2026 Annual Meeting
Joint Annual Meeting of American Fisheries Society (AFS) and The Wildife Society (TWS) Virginia Chapters
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Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA from
March 9th-11th, 2026
Registration Information
Registration is now Open for the Joint Annual Meeting of AFS and TWS Virginia Chapters to be held at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA from March 9th-11th, 2026.
Registration costs
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$80 for Professional members
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Free for Student members
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Please use the link below to register for the meeting. All attending members are required to register for the meeting.
Registration will include dinners for Monday, March 9th and Tuesday, March 10th, along with lunch on March 10th. If you have any dietary restrictions or have any other questions about the meeting, please send a message to Leah Card (Leah.Card@dwr.virginia.gov).
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There will be up to 4 concurrent workshops offered on the afternoon of Monday, March 9th:
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Field Techniques and Tools [free to attend]
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eDNA Workshop [free to attend]
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Animal Movement Data Analysis [free to attend]
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Firearm Use and Safety course [cost - $25]
Those who indicate interest in the Firearms course will be provided with the cost details before confirming attendance. When registering, please indicate your interest in attending a workshop (please select only one). The workshops are not guaranteed and will depend on interest and class size limits.
All members who express interest in attending a workshop will receive additional information via email confirming their registration for the workshop and further details on what to expect.
Call for Abstracts
​The Abstract Submission deadline for the Annual Meeting has now passed. Those who have submitted abstracts will receive further notification via email.
Lodging Details
​​Rooms have been blocked for the meeting dates (March 9-11) at the Hampton Inn, Lexington (401 E. Nelson St. Lexington, VA 24450) at the GSA Per Diem rate of $110 per night (not including tax).

To reserve a room in this block, please reserve by phone (540-600-3410) or online (select “Special Rates” in search, and enter “AFS” under group code) by February 7th . The Group block code is AFS and group name American Fisheries.
Rooms can be cancelled up to 72 hours prior to the reservation date without penalty. Check-in after 3 PM and check out before 11 AM.
Breakfast (6-10AM) is included.
The deadlines for nominations is February 9, 2026.
Please use the nomination form and provide additional letters and/or narratives to support the nomination.
If there are any questions, please contact Katie Martin at katie.martin@dwr.virginia.gov or call 540.416.3282. The nomination form is attached and can be sent via email to katie.martin@dwr.virginia.gov.
Henry S. Mosby Professional Wildlifer Award
​Given to a professional wildlife biologist. It may be given on the basis of a number of years of significant, sustained contributions to wildlife biology or on the basis of a single very significant contribution.
A. Willis Robertson Citizen Conservation Award
Given to a non-professional who has exercised outstanding conservation practices on his own land or who has made significant contributions to conservation activities in the Commonwealth.
Professional Development Award
The Virginia Chapter of the Wildlife Society will award $1,000 to an undergraduate (any level) enrolled at a Virginia college or university during 2025-2026. The award can be used to fund a wide variety of activities, including support (travel, equipment, supplies, housing, and/or wages) for a research project, travel to give a presentation at a conference, or any other professional development-related expense the student can reasonably justify.​
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The award is intended to benefit students who show promise as wildlife educators, researchers, and/or managers.​
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The award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Virginia Chapter in each year.
Call for Executive Board Nominations
The Virginia Chapter of the TWS is looking for nominations for the following Executive Board Positions: President-Elect and Secretary, to begin terms in March 2026.
Please send nominations or questions to Leah.Card@dwr.virginia.gov with the subject line “TWS Board Nomination”
Conference Schedule
Coming Soon...
