National Association of State Foresters 2024 Annual Meeting

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) has convened StateForesters and their partners at our annual meeting every year since 1920. Attracting more than 200 forestry and wildland fire leaders, this meeting offers extraordinary networking opportunities with key decision-makers.

The 2024 NASF Annual Meeting convenes in Rhode Island, America’s smallest state and most densely populated region. New England is well-known for its iconic fall foliage and densely forested mountains. While many people value trees, few understand the need for active forest management and the connection that distant forests have to their daily lives. For many, wood simply comes from a store and a catastrophic wildfire is a fleeting news story.

State forestry agencies connect professionals, partners, and the public to manage America’s trees and forests. Distant decisions have local impacts, and well-informed decisions have the best outcomes. NASF’s 2024 Annual Meeting will be a microcosm of national decision-making. Small breakout meetings will address compelling questions with diverse partners. These meetings will inform dialogue with national leaders in a combined general session. By the end of the week, everyone will leave America’s smallest state with big ideas!

Online registration opens the week of June 3, 2024. Take advantage of our early-bird discount for $100 off State Forester, Former State Forester, and General Attendee registrations now through July 31 with the code EARLY24.

Registration will close September 13, 2024. Late and on-site registration costs will rise to $900 for General Attendees, State Foresters, and Former State Foresters, and $500 for Guests. The technical tour is not available for late registrants, so please register before September 13.

There is a group rate at the Omni Providence at the rate of $229/night. Reservations must be made by the cutoff date of September 2, 2024 to guarantee this discounted rate. Please call (401) 598-8000 and reference the NASF Annual Meeting, or .

Connected to Providence Place Mall and Rhode Island Convention Center, Omni Providence Hotel is conveniently located near top destinations in downtown Providence. Valet parking is available for $38/day with in-out privileges. The convention center's North Garage is also nearby for self-parking. The Amtrak station is a 10 minute walk, and Green Airport is a 15-min taxi ride. Boston Logan Aiport is approximately a one-hour drive.

Thursday, September 26 There will be four available tours this year, and you'll be asked to select your tour when registering. There are limited spaces available for each tour, so please expect some to sell out.

• Tour 1 / Lighthouse & Mimosa Cruise: Guests on the boat tour will visits four lighthouses: Rose Island Lighthouse, Lime Rock Light, Goat Island North Light and Castle Hill Lighthouse, and hear tales of the pirates that once roamed these very waters. The vessel features a main salon with a grand center cash bar serving a variety of beer, wine, soft and mixed drinks along with two lavatories, as well as a covered upper-deck. Includes a three-course lunch at La Forge Casino Restaurant, within the US Tennis Hall of Fame.
  

• Tour 2 / 10-Mile Ocean Drive & Cliff Walk: On this guided tour you will witness 10 miles of commanding coastline along one winding road on Newport’s iconic Ocean Drive. Start your journey off historic Bellevue Avenue and continue along with many opportunities to learn about this area’s rich historic and witness heart-stopping views. You’ll pass by Gilded Age mansions, Hammersmith Farm (where Jackie Kennedy grew up), among other summertime favoritesincluding Newport's enchanting 3.5-mile Cliff Walk. The Cliff Walk and an absolute stunner - providing ocean views, crashing waves and the perfect amount of sea breeze on one side and stunning, century-old, Gilded Age mansions on the other. Includes a three-course lunch at La Forge Casino Restaurant, within the US Tennis Hall of Fame. PLEASE NOTE: the cliff walk is not handicapped-accessible.
  

• Tour 3 / The Elms Mansion Self-Guided Tour: During the Gilded Age, America’s wealthiest families flocked to the City by the Sea and its surrounding areas; making the area their summertime playground. The Elms, one of the grandest summer "cottages" is a shining symbol of the social and financial preeminence found in Newport in turn of the century America. Inspired by France’s Château d’Asnières, the Elms was renowned as one of the most technologically advanced homes of the day. On this tour, enjoy in-depth access to this bygone era, and enjoying the breathtaking gardens and cliffside vantage point from one of America’s most opulent homes. Includes a three-course lunch at La Forge Casino Restaurant, within the US Tennis Hall of Fame.
  

• Tour 4 / Scituate Reservoir & Tilted Barn Brewery: Guests on this tour will visit RI’s largest surface water reservoir, which provides drinking water for over 65% of the State. Learn from the Providence Water Supply Board Foresters on how this precious water body is protected through careful forestry practices and understand the importance of this rural oasis to the entire State. Guests will then travel to the Tilted Barn Brewery to tour this family-owned tree farm-turned brewery and enjoy a peaceful respite at this RI icon. Includes lunch at Tilted Barn Brewery.

To become a meeting exhibitor please make your commitment by August 12, 2024. Exhibitor and sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Eli Lewis at [email protected].

The fee to exhibit at this year’s annual meeting is $2,000. This fee includes one (1) complimentary meeting registration, one (1) exhibitor booth, and (1) one flyer and/or (1) one swag bag item for inclusion in the conference registration materials.

Meeting registration includes all provided meals during the meeting and offers admission to all of the meeting’s sessions and the Field Tour. Each additional exhibitor registering for the meeting must purchase an Additional Exhibitor Staff registration for the discounted rate of $600.

Shipping Information & A/V Needs: Please refer to the Exhibitor & Sponsor Prospectus for instructions.

Exhibition Hours
Exhibit move-in is Monday, September 23, 12-5pm.

• Tuesday, September 24: 8am-5pm
• Wednesday, September 50: 8am-4pm
• Thursday, September 26: 5-7pm
  Exhibit tear down must be complete by Friday, September 27 at 11am.

To become a meeting sponsor, please make your commitment by August 12, 2024. Exhibitor and sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Eli Lewis at [email protected].

Starting at $15,000 — Recognition in meeting program with full-page-sized logo or ad; Recognized as Walnut-level sponsor in promotional communications (including at least one press release); Exclusive sponsorship of a conference event (with signage denoting sponsorship); Up to two inserts in meeting materials packet; One exhibit space in prime location ($2,000 value); Four full conference registrations ($3,200 value)

Starting at $10,000 — Recognition in meeting program with half-page-sized logo or ad; Recognized as Chestnut-level sponsor in promotional communications (including at least one press release); Sponsorship of a conference event (with signage denoting sponsorship); Up to two inserts in meeting materials packet; One exhibit space in prominent location ($2,000 value); Three full conference registrations ($2,400 value)

Starting at $6,000 — Recognition in meeting program with quarter-page-sized logo; Recognized as Oak-level sponsor in promotional communications (including at least one press release); Up to two inserts in meeting materials packet; One exhibit space ($2,000 value); Two full conference registrations ($1,600 value)

Starting at $3,500 — Recognition in meeting program with quarter-page-sized logo; Recognized as Pine-level sponsor in promotional communications (including at least one press release); Up to two inserts in meeting materials packet; Two full conference registrations ($1,600 value).

One of the most beloved components of the state foresters’ annual meeting each year is the NASF Foundation’s Silent Auction. This annual event supports NASF’s work to represent state and private forestry interests in Washington, D.C., through a variety of meaningful programs. By participating in the Silent Auction, you ensure that your great state or organization contributes to ongoing national initiatives that make a real difference for your forests at home.

Consider donating an item (or two, or three!) to this year’s Silent Auction. If you plan to make a donation, please email (1) a brief description of your item, including any noteworthy information such as the item’s significance to your state, who made it, etc., and (2) its approximate monetary value to Katie Forman-Cook, the executive director for the NASF Foundation, at [email protected] for details and shipping instructions.

Event Venue

1 W Exchange St, 1 West Exchange Street, Providence, United States