Quebec City: full of history and charm.

In 1608, when the French explorer Samuel de Champlain first glimpsed the site where Quebec City now stands, he wrote "while sailing up the St. Lawrence, I discovered a place of exceptional beauty. There I founded the town of Quebec." As religious institutions and government buildings sprang

up within the fortifications of the Upper Town, merchants and craftsmen settled in the Lower Town alongside the river. Quebec City soon became a valuable prize sought after many times during the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries. When it finally fell to the English in 1759, "New France" became a British colony. Today, Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in North America, is a busy seaport, an important cultural, business, and research center and, of course, the provincial capital of Quebec. But most of all, it is still a city of exceptional beauty that exudes an old-world charm not found in any other city in North America. Each year nearly 4 million tourists flock to Quebec City to savor its charms and the beauty of the countryside that surrounds the city, and especially to immerse themselves in the exceptional cuisine that is a trademark of Quebec (Quebec City boasts more gourmet restaurants per capita than any other city on the continent). From natural beauty to historic architecture to gastronomic wonders, Quebec City has it all, and you won't want to miss the experience!

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NEW MEETING FORMAT

Based on input from Technical Interest Group (TIG) and Division Officers, Forest Products Society (FPS) Corporate Members, and discussions between FPS and Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST) Board Members, new formats and meeting names have been adopted for the SWST and FPS Annual Meetings beginning with the 2005 meetings, June 19-22 in Quebec City.

The major changes:

* New names for the meetings are: SWST 48th Annual Convention and Forest Products Society 59th International Convention.

* Sunday (June 19) is devoted entirely to the SWST program, which has been expanded to include four technical sessions related to fundamental research. As in the past, the two societies will hold a joint reception on Sunday evening.

* The FPS 59th International Convention begins on Monday morning and the technical part of the Convention will conclude at noon on Wednesday, with optional tours and recreational events taking place Wednesday afternoon and Thursday.

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* The Industry Focus Day Program has been shifted from Monday to Tuesday and the Paul Bunyan Party has been moved to Tuesday night.

INDUSTRY FOCUS DAY

The theme of this year's Industry Focus Day on Tuesday morning, June 21, is When Small is the Only Choice: Small Log Processing for Profitability. This half-day session will explore the unique expertise that the Eastern Canadian region has gained through its experience in processing material from boreal forests where forest growth is slow and logs are generally smaller. The session, moderated by Robert Beauregard, Associate Professor at the Universite Laval, will include the following presentations:

* Twenty-Five Years of Small Log Processing in Eastern Canada--A Success Story, a keynote address by Yves Levesque, Lumber Technologies Manager, Forintek Canada Corp., Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada

* Dedicated Equipment, the Key to Small Wood Processing: The Comact Scan-Opt Small Log Sawing Line, by Simon Potvin, VP Sawmilling Equipment, Comact, Quebec City, QC, Canada

* A User's Perspective on Using an Optimized Planer Mill for Small Wood Processing, by Francois Seguin, Vice-President, Bois Daaquam Inc., Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada

* Linear Grading for Small Log Lumber, by Andre Nadeau, CEO, Autolog, Blainville, QC, Canada

* The Challenge of Productivity When Processing Small Logs, by Yves Dessureault, Equipment Development Director, CRIQ, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada

* A U.S. Perspective on Small Log Processing, by Christopher D. Risbrudt, Director, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Madision, WI, USA

* Engineered Wood Products: A Product Strategy for Using Wood from Small Logs, by Claude Lamothe, Sales Manager, Abitibi Consolidated, Montreal, QC, Canada

* Concluding Remarks, by Georges Courteau, President, Quebec Forest Industry Council, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada

TECHNICAL INTEREST GROUP SESSIONS

This year a total of 22 Technical Sessions are scheduled for Monday morning and afternoon and Wednesday morning.

Monday Morning, June 20

* Thermosets for Structural Wood Products

* Hardwood Value Chain from Forest Management to Value-Added Products

* Marketing in a Global Economy

* Increasing the Demand for Wood Products in North America

* Recent Developments for the Wood Composite Industry

* Sustainable Forests for a Sustainable World

* Treated Wood Products

* Wood Engineering

Monday Afternoon, June 20

* Thermosets for Structural Wood Products (continued)

* Hardwood Value Chain from Forest Management to Value-Added Products (continued)

* Marketing in a Global Economy (continued)

* Increasing the Demand for Wood Products in North America (continued)

* Recent Developments for the Wood Composite Industry (continued)

* Wood Engineering (continued)

Wednesday Morning, June 22

* Investment Strategies for the 21st Century

* Balancing Wood Utilization and a Healthy Forest; Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of Wood-Based Products

* Transferring Technology to the Forest Industry: What Does and Doesn't Work?

* Nano-Technology and Cellular Genetics to Improve Fiber Supplies and Produce High-Tech Lignocellulosic Consumer Products

* Manufacturing Excellence in the Forest Products Industry

* Industrial Characterization of Softwood Lumber

* Performance and Process Improvements of Structural Panels

* Timber Production Planning and Operations

TECHNICAL FORUMS

Up to 160 Technical Forum (poster) presentations will be presented during 2 separate forums: Monday afternoon 2:45 to 5:00 pm, and Tuesday afternoon 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The forums consist of a number of simultaneous presentations by individuals who are stationed in front of a 4- by 8-foot poster board on which text, graphs, and figures related to their presentation are displayed. Presentations in each of the two forums are grouped by subject matter.

SPECIAL TECHNICAL PROGRAMS

IAWS Lecture

The International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS) Lecture will be given on Monday afternoon, June 20 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm (speaker and topic to be announced).

Educational/Industrial Tours

Tour of the Universite Laval's Wood Processing Center and Forintek Canada Corp. Eastern Division Laboratory -- On Wednesday afternoon, June 22, arrangements have been made for a tour of the Universite Laval's new Centre de transformation sur le bois ouvre (CTBO, Wood Processing Center) and the Forintek Canada Corp. Eastern Division Laboratory. A bus will leave the Delta Quelbec Hotel at 1:00 pm, stopping first at the Universite Laval CTBO, and then proceeding to the Forintek Lab. The CTBO is a brand new 7,000-[m.sup.2] (74,000-ft.[.sup.2]) facility dedicated to wood science and engineering teaching and research. The two-story building features the dramatic architectural uses of wood and wood composites. It includes 21 laboratories, 3 classrooms, and 2 computer laboratories. The CTBO houses Laval's undergraduate program in wood engineering (75 students), graduate programs in wood science (45 students), the Centre de recherche sur le bois (CRB, Wood Research Center), and the Chaire industrielle sur les bois d'ingenierie et d'apparence (CIBISA, Industrial Chair on Engineered Wood and Appearance Wood Products). Forintek Canada Corp. is Canada's national wood products research institute. Its role is to support the Canadian forest products industry in optimizing manufacturing processes, extracting higher value products from the available resource, and meeting customer expectations of performance, durability, and affordability. Forintek's Eastern Division is located 2 km from the Universite Laval in the Quebec Technology Park. The building, erected in 1994 and built as an example of non-residential wood-frame construction, received architectural awards from organizations in Quebec and the United States. The design features the use of wood and demonstrates a broad range of composites and engineered wood products. The tour, including transportation, will be complimentary. The bus will return to the Delta Quebec at about 5:00 pm.

Industry Tour to Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater Facilities -- On Thursday, June 23, tours have been arranged to view two high-speed, very efficient small log sawmills located in the Lac Saint-Jean area, approximately 350 km north of Quebec City. The first tour will be the Abitibi-Consolidated Notre-Dame-de-la-Dore mill, which features small log sawmilling and finger jointing. The second tour will be at the Bowater Saint-Felicien facility, which features softwood small log sawmilling. The tour will be limited to 30 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour bus will leave the Delta Quebec hotel at 7:00 am and return at 6:00 pm. The cost will be $65US, which includes transportation, tour guides, and lunch.

RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL EVENTS

Companion Program

Companions are invited to come and get acquainted before starting out on the day's activities at an optional continental breakfast, which will be available from 7:00 am to 8:15 am on Monday, June 20, through Wednesday, June 22, for those who wish to purchase tickets. The Forest Products Society is subsidizing half the cost of the breakfasts. The $25US per person ticket price covers your half of the three breakfasts-assorted pastries, muffins, and croissants; seasonal fruit bread; cold cereals and dried fruits; yogurt and cottage cheese; fresh fruit slices; butter and a selection of jams; and freshly brewed coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and milk. The breakfast is available to all companions who purchase breakfast tickets, whether or not they participate in the Companion Program.

