Notes from the Chair - Allan James
Minutes, 1994 Chicago Business Meeting
Treasurer's Report
Awards
   Distinguished Career Award
   Gilbert Award for Excellence
   Student Paper Presentation Award
   Student Research Grants
Conferences and Organizations
News about Programs
Letter to Newt Gingrich
Newsletter on Line
Student Award Forms (not included here)

 

NOTES FROM THE CHAIR

It's summer at last and many of us are busy packing our field gear and preparing to venture forth and collect a new set of field observations. There are a few things I'd like you to consider before you go, while your doing field work, or when you get back. First, encourage your students to start thinking about preparing papers for the student paper award and research grants described below. Second, consider nominating a suitable candidate for the Gilbert Award or the Career Achievement Award. Third, take a few minutes to write your Congressional representatives a letter indicating your support for vital scientific programs. There are a number of potential changes to programs of great relevance to our science and to our discipline. For example, both the USGS and NSF are now threatened with severe budgetary cut-backs if not worse. As requested by a vote of the membership, I have written a letter to Newt Gingrich expressing our concern over the USGS (see later section) and sent similar statements to my South Carolina Congressional representatives. I wrote a similar plea for NSF social and behavioral science funding as well. Politicians will only respond to massive mailings, however, so please get those word processors processing. This is not the time to be silent!
     We should once again recognize the efforts of Jeff Lee in moderating the Geomorph List. It is his constant and diligent monitoring of incoming messages that sets this service apart from so many other list services that are too full of duplicative, repetitive, and redundant (sic) messages to be tolerated. Others are too narrowly constrained to allow free-spirited intellectual exchange. Consider how messages on this service are relevant, concise, and diverse in nature, and you will realize how carefully Jeff has been doing his job.
     Finally, I hope to see you'all down in Charlotte for the 1996 meetings. Jonathan Phillips (Eastern Carolina) is organizing special sessions on fluvial geomorph., as well as a session on Coastal Plain geomorphology; Michael Slattery (also Eastern Carolina) is organizing a session on fluvial sediment transport. (cf. Tom Paradise's call for papers in the Conferences Section.) There's bound to be plenty of banjos and Blue Ridge.
     Allan James, Chair, GSG, 1995-96.

MINUTES, March 15, 1995 Chicago Business Meeting.

