Welcome to an exciting venue of events that will be unfolding for us from June 20 to June 23, 2013.

We will host the 109th Annual Meeting at the beautiful Pinehurst Resort at the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina. It is a first class facility that you can learn more about by logging on to their website at http://www.pinehurst.com.

Again this year will be an email in April containing all details about the convention.  Also voting for our Slate of Candidates will be done via email in late April.  The online convention registration form has not been updated as of this date.  We are waiting on our web host to do the updates.  However, in the meantime you can register for the convention at any time.  Click here for a printable convention registration form.  Continue checking this website for new information and announcements about the 109th Annual Meeting.

The schedule this year is entirely new including more time for social activities.  The convention will kick off on Thursday, June 20, with registration from 10:30 am to noon at the Conference Center Foyer.  Technical Committee Meetings will be held from 11 am to 12 noon in the Dedman Boardroom followed by lunch from noon to 1 pm in the Carolina Dining Room. 

The technical sessions will commence at 1 pm on Thursday, June 20, with the Opening Address in the Olmsted/Callaway Room.  Elton Hurlow of Buckman International will be giving the John Arthur Wilson Memorial Lecture from 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm followed by a short break and then Session 1 of the technical program.  The technical program will conclude at 5 followed by the Fun Run on the West Lawn from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.  That evening we will again have Golf Pro Larry Shaver with his golf swing analyzer from 7 to 10 pm at the Oakley Room where a cocktail reception will also be held from 7 to 8 pm followed by dinner.  It will be a great time to have conservations with old and new associates in the leather industry.

The second day of the Technical Program will start at 8:00 am on Friday, June 21.  This year’s technical program is being organized by Vice-President Steve Lange and will offer a wide array of leather technologies covering tanning to finishing to environmental issues and can be viewed in the coming months under this section of our website.  Technical sessions will conclude at 11:45 am following by lunch from 12 to 1 pm in the Carolina Dining Room. 

Friday afternoon will be open for a variety of fun activities.  The annual golf tournament will be held at Golf Course No. 5 beginning at 1 pm.  Pre-registration for golfers is a must to facilitate the start of the tournament.  Further information on the golf outing will be found in your convention email going out in April.  Also there will be other activities that will be announced under the entertainment section on this website as they become available.  Dinner that evening is included in your hotel package at any of the four restaurants mentioned below, but it will be on your own.  Reservations are strongly encouraged to be made prior to arriving at Pinehurst for Friday evening.  You can make reservations by calling 1-800-487-4653 and selecting Option #6.  Dinner reservations are required in the Carolina Dining Room (in the Carolina) and The 1895 Grille (at the Holly Inn).  Seating for the Ryder Cup Lounge (in the Carolina) and the 20-seat Tavern (at the Holly Inn) is on a first-come, first-served basis.   

Technical papers will resume Saturday morning at 8:00 am with the Annual Business Meeting ending the Technical Program at 11:15 am.  At noon everyone is invited to attend the Activities Awards Luncheon in the Carolina Dining Room where prizes will be awarded for the Fun Run and golf outing.   Saturday afternoon will be open for activities that will be announced soon.  Saturday evening from 6 to 7 pm will be a social hour following by the Awards Banquet at 7:00 pm.  The convention will close with check out on Sunday.

Please make plans now to join us for a wonderful time at Pinehurst.

Lee Lehman
Convention Chair