Advance registration for this year's conference has closed - but you can still register on-site by visiting the Registration Desk in the 5^th Floor Foyer at the Palais des Congr�s beginning on Wednesday, August 3 at 3 pm.

To expedite your registration, print and complete this PDF Registration Form. You won't want to miss the great line-up of sessions, speakers , and events we've got planned.

See who's attending, check out our generous sponsors, and plan to be a part of Cheese & Fromage: Common Cultures, August 3-6, 2011! 

Be a part of the excitement in Montr�al and spread the good cheese word far and wide.  Tweet as you go, post your photos to the ACS Facebook page, and blog away!  

#CheeseSociety2011

Be sure to check with your cell phone provider about adding a Canada supplement to your plan before you leave. 

Hard-working volunteers and staff along with generous sponsors have made ACS's first international conference a reality. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Montr�al in just a few short weeks.  

As a small organization with a new staff and management team, we are particularly proud to have developed such a quality program, such great events, and to have consistently found creative solutions to make your Montr�al experience a great one. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and you'll see quite a few changes in Montr�al borne out of necessity. We think you'll be excited to see what the Conference Planning Committee has achieved, and we'll rely on your feedback to see how we can continue to improve the ACS conference each year.   

Heading outside U.S. borders is not our only record achievement this year. With 1,676 cheeses entered into competition, we've hit an all-time high! This is just one sign of the amazing growth of our industry, and growth is an issue you'll hear a lot about in Montr�al. The Annual Town Hall meeting will focus on growth, and what it means for the industry, regulators, best practices, ACS, and our Conference & Competition. We hope you'll help us grow a spirited discussion about the directions in which ACS and our industry should head.

We look forward to seeing you in Montr�al!

-Christine Hyatt, President & Nora Weiser, Executive Director 

Get the Most Out of the ACS Conference 

The ACS Board of Directors Invites You to Two Important Sessions in Montr�al 

Town Hall Meeting, focus on "Growth"

Friday, August 5^th

8:45 - 10:00 a.m.  

Sponsored by Artisan Cheese Masters of America

ACS President, Christine Hyatt, board director Kurt Dammeier, and industry leader Will Studd will moderate this lively open forum. The only ground rules are respectful debate, constructive discussion, and meaningful discourse. Listen in, speak up, and join in on timely topics from our moderators and the floor.

Annual Business Meeting Lunch 

Friday, August 5^th

Buffet lunch: 12:15 - 12:45 pm

Business meeting: 12:45 - 1:45 pm

Sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Oregon   

Join the ACS Board of Directors for an overview of the association's past year and a preview of what's to come. The business meeting will begin promptly at 12:45 pm; please visit the buffet and take your seat quickly and quietly for minimum disruption.

Travel Tips & Reminders 

Every person traveling to Canada by air from the U.S. or any other country must carry a valid passport. If you are driving to Montr�al, you may use a Passport Card for identification. The U.S. Passport Card can be used at land-border crossings or sea ports-of-entry between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

Check with your cell phone carrier to see if you can add a Canadian supplement to your plan while in Montr�al. Your price per minute for calls and your data rates may be greatly discounted.

Canada uses the same plugs and outlets as the U.S., so your electrical items and tech gadgets will plug right in!

Your local bank can provide you with traveler's checks and/or Canadian dollars if you'd like. Or, just use your ATM card in Montr�al to get Canadian cash. For the best exchange rates, make the bulk of your purchases with credit cards.

For on-site purchases from ACS (registrations, tickets, etc.) US and CA dollars will both be accepted on a one-to-one basis. The ACS Bookstore is being managed by Appetite for Books, who will accept payments only in CA dollars (cash/credit card). Conference t-shirts are sold through the Bookstore. 

Transportation options to downtown for those arriving at Montr�al's Pierre Trudeau International Airport: 

• Taxi: 25 minutes/$38 
• Bus: 40 minutes/$8 (Take the Eastbound 747 Express Bus to Jeanne-Mance: stop number 7)  

Are you booking a last-minute flight? Air Canada, the Official Canadian Airline of the ACS Conference, and Porter Airlines, are both offering special discounts on fares. 

Scholars-in-Residence

Sister Noella � Robert Falcetti

Stop by the Registration Desk to sign up for a consultation session with this year's Scholars-in-Residence, Montserrat Almena-Aliste, Ph.D. and Sister Noella Marcellino, Ph.D.   

Dr. Almena-Aliste ("Montse") is a dairy specialist and expert on food sensory evaluation. She serves on the technical team of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese. Sister Noella is a Benedictine nun and cheesemaker at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT. She has a Doctorate in Microbiology and will have her microscope available to evaluate your cheese samples.  

Dr. Almena-Aliste

Both scholars will be available to provide one-on-one evaluations of your cheeses throughout the conference. Look for their scheduled time slots in the on-site Event Guide and sign up at the Registration Desk.