25
| Start | End | Session Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | Conference Registration and Information Desk | Foyer |
| 4:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | ACI Board Meeting | MEEM Room |
| 5:30 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | Scholarship Meeting | Rivera A |
| 6:15 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | The Meow Wolf Experience: The champion of otherness, weirdness, Meow Wolf challenging norms, radical inclusion and the power of creativity to change the world. ACI attendees will dive into immersive and interactive experiences and be transported into fantastic realms of story and exploration through art installations, video and music production and extended reality content. | Meet in Lobby |
| 9:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. | Networking Hospitality Suite | TBD |
MONDAY, JULY 26
| Start | End | Session Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Conference Registration and Information Desk | Foyer |
| 9:00 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | Welcome to the 2021 Association for Conservation Information Conference Lance Cherry l Chief, Information & Education l New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Michael Sloane l Director l New Mexico Department of Game and Fish | Palace Ballroom |
| 9:30 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | Diversity in Conservation Presentation on the importance for agencies to recognize their historical lack of diversity, especially among leadership, and embrace inclusion as the new cultural norm. | Palace Ballroom |
| 10:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Keynote Address David Johns, Vice President of Marketing at Zebco Brands | Palace Ballroom |
| 11:00 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. | Break | |
| 11:15 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | The R3 Revolution! Matt Dunfee l Director of Special Programs l Wildlife Management Institute Establishing the conference theme roadmap so conservation communicators can come together to discuss, learn and develop opportunities to accelerate state and national R3 efforts. | O'Keeffe |
| 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Lunch (Sponsor Presentation) | Palace Ballroom |
| 1:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Aquire New Customers By Understanding Marketing Basics Jenifer Weisnewski l Chief, Outreach & Communications l Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Marketing is essential to your agency’s R3 efforts. When executed correctly, it can accelerate your programs and increase your customer acquisition. | O'Keeffe |
| 2:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | What Hunting Can and Should Now Look Like Crystal Egli l Video Production l Colorado Parks and Wildlife A personal perspective from a millennial stepping into hunting for the first time. | O'Keeffe |
| 3:00 p.m. | 3:15 p.m. | Break | |
| 3:15 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | Break-Out Sessions | |
| Video Workgroup Moderator: Blake Podhajsky l Outdoor Oklahoma TV l Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation | Meem Room | ||
| Magazine Workgroup Moderator: Nadia Reimer l Chief of Public Affairs l Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism | Lamy | ||
| Marketing & Communications Workgroup Moderator: Aaron Meier l Public Information Officer/Boating Education Coordinator l Nevada Department of Wildlife | Rivera A | ||
| Social Media Workgroup Moderator: Tristanna Bickford l Communications Director l New Mexico Department of Game and Fish | Rivera B | ||
| 4:30 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | ACI Committee Meetings Awards Committee Meeting (Co-Chairs: Blake Podhasky and Aaron Meier) | Meem Room |
| 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | ACI Annual Auction Dinner Join us for an evening of laughter and conversation as we raise money to help defray the cost of the annual conference by reaching deep into your pocket book in return for a chance to win great prizes. Participants can expect raffles, a silent auction and a live auction. | Palace Ballroom |
| 9:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. | Networking Hospitality Suite | TBD |
TUESDAY, JULY 27
| Start | End | Session Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Conference Registration and Information Desk | Foyer |
| 7:30 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | ACI’s Communication Express Education begins with a bus ride. Attendees will tackle important topics as they travel to Chama, NM to embark on a journey on the Cumbres and Tolec Railroad. Concurrent traveling topics will include: -Successful State Initiatives or Lessons Learned: Agencies will share R3 success stories, best practices and lesson learned. -Creating and editing useful videos on your Android or iPhone: Learn to use your phone as an effective video device, capable of creating complete videos and publishing them to your website and Social Media channels. -Using Social Media to Keep Your Customers Engaged: Learn to how your Social Media channels can help you establish lasting connections and brand loyalty by building strong customer relationships. | Bus |
| 10:00 a.m. | 3:30 p.m. | Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Don't forget your cameras as we step back in time on the historic Cumbres & Toltec. Guests will get a first hand look at how a dying industry found a way to beat the odds, survive and emerge as an even bigger success story. You will depart aboard a historic coal-fired steam engine in Chama, NM and travel through New Mexico’s diverse landscape, through steep mountain canyons, high desert and beautiful lush meadows. Voted Best Scenic Train Ride in America by USA Today readers, this narrow-gauge adventure will be certain to inspire creativity and provide an opportunity to see how the railroad has survived despite 140 years of change. | Meet in lobby |
