The National Roadside Vegetation Management Association (NRVMA) will hold its 15th annual conference Oct. 6-9, 1998, at the Hilton Hotel in Salt Lake City. The theme of this year’s conference is Learning From Each Other.
During the conference, attendees will hear nationally-recognized speakers discuss topics vital to roadside vegetation management. The conference is ideal for networking with counterparts and associates throughout the nation. Additionally, the latest products, services and equipment available to the industry will be on display in the exhibition area.
At press time, Turney Hernandez, executive director of NRVMA told ROADS & BRIDGES that this year’s show is expecting, “over 300 attendees, while approximately 51 booth spaces have been sold to exhibitors, so far.”
For attendees who wish to bring their spouse, a special spouse agenda is available complete with daily events scheduled during the conference.

Opening events
At the outset of the conference on Tuesday, Oct. 6, attendees are invited to the Purdue University/Utah DOT research plot tour hosted by Dr. Harvey Holt and Ira Bickford from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The conference continues on Wednesday morning with the opening of the exhibit hall at 9 a.m. Please check the NRVMA itinerary for the exhibit hours.
The Kickoff Luncheon at noon will feature NRVMA President David Humphrey of the Oregon DOT and keynote speaker Jim McMinimee, Region II director, Utah DOT. Following the luncheon, the afternoon will continue with regional sessions and the industry/exhibitor six minute “new products” presentations by suppliers.
Wine and cheese will be served in the exhibit area to conclude the day’s events.

General sessions
Thursday sees the opening of the General Sessions, kicking off with Issues That Affect the Industry at 8 a.m., The Problems Posed by Weeds at 10:30 a.m., Innovations & Challenges at 1:30 p.m. and The Establishment and Protection of Valuable Vegetation at 4 p.m.
Celebrating the conclusion of the day’s events, a western-styled hoe-down and an overview of the 2002 Olympics are scheduled for the evening hours.
On Friday, the General Sessions continue with Successful Programs at 9 a.m., New Technology at 11 a.m., University Research Update at 1:30 p.m. and the final session Communication & Information Exchange at 3 p.m.
Concluding the 1998 NRVMA conference is the annual Business Session scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
All NRVMA events, with the exception of the events on the spouse agenda, are scheduled to take place within the Hilton Hotel.

Excellence awards
One of the highlights of each year’s conference is the presentation of the annual NRVMA National Roadside Excellence Awards. The awards, presented at the luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 8, will go to the best state, county and municipal vegetation-control programs. The Support Award also is part of the honors ceremony and it is presented to the person the NRVMA National Roadside Excellence Committee feels has contributed significant support to vegetation-control programs. (See Dedicated Crews Seize Top Honors For Veggie Management Programs, February 1998, p 72, for an in-depth look at the 1997 award winners).
For more information about the NRVMA conference, contact NRVMA, 218 Rhett Drive, Adams Run, Newark, DE, 19702; or call 302/832-2960.