We’re proud of the fantastic art on these shirts! They also highlight a facet of our planetarium profession, the artist!

Registration includes a T-Shirt with your choice of one of the three designs shown above. The T-shirts come in a variety of sizes and two styles for each of the three shirt designs. They also include matching art on the back. The shirt material is very soft and a summer weight. Check out the photos below to see more.

We know you’ll want to purchase more at a special conference rate through the SFA23 Gift Shop! (Coming Soon)

Everyone will receive one of these beautiful magnets in their delegate bag. But wouldn’t you like to get more for your friends or family? The magnets are strong, are 2.5”x3.5” with rounded corners and feature a silky surface texture. The art is the official art of the conference and was created by BMP artist Cassy Rose. Hurry, quantities are limited!

Dr. Steven Wallace

Professor in the Department of Geosciences, Director of Field Operations and Curator at the Gray Fossil Site & Museum

The Latest Miocene/Earliest Pliocene Gray Fossil Site Lagerstätten of Eastern Tennessee: A Unique Forest Refugium

In May of 2000, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) road crews working near the community of Gray, in northeast Tennessee, discovered an unusually dark, clay-rich deposit containing numerous fossils. These highly laminated, organic laden, silty sediments are rich in both plant and animal remains. Core samples show that the deposit covers roughly 4-5 acres and is up to 35-45 meters thick. Geologic interpretation indicates that the deposit formed within a sinkhole complex that may have initially acted as a natural trap, but subsequently formed a large watering hole/pond. Initial dating relied on the known stratigraphic occurrence of the pot-bellied rhino Teleoceras and the short-faced bear Plionarctos (both present at the site); restricting the age to the late Miocene-earliest Pliocene (likely, latest Hemphillian North American Land Mammal Age), between 4.5-7 million years before present (YBP). More recent refinements, based on thermoluminescent dating and small mammal biostratigraphy, suggest the age is closer to 5 million YBP. Due to a paucity of similar-aged deposits within the Appalachians (or east-central North America in general), the Gray Fossil Site (GFS), offers a significant opportunity to “fill a gap” in the fossil record. Moreover, the composition of plants and animals is very different from similar-aged fossil sites, as the GFS not only represents a dense forest at a time of spreading grassland, but also contains many holdovers and/or last occurrences of taxa, perhaps functioning as a refugium.

Though discovered over 20 years ago, GFS continues to produce extraordinary new discoveries, being likened by many as the “La Brea of the East.” In addition to excavation, intensive screening and picking over the last 10 years has increased the taxonomic list to nearly 100 vertebrate taxa, many of which are new species. The dwarf tapir, Tapirus polkensis, is the most abundant mammalian taxon, with an unprecedented 140 minimum number of individuals (MNI>140); making it the largest assemblage fossil of tapirs on Earth. Recovered material includes many articulated skeletons, representing all stages of ontogeny, from neonatal to geriatric individuals, as well as many 3D skulls and jaws, and even partially digested plant material recovered with individual tapir skeletons. Though known for its tapirs, the GFS also contains an abundance of turtles, particularly semi-aquatic taxa like the recently named Trachemys haugrudi. Highlights of other new vertebrate taxa still being described, and/or recently named, include: > 3 shrews (soricids), a wolverine (Gulo sudorus), the pot-bellied rhino (Teleoceras aepysoma), a tremarctine bear (Plionarctos sp. nov.), an incredibly large 4-tusked proboscidean (“Mammut” sp. nov.), a hog-nosed snake (Heterodon meadi), and an alligator (Alligator sp. nov.). Teleoceras aepysoma is represented by two nearly complete male skeletons and remains from at least five other individuals. Plionarctos sp. nov. is represented by more material than any other fossil site containing the genus, including the first ever recovered cranial material. Alligator sp. nov. is represented by many individuals including juveniles and adults; suggesting that at least some individuals were living in the pond (rather than transient visitors).

An additional highlight of the GFS is the presence of the most complete fossil ailurid in the world, the Appalachian Red Panda (Pristinailurus bristoli). First described in 2004 based on a single tooth, P. bristoli is now represented by 2 nearly complete skeletons, and material from at least 5 additional individuals, that exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism. The large morph is nearly 3 times the size of the extant red panda (Ailurus fulgens), and the taxon is more omnivorous; though P. bristoli is considerably smaller than many other fossil ailurids, some of which are Puma-sized and carnivorous. Other recent additions include: ostracods, gastropods, bivalves, > 12 insects (including 5 beetle families), lizards (including Heloderma sp.), snakes, > 2 lagomorphs, rodents (including 2 genera of beaver), > 4 talpids, > 3 tayassuids, and > 14 birds (including waterfowl).

With its exquisite preservation of plants (> 30 genera), invertebrates and vertebrates (true Lagerstätten), the GFS provides unique insight into the paleoecology of the region during a time of continental-scale environmental change (first appearance and spread of grasslands in NA), and may highlight the role of the Appalachians in species persistence across such transitions. Indeed, the GFS underscores the importance of preserving even the smallest of habitats for threatened or endangered taxa.

Michael McConville

President, International Planetarium Society;
Director of Customer Outreach, Cosm

The Privilege of Progress

Our planetarium world is constantly changing. It has been the hallmark of our field for the past century, as we evolve and adapt with the tides of technology and discovery. But progress is not something we can take for granted – the privilege that comes from that progress provides us with responsibilities and obligations to all planetarians, for the good of our present and our future.

Biography: Michael McConville is the 27th president of the International Planetarium Society and Director of Customer Outreach for Cosm, Inc. For the past 20 years, has made his career out of a passion for astronomy education and community building. Until 2018, Michael was the coordinator of the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College in Sanford, Fla., before moving to Philadelphia the same year to join the team at Spitz, Inc.

Michael has always been keen to bring people together – he is the co-founder of the Dome Dialogues online planetarium community, and hosted a series of more than two dozen online e-conferences after the 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns. He was elected as IPS president-elect in 2020 and received GLPA’s Service Award in 2021.

Michael is an alumnus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in History. A skilled researcher and expert storyteller, Michael also served as a professor of history at both Seminole State College and the University of Central Florida, where he earned rave reviews from students and colleagues alike.

If you haven’t experienced the silent auction, you’re in for a treat! It runs like a typical silent auction in that you make your bids on a sheet of paper next to the item you’re bidding on. Once the cutoff time passes, all the winning bids will be collected. These funds will go to all seven US planetarium organizations to use for special purposes.

The silent auction will occur during dinner on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Please bring any donated items before the dinner starts. Items can be just about anything. Every delegate is welcome to donate and to bid.

How it Works: Bidding starts at $1 and no incremental bids may be greater than $5.

A tradition that has been spreading amongst the regional conferences is the Constellation Shootout. This is a great way to enjoy testing each other’s skills (and learning!) at identifying constellations, asterisms, stars and deep sky objects in the night sky.

This is scheduled for Wednesday evening, June 21. You will be able to indicate whether you want to compete or attend the shootout when registering for the conference. Come out and test your knowledge or just enjoy the fun!

This is a great way to unwind and enjoy an evening together in a very casual, and respectful, setting. All delegates of all ages are welcome to attend. Soft drinks and snacks will be provided.

We are proud to announce the wonderful cooperation of a collection of vendors that will be managing this year’s hospitality suite. We call them the “Hospitali-Team!” Each evening will start with three drink stations and then reduce as the evening progresses. These will be sponsored by Ash and SSIA! 

We’ll have about 30,000ft^2 available to us. Part will be held inside, some outside. All will be the farthest spaces from the hotel so we don’t have to worry about an adjoining hotel room. Though, we shouldn’t get overly loud, either. There will also be special, fun activities for all delegates to enjoy. Each night will spotlight one of: karaoke, trivia and a talent show. These will be hosted by Michael McConville and Mike Smail. The schedule and all details will be shared later.

Special note: in agreement with MeadowView, we will be able to serve ourselves, but must keep all beverages to the lower part of the Cattails building and the immediate grounds. We cannot carry drinks past this area.

Please consider donating something to the door prize drawing! It can be something from your gift shop, a cool gift pack, a discount to a planetarium program lease, a craft you made, or…! Door prizes will be collected during the conference. The Door Prize drawings will be held during the final lunch on Saturday, June 24. You must be present to win.

To cap off the conference, and to highlight another unique facet of East Tennessee, we are going to hold a gala event in Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough, on Friday evening. This evening event is included in registration.

Jonesborough was first settled in 1769, established as a town in 1779 and was the provisional capital of the State of Franklin in 1784-1785. It is a quaint, small town with a beautiful, downtown main street. It will be a great way to wind down, stretch your legs while visiting the quirky, locally-owned shops.

After your time exploring the downtown area, we’ll gather at the International Storytelling Center for a wonderful banquet outside under a tented canopy. There will be an open bar highlighting local brews and wine followed by a meal served by the region’s best caterer. After the banquet, we’ll have a little time for awards and announcements and then end with a world-class storyteller from the Center’s Teller-in-Residence program!

All meals will be served at MeadowView unless otherwise noted. There will be vegetarian and other dietary options offered. Please make sure you check the appropriate box for any dietary needs and provide notes if needed. Please select your Saturday lunch sandwich, too.

Tuesday Night Reception (at Bays Mountain Park):

Charcuterie Board ~ meats, cheeses, dried fruits, nuts, crackers and crostinis; Smoked Turkey Breads and Spreads; BBQ Meatballs; Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad; Bruschetta Trio ~ Traditional Tomato Basil, Hummus Dip and Olive Tapenade with Grilled Baguette; Spinach and Artichoke Cheesy Bake with Crackers & Tortilla Chips; Iced tea and water.

Dessert will be amazing cupcakes from a local bakery, Little Cake Bakery. Your choice of blackberry, carrot cake or red velvet.

Open bar will be served on tap. Woodchuck hard cider and local ales!
Bring an ID to receive a wrist band.

Wednesday Breakfast:

Benton’s country ham, scrambled eggs, potatoes au gratin, creamy sausage gravy, freshly baked buttermilk biscuit, fresh diced fruit and berries. All plated breakfasts include: chilled orange, apple and cranberry juices, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee, and Teavana premium tea service.

Wednesday Lunch:

Grilled Chicken Breast w/roasted fennel, roasted potato and arugula hash, turmeric jus. Includes tossed salad and dessert. All plated lunches include warm yeast rolls, sweet cream butter, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee and Teavana premium tea service.

Wednesday Dinner:

Grilled hamburgers; choice of: grilled hot dogs or italian sausage; sliced american, cheddar, and swiss cheeses; pickles, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and condiments, burger and hot dog buns; cole slaw & potato salad; seasonal fruit salad, assortment of cookies & brownies; freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee and Teavana premium tea service.

Thursday Breakfast:

Brioche french toast, sweet cream butter, warm syrup, sausage patties or smoky bacon, fresh diced fruit and berries. All plated breakfasts include: chilled orange, apple and cranberry juices, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee, and Teavana premium tea service.

Thursday Lunch:

Beef Lasagna w/ Toasted Garlic Bread, Caesar Salad (Crisp Romaine Hearts, Aged Parmesan Cheese, Croutons and Caesar Dressing) and dessert. All plated lunches include warm yeast rolls, sweet cream butter, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee and Teavana premium tea service. Vegetarian option is meatless lasagna.

Thursday Dinner (at Bays Mountain Park):

Beef Brisket & Sliced Smoked Chicken, Corn Muffins, Tossed Salad with Assorted Dressings, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, dessert, sweet and unsweet tea, water.

Friday Breakfast:

Egg white scramble, tomatoes, peppers, grilled onions, spinach, arugula, goat cheese, turkey sausage patties, fresh diced fruit and berries. All plated breakfasts include: chilled orange, apple and cranberry juices, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee, and Teavana premium tea service.

Friday Lunch:

Grilled Tofu Vegetable Skewers with house curry sauce, jasmine rice and blistered tomato. Includes Tennessee Crunch Salad (crunchy greens blend, quinoa oat granola, blueberries, feta cheese, ranch & red wine vinaigrette) and Carrot Cake w/ cream cheese icing, candied pecans and caramel sauce. All plated lunches include warm yeast rolls, sweet cream butter, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee and Teavana premium tea service.

Friday Gala/Banquet (at International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough):

Open bar with wine and local brews. Bring an ID to receive a wrist band.

Tossed Baby Green Garden Salad with Dijon Herb Vinaigrette & Crackers; Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast with White Wine; Reduction Sauce Pan Seared Salmon topped with creamy dill sauce; Vegetarian option ~ stuffed portobello mushroom served with Garlic Roasted New Potatoes; Squash & Zucchini Baked with 3 Cheeses; French Baguette Bread with Butter; Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Sauce or Peach Cobbler; Iced tea and Water.

Saturday Breakfast:

Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Roasted Breakfast Potatoes, Buttermilk Biscuit or Fresh Muffin, Chilled Orange Juice, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and a Selection of Teavana Teas.

Saturday Lunch:

You have a choice of three great sandwiches. This is the only meal choice you’ll need to make during registration.

1. Roast Turkey on Focaccia w/ thin sliced roast turkey, brie, frisse, applewood smoked bacon and tomato. All plated sandwich lunches include kettle potato chips, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee and Teavana premium tea service.
2. Ham & Jam on Ciabatta w/ shaved ham, creamy brie, arugula, grilled red onion , brown mustard and raspberry jam. All plated sandwich lunches include kettle potato chips, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee and Teavana premium tea service.
3. Roasted Portobello on Whole Wheat Roll w/ herb marinated portobello, roasted peppers, grilled red onion, arugula aioli, goat cheese and tomatoes. All plated sandwich lunches include kettle potato chips, iced tea, freshly brewed regular & decaffeinated coffee and Teavana premium tea service.

Guests are welcome to attend any of the meals for an additional fee. Some of the lunches and dinners include related activities, which are listed below. Please note that attending meals does not include access to the Vendor Hall nor any of the other conference activities. 

• Breakfasts on Wed., Thurs., Fri., and Sat. morning – $25/each 
• Tuesday Evening Reception – $50
  • Includes shuttle bus, access to BMP, barge ride, open bar and reception meal. Due to extremely limited space, guests will not be able to attend the planetarium demos.
• Wednesday Lunch – $35 – Includes keynote speaker and meal.
• Wednesday Dinner – $40 – Includes silent auction participation and meal.
• Thursday Lunch – $35 – Includes Margaret Noble / Armand Spitz Address and meal.
• Thursday Dinner – $50
  • Includes shuttle bus, access to BMP, raptor program, wolf program and meal. Due to extremely limited space, guests will not be able to attend the planetarium demos.
• Friday Lunch – $35 – Includes only meal.
• Friday Gala in Jonesborough – $100
  • Includes shuttle bus, touring of Jonesborough, open bar, banquet, awards/recognitions and professional storyteller. Note: spaces are limited.
• Saturday Lunch – $35 – Includes only meal. See sandwich choices in the information above. Sorry, door prize drawing is not included.

A room will be available at the Meadowview Conference Center. If you need access to the Mother’s Room, please contact Kat Hunt, President-Elect for SEPA and past counselor with WIC, for access and more information. Please click here to e-mail her directly.

Transportation will be provided during the conference for getting to Bays Mountain Park, the Wednesday Field Trips and the Friday Gala Event in Jonesborough.

Check out the Travel and Directions page (Coming soon) for information about getting to Kingsport and the hotel/conference site.

WiFi is free in the Meadowview Marriott hotel rooms with free Marriott membership.

WiFi access will also be available to all delegates and vendors in all the meeting spaces throughout the conference. Access information will be provided at the conference.

If you are a parent of a child that will be entering the 4-6th grade range next fall, then you might want to partake of the summer day camp at Bays Mountain Park! All the information will be available here by mid-March. Each week of day camp is limited to a total of 30 children and will sell out, so be sure to sign up as early as you can.