Each year the Miniature Book Society hosts an annual gathering of its members referred to as a Conclave. The Conclave - typically a three-day event - is held every autumn in a different city and is eagerly anticipated by the members. Recent Conclaves have been held in Princeton NJ, San Diego CA, Seattle WA, Ann Arbor MI, New Orleans LA and Dublin, Ireland. Attendees look forward to guest speakers, tours, workshops, book auctions, a book swap and an all-day book fair, but most of all, connecting with fellow miniature book enthusiasts and the camaraderie that miniature book lovers share.

As some of you will know, this is the 30th Anniversary of the founding of the Miniature Book Society. With your help, we want to celebrate a wonderful 30 years of friendship, scholarship and plain old-fashioned fun with our MBS members.

Accessible by train, boat and plane, Vancouver is Canada's largest west coast city and for the 2010 Winter Olympics there was a massive upgrade to public transit, so getting around is easy and inexpensive. It's a beautiful city situated on a promontory surrounded by miles of accessible shore line, acres of public parks and oodles of interesting places to see and things to do. In recent years, it has consistently been voted one of the top cities in the world in which to live.

HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS:
We have chosen the Holiday Inn on West Broadway, which had an extensive refit recently with all new everything except the bricks and mortar. It is near to the Canada Line which links to the Vancouver International Airport and the downtown core and it is right on bus routes. It is also just a few blocks from the south shore of False Creek and Stamps Landing. Here you can board an Aquabus to several destinations including Granville Island and the north shore. And yes, in-room Wi-Fi is included in the very reasonable room rate of CA$146.00 per night (standard room, single or double, upgrades available). Amenities include pool, fitness centre, sauna, etc. There are lots of restaurants, cafes and shops in the area. Please call 1-604-879-0511 to book your room. Reservations MUST be made by July 9 to qualify for the discounted group rate and you must identify yourself as a member of the Miniature Book Society.

Additional hotel info:

http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/vancouver/yvrbw/hoteldetail


REGISTRATION:
This year we have an "Early Bird Registration" to help us better plan the events for you. The Early Bird fee will be $260.00 if you book by June 1. After this, the registration fee is $275. The fee includes three buffet breakfasts, Friday buffet dinner, Saturday dessert buffet, Sunday awards banquet, keepsakes, goodie bags and most importantly, the sparkling company of your miniature book friends.


PRINT REGISTRATION FORM

PROGRAM:

Thursday:
(pre-Conclave): We will be arranging to meet early arrivers for dinner (at your own expense) at a local restaurant.

Friday:
The Board will meet in the morning and registration will be in the afternoon. Buffet dinner and silent auction in the evening.

Saturday:
Breakfast buffet and membership meeting in the morning. After the meeting, master printmaker Peter Braune will give a presentation, giving an overview of artists’ printmaking. He is a man of great skill and experience having worked with some of the most prestigious printmakers in North America, and will give some insight into the traditional and newer methods that have been in use for centuries to create illustrations and images for all applications, including books.

On Saturday afternoon, we have planned a Treasure Trail on Granville Island, a fascinating mix of artisan's studios and shops. As an option, attendees can attend a workshop offered by Peter Braune to gain hands-on experience of a type of printmaking that is especially suited for beginners, Drypoint. For this, you will need to bring an image or two the size of the plate you will use. You will learn how to incise a drypoint plate, ink and wipe the plate, damp the paper and print the plate on an intaglio press. There is a limit of 15 places for this workshop, and we are asking for a materials fee of $10. More details later for participants. Most cities and towns of any size will have a Print Studio where one can go for an hour or day, and take classes or simply use the presses to print your plates. Please email Jan if you have any queries on this.

Dessert buffet and auction in the evening.

Sunday:
Buffet breakfast, Book Fair and Awards Banquet. Free time to explore Vancouver. After the Awards Dinner, we hope to bring you something special to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.

Monday:
Buffet breakfast. Vancouver City Tour is an optional bus tour, with commentary. The bus will take up to 24 people and will give an overview of the city.

Itinerary:
10.00 am: Pick up from the Conclave hotel. Tour through Gastown, Chinatown, Vancouver Harbour and the Olympic Caldron, Stanley Park (with scenic stops at the Totem Poles and Prospect Point), and English Bay.

12.00 pm:
Visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery, and an opportunity for lunch (on your own). The Gallery entrance fee is included in the tour price. The Gallery restaurant is reputedly very good, with an outdoor patio, and the Gallery is right downtown.
This will be a 1 hour 45 minute stop. If anyone wishes to remain downtown, and explore the area they can leave the bus at this point, and find their own way back to the hotel. Just as long as we know that they won’t be coming back with us on the bus!

1.45 pm:
Depart Vancouver Art Gallery, tour past the main Vancouver Public Library, an amazing Colosseum - like building, on the way back to the hotel.

2.00 pm:
Drop off back at the Holiday Inn on West Broadway.

DEADLINES:

Early Bird Conclave Registration:
June 1 (save $15); mail payment and registration form to Jim Brogan, 53 Dreahook Road, Branchburg NJ 08876

Conclave Registration:
July 9; mail payment and registration form to Jim Brogan,
53 Dreahook Road, Branchburg NY 08876

Holiday Inn Hotel Reservations:
July 9; see contact info above; reservations MUST be made by this date to qualify for the discounted group rate

Auction Items:

July 9; proceeds benefit MBS; please mail items to Jan Becker, 1700 Dix Road, Middletown OH 45042

Silent Auction Items:
July 25; proceeds split between MBS and donor; please mail items to Karen Nyman, 702 Rosecrans Street, San Diego CA 92106-3013

Keepsake Items:
July 25; we welcome all items for the keepsake bag; mail to Kathy
King, 402 York Avenue, Delaware OH 43015

Jan Kellett
jan.kellett@shaw.ca

Jim Brogan
Jbrogan1@verizon.net

MBS Grand Conclave XXX Aug. 24-27, 2012 ~ ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Click here to see snapshots from GRAND CONCLAVE XXX in Asheville NC MBS Grand Conclave XXIX July 29 - August 1, 2011 ~ DUBLIN, IRELAND Click here to see snapshots from GRAND CONCLAVE XXIX in Dublin, Ireland