• a. Membership of the GSG was said to be 500 based on the number of mailing labels from the AAG. [Membership was actually less (now 465) due to the AAG pre-meeting policy of including mailing labels for members of the previous year whose dues aren't paid.]
• b. The Geomorph List, our email service, has about 500 members. All interested can join by contacting Jeff Lee. There was a resounding ovation for Jeff Lee for his excellent job of moderating the list.
• c. IGU Commissions Study Groups: The IGU is opening a membership drive for individuals, and encourages greater interactions between AAG and IGU. Some travel money may be available for the 1996 IGU meeting in the Hague. Contact Mel Marcus or Duke Winters for information.
• d. At the AAG Specialty Group Chairs Meeting after this business meeting, there will be a discussion of AAG growth and constraints this imposes. Henceforth, national meetings will be restricted to very large cities with large convention facilities. Concepts being explored include having a group meeting or poster sessions independently of the main conference. Vatche encourage suggestions for him to bring up at the meeting. In addition, the AAG has volunteered to act as accountant for a few volunteer specialty groups on a trial basis. Would we be willing to volunteer? (Enthusiasm was lacking for the prospect.)
• e. Ron Abler, Executive Director, and Laura Conkey, Chair of National Councilors, are encouraging specialty groups to establish Public Issue Response Teams(PIRTs) to inspire participation of AAG expertise in the public arena and to help service the outside demand for information. Specialty groups with expertise relevant to current issues can establish PIRTs to respond to proposals, events, or debates, and to offer advice and insights based on research. PIRTs should not speak for all geographers or for the GSG, but may propose positions to Council. GSG members may wish to participate in such hazard areas as earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc. A list of possible topics will be put on the Geomorph List. Jack Vitek (email: jvitek@vms.ucc.okstate.edu) was nominated to look into establishing one or more PIRTs for the GSG.
• f. It was proposed that the GSG offer student research grants based on a competitive evaluation of proposals by the Awards Committee. Bill Nickling moved that GSG dues be raised $2 to cover the cost of student research awards. Discussion ensued over the structure of the award and the feasibility of offering both M.S. and Ph.D. awards. The initial inclination of the group was to offer one award on a trial basis. On Basil Gomez's generous pledge of $200 to support an award at the M.S. level, sentiment shifted to offering two grants: $200 at the M.S. level and $400 at the Ph.D. level. The motion carried unanimously. See the announcement under 'Awards'. Awards will be presented at the Charlotte business meeting.
• g. Geography in the U.S.: Vatche Tchakerian presented a summary of geography undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees awarded over the last few years.
• h. Vatche also discussed National Geography Standards.
• i. Up-coming Conferences and Meetings
• Karl Lillquist is leading a graduate student summer field camp (June 19 to July 23) on late Pleistocene-Holocene environmental change in the Great Basin.
•   Jack Vitek: the 26th Binghamton Geomorph Symposium on BioGeomorphology at the Univ. Virginia Oct. 5th-7th is being organized by Cliff Hupp, Waite Osterkamp, and Alan Howard. Look for a field trip to Hack and Goodlett's classic field areas.
•   Bruce Rhoads: the 27th Binghamton Geomorph Symp. on the Scientific Nature of Geomorphology, at the Univ.Illinois Sept. 27th-29th of 1996 (tentatively), is being organized by Bruce Rhoads and Colin Thorn.
•   The 28th Binghamton Geomorph Symp. on Engineering Geomorphology in Bologna, Italy, Fall, 1997 will be in conjunction with the IGA conference. Rick Giardino and Dick Marston are organizers.
•   j. Other.
•    Jack Vitek: Jesse Walker is working to establish aSnow, Ice, and Permafrost Specialty Group. A sign-up sheet was circulated; at least 50 signatures are needed.
•    As the new editor of Geomorphology, Jack is trying to get a deal on subscriptions for $70 per year. The journal is approaching 1200 pages per year and he is already receiving many submissions. Jack expects to be contacting many of us for help editing, reviewing, or developing special issues.
•    John Wilson, GSG representative to the Geography Spatial Data Standards Committee, explained that the committee responds to ANSI Commission initiatives such as spatial data transfer standards, spatial object libraries, and GIS extensions. They plan a panel discussion at the Charlotte meetings to ask specialty groups how their data could best be represented in a GIS; e.g., how geomorphic data could be represented. A volunteer is needed to attend that meeting. Asked if he would volunteer, John acquiesced and received a round of applause. If you have thoughts on the nature of spatial data relevant to geomorphology; e.g. DEMs, EPA Reach Files, metadata, etc., let John know.
•    Frank Weirich will soon be establishing a geomorphic metaserver at Univ. Iowa. Watch for announcements on Geomorph List.
•    Jeff Lee suggested that the GSG show support for the U.S. Geological Survey. A motion to write a letter of support to Newt Gingrich passed, a task that falls to the new chair. [See 'Letter to Newt' section.]

2. International Association of Geomorphology.
John Dixon moved we continue supporting IAG for the next three years at $350/yr. Motion carried unanimously.

3. Treasurer's Report. (as of March 15th)
   Date         Transaction      Deposit     Expense     Balance
   6/20/94 Open Account    1755.95                      1755.95
   2/21/95  IGA for 1994                       700.00     1055.95
                    and 1995
There was little activity to this point, but we anticipate several transactions in the near future including membership funds from the AAG and expenses for the winter newsletter and student award. [See up-dated Treasurer's Report below.]
     Respectfully submitted, Allan James, Treasurer.

4. Comments from Journal Editors.
   Jim Knox Annals: ~14% of the articles in the 1994 Annals were physical geography. The problem is not with acceptance rates but with submissions; we need to keep manuscripts coming in. An editorial meeting was scheduled for after the business meeting. Jeff Lee and John Dixon both had recently gone through the Annals review process and felt it was very thorough, constructive, and well done.
   John Dixon: Physical Geography is receiving many submissions and getting a rapid turn-around. Numbers 4, 5, and 6 will be out in March, April, and May; No. 1 and 2 are with the editor now. Send him manuscripts.
   Bernