Philadelphia's Culture, History Unveiled During the 1998 AMI Annual Convention

The history and culture of Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love,” will be a featured part of the 1998 AMI Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase, September 17-19, 1998. The meeting’s social calendar will begin with a welcome reception and will include a companion tour of historic Philadelphia, an evening at the theater, featuring “Riverdance” and a National League baseball game.

Welcome to Philadelphia
The Welcome to Philadelphia Reception, Thursday, September 17, 5:30-7 p.m., will be in the Grand Hall of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Hall harkens back to its previous life as the old Reading Terminal Train Shed, featuring a 90-foot vaulted skylit ceiling and marbled floor imbedded with train tracks. The reception is a fabulous beginning to this year’s Convention and provides a valuable networking opportunity to attendees. One ticket for this event is included with payment of full registration. Additional tickets may be purchased for $65 each, for fully registered packers and processors, on the registration form or on-site.

Companion Tour
While industry employees attend educational sessions and tour the Innovation Showcase, their companions may journey back in time with AMI’s special historic tour, complete with guides in period costumes. This tour, Friday, September 18, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., begins at Fairmount Park, the largest municipal park in the country, and includes tours of such historic homes as Strawberry Mansion, Mt. Pleasant and Lemon Hill. After lunch at The City Tavern, the tour concludes with a drive through the “most historic square mile” in Philadelphia, featuring the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Early registration for companions, received by August 17, is $295 and includes access to the Convention and Innovation Showcase.

“Riverdance”
This year’s convention concludes with an elegant evening, Saturday, September 19, 6:30-10 p.m., at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts for the Irish music and dance sensation, “Riverdance.” A pre-theater reception provides attendees one more opportunity to join their colleagues in a relaxed, social setting before the end of the convention. Tickets for the reception and “Riverdance” are $95 and may be purchased on the convention registration form or by calling AMI’s Manager of Convention Services Lora Williams.

Phillies Baseball
“Batter up!” For sports enthusiasts, Veteran’s Stadium will issue an official welcome to AMI when the Phillies host the Montreal Expos Friday night, 7:05 p.m. AMI has a limited number of tickets for the game, so reservations are required. Please contact AMI’s Director of Convention Services Amy Peters for prices and availability.

Registration Information
Early registration for the AMI Convention is $545 for members and $645 for non-members. Early registration for the 1998 Meat Industry Research Conference (MIRC) is $295 for AMI or American Meat Science Association members, and $395 for non-members. A discounted early registration of $645 for members and $745 for non-members is available when registering for both the AMI Convention and MIRC. All registration fees increase by $100 if received after August 17.

For more information on the AMI Convention or Meat Industry Research Conference, please call AMI’s Education and Convention Services Department at 703/841-2400 or visit AMI’s web site at www.meatami.org.

AMI represents the interests of packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey products and their suppliers throughout North America. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute provides legislative, regulatory and public relations services, conducts scientific and economic research, offers marketing and technical assistance and sponsors education programs.