A most enjoyable program has been designed for companions of FPS attendees. On Monday, June 20, through Wednesday, June 22, companions will be touring major tourist attractions in Quebec City and the surrounding area. The program will cost $140US per person and includes all tour expenses, and luncheons on Monday and Tuesday.

Monday, June 20

8:30 am-11:30 am: Historic Tour of Quebec City

Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985, Quebec City is one of the most historic and charming cities in North America. On this tour, participants will relive the unique history that shaped what is today the only walled city in North America. The tour will include the Latin Quarter, the Plains of Abraham, the Ramparts, the world famous Chateau Frontenac Hotel, Quebec's Parliament Building, the Basilica, the Citadelle, and Place Royal, where Quebec City was founded by the French Explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1608. The tour will be conducted by a professional guide fluent in both French and English.

11:30 am-3:00 pm: Lunch and Sightseeing on the Rue du Petit-Champlain (a walking tour)

Dating back to 1685, the narrow cobbled Rue du Petit-Champlain is Quebec City's oldest street, and the surrounding area, known as the Quartier du Petit-Champlain, is the oldest shopping area in North America. Located alongside the St. Lawrence River, the boutiques and art galleries in the quaint 17th and 18th century houses that line this narrow street offer an array of stunning clothing goods and arts and crafts ranging from beautiful ceramics to Inuit carvings. The Rue du Petit-Champlain is also home to numerous wonderful bistros featuring out-standing local and European cuisine. Participants will be treated to lunch at one of these bistros before embarking on a tour of the shops and galleries conducted by a professional guide.

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Tuesday, June 21

8:30 am-2:30 pm: Tour of the Charlevoix Region and Montmorency Falls

The Charlevoix region of Quebec, located about an hour northeast of Quebec City, boasts spectacular landscapes, with mountains bordered by the St. Lawrence River. This region, designated as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, was sculpted by glaciers that left towering rock walls, lakes, rivers, and morainic deposits. The scenic beauty of the Charlevoix has attracted many artisans and in Baie Saint-Paul and other small villages in the region, art galleries abound. At mid-day, participants will enjoy a deluxe box lunch. Following lunch, the tour bus will travel back along the St. Lawrence River, stopping at Montmorency Falls, named by Samuel de Champlain after Henri II, duc de Montmorency, who served as the viceroy of New France from 1620 to 1625. This beautiful falls is 1-1/2 times higher than Niagara Falls.

Wednesday, June 22

8:30 am-11:30 am: Amerindian Tradition Tour

Long before the French came to Quebec, the proud Huron Indians had settled in the region and their culture has had a lasting impact on the history of Quebec. Like most of the other eastern woodland tribes, the Huron were farmers during the summer and hunters during the winter. Corn, squash, beans, and tobacco were all cultivated. Hunting in the winter period was mainly for bison, deer, bear, and small game. The Huron Confederacy was the first great eastern Indian confederacy. Huron society was divided along clan lines, in accordance with descent from the mother. The original clan names are not known today, but the clan names Bear, Cord, and Rock have survived. Government of the Huron was by way of a governing council, chosen by the clan mothers. The first tour stop will be in the small village of Jeune Lorette, also known as the Village Huron. Participants will have access to the local museum. The next stop will be "ONHOUA CHETEK8E," an authentic recreation of a Huron village, where a Huron guide will talk about the beliefs, customs, and way of life of the Huron people from times past to the present.

Youth Program

In the past several years we have offered a program for the children of attendees, but participation numbers have been erratic. Some years we have had an adequate number and other years we have had to cancel most of the program because there were not enough participants to cover the cost of the necessary transportation. Rather than expending considerable effort to plan a program in Quebec City, which might then be cancelled, we are asking parents to let us know in advance if they would like a program to be offered. If there is enough interest shown by April 30, we will then gather input from parents and move ahead with planning. If you are interested in having your children involved in a youth program, please send an e-mail message to Erin Bosch as soon as possible (but no later than April 30): erin@forestprod.org.

Paul Bunyan Party

The Musee du Quebec offers a perfect setting for an evening of culture, good food, and entertainment. The museum is located on the beautiful Plains of Abraham and within walking distance of the Hotel Delta Quebec (transportation will be provided for those who do not want to walk or in the event of inclement weather). Attendees will be treated to a wide variety of hors d'oeuvres, gourmet sandwiches, cheeses, vegetables, breads, fresh fruits, coffee, tea, and a selection of delicious deserts including chocolate truffle cake, fruit tartellettes, and mini creme brulees, so bring your appetite! After dinner, the group will be entertained by Le Quatuor Painchaud, a musical brothers/sister act (three brothers and a sister) who receive rave reviews for their boundless energy, great sense of humor, and unparalleled musical skills. All four have studied from 3 to 6 years at the Academy of Music of Quebec, in turn they have served as soloists with the Symphony Orchestra of Quebec, and all are medal-holders of the Aramis provincial music contest.

Running, Walking, Biking, Golf, or Tennis Anyone?

Four optional events have been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to help you get some exercise and enjoy the company of other attendees.

Tennis Mixer -- The doubles mixer format works well and participants have had a great time in a very low-key atmosphere. This format can accommodate widely varying skill levels and promotes a lot of congenial interaction, so don't be hesitant to give this a try (we especially want to encourage more women to join us). Come alone or bring a partner. The registration fee is $25US, which includes bottled water and tennis court fees. Rackets can be rented for about $4US. The tennis club is nearby, but transportation will be necessary, so arrangements will have to be made for players to carpool or share a taxi.

Fun Run/Walk -- A fun run/walk will take place on the Plains of Abraham a few blocks up the hill from the Delta Quebec Hotel. The registration fee is $5US, which includes water bottles, map of the running route, and race numbers.

Golf Scramble -- The golf scramble ("best ball") will take place in Levis at the Club de golf de l'Auberiviere. This is a casual event so a high skill level is not required. The registration fee is $35US, which includes greens fees and cart rental for 18 holes. Clubs can be rented for approximately $17US. Transportation will be necessary to get to the club so arrangements will have to be made for players to carpool.

Bike Ride -- A bike ride of about 45 km (about 27 miles) is being arranged. Bikers will gather in the Delta Quebec lobby and then walk to the bike rental facilities in the Old Harbour (about a 15-minute walk). This very scenic bike trip includes a ferry ride across the river to Levis, a ride along the beautiful south shore of the St. Lawrence, across the Quebec Bridge, and then back to the Old Harbour along the North Shore of the river. Most of the ride is on a relatively flat bike trail. The registration fee is $25US, which includes bike and helmet rental, ferry crossing fees, and bottled water.

All participants in the recreational events can order a T-shirt designed by the event organizers. The charge for the T-shirts will be $7.50US. Please be sure to specify your T-shirt size on the registration form when you register for the convention.

Book Selection

In 2003, we began a tradition of recommending a book to attendees at our International Convention as a way of encouraging social interaction. If you are standing next to someone you don't know at one of the social events, you could begin a conversation by asking "So ... have you read that book that was recommended?" In addition, we will be offering the opportunity to discuss the book in a group on Sunday evening after the Host Reception. The intent is to choose a novel that is set in the region where the meeting is being held. It was a challenge this year to find a novel set in the province of Quebec, written by a Canadian author, but available in English. The selected book is The Tin Flute by Gabrielle Roy. The FPS website has more details and discussion questions: www.forestprod.org.

CONVENTION REGISTRATION

The full 3-day registration fee for the 59th International Convention is $595US for members, $695US for nonmembers, and includes the Host Reception on Sunday night, the Official Luncheon on Monday, the Industry Focus Day Luncheon on Tuesday, and the Paul Bunyan Party on Tuesday evening. Student member registration fees are $75US (nonmember student fee is $105US), which includes the Host Reception and the Official Luncheon. Students can purchase tickets for the Industry Focus Day lunchion for $35US and can purchase tickets to the Paul Bunyan Party at half price ($32US). Retirees and companions may purchase tickets to any of the social events, and there will be a special price ($32US) for youth Paul Bunyan Party tickets.

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HOTEL REGISTRATION

The Delta Quebec Hotel is located just steps away from the gates to Old Quebec, in the heart of North America's only walled city. This location offers an exceptional view of the Laurentian Mountains, the St. Lawrence River, Parliament Hill, and Old Quebec. Connected to the Quebec City Convention Centre and Quebec Shops by an underground passage, the hotel is 20 minutes from Jean-Lesage International Airport, and 5 minutes from the Quebec train and bus station. Mid-June in Quebec is one of the busiest tourist times, so FPS convention attendees are encouraged to make their hotel reservations as early as possible. After the May 17th cutoff date, rooms at the Delta Quebec Hotel may be difficult to obtain.

Members of the Forest Products Society should have received a complete convention brochure with detailed program and registration information by the middle of March. The brochure is also available on the Society's website: www.forestprod.org.