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Greetings South Atlantic Chapter members! Our newsletter is taking a new electronic format, and we plan to modify the chapter's web page to facilitate information exchange using e-mail, html, pdf and other electronic file formats.
Upcoming Meetings:
ASB (Assoc. of Southeastern Biologists) Annual Meeting, Chattanooga, April 5-8
ASB Workshop on Southern Forested Wetlands, April 7 (pdf file)Important Links:SWS Annual Meeting, Quebec, August 6-12
Chapter Business Meeting at SWS Annual Meeting, Quebec (date TBA)
SWS home page: http://www.sws.org/sws.htmlASB Homes page: http://www1.appstate.edu/dept/biology/asb/index.htm
My first few months as chair of South-Atlantic Chapter have been a process of discovery. I learned that we have the largest chapter (about 880 members) and that we are unique in our relationship with an independent regional scientific organization, the Association of Southeastern Biologists. We can take pride in the success of the National meeting last year which generated a substantial profit, a portion of which will be retained by the Chapter. In fact, our chapter now has a large budget surplus.
I have also learned that the South Atlantic Chapter is not particularly active compared to many of our sibling chapters. Yet, our large membership and budget surplus suggest that we have the resources to initiate programs that will enrich the professional activities of our membership. These could include an annual or semi-annual meeting focused on regional wetland issues, new student awards or travel grants, and group professional insurance for embers with small businesses. I plan to propose at least one initiative at the chapter luncheon at the ASB meeting, and I will pursue your ideas if you care to send them to me. Please understand that the current budget surplus makes this a unique opportunity for you to influence the activities of your chapter. I welcome your comments and participation.
Sincerely yours,
Pat Megonigal
The 61st annual Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting will be held at the University of Tennessee from April 5-8. The chapter will have a social luncheon meeting on Thursday April 6th from noon to 1:30. The Chair will present a draft agenda for the business meeting to be held August 6-12 with our parent society in Quebec.
For general information on the ASB meeting, contact: http://www.utc.edu/~eguthrie/ASB/
Our annual business meeting will be held during the Quebec 2000 Millennium Wetland Event. Our parent society is working closely with INTECOL, the International Mire Conservation Group, the International Peat Society, Wetlands International, and other groups to develop a broad-ranging program intended to inspire wetland research, management and policy in the coming decades. The chapter will have important decisions to make at this meeting about our role in ASB, the use of funds, and direction of future chapter activities.
