The 2008 Naucrates Annual Meeting will be held in Italy, in Cori (Latina), on Saturday 11th October at 15:00.

Objectives:
- Presentation of activities conducted during the year 2007/08
- Presentation of how post tsunami funds (Lisa and Rebecca Memorial Fund) were spent
- Presentation on the Naucrates Conservation Project, Thailand
- Approval of the annual balance of the year 2007/08
- Presentation of future plans
- Discussion of new member ideas
- Nomination of the winners of the Naucrates Photographer of the Year Competition click here to find out more details

Everyone is welcome, all participants must register as Naucrates member for 2008 (see booking form).

For the occasion, we are organizing activities for all of you coming in Italy.
Here is a possible plan:

Friday:
arrive at Roma - Ciampino airport, meet at the accommodation place, Castello di Santa Margherita, CORI. Dinner: Italian local food in small trattoria.

Saturday:
- Morning: 08:30, trip to Bassiano, a small village in the Monti Lepini region.
A unique area that forms a backdrop to the Agropontino plain; a mountain range with little towns perched on its slopes.
Here you will find fortresses of the ancient Volsci, cyclopean stones and stern medieval walls (some were built even before Roman supremacy) OR, as an alternative, visit Artena village OR visit the characteristic medieval village of Sermoneta and tour of castello dei Caetani, built in the first half of the 13th century.
- Lunch in the village.
- Afternoon: Naucrates meeting at 15:00.
- Social dinner (delicious local Italian food and wine)

Sunday:
Italian breakfast, cappuccino and “courassant”, in Cori village in a bar (for those who are awake at 09:00!).
- 10:30-13:00
– let’s go to an Italian beach and visit Circeo National Park OR visit ROMA OR walk in the local wood.
- Lunch: Italian snack/lunch.
- Dinner: for those who are still around and still hungry, Italian dinner in a local restaurant in Cori.
       
PS For those of you that have the time, you are welcome to stay longer in the area.

How to get there

Keep checking flights at Ryanair (www.ryanair.com), Easyjet (www.easyjet.com), etc.. You can subscribe to their mailing lists and they will keep you updated on special offers in Europe. Sometimes you can find a fare for as little as £20, sometimes free (apart from tax and charges). You should look for a flight to Rome CIAMPINO airport which is located about 30 minutes by car from where you will be staying (Cori - LT).

Although we advise you to arrange your own transport (usually car hire ), Naucrates will organize a transfer from the airport to Cori at 6pm on Friday evening (max 6 people) and  from Cori to the airport on Sunday at 11am.

Other transfers can be provided (on request in advance) at the following prices. They can be booked by indicating your preference on the booking form: transfer to/from Ciampino (25 Euros) or Fiumicino (40 Euros) airport; transfer to/from train station (15 Euros).

Rent a car:

Naucrates strongly advises you to rent a car at the airport. It’s very easy……it costs about 50 euros a day (you can always share the cost). Ryanair has special offers on flights with a car included. Naucrates can help to put you in touch with others so that you can share costs.

Where to stay

For the past three years, Naucrates has chosen a special place for you. It is called Castello (castle) Santa Margherita. Some of you have been there before and you were fascinated to stay in such a location. You will sleep in peace in the middle of the countryside at the top of a small hill surrounded by olive trees.

There are five small apartments with small furnished kitchens.
Apartment 1: two double beds (4 people) plus two single beds (2 people);

Apartment 2: one double bed (2 people) and one small double bed (small; 2 people);

Apartment 3: one double bed (upstairs; 2 people) and one double bed (downstairs; small; 2 people);

Apartment 4: one double bed upstairs; 2 people) and one double bed (downstairs; small; 2 people);
 
Apartment 5: one double bed.

Breakfast is 10 euros (about £7) per person for which Naucrates will provide food in the kitchen upon your arrival.

Technical Notes

 
The accommodation place is very beautiful. You can choose to share an apartment or to have it arranged all for you. In the case that there are more requests than available rooms in the castle, Naucrates will arrange accommodation in agriturismo or a hotel in the same village.

All meals except the social dinner are not included.

 The earlier you book your accommodation the more choice you get! For those people who book late we will do our best to arrange accommodation. 

We have drafted this programme for the weekend (as above), but you will be free to organize your time, if you prefer.  Please, tell us in advance if you will take part in our organized activities.

 The programme is variable according to how many we will be and according to your requests, but the date and time of the Naucrates meeting cannot be changed. 

Deadline for subscription: 20 August 2008
 

What to do now

- Write in your diary that on 11-12 October you will be in Italy with Naucrates.
- Search NOW for a cheap flight (and send us details when booked); and keep your eyes open for special offers!
- Arrange to share a room and car with others. Naucrates can be the mediator between all of you.
- Contact Monica Aureggi for details.
- Fill in the booking form and send to naucrates12@tiscalinet.it or to Naucrates, C.da Colle Tenne – 04010 Giulianello di Cori (LT) – ITALY
- Send the deposit. Payment must be done ONLY by bank wire transfer. As Naucrates bank Account is in euro, you can make the bank wire transfer in euro applying the exchange rate of the day of the payment. Please add 3% for bank Taxes.