| 3:30 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | ACI’s Communication Express On the return trip, topics will switch places, allowing attendees to continue their education. Concurrent traveling topics again include: -Successful State Initiatives or Lessons Learned: Agencies will share R3 success stories, best practices and lesson learned. -Creating and editing useful videos on your Android or iPhone: Learn to use your phone as an effective video device, capable of creating complete videos and publishing them to your website and Social Media channels. -Using Social Media to Keep Your Customers Engaged: Learn to how your Social Media channels can help you establish lasting connections and brand loyalty by building strong customer relationships. | Bus |
| 5:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Dinner on your own | Santa Fe Plaza |
| 8:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | New Mexico Story Teller | Rooftop Terrace |
| 9:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. | Networking Hospitality Suite | TBD |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28
| Start | End | Session Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | ACI Business Breakfast All conference attendees represent their state and participate in electing ACI's 2020/2021 Board and Officers. Breakfast is served during this important meeting. | Palace Ballroom |
| 9:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | R3 Unplugged! Chris Willard l Director of State Agency Engagement l Sovereign Sportsman Solutions It’s time to take off the gloves and get real about the obstacles, barriers and pitfalls that await you as you return to integrating marketing into your agency R3 efforts. | Palace Ballroom |
| 10:30 a.m. | 10:45 a.m. | Break | |
| 10:45 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Engaging Industry in Your R3 Efforts is Vital for Success Alex Baer l Director of Sales l OnX Maps Baer will offer an industry perspective on improving collaborations and share some best practices for engaging retail in your R3 efforts. | O'Keeffe |
| 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Lunch (Sponsor Presentation) | Palace Ballroom |
| 1:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | The Power of Collaboration Samantha Pedder l Director of Operations l Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports Let this be a warning… You will shoot yourself in the foot if you try to tackle this alone. Successful R3 depends on the collective effort of the entire conservation community and organizations are your lifeline to scaling future R3 efforts. | O'Keeffe |
| 2:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Don't Radicalize it - Normailze It Stephanie Hussey l Director, State Initiatives l Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation As you return to your state it’s important to recognize the need to function at the pace of your agency by integrating your marketing efforts into the culture of the agency. Resources are available to help you write strategic plans and create buy-in from your leadership and partners. | O'Keeffe |
| 3:00 p.m. | 3:15 p.m. | Break | |
| 3:15 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | The R3 Revolution! Recap Matt Dunfee l Director of Special Programs l Wildlife Management Institute Wrap up of the conference theme and open discussion on lessons learned. | O'Keeffe |
| 4:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | Invitation to 2021 ACI Conference by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | O'Keeffe |
| 6:30 p.m. | Annual Group Photo | Garden | |
| 6:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Annual Awards Dinner ACI's annual celebration recognizes excellence and promotes craft improvement through spirited competition. Attendees are encouraged to dress to impress and strut in to celebrate their successes. | Palace Ballroom |
| 9:00 p.m. | 11:00 p.m. | Networking Hospitality Suite | TBD |
Conference Add-On Opportunity
The R3 Locavore Workshop being offered by The Association for Conservation Information and DJ Case & Associates as a conference add-on opportunity for attendees. The workshop will be held Thursday, July 29, 2021 immediately following the conference. The cost to attend is $100, which may be added at the time you register.
THURSDAY, JULY 29
| Start | End | Session Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | Locavore Workshop The workshop will be presented by DJ Case & Associates and will utilize their LOCAVORE.GUIDE materials. The morning session will include: - Welcome and introductions - What is a “locavore”? - How and why Locavore.Guide was created - How food-motivated audiences fit into the Outdoor Recreation Adoption Model - Understanding the motivations and preferences of your key audiences - Concerns of prospective hunters and anglers - Effective strategies for engaging adult learners | O'Keeffe |
| 11:30 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Lunch on your own | Santa Fe Plaza |
| 1:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Locavore Workshop Continued - How to develop a locavore program in your state - Framing existing R3 efforts to appeal to a food oriented audience - How to identify the most promising “locavore” markets in your state - Where does the food-motivated audience get their news and information? - Finding and training the right partners - Marketing to “locavores” without alienating traditional hunters and anglers - Measuring success through strategic program design and planned evaluation | O'Keeffe |
The Association for Conservation Information (ACI) invites you to participate as a sponsor and/or exhibitor at the 2020 ACI Annual Conference, July 25-28, 2021 at the Drury Plaza Hotel located on the historic Santa Fe Plaza at 828 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Sponsors will receive the benefits and recognitions based on the level of sponsorship. Download the 2021 ACI Sponsor Packet for more information.
For more information please contact Star Gonzales, Marketing Manager for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at 505-476-8142 or by email at estelle.gonzales@state.nm.us.
2021 CONFERENCE SPONSORS
The financial support of these businesses and organizations make it possible for ACI to put on this conference for our members. When you see them in Santa Fe, please thank them for generously supporting ACI.
Sponsorships Available
Sponsorships Available
Sponsorships Available
Registration for the 2021 Association for Conservation Information Annual Conference in New Mexico will open soon. Check back for the link to the registration page.
Registration rates will be as follows:
- Early-bird Rate (by June 1): TBD
- Regular Rate (by July 1): TBD
- Late Rate (after July 1): TBD
- Guest/Spouse Rate for receptions, meals and activities: TBD
- Locavore Workshop*: TBD
Method of Payment: Check or credit card may be used to pay for event registration. If you are paying by check, make payable to "ACI Conference" and mail to: 46B Main Street, 4th Floor, Winooski, Vermont 05404.
Cancellation Policy: If you cancel by June 30, you will be issued a full refund less a $50 administrative fee. After June 30, you will not receive a refund, but substitutions will be allowed.
Contact Delaney Meeting & Event Management at 802-865-5202 or email info@delaneymeetingevent.com.
*Locavore Workshop: The workshop being offered by The Association for Conservation Information and DJ Case & Associates as a conference add-on opportunity for attendees. The workshop will be held Thursday, July 29, 2021 immediately following the conference. The cost to attend is TBD.
Additional Supporting Documents
2020 ACI Conference Approval Letter (17.7 KiB)
Invitation from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Director (50.2 KiB)
The 2021 Association for Conservation Information Annual Conference will be held July 25-28, 2021, with the Locavore Workshop add-on option July 29 at the Drury Plaza Hotel at 828 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Overnight accommodations are available to conference participants at rate of $179 per night plus applicable taxes, which includes the following:
- HOT Breakfast - including pancakes, scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, sausage and more.
- 5:30 KICKBACK® - Each evening, kick back, relax and enjoy a rotating menu of free hot food and cold beverages.
- Free Long Distance - One hour every room every night.
- Wireless Internet Access - High-speed Internet in all rooms and in the lobby.
- Soda and Popcorn - From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night in the mezzanine lobby.
Check-in is at 3 p.m. and check-out is at 11 a.m.
Reservations can be made by reserving online at http://www.druryhotels.com or by phone at 1-800-378-7946. The Group number will be posted as soon as it is made available. Attendees who have made reservations for the July conference dates may cancel at this time.
Alternate Lodging Recommendations
| La Fonda on the Plaza 100 E San Francisco Street Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 982-5511
| Eldorado Hotel & Spa 309 W San Francisco Street Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 988-4455
|
| Inn & Spa at Loretto 211 Old Santa Fe Trail Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 988-5531
| Garrett's Desert Inn Motel 311 Old Santa Fe Trail Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 982-1851
|
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ):
Approximately 60 minutes from downtown Santa Fe
There are a variety of ground transportation options to get you from the Albuquerque International Sunport, 2200 Sunport Boulevard, Albuquerque, NM 87106 to the conference destination at the Drury Plaza Hotel at 828 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Please check with the service provider to confirm current rates.
Shuttle Service
Shuttle service fares estimated from $35-$40 one-way.
| Sandia Shuttle (505) 474-5696 or (888) 775-5696 (toll free) | RoadRunneR Shuttle & Charter (505) 424-3367
|
Taxi Service
Taxi service is available curbside at the Albuquerque International Sunport with the estimated fare for a one-way trip to be $145.
| Yellow Cab Company (505) 247-8888 ABQ Green Cab Company (505) 243-6800
| New Mexico Black Car Service (505) 316-1100
|
Ridesharing Apps
Uber and Lyft are both common in New Mexico with current estimated fares for a one-way trip ranging from $75 to $160 based on the size of your desired vehicle.
| Uber https://www.uber.com/global/en/airports/abq
| Lyft https://www.lyft.com/rider/airports/abq
|
Train
While the cheapest option at $11 for a day pass, the Rail Runner Express Train service between Albuquerque and Santa Fe runs on a limited schedule. Shuttle service between Sunport and Rail Runner stations is provided by ABQ Ride, http://www.cabq.gov/transit, via Route 50 or Route 250.
NM Rail Runner Express
http://www.riometro.org/395/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner-Express
(505) 245-7245
Rental Cars
Car rental customer service counters and rental lots are located at the Sunport Car Rental Center, 3400 University SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. Car rental shuttles provide free transportation between the Albuquerque International Sunport terminal and the Car Rental Center. Shuttles run every 5 minutes from the commercial lane located outside the 1st level of the airport terminal building. Shuttle buses are handicap-accessible.
| Advantage (800) 777-5500 | Alamo (800) 462-5266 |
| Avis (800) 331-1212 | Budget (800) 218-7992 |
| Dollar (800) 800-4000 | Enterprise (855) 266-9289 |
| Hertz (800) 654-3131 | National (800) 227-7368 |
| Payless (800) 729-5377 | Thrifty (800) 847-4389 |
More information is available on the Albuquerque International Sunport Ground Transportation webpage at https://abqsunport.com/getting-around/ground-transportation.
Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF):
Approximately 20 minutes from Downtown Santa Fe
There are a variety of ground transportation options to get you from the Santa Fe Regional Airport, 121 Aviation Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87507 to the conference destination at the Drury Plaza Hotel at 828 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Please check with the service provider to confirm current rates.
Shuttle Service
Shuttle service fares estimated from $35-$40 one-way.
RoadRunneR Shuttle & Charter
https://rideroadrunner.com
(505) 424-3367
Taxi Service
New Mexico Black Car Service provides limousine and taxi service in Santa Fe. Current estimated fares for a one-way trip is $55-$90.
| New Mexico Black Car Service (505) 316-1100 | World Travel Management (505) 913-9627 |
Ridesharing Apps
Uber and Lyft are both common in New Mexico with current estimated fares for a one-way trip ranging from $25 to $45 based on the size of your desired vehicle.
| Uber | Lyft |
Rental Cars
Only two rental car companies are located at the Santa Fe Regional Airport – Hertz and Avis. Enterprise and Budget have locations in town and should be contacted directly for pick-up and drop-off arrangements.
| Avis (800) 331-1212 | Budget (800) 218-7992 |
| Hertz (800) 654-3131 | Enterprise (855) 266-9289 |
More information is available on the City of Santa Fe Ground Transportation webpage at https://www.santafenm.gov/ground_transportation_1.
ACI Auction Night
One of the highlights of the annual conference is the ACI Auction Night. Not only is it a fun social activity for conference attendees, it’s an important fund-raiser that helps defray the cost of putting on the conference each year.
How it Works
The event includes raffles, a silent auction and a live auction. Up for grabs are all sorts of items – t-shirts, art prints, outdoor gear and agency SWAG. The live auction offers higher-end items, like guided hunting or fishing excursions, overnight stays at state parks and more!
Where do the items come from?
Why, YOU, of course! (Here comes the sales pitch.) The success of the ACI Auction depends on the raffle tickets you buy and, more importantly, the items you provide.
We’re asking for your help in providing the types of items described above. If your agency has a citizen-support foundation, ask for their help, perhaps in underwriting the cost of a guided excursion. If you partner with an outdoor retailer, ask for merchandise. All kinds of SWAG is welcome; nothing is too small.
In 2018 the auction brought in a record $10,600! We need your help to raise the bar!
ACI Auction Contacts
Inquiries about the 2021 auction should be directed to Craig Sanchez, Assistant Chief of Education, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at 505-222-4713 or by email at craig.sanchez@state.nm.us or Jenifer Wisniewski, Chief, Outreach and Communications, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at 629-204-0030 or by email at Jenifer.Wisniewski@tn.gov.
Auction items may be mailed to:
C/O Star Gonzales
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
One Wildlife Way
Santa Fe, NM 87507
2021 auction Items will be posted here as we begin to receive them.
