International Butterfly Breeders Association

Country Inns and Suites Hotel
San Jose, Costa Rica

Introduction Convention Registration Form Country Inn & Suites Hotel Bookling Butterflies in Paradise Itinerary Big Savings

Three Day Post Convention Field Trip Transportation Sponsorships, Vendors & Auction Donations Wings of Hope Auction (external link to WoH website)

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Introduction

The 2008 IBBA Annual Convention will be a bit special (even more so than usual!) as it will be an extended event held in Costa Rica.

Space is limited, the convention is designed for a group of 60, but you can reserve a place by paying a $60.00 deposit. Click HERE for the Advance Registration Form.

Dear Fellow Butterfly Breeders and IBBA Members:

We have done it!

We've gotten the convention put together with a lot of help from Maggie, Ken, Rick, Glenn, Kathy, and Luis of Tropical Expeditions. There is a detailed itinerary with costs for the workshops, field trips, and convention. We are now finalizing all the speakers and workshop leaders. There is still more to do and I will need lots of help to finish the last details. I'm very pleased to be where we are. Here it is. I hope you like it and I hope you will share it with other butterfly breeders worldwide.

Zane

Butterflies in Paradise will be unlike any convention you have ever gone to.

The convention itself (eight speakers) only costs $80 if you register early. Of course you will want to pick many more items from the menu and you have lots of choices. This is an event where you have a lot of control regarding how much you spend. You can eat expensively or cheaply. You can buy food at the grocery store one block away (fresh, clean, and diverse), or fill up on the free breakfast every morning, and snack off the free coffee and cookies in the lobby. There is a Butterfly Breeders Seminar, a 2 Day Pre Convention Field Trip, a Butterfly Farm Tour with Four Hands-On Workshops, Morning Field Trips on Saturday and Sunday, an Icebreaker (it is FREE), a Keynote Speaker Dinner, a Banquet with professional entertainment, and a 3 Day Post Convention Field Trip. You can do a part here or there or the whole thing. It is your choice. Don’t be limited by the choices we have listed. You can use our official transportation company Tropical Expeditions to come up with your own customized vacation in paradise.

The IBBA has reserved a block of 45 rooms at a rate of $68 (including all of the taxes it is only $79) per night at the Country Inns and Suites Hotel. That rate is good for singles or doubles so bring in a friend and cut your bill in half. We will have a direct link to the hotel on our website soon so you won’t have to call and speak to someone who doesn’t really speak English very well while you are making your reservation. Just do it on line.

We worked hard to find a reliable, safe, and HONEST travel company and we found a great one in Tropical Expeditions. They will be glad to pick you up (VIP service) and bring you back to the airport. By the way they are handling all of our travel arrangements for the convention.

The destinations for our field trips have all been checked out by yours truly and I have found them to be educational, fun, and exciting. There are a lot of places that we aren’t going to because they weren’t up to standard. The most wonderful thing I have discovered is the butterfly farmers of Costa Rica. You will love these folks. You will learn from them. You will never forget them.

Itinerary:

Butterfly Breeders Seminar:

Monday November 3, 2008 and Tuesday November 4, 2008
(The exact schedule and destinations may vary.)
The Butterfly Sanctuary, Arenal – El Castillio
Breakfast is included at no extra charge at both hotels
Leave Country Inn and Suites Hotel, San Antonio de Belen at 7:00 AM arrive at 11:00 AM
Lunch Monday in La Fortuna (guests choose fish, beef, or chicken before leaving)
Tour the Butterfly Sanctuary and Seminar
Hot Springs with dinner and locker rental at Baldi
Lodging is at Observatory Lodge

Tuesday November 4, 2008 AM
Seminar for four hours (9:00 AM till 1:00 PM)
Lunch Tuesday in La Fortuna on your own
Tuesday return to Country Inns and Suites Hotel

IBBA Members' Prices For the Butterfly Breeders Seminar

Early Registration: $295 is the cost for early registration (double occupancy room at the Arenal Observatory Lodge). Single occupancy is an additional $40.
June 1, 2008 is the cutoff for Early Registration.. Anyone who registers after June 1, 2008 will have to pay regular registration.

