News Archive

Gene Carbaugh, Local Arrangements Committee Chair

Plans are underway for an exciting technical and social program of the 67th Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting, 17–21 July 2022, in Spokane, Washington. Located in the northeast corner of the state, Spokane is served by an international airport (airport code GEG) just minutes from our downtown conference location. Spokane is a family-friendly and pedestrian-friendly city with fantastic outdoor recreational activities, not to mention great restaurants, available for all. The beautiful Riverfront Park covers the site of the 1974 World's Fair and includes beautiful walks, a vintage carousel, an incredible gondola ride over the Spokane Falls, an IMAX theater, and amusement rides. The park is just a short walk from the Spokane Convention Center and our conference hotel, the Davenport Grand (a Marriott hotel). We have fond memories of the 2016 annual meeting held in the same venue.

The Spokane Local Arrangements Committee conducted a survey at last summer's Phoenix meeting and the results are being used to plan activities. Among the things we learned from the 62 respondees:

• 92% expect to attend the meeting.
• 67% are likely to bring a companion.
• 72% are interested in vacation and recreation opportunities.

Giant building blocks form a Spokane sculpture, welcoming folks to Riverfront Park. Many other sculptures are found in this park bordering the conference hotel.
Photo courtesy of Visit Spokane

The Spokane region in July poses a host of fun, family-friendly activities in town and within an hour's drive. The Visit Spokane website is a good place to start to find what interests you, be it outdoor activities, arts and culture, or family activities. Less than an hour away is Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with its gorgeous lake and cruise opportunities. Also nearby are Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach featuring thrilling rides for all ages and a water park. A bit farther (an hour or so drive) lie Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho – former mining and logging communities now featuring biking and hiking opportunities and tours of underground mines. For a more extended vacation, consider flying into Seattle, renting a car, and making the 6-hour drive across the gorgeous Cascade Mountains, past Grand Coulee Dam and into Spokane. Or how about a trip from Spokane to Yellowstone Park (a 7–8-hour drive).

More to come on the social and companion activities being planned for the Spokane meeting, but we are anticipating a night out, a 5K Fun Walk-Run, a Pub Crawl, and some local day tours. On the technical tour side, we are anticipating offering a tour of the Hanford B-Reactor (the world's first large-scale reactor, a National Historic Landmark, and part of the Manhattan Project National Park). Details on these activities will be forthcoming in Health Physics News between now and the meeting. Meanwhile, if you have questions, you are welcome to contact Local Arrangements Committee Chair Gene Carbaugh.

Reservations for the Davenport Grand Hotel can now be made through the meeting website. Remember, those dates in your planner are closer than they appear, and you don't want to miss out. We look forward to hosting you in beautiful Spokane!