To the FWGNA group,

Word has recently reached me of a "Great Lakes Mollusk Watchers Conference" scheduled for February 9 - 11 at the Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center in Porter, Indiana.  According to Ms. Wendy Smith, Education Coordinator at the facility,

"The conference will explore the existing knowledge of Great Lakes mollusks, their role in the ecosystem of the Lakes, the research needs that exist and how a citizen-science project might be designed to meet some of those needs.  At the moment, we have a good number of mussel specialists planning to attend and present, but we do not have any gastropod experts lined up."

Ms. Smith asked whether I or any of my colleagues might be interested in making a gastropod presentation.  I begged off, but promised to shake the bushes for a volunteer or two.

So if you'd be interested in a stroll on the balmy shores of Lake Michigan in February, see the conference information and on-line registration at:
http://www.cnr.umn.edu/cesu/conferences/molluskwatchers/
and direct any questions to Wendy at:
Wendy_W_Smith@nps.gov

Thanks,
Rob