Report on the Fifty-Second Annual Meeting

Abstract

122ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC COAST GEOGRAPHERS REPORT ON THE FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL MEETING Davis, California September 9-12, 1987 According to figures compiled by ourselves and by outgoing President Lay Gibson, the 50th annualmeeting ofthe APCG, held atthe University ofCalifornia, Davis, September 9-12, 1987, had just under the all-time record for number of registrants, set at Los Angeles in 1985 (171 vs. 173), and well ahead of any other previous APCG meeting. A considerable number of nonregistrants also were in evidence. Fifty-seven people presented papers in 15 sessions, coming from Canada and Australia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio, as well as from all the APCG states. There were five other major talks, a discussion on women in geography, and a workshop on National Science Foundation funding. The Central Valley climate cooperated to provide pleasantly warm days and cool nights; the UCD Housing Office offered an opportunity for participants to relive their dormitory days; and Food Services catered to the Inner Man and Woman. Three alternative field trips were available on Thursday, the 10th. UCD's Debbie Elliott-Fisk and CSU Hayward's Don Holtgrieve led a group to the Napa Valley, where the viticultural landscape was viewed in its physical-geographic context; field testing ofthe product ofthe grape was part ofthe experience. UCD's Dennis Dingemans (Local Arrangements Chairman), herded a busload plus a vanload around rural and small-town Yolo County, taking in organic and other farms, historic buidings, and the like; unfortunately, time did not permit the projected pause at the Rainbow Worm Farm. Robin Datei (UCD) and CSU Sacramento's Tim Hallinan regaled a vanfull ofgeographers with both the grit and the glitter of central city Sacramento, from the Port, where beet-pulp pellets are exported, to the Holy Myrrh Bearing Women [Russian] Orthodox Church in America. Saturday morning, Dennis Dingemans and Steve Jett led an intime walking and driving tour of Davis. A 52-page Field Excursions Guidebook was issued to all registrants. Afterregistration andaninformalreception Wednesday afternoon anddinner on the town, the on-campus program began with the Opening Session, emceed by ProgramChairman SteveJett. ViceChancellorforUniversityRelationsLawrence Shepard gave the official welcome, followed by presentations on the "Central Valley and American Agriculture" by Dennis Dingemans, Howard Gregor, and Steering Committee Chairman Marlyn Shelton. YEARBOOK · VOLUME 50 · 1988123 The first halfofThursday morning and most ofFriday were devoted to paper sessions-onurban/economic/socialgeography, cultural andhistorical geography, agricultural andresource geography, geomorphology, climate and water, hazards, andenvironmental andecological geography. Two special sessions may be noted: atwo-partconclaveentitled "Looking atWomen," organizedbyMargaretTrussell (CSU Chico), and an exceptionally impressive session put together by students of UC Berkeley's Jim Parsons, on environmental exploitation in the history of the American West. A 16-page booklet ofabstracts ofpapers was edited by Steve Jett. Thursday evening's climax was an outdoor barbecue at Putah Creek Lodge, enlivened by a local "do-wah" quintet called "Full House." A more serious-but still convivial-atmosphere characterized Friday's Awards Luncheon; UCD Dean of Letters and Science Leon Mayhew made opening remarks, followed by a particularly cogent talk by the National Science Foundation's Ron Abler, on present and future NSF funding for geographical research. Friday afternoon saw open houses at the homes ofUCD faculty members Steve Jett, Dennis Dingemans and Robin Datei, and UCD alumna Patti Johnson. The evening was topped offby the Banquet, attractively laid out at the Faculty Club and highlighted by a lively Presidential Address, "Restructuring the Landscape" (in two Arizona towns) by Lay Gibson. APCG Vice President Bill Loy announced that UCD's Howard Gregor and CSU Chico's Dave Lantis were being given awards for distinguished service to the Association, and that the President's Award for the best graduatestudent paper presented would go to Teresa Bulman ofUCD, who had discussed the human role in the fortunes ofeucalypts in California. Finally, Sonoma State's Bill Crowley read the traditionally humorous Resolution of Appreciation (coauthored by wags Larry Ford and Carl Johannessen). Some excerpts: WHEREAS the Department of Geography at the University of California, Davis, has willingly invited, smoothly organized, and graciously hosted the 1987 meetings of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, and WHEREAS MeetingChairMarlynShelton,ProgramChairStephen Jett, and Local Arrangements Chair Dennis...