Dear Spouses and Guests,
Be prepared for a good dose of Southern Hospitality! Your local
arrangement committee members – including the Spouse and Guest
Activities chairwomen—have been very busy working to pull together an
event we hope you will enjoy. Are you ready for anything? We hope so
because we sure are!
SATURDAY, APRIL 1
For those of you arriving on Saturday, April 1, we have planned an
informal, Dutch-treat get together for a taste of Mississippi’s famous
local cuisine. Come hungry! We will gather at a local restaurant that
has the best farm-raised catfish in the world!
SUNDAY, APRIL 2
Golfers will begin teeing off Sunday at 8 a.m. for the annual golf
tournament. On Sunday evening we’ll all meet for the Welcome Reception
where food, beverages, great conversation and good times will roll at
the Affiliated Business Division’s (ABD) hospitality rooms.
MONDAY, APRIL 3
By Monday you should have your walking shoes on since after breakfast
at the University
Club you are invited to visit world-renowned potter Gail Pittman for a tour
of her studios. Known for her hand painted pottery “crafted with passion
and heart,” Gail says she is just as likely to be influenced by her
granddaddy’s favorite preserves as by her love of old world
masterpieces. Visit her website at
www.gailpittman.com. (And of course
you will get some great deals on pottery at the studio.)
Monday,
Lunch
Following the Gail Pittman studio tour, you will be treated to lunch
before being invited to shop Jackson’s many specialty stores, tour the
historic areas or simply curl up with a good book in your room and rest
before the evening activities begin. ABD has an enchanting evening
planned at the Old Capitol Inn, located in the heart of downtown
Jackson. I heard from a friend of a cousin who
is married to a nephew of mine that Elvis visits there on special
occasions. Hummm…we’ll see about that!
TUESDAY, APRIL 4
On Tuesday morning we will again begin our day by having breakfast at
the University Club
before visiting the
Mississippi Museum of Art where
rarely seen oil paintings and pastels by Georgia O’Keeffe will be on
display. This exhibit brings together landscapes, flower paintings,
still lifes, and abstracts from all periods of the American master’s
celebrated career. Jackson is the first of only three national venues
for this exhibition, which allows visitors to see the beauty and
diversity of Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting methods. From there, we’ll ride
the Steel Magnolia Trolley to lunch.
Tuesday, Lunch
Lunch will be another fine event at beautiful Fairview Inn where
old-fashioned hospitality abounds in an historic Colonial Revival home
located in the Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson. For a peek at this
beautiful home, visit Fairview’s website at
www.fairviewinn.com.
Tuesday, Afternoon
After lunch we’ll take a trip to the
Mississippi Museum of Natural
Science where promoting understanding and
appreciation of Mississippi's biological diversity through collections,
research, scientific data bases, education, and exhibits inspires us to
respect the environment of natural Mississippi. The Museum's expanses of
glass and octagonal skylight invite visitors to share their time between
the indoor exhibits and the outdoor environment. Life-size habitat
displays reveal the rich diversity of Mississippi's living heritage. A
100,000-gallon aquarium system houses over 200 species of native fishes,
reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. A 1,700-square foot
greenhouse provides a home for alligators, turtles, fish, and a lush
native plant garden, and over 2.5 miles of walking trails wind through
the 300-acre natural area.
Tuesday, Night
Tuesday night is reserved for the Officer’s Reception at the University
Club, followed by the Annual Awards Banquet. The dress code will be
coats and ties for men. For those of you who like to sparkle, cocktail
attire will be most welcome!
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 5
Are you still ready to go? Wednesday morning you are welcome to join
SDITE members for a Professional Development Program. Topics will
include “Cultural Competency in the Workplace” and “Ethics and the
Transportation Professional.”
We sincerely hope you will honor us with your presence in Jackson,
Mississippi, for the 2006 ITE District 5 Annual Meeting. If we can be of
assistance to you in anyway, please don’t hesitate to call.
Jackson and ITE—Ready For Anything!
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