Regular Registration: $350 is the cost for regular registration (double occupancy room at the Observatory Lodge). Single occupancy is an additional $40. This cost will be for anyone who registers from June 1, 2008 till September 1, 2008.
September 1, 2008 is the cutoff for regular registration. Anyone who pays on or after September 1, 2008 will have to pay late registration.

Late Registration: $400 is the cost for late registration (double occupancy room at the Observatory Lodge). Single occupancy is an additional $40. This cost will be for anyone who registers on or after September 1, 2008.

“Not yet an IBBA Members Price”
Your costs can be figured by taking the above prices and cut off dates plus $200.

Butterflies in Paradise
IBBA 2008 Costa Rica

Two Day Pre Convention Field Trip:
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 and Thursday, November 6, 2008
Leave from Country Inns and Suites hotel each morning.

Wednesday
Leave hotel at 7 AM.
We will visit Le Flores butterfly farm in the morning.
Lunch is on your own.
In the afternoon we will visit William Camacho’s butterfly farm.

This might be the most important single day of the Butterflies in Paradise event. These two farms will leave you stunned. The families that work them are hard working and full of love. These are real working butterfly farms, not Disneyesque interpretations. You will be impressed and you will learn. Everyone that I have taken to see them has been wowed.

Thursday
Leave from hotel at 7:30 AM.
We will spend the day at La Paz Waterfall Park. http://www.waterfallgardens.com/index.html.
They have a beautiful butterfly exhibit and much more.

Do you love natural waterfalls? This destination has four of the prettiest you will ever see. Do you love birds? Their aviary is beautiful. The jungle cat exhibit is new and wondrous. The butterfly house is one of the best I have ever seen. The lab portion is not to be missed. The food here is great and even the bathrooms (very clean) are fascinating.

Early Registration: $140 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $200 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $250

Icebreaker
Thursday November 6, 2008 at 6:00 PM
This event will take place at The Terrace of the Country Inns and Suites Hotel. Come enjoy an appetizer and a drink. This event has been completely paid for by our gold sponsor, Greathouse Butterfly Farm. RSVP please so that we can plan for everyone. The first drink is free and then you can enjoy the cash bar.

FREE

Friday Field Trip and Workshops
Friday November 7, 2008
The Butterfly Farm, La Guacima
Enjoy a Butterfly Farm tour, lunch, and four workshops for a full day. Tour one of Costa Rica’s first and most famous butterfly farms. Get a behind the scenes look at their lab and packing and shipping facilities. Then enjoy a delightful catered picnic lunch in their butterfly garden. In the afternoon you will learn from the four workshops (details pending) where we will learning hands-on style in the laboratory (egg washing, disease prevention, microscope use?), in the packing and shipping room (packing pupae, adults, shipping containers?), in the butterfly aviary (butterfly photography, egg and larvae collecting?), in the butterfly garden (butterfly gardening, design, maintenance?), or in one of the three classrooms or patios (I’ve run out of things to put in parenthesis).

Early Registration: $75 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $100 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $125

The Butterfly Farm tour and lunch (w/o the workshops) will leave the hotel at 8:30 and return at 1:00 PM. This is a great spouse/family excursion. Enjoy the farm and the lunch and go back to the hotel without attending the workshops.

Early Registration: $55 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $80 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $100

2008 IBBA Convention
Keynote Speaker Dinner
Friday, November 7, 2008 @ 7:00 PM
Country Inn and Suites Hotel
We are expecting our keynote speaker to be exciting and dynamic. The pictures should wow us and the menu was hand selected by Maggie and the hotel manager.

Early Registration: $18 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $23 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $28

Saturday AM Field Trip
The bus will leave at 8:00 for Spirogyra Butterfly Gardens. Spirogyra is one of the most intriguing butterfly exhibits I’ve ever visited. It is an oasis in the middle of a big city. The butterfly aviary will impress you and the nature trail outside will surprise you. My advice is for you to make sure that you grab one of the walking sticks before you take off down the hill. This was Maggie's favorite butterfly exhibit of Costa Rica.

