The first meeting of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN VIROLOGY CLUB was convened at the Pingree Park campus of Colorado State University on September 28 - 30, 2001 by organizers Charlie Calisher, Jim DeMartini, Kay Holmes, and Ralph Smith. The purpose of this regional gathering of virologists was to meet socially, to share and discuss scientific data and ideas, and to give graduate students a chance to interact with more established virologists in a relaxed atmosphere in a beautiful mountain setting. The meeting began on Friday evening with a Keynote address delivered by Robert Garcea, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center on “Human Papilloma Virus Structure and Vaccines”. His informal but thought-provoking presentation set the tone for the meeting by addressing current issues in virology, viral pathogenesis, and control of viral diseases. During the next day and a half, we heard presentations from laboratory directors, who presented their latest results and in 25 minute overview talks. After lunch on Saturday, we scheduled a 3 hour period for discussions, relaxing, or hiking around Pingree Park or other recreational activities, and then re-convened for poster presentations by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. On Sunday morning, we heard 15 minute presentations by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The meeting was sufficiently informal that the agenda was modified as necessary. There were fifty participants from Colorado and Wyoming at the first RMVC meeting and it was a resounding scientific, social, and financial success.

    Over the next 7 years, the RMVC meeting has been held each fall and the number of participants increased gradually. Membership of the organizing committee has evolved as people retire or decide to become involved in other activities.

Here is the announcement of the first meeting:

“Here are some details that will help. For more information, see the attached file "Pingree Info".

•Car-pooling is encouraged because parking spaces are at a premium on the Pingree campus.

•Dinner ends at 7 pm Friday evening, Sept. 28, and there are no fast-food purveyors in the woods. Give yourselves plenty of time to arrive. The estimated driving time from Fort Collins to Pingree is 2 hours, so plan accordingly. Directions to Pingree Park are attached (Pingree Info).

•If you register on-line, payment by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) is the only way the system will accept payment. If you register by mailing the completed Word version (attached), payment options are more flexible.

•If your lodging option is not available, the CSU Office of Conference Services may be contacting you with alternatives.

•If you or your students elect to stay in the dorm (the least expensive option), stacked linens (sheets, pillows, blankets, and towels) will be available when you arrive.

•The telephone # is 970-881-2150. Since it rings into the manager's cabin from 9 p.m. till 7:30 a.m., it is for emergencies only during this time.

•Because of limited housing, we are not encouraging guests, but we are willing to consider special requests on a case-by-case basis.

We look forward to a GREAT meeting with lots of good scientific exchange in a relaxed, informal environment that is absolutely stunning. Please let us hear of the exciting things going on in your lab. Bring your students and postdoctoral fellows so they can have an opportunity to show their good work and interact with other virologists from the Rocky Mountain region. Please feel welcome to share this message with anyone else in our area whom we may have accidentally missed in our mailing.

We hope to see you at Pingree Park and hope this will become an annual event. Yours sincerely,”