The FLMS Field Guide to Arriving Prepared!

The Florida Lake Management Society Board of Directors is excited to welcome you to the 37th Annual Technical Symposium — Waters in Harmony: Linking Lakes to Coasts!

Before you head to Bonita Springs, here are a few things worth knowing. Reading this now may prevent wandering, shivering, missed food and unnecessary lines at the Registration Desk. 😎

1. FIRST STOP: REGISTRATION

The FLMS Registration Desk will be in the Calusa Ballroom Pre-Function Monday afternoon until 6pm for early workshop arrivals. Then again beginning Tuesday morning at 7:30 AM. Stop by to pick up your name badge and registration materials when you arrive.

2. TUESDAY = WORKSHOP DAY

If you registered for a Tuesday workshop, check your program for your workshop room. Workshops begin at 8:15 AM, with morning and afternoon breaks provided.

Full-day workshop registrations include lunch. Half-day attendees are on their own for lunch.

And remember: “I’ll figure it out when I get there” is still not a professional development strategy.

3. BREAKFAST — WE’VE GOT YOU

Breakfast for symposium attendees will be available Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:00–8:30 AM in the Calusa Ballroom/Exhibit Hall.

Coffee people, rejoice!

4. LUNCH — PAY ATTENTION TO THE DAY!

Wednesday: Lunch is on your own from 12:00–2:00 PM.  Vendors, grab a potential client or two!  FLMS veterans, take a student or first timer with you!

Thursday: Join us for the FLMS Awards Luncheon from 12:00–1:30 PM in Calusa Ballroom ABCD.

5. WEDNESDAY NIGHT = EXHIBITORS + POSTERS + FREE DRINKS

Our Exhibitor Social & Poster Session runs from 5:30–7:30 PM Wednesday in the Calusa Ballroom/Exhibit Hall.

Visit our exhibitors, check out the posters, catch up with colleagues and use the drink ticket tucked into your name badge for a FREE drink along with light appetizers.  (Important!  The first hour of drinks is hosted by the hotel as their gift to us.  You won’t use your drink ticket until 6:30pm.  So drink up in the first hour!)

Then keep the evening going at the FLMS Hospitality Suite hosted by Eutrophix from 7:30–11:00 PM in Great Egret.

More networking. More refreshments. Probably less science as the evening progresses.

6. STUDENTS + BOARD MEMBERS: TUESDAY NIGHT

Students, Advisors, and current & past FLMS Board Members only: Meet us Tuesday from 6:30–7:30 PM at the Tarpon Bay Fire Pit for our Student Meet & Greet.

It’s a chance for our students to meet a smaller group of FLMS members before we release them into the full symposium the next morning!

7. THURSDAY NIGHT = H2O-LYMPICS! 💦

This year’s student FUNdraiser is taking us outside to the Cypress Courtyard for the very popular, very funny FLMS H2O-lympics!

6:00 PM | $20 per person | Teams of TWO

Bring shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting wet. Grab a partner (or we’ll pair you up) and prepare to compete in a series of challenges where your advanced degree, professional certifications and years of water-resource experience will provide absolutely no competitive advantage.

Sign up at the Registration Desk. Your $20 supports our FLMS students—and earns you the opportunity to prove that you possess skills no one thought to include on your résumé.

Spectators, hecklers and enthusiastic cheering are also encouraged.

8. New! FLMS Exhibitor Field Challenge!

You’ll be given questions that can only be completed by stopping at our exhibitor booths, talking to the people there and learning something.

In other words, we’re calling it networking. But with a clipboard, it qualifies as field work.

Complete the challenge for your chance to win a great prize.

Exhibitors: Your company name will be on your assigned table in the Calusa Ballroom and ready for you to set up after noon on Tuesday. Shipping instructions are on the exhibitor page. Don’t forget to bring your door or raffle prize!

9. BEFORE THEY MANAGED LAKES… 👶

Think you know your FLMS Board?

We’re about to find out.

We’ve collected photographic evidence from long before anyone knew what a BMAP was, and your job will be to match each childhood photo to the correct FLMS Board member.

Look for the Before They Managed Lakes… FLMS Board Challenge during the symposium.

No Googling. Questioning Board members directly is considered acceptable field methodology.

10. NEW THIS YEAR: FOLLOW THE WATER DOWNSTREAM 🌊

Thursday afternoon, our program expands with concurrent freshwater and estuarine sessions.

It’s all part of this year’s Waters in Harmony: Linking Lakes to Coasts theme and FLMS’s continuing effort to bring together professionals working throughout Florida’s connected water systems.

Check your program and plan your afternoon accordingly.

11. YES, BRING A SWEATER (or your sequined jacket, we’re not judgey)

As usual, temperatures in conference and exhibit rooms may range from pleasantly cool to why can I see my breath?

Bring a sweater or light jacket.

Conference-room climate control remains one of science’s great unsolved mysteries.

12. CEUs & PDHs

DACS Aquatics CEUs are available for qualifying sessions. Check the FLMS registration desk & website CEU/PDH page for the latest information.

13. TAX-EXEMPT ATTENDEES

If you registered as tax exempt, you should have received an email with the tax-exempt attestation form.  Be sure to fill that out in advance and bring it with you to speed up your check-in time at the hotel.

14. KEEP NETWORKING AFTER YOU LEAVE

All attendees will receive an attendee list a few days after the symposium so you can continue conversations and connections throughout the year.

15. AND FINALLY…

Pack your sunscreen, swimsuit, comfortable shoes, sweater and willingness to talk to people you don’t know.  

This email will also be on our “Need to Know” page on the website.

We’ve got four days of science, workshops, exhibitors, posters, networking, H2O-lympics, baby pictures and a few surprises waiting for you.

Safe travels to Bonita Springs.