Lunch on the road (on your own) at La Princess Marina, a famous local seafood restaurant, where the prices are fair, the food is delicious, and the service is fast.

Suitable for the whole family!

Prices per person:
Early Registration: $35 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $45 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $55

Sunday AM Field Trip
Leave for INBioparque at 8:00 A.M. INBioparque is an educational facility where we will have a guided tour through their trails. You will see lots of native flora and fauna while visiting their static and interactive exhibits. They even have a butterfly facility. What a coincidence! Lunch is on your own at the park. They have a nice restaurant where you will eat lunch on your own (your choice and you pay as you go). We leave the hotel at 8:00 A.M. and we leave the park to return to the hotel at 12:00 noon.

Suitable for the whole family!

Prices per person:
Early Registration: $45 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $55 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $65

Early Registration: $20 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $25 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $30

Big Savings:
Package Deal for the entire convention which includes the Icebreaker, Friday’s field trip, The Keynote Dinner, Saturday’s field trip and speakers, Sunday’s field trip and speakers, and the Sunday night Banquet with entertainment. The small print:
This package does not include the Butterfly Breeder’s Seminar, the 2 Day Pre Convention Field Trip, the 3 day Post Convention Field Trip, or Airport Transportation.

Early Registration: $200 (before 6/1/08)
Regular Registration: $315 (before 9/1/08)
Late Registration: $405

Three Day Post Convention Field Trip

Monday November 10, 2008 through Wednesday November 12, 2008

Monday
Trip to Aerial Tram Park and the Gutierrez Butterfly Farm

In the morning we will be visiting Rainforest Aerial Tram Caribbean. http://www.rfat.com/ Here you can take a 90 minute through the tree tops tram trip and see what really goes on in a rainforest canopy. There is also a (SURPRISE!) butterfly exhibit, serpentarium, nature trails, and for those of you who are adrenaline junkies the zip line canopy tour.

Lunch is on your own at a typical Costa Rican restaurant.

The Gutierrez family has been growing butterflies for more than ten years. When I say growing butterflies, I mean lots and lots of beautiful tropical butterflies. I guarantee that you will learn something from these folks. They are experts, love what they do, proud, but not arrogant. It is always a pleasure to learn from someone who isn’t trying to sell you something. This is a must see for any butterfly breeder.

We will be leaving the hotel at 6:45 AM.

Tuesday
Trip to Pacific Coast/Jaco Beach
Visit Crocodiles, a butterfly farm and spend a day on the beach (all inclusive). In Ft. Lauderdale we showed you alligators, and in Costa Rica we will show you the biggest wild crocodiles you will ever see. Bring your cameras but don’t worry. You will be watching from a highway bridge high above these surly critters. The next stop is the Pacific Ocean and Jaco Beach. We will be spending the day at an all inclusive resort, The Best Western at Jaco Beach. You can swim in the warm Pacific water, in the pool, sunbathe on the beach, or spend your day eating and drinking. It is all inclusive. There are nice clean bathrooms, showers, and cabanas to change in. If you would like too there is also a nearby butterfly farm you can visit (admission and transportation is $20, additional).
We will leave the hotel at 6:00 AM and eat all day at the Best Western at Jaco Beach. http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=70602 .
This is all inclusive resort. Your food and bar bill are covered.

Wednesday
Trip to Poas Volcano, visit coffee field, and Lillian’s Butterfly Farm
We will leave the hotel at 8:30 AM.
How often can you visit an active volcano? If you take the Butterfly Breeders Workshop and accompany us on this day you will see two in a week. You will also see Costa Rica’s famous coffee plantations and another great working butterfly farm. First it is off to the volcano, since we want to visit it when we have the best chance of clear skies. Then we stop at one of the coffee fields where we will learn a bit about this brewed beverage while having an opportunity to taste it first hand. Lunch will be on your own at a typical Costa Rican restaurant. Try the strawberry juice. I really like it. The afternoon takes us to one of Costa Rica’s most famous butterfly breeders, or maybe I should say three of them. Lillian’s Butterfly Farm is not listed in any tourist book. It is a remarkable farm run by three very special women (sisters). Their butterflies are appreciated by the exhibitors that are lucky enough to be able to purchase them. I don’t want to say too much about this place because you will want to discover its secrets all for yourself.

Early Registration: (before 6/1/08) Adult $250 Child $200
Regular Registration: (before 9/1/08) $300 $250
Late Registration: $350 $300

Transportation:
VIP airport service, pickup and drop off:
You will be greeted inside the airport by a chamber of tourism representative. Your name will be on a sign. The representative will help you with your luggage and customs. That representative will then escort you outside to the Tropical Expeditions driver who will load your luggage in the van and take you to the hotel. You must prepay for this transportation. These folks are professional and reliable. They speak English and will know where you are going. They won’t be driving you around in circles while the meter clicks away. Beware of the ‘pirate’ drivers at the airport. If you don’t use the company we are suggesting make sure that you use a legitimate taxi.

Early Registration: (before 6/1/08) $40/single $25/Multiples
Regular Registration: (before 9/1/08) $45/single $30/Multiples
Late Registration: $50/single $35/Multiples

Sponsorships, Vendors & Auction Donations

Sponsorships

Only sponsors and vendors are allowed to sell merchandise, and distribute or display promotional materials at the convention.

Deadlines:
There are deadlines for sponsorship and vendors.

Early Registration: If you pay your sponsorship before June 1, 2008 we will double the amount of ad space you receive in the program, on convention signage, and on the website. In other words, sponsors who donate early will get twice as much bang for their buck.

Regular Registration: If you pay your sponsorship on or after June 1, 2008 and before September 1, 2008 you are guaranteed the following:

Sponsor: For their donation Sponsors (donation of cash or ‘in kind’ of $100 to $249) receive a business card size ad in the program, are listed on convention signage, and get an ad (approximately equivalent to a business card ad) on the IBBA website. The website ads will stay up until the website begins promoting the 2009 convention. Sponsor level gets no free tables or registration.

Bronze Sponsor: For their donation Bronze Sponsors (donation of cash or ‘in kind’ of $250 to $499) receive a quarter page size ad in the program, are listed on convention signage, and get an ad (approximately equivalent to a quarter page ad) on the IBBA websitePlease indicate your donation and approximate value where applicable, in the box below.
+ One free vendor table ($25 value at early registration price)

Silver Sponsor: For their donation Silver Sponsors (donation of cash or ‘in kind’ of $500 to $999) receive a half page size ad in the program, are listed on convention signage, and get an ad (approximately equivalent to a half page ad) on the IBBA website. The website ads will stay up until the website begins promoting the 2009 convention.
+ One free vendor table ($25 value at early registration price)
+ One free registration ($80 value with the early registration price)

Gold Sponsor: For their donation Gold Sponsors (donation of cash or ‘in kind’ of $1000 or more) receive a full page size ad in the program, are listed on convention signage, and get an ad (approximately equivalent to a full page ad) on the IBBA website. The website ads will stay up until the website begins promoting the 2009 convention.
+ Two free vendor tables ($50 value at early registration price)
+ Two free registrations ($160 value at the early registration price)

Vendors

Vendors: Companies and individuals who wish to sell merchandise at the convention are welcome to rent a vendor table (while they last) at a cost of $25 when paid for before June 1, 2008. The cost is $50 when paid for on or after June 1, 2008. Space is limited so we suggest that you register early.

Auction Donations

Auction Donations: As always the success of the auction is dependent upon the generosity of our members. We need wonderful things for our members to bid on. This year’s auction will be of the silent variety (there may also be a live auction and a raffle) and therefore will have the donor’s name listed on the bid sheet which will be placed with the auction item. Donors who make their donation before June 1, 2008 will be listed in the program and on the IBBA website as well. Those donors who give on June 1, 2008 or later will be listed on the IBBA website. We would appreciate it if donations were transported to Costa Rica by the giver. If that isn’t possible please contact Kathy Marshburn so that we can make arrangements.

Late Registration: If you donate on or after September 1, 2008 we can not guarantee that your ad will appear in the program or that your materials will be distributed at the convention. We will place your ad on the website ASAP.

Only sponsors and vendors are allowed to sell merchandise, and distribute or display promotional materials at the convention.