2001 NTA Evening Activities
Wednesday:
Our Registration Area will open at 6:00 pm. While registering you will the opportunity to renew old friendships and make some new ones while everyone gets their registration and competition entries taken care of. The NTA will host a "Welcome Reception" at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center beginning at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm in the Registration Area of the Atrium. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your NTA officers and directors to offer suggestions and ideas. You will then have your choice of six seminars to attend Wednesday evening, including one just for children. This will be a great way open your convention vacation in Columbia. Registration is open until 9:00 pm.

Thursday:
Since many of you have asked for evening seminars, there will be six for you to choose from on Thursday night between 7:00 and 9:30 p.m. Make plans to pick and choose the seminar that is right for you. You may want to arrive early in order to ensure a seat. Your senses will soar when you get an up close and personal look at some of the industry's top taxidermists ready and willing to share their knowledge. Check your seminar schedule to see what's available for Thursday night.

Friday:
The Trade Show area will again stay open until 6:30 pm. We will break and meet at 7:00 pm. We will be giving out our great membership prizes to those lucky enough to be drawn, including a fabulous Pronghorn Antelope Hunt for our 100% affiliated chapters. The lucky winner will enjoy this hunt with Lone Tree Outfitters of Stevensville, Montana and owner Larry Pendleton. You will need to furnish your personal gear, food, license and accommodations. All antelope tags are through drawing and Larry will assist the lucky winner in filling out the application. Hunt is to be taken in 2002 season. A special thank you to board member Richard Gensch in helping obtain this donation. This is just one of the ways we want to say "Thank You" for the dedication and leadership these 100% affiliated chapters have shown.

This year's recipients of the Charlie Fleming Educational Scholarship Fund will be announced on this night. We will announce this year's election results and hold our annual auction of donations from the suppliers. All of our members are encouraged to donate something for the auction and participate in the bidding. 100% of the money raised at the auction goes to the NTA General Fund, as there are no commissions or percentages paid to anyone. You can make some great buys at discounted prices and help the NTA at the same time. We will also hold our annual open membership meeting where our members can come and express their views in a general session. Be sure to attend this meeting. Dress will be very casual. Since there will be no meal served at this meeting there is no cost to attend.

Saturday:
6:15 pm - 7:15pm Cocktail hour and cash bar in the Atrium area of the Holiday Inn will give everyone a chance to unwind and speculate on tonight's big winners.

7:15 P.M. - The Awards Banquet, held at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center will begin with a meal of tossed, mixed greens with Ranch & Italian dressings, prime rib, Idaho baked potato, broccoli with lemon butter, dinner rolls with butter, sherbet, coffee, decaf, and ice tea. Childs meal will be chicken strips, French fries, milk or tea. All awards will be announced and presented tonight so be sure to get your tickets by Thursday afternoon, as the cut-off is 48-hours advance notice. We will be holding a limited special auction to benefit the NTA Wildlife Conservation Fund. This will be made up of hunts and fishing trips at a price our members can afford.

This years Director of the Year Award and the President's Award will be announced first. We will then be holding the most prestigious ceremony in the world of taxidermy, the major awards presentation. Everyone will be holding their breath as winners are named in 26 divisions. Tonight you will have the opportunity to see the industry's leading artists of tomorrow as they earn their titles of recognition. Finally, we will conduct our installation of new officers and board of directors that you elected. While certainly not required, we suggest a sport coat for this banquet. Immediately following the banquet we ask for your help in loading the backboards for transporting back to storage. We would certainly appreciate any help you could offer.