Don't look now, but fall is only a calendar page away. Depending on whether you're on the right or left coast, or above or below the Mason-Dixon Line, that may mean your season slows down or stays strong. But no matter where you're from, you do need time to recharge your batteries and refresh your outlook. The great news? There's no better place to do that than the ASBA's annual Technical Meeting.

This year's meeting will be held at the J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California. Information is available now, and registration is open at the site of www.sportsbuilders.org, under "Latest News."

What's in it for you? Just take a look!

A great program: The meeting includes sessions of interest to all divisions -- Tennis, Track, Fields, Indoor and Professionals. Other sessions deal with more general topics -- business planning, social networking, contracts and legal issues and more. The whole program is available online at ASBA's website, so look it up now! There are even sessions of industry-wide interest, including sports trends and projections, and the keynote speaker, Jeff Espenship, who will address the topic of "Take Organizational Excellence to a Higher Altitude."

An amazing speaker: Those who have not yet heard Espenship speak are in for a rare treat -- he's a former USAF fighter pilot (when was the last time you had a keynote speaker like that?) who has won numerous "Top Gun" awards for his air-to-ground bombing and gunnery. He has flown the A-10 "warthog" and is ready to help meeting attendees get uplifted and motivated to do more and do better.

Educational benefits: The Technical Meeting is beneficial to individuals in all segments of the industry. The American Sports Builders Association is an approved provider of continuing education programs to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) through its Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LACES).

Awards and Honors: What else makes this meeting valuable? You get the chance to recognize the industry’s finest construction each year with the presentation of the ASBA awards for construction excellence. You get the chance to meet new members and those attending the Technical Meeting for the first time. You get the chance to catch up with suppliers, contractors, professionals and others whom you might know only through phone or e-mail conversations. Best of all, you get the chance to spend quality time with those people.

Ways to challenge yourself -- and your colleagues: Two optional events, priced separately from the rest of the meeting, offer avenues for some fun competition and recreation. The best part? You'll enjoy great weather, great company and you'll have the opportunity to make some exciting new contacts.

The Golf Tournament is an ASBA tradition. You won't want to miss this chance to tee off against colleagues, co-workers and competitors for an afternoon of golf at the famous La Quinta Resort. In addition to the bragging rights at stake, there are prizes for winning foursomes, as well as longest drive and closest to the pin. Sign up today and start practicing your swing. This event will be held on Friday, December 2 starting at 8 a.m. so plan your travel accordingly if you'd like to participate.

The Tennis Tournament is well-known as a battle to the finish. It's a great event that incorporates friendly competition, good-natured heckling and the chance to work out with old and new friends. Pack your racquet, your shoes and your game face. You too can win fabulous prizes and the ability to dangle your victory over everyone's head -- until next year. You'll enjoy the Marriott's tennis facility and be back in time to enjoy refreshments at the Welcome Reception. This event will be held on Saturday, December 3, beginning at 1 p.m.

A chance to take the certification exams: ASBA's exams for the designations of Certified Tennis Court Builder (CTCB), Certified Track Builder (CTB) and Certified Field Builder (CFB) will be given at the Technical Meeting. The actual date of the exam is Saturday, December 3, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the resort; please plan accordingly if you are interested. Note the exam requires registration and payment separately from the Technical Meeting. Information is available by going to www.sportsbuilders.org. Use the toolbar at the top of the page, select "Certification" (the fourth option from the left) and click on it. Choose the type of certification you are interested in, and all the materials and information you need will be right there. Just want to learn more before committing? You can use the site to do that as well.

A great setting: Think an area called Palm Desert, California sounds dry and dusty? Think again. This is the J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa, the home of the emerald-green fairways of Palm Desert Golf Resort (two 18-hole courses  available), incomparable tennis at the Desert Springs Tennis and Lawn Club (a Peter Burwash facility), unequalled pampering at the Spa Desert Springs, pools to lounge by, nightlife to experience, fine dining to enjoy -- and gondolas to take you from place to place. It's a 450-acre, Four Star, Four Diamond, award-winning resort, and one of the largest resort and convention complexes in the southwest. Rooms are located in five-to-eight-story wings surrounding swimming pools, lakes, fairways, English gardens, and manicured lawns.

The amenities of the resort are astounding, including the lobby distinctive lobby bar with a backdrop of cascading water, large Starbucks, and the desert’s coolest sushi bar. The expansive Spa at Palm Desert resort has everything from a private VIP spa suite to programmable desert rain showers.

Make your reservation today by contacting the J.W. Marriott at 800-266-9432 or log onto https://resweb.passkey.com/go/ASBA before November 3, 2011 for room reservations. Be certain to mention ASBA to secure special group rates of $149* single/double. Signature View Rooms are available for $199*.

Note: The ASBA room rate will be available only to those who reference it, not to those who try to book using an online travel site. Reserve using the methods shown above in order to be counted into the ASBA room block.

* Optional $15 resort charge includes self-parking, high speed internet access, local calls, evening refresh, two bottled waters, spa fitness center and the greens – 18 hole putting course, lawn games & golf bag storage at resort. If you experience any difficulty making room reservations at the group rate, call Cynthia at ASBA at 866-501-2722.

So mark your calendar, get your plane tickets and be ready to turn the page onto a new season that will see you and your company become better informed, better connected and ready for anything 2012 can dish out.