FEBRUARY 2017 ANNUAL SEMINAR ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. HOTEL CHACO July 17 19, 2017 The 59 th annual Marine Chemist Association seminar will be held in Albuquerque, NM from July 17-19 th. The final arrangements are almost complete and we look forward to a great seminar. We will be having it at the newly built Hotel Chaco. The hotel is on the property of the historic Hotel Albuquerque and is scheduled to open in May of this year. We will be one of the first groups to be in the hotel. It will be new and updated. We also have a great hospitality suite with a large outdoor patio. San Felipe de Neri Church, which is on the state and national Registers of Historic Places, is within walking distance of the hotel in historic Old Town.
There is much to do and see in Albuquerque, New Mexico s largest city. The city is situated on a high desert and ringed to the east by the Sandia Mountains. Hotel Chaco offers great views and a great location with proximity to attractions, shopping and a variety of restaurants. VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS FROM HOTEL ALBUQUERQUE ADDITIONALLY, THIS SHOWS THE HOTEL CHACO HOSPITALITY SUITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION While you may expect that the weather will be hot, that is not entirely true. Albuquerque, at an elevation of 5,312 feet, is one of the highest cities in the country. We anticipate it will be warm in July, but not stifling hot. In fact, there are ski areas within 20 minutes of our hotel.
GONDOLA RIDE 20 MINUTES FROM THE HOTEL CHACO The Sandia Tram to the peak of the mountain at 10,679 feet is open all summer and has a great view of the city and desert below. It is a favorite spot at sunset. It could be a day trip, for hikers, or just for a visit to the top to see the spectacular view. The gondola leaves about every 15 minutes and there are viewing platforms and restrooms at the top. Unfortunately, the restaurant at the peak will be closed this summer for renovations. If you do go, make sure to pack some water as you get easily dehydrated at the high elevation.
Marine Chemist Association, Inc. VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE GONDOLA RIDE (IN THE SUMMER THERE SHOULD NOT BE THIS MUCH SNOW) Old Town is a three-minute walk from our hotel. It features many shops and restaurants. If you are a fan of turquoise, you will find a large assortment of items to choose from. Also, you can find many Navajo and Pueblo Indian crafts here. Our hotel property links the historic Hotel Albuquerque and new Hotel Chaco and is the home of a great Southwestern restaurant where even the locals come to dine. It s a good choice to sample and enjoy southwest/mexican food and beverages.
MINGILING WITH THE LOCALS FROM OLD TOWN Our spouse s tour will include stops at the Turquoise Museum with a discussion on what to look for when purchasing turquoise. This will be followed by a stop at the Pueblo Museum. At the conclusion of the tour you will be dropped off at the High Noon restaurant for a Southwestern buffet. The restaurant is about a block from the hotel. Our hotel has a large pool for sunbathing and swimming. It is also just across the street from a very big store offering a huge selection of local pottery and crafts. This should not be missed. A couple of miles away is Nob Hill, a local upscale shopping area with many different restaurants. Another option while in Albuquerque is to take a ride on the light rail system to Santa Fe. It is a $14 round-trip and the train passes through several Indian reservations. Santa Fe is home to an active artist community with shopping and galleries. The train is about 45 minutes each way.
We are still working the speaking program for the seminar, which will have a theme of Stakeholder Relationships. There will be more information to follow as speakers are scheduled. The seminar in Albuquerque will be both education and fun. We hope to see you there. LOOKING FORWARD TO A HOT TIME IN ALBUQUERQUE THIS SUMMER Respectfully submitted Don Raffo Secretary/Treasurer MCA All photo credits to Ann Baldelli