CALL FOR ABSTRACTS:
Please limit your abstract to one page. Presentations on all aspects of dredging and disposal, navigation structures, environmental restoration, and related topics are welcome, and presentations specifically relevant to Gulf Coast issues or projects are encouraged. If your abstract is accepted, you will be invited to present on that subject at the conference. You will not be asked to write and submit a technical paper. Speakers are required to register and pay fees accordingly.

Abstracts Due Date:  NLT August 31, 2023

Send Abstracts to: Andrew Cook, Program Manager WEDA Gulf Chapter, at Andrew.M.Cook@usace.army.mil

When:
Monday, November 6, 2023
-to-
Wednesday, November 8, 2023  

Add meeting to calendar

Where: 
The Grand Galvez
2024 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, TX 77550

Driving Directions

GENERAL INFORMATION:
The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Western Dredging Association is conducting its annual meeting from November 6-8 in Galveston, TX. The meeting will provide a forum for exchanging information of interest to the dredging industry and its associates. Representatives from all areas of the industry, including regulatory, resource agencies, contracting, and manufacturing, will attend to discuss dredging economics, benefits, technologies, and current issues.

 TENTATIVE AGENDA:

• Monday (11/06/23)
  • The evening will start with an Ice Breaker Social and early registration from 6-9
• Tuesday (11/07/23)
  • The agenda will consist of technical presentations and a luncheon program. The evening will follow up with a social event and dinner at the Bryan Museum.
• Wednesday (11/08/23)
  • We will continue with a partial day of technical presentations.
• Golf Event: Has been canceled

LOCATION:
Grand Galvez has pleased guests worldwide for more than 100 years. Their AAA 4-Diamond property is the only historic beachfront hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast and is renowned as one of the finest Galveston hotels on the beach.  Grand Galvez is only a 5min drive from Galveston’s Strand Historic District. 

(The Grand Galvez is roughly a 42-mile drive from William P. Hobby (HOU) Airport and a 70-mile drive from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH))

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: - Sponsor Now
The WEDA Gulf Coast Chapter Board of Directors is pleased to offer sponsorship opportunities for the Gulf Coast Chapter meeting to be held in Galveston, Texas, from November 6^th to 8^th, 2023, at the Grand Galvez Hotel. The point of Contact for sponsorships and advertising is Jonathan Schmaltz at JSchmatlz@McCarthy.com.

Platinum - $6,000.00

• Includes conference attendance for 2 persons
• Includes 2 rooms for the 2 nights of the conference
• Includes company advertising in program and conference area 

Diamond - $3,000.00

• Includes conference attendance for 1 person
• Includes 1 hotel room for the 2 nights of the conference
• Includes company advertising in program and conference area 

Gold - $1,500.00

• Includes conference attendance for 1 person
• Includes company advertising in program and conference area 

Silver - $750.00

• Includes company logo advertising in the conference area

Exhibition Space (19 spaces, 3’ x 6’ available) -  $500.00 exhibition space

SWAG BAG and Exhibitor Shipping Info:

SWAG and Exhibitors’ items can be shipped directly to the hotel beforehand.

Items must be received by the hotel no earlier than Monday, October 30, and no later than Friday, November 3, at the address listed below.

The hotel will store them, and they will need to call and let the front desk know that they have had packages delivered to the hotel.

For Exhibitor’s Items:
Grand Galvez
2024 Seawall Blvd.
Galveston Texas 77550
C/O Guest’s Name/arrival date 

For SWAG Bag Items:
Grand Galvez
2024 Seawall Blvd.
Galveston Texas 77550
C/O Sarah Dearing/Arrival Date November 6, 2023.

*SWAG items will be picked up and placed into the SWAG bags before the start of the conference.

Advertisement in Conference Program

• • ¼ Page - $75
  • ½ Page - $150
  • Full Page - $250 

  We will require the color advertisement in camera-ready artwork form. 

REGISTRATION AND CONFERENCE FEES: - 

The registration will include the following:

1. Icebreaker with light hors d'oeuvres on Monday evening
2. Breakfast & Luncheon with Keynote Speaker + Coffee and Snacks – Tuesday
3. The offsite reception and dinner on Tuesday evening at the Bryan Museum
4. Brunch + Coffee and Snacks - Wednesday

• $300 Member (Current WEDA Member)
• $350 Non-Member
• $200 Government Employee

HOTEL RESERVATIONS:

The room block will be established until the cut-off date, Friday, October 13, 2023.

All guests may make reservations by calling the Reservations Department at (409) 765-7721. The guests must identify with the Western Dredging Conference to obtain your special group rate.

The Grand Galvez requires a first night’s room deposit and tax or credit card per room to guarantee individual reservations. The Hotel accepts all major credit cards as a guarantee. Guests may cancel individual reservations up to 72 hours before arrival without penalty to the individual. Cancellations received within 72 hours of arrival will forfeit the first night's room and tax deposit. This does not alleviate attrition in the Group. 

PDH CERTIFICATES:
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) certificates will be available for this meeting.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at Info@WesternDredging.org. On behalf of the Gulf Coast Chapter Board, we look forward to seeing you in Galveston this November!  

Thank you,

Dave Allen
WEDA, Gulf Coast Chapter President