The Clinical Laboratory Educators' Conference (CLEC) 2013 will be held Feb. 14-16, 2013, in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Intercontinental Hotel on the famous Country Club Plaza. This year, the CLEC meeting program committee includes new topics and speakers interspersed with popular returning speakers. Topics include educational methodologies, academic integrity, interdisciplinary collaboration and professional development. Two blocks of sessions will be dedicated to discussion of the current Body of Knowledge with the intent of updating content that educational programs must deliver to students. Program and registration information is available at www.ascls.org/?CLEC.

Jan Hudzicki, PhD, MLS(ASCP) SM, 2013 CLEC general chair, says: "Never been to Kansas City? Well you are in for a treat! A hidden jewel of the Midwest, Kansas City is a large metropolitan city with a down-to-earth-style. The Country Club Plaza is a pedestrian friendly, entertainment, shopping and eating area located about 3 miles south of downtown Kansas City and next to Brush Creek. Recent renovations to the stream bed have produced a scenic walkway visitors can enjoy during the meeting, especially on Friday evening when the social activity will allow participants to dine on the Plaza. Into history? Explore the Steamboat Arabia Museum. Twenty years ago, five local men decided to go treasure hunting. Through research and good luck they uncovered the wreck of the Steamboat Arabia that sunk on the Missouri River in 1856. What is even more amazing is that 90% of the cargo remained intact and is a fantastic look into life on the frontier of our nation. Twenty years of restoration work has only resulted in about half of the cargo ready for display. Into art? We have the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, with an outstanding of permanent and temporary art exhibits. Into music? There is a plethora of nightly concerts ranging from the classical sound of the Kansas City Symphony to the hot jazz that Kansas City is noted for to contemporary artists playing in small intimate clubs. Into something else? I guarantee you can find it here in Kanas City."

Links to specific information about shopping and eating on the Country Club Plaza can be found at: http://www.countryclubplaza.com/.  General information about Kansas City and more things to do can be found at: http://www.visitkc.com/index.aspx.