Southeastern Chapter Newsletter

Abstract

Chair: Joel Gramling (2008–2010), 〈 E-mail: joel.gramling@citadel.edu〉 Vice-Chair: Danny Gustafson (2008–2010), 〈 E-mail: danny.gustafson@citadel.edu〉 Secretary/Treasurer: Howard Neufeld (2006–2008) 〈 E-mail: neufeldhs@appstate.edu〉 Web-Master: Mark MacKenzie, 〈 E-mail: mackemd@auburn.edu〉 Chapter Home page: 〈http://www.auburn.edu/seesa/〉 Attending: Alan Covich, Diane DeSteven, Jim Fralish, Frank Gilliam, Joel Gramling, Ross Hinkle, Paul Schmalzer, Rebecca Sharitz, Nicole Turrill Welch, Tom Wentworth Frank Gilliam, Chair of the Southeastern Chapter (SE-ESA) opened the meeting. The minutes from the Summer 2007 meeting in San Jose, California, 8 August 2007 were distributed, along with copies of the 2008 Annual Report to the ESA Council. Frank introduced Joel Gramling of The Citadel as the new Chair of SE-ESA for 2008–2010. Joel then further introduced himself to the group, providing an insightful background of his career as an ecologist. Because Joel was the standing Chair of the Odum Award, he indicated the need to find a replacement, asking for suggestions. Paul inquired about the status of funds for the Award. Alan suggested the establishment of a matching funds program, combined with phone calls to members. Frank expressed appreciation on behalf of the Chapter to Jim Fralish for generously offering free copies of his recent book for anyone making a donation for the Quarterman/Keever Award. Frank also reminded members that the fund had been recently brought up from $977 to $5418 through action taken at the Chapter's Business Meeting at the 2007 meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists in Columbia, South Carolina. A question was asked regarding the duties of the Vice-Chair of the Chapter (who is Danny Gustafson of The Citadel). Various ideas were shared, including the observation regarding the coincidence of the Chair and Vice-Chair being at the same institution, thereby facilitating closer interaction between the two offices than had previously been possible. A question was also asked regarding strategies to increase meeting attendance, with various ideas again shared. Alan Covich suggested that we might interact more closely with the Strategies for Ecology Education, Development and Sustainability (SEEDS) mentoring program to improve attendance. The meeting adjourned at 1:15 pm. Check the Chapter Home page: 〈http://www.auburn.edu/seesa/〉 for updates and additional information. To join the Southeastern Chapter of ESA LISTSERVE, send a message to: E-mail: majordomo@mail.auburn.edu with “subscribe scesa” in the body of the message. Please send news or announcements to E-mail: scesa@mail.auburn.edu for distribution to the listserve, or to 〈 E-mail: neufeldhs@appstate.edu〉 for inclusion in the next quarterly newsletter.