E.S.C.O.N.I.

        MAPS 2006 (The National Fossil Exposition XXVIII)

 APRIL 7-9,2006 : The World's Largest Fossil Exhibition.  

     This years theme is Insects

The Mid America Paleontology Society (MAPS) is sponsoring the National Fossil Exposition XXIII. This will be held the weekend of April 7-9 in 2005. This will be held at at the Western Hall Gymnasium (not the Grand Ballroom in the Student Union as in the past), on the campus of Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.  The simplest way to the site is to turn off IL 67 west on University Drive, then go south to the Western Hall Gymnasium (Follow the sign).  Setup is permitted on Friday, April 8, at 8:00 a.m.

Hours are:

Friday April 7   8:00a.m. -5:00 p.m.  

Sat. April 8       8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 

Sun. April 9    8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

Lecture Friday Evening - Keynote speaker-  Dr. Conrad LabandeIra
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/curator_cvs/labandeira.html

Silent Auction Friday, Saturday - During afternoon EXPO hours

Live Auction Saturday night - Auction starts at 7:00 p.m.

Admission is free (Membership in MAPS not required).

MAPS Web Site is

For Membership in MAPS ($20 Dues)

Contact:    Sharon Sonnleitner, Treasurer

                 4800 Sunset Dr. SW

                 Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Other Activities
Bivalves will be this year's theme.   A live auction will follow a short business meeting and awards presentation on Saturday evening.  Silent auctions will be held Friday afternoon and Saturday.  Proceeds from the auction go to a paleontology scholarship.  Each dealer is encouraged to contribute a specimen/specimens equal to or greater than the cost of the tables he/she has rented in order to assure consideration for table space at  the next EXPO.   Include full data and the name of the fossil donor.  Specimens can be left at the information desk up to 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

Transportation:  Amtrak does have railroad service to Macomb.  Train #347 leaves downtown Chicago at 5:55 p.m. and arrives in Macomb at 9:12 p.m.  It leaves Macomb at 7:00 a.m. and arrives in downtown Chicago at 10:35 a.m.  The Amtrak Timetable for those with Adobe Acrobat Reader is http://www.amtrak.com/trains/timetable/w21.pdf

Driving Distance:   Hanover Park, Illinois to Macomb, Illinois (238 Miles)

Related Web Sites:     Western Illinois University

                                      Map of Western Illinois University

MAPS 2004

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