December 4-6, 2012

Fort Myers, Florida

Make plans today to attend ECHO's 19th Annual ECHO Agricultural Conference! The event brings together some of the world’s most influential voices dedicated to eradicating hunger and improving lives.

Speakers will share practical solutions to agricultural challenges, personal experiences and strategies for improving the lives of millions who daily face the threat of starvation. The event offers an open exchange of information, connecting the people and ideas that can make a real and sustainable difference.

Conference accommodation and meeting rooms for morning and evening sessions will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (http://www.cpfortmyers.com/) in the Bell Tower district of Fort Myers. Afternoon workshops and demonstrations will be held at the 50-acre ECHO farm in North Fort Myers, which has one of the largest collections of tropical fruits and vegetables in the Unites States. 

We have received many requests to have more substantial meals for lunch, and have therefore changed our meal plan.  We will provide the continental breakfast buffet and a robust lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with a special closing Banquet on Thursday evening.  No other meals will be provided. This means that you will have the opportunity on Tuesday and Wednesday evening to eat in one of the many eating establishments in the Fort Myers area, depending on your available transportaion.  The cost of the meals provided by ECHO is included in your registration fee. 

Registration for EAC 2012 will open in April 2012.

A general schedule is shown in the table below, followed by a more detailed schedule for each day.

DAILY SCHEDULE - 2012 SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED AS IT IS DEVELOPED

TUESDAY SCHEDULE
6:30—8:00 Breakfast
8:00—8:15 Welcome - Stan Doerr - President and C.E.O.
8:15—8:30 Worship - ECHO Interns
8:30—8:45 Devotions -
8:45—9:00 Announcements
9:00—9:45 Plenary Speaker
9:45—10:30 Plenary Speaker
10:30—11:00 Break and Networking Time
11:00—11:45 Plenary Speaker
11:45—11:50 Announcements
11:50—12:05 Shuttles leave from hotel
12:30—1:30 Lunch
1:00—1:15 Groups leaving from Pavilion for quick walk through of Workshop locations for those new to the ECHO Farm.
1:30—2:30 Afternoon Workshop Session 1
2:30—3:00 Break
3:00—4:00 Afternoon Workshop Session 2
4:15 One Shuttle to Hotel Leaving from Shuttle Stop
5:00—7:00 Dinner on your own
7:00—7:25 Evening Session I—25 minute presentations
7:00—8:00 Evening Session I—60 minute presentations/roundtable
8:00—8:10 Break
7:35—8:00 Evening Session II
8:00—8:10 Break
8:10—8:35 Evening Session III

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
6:00—8:00 Breakfast
8:00—8:10 Worship - ECHO Interns
8:10—8:45
8:45—9:00 Announcements and Seed Orders
9:00—9:45 Plenary Speaker
9:45—10:00 Break
10:00—10:45 Plenary Speaker
10:45—11:30 Plenary Speaker
11:30—11:35 Announcements
11:45—12:05 Shuttles leave from Hotel to Farm
12:30—1:30 Lunch ECHO Farm
1:30—2:30 Afternoon Workshop Session
3:00—4:00 Afternoon Workshop Session
4:15 One Shuttle to Hotel Leaving from Shuttle Stop
5:00—7:00 Dinner on your own
7:00—7:25 Evening Session I—25 minute presentations
7:00—8:00 Evening Session I—60 minute presentations/roundtable
8:00—8:10 Break
7:35—8:00 Evening Session II
8:00—8:10 Break
8:10—8:35 Evening Session III

THURSDAY SCHEDULE
6:00—8:00 Breakfast
8:00—8:05 Welcome
8:05—8:20 Worship ECHO Interns
8:20—8:35 Devotions
8:35—8:55
8:55—9:00 Announcements
9:00—9:45 Plenary Speaker
9:45—10:00 Break
10:00—10:45 Plenary Speaker
10:45—11:30 Plenary Speaker
11:30—11:35 Announcements and walk outside for Group Picture
12:05—12:30 Shuttles leave from Hotel to Farm
12:30—1:30 Lunch ECHO Farm
1:30—2:30 Afternoon Workshop Session I
3:00—4:00 Afternoon Workshop Session 2
4:15 One Shuttle to Hotel Leaving from Shuttle Stop
6:30 Closing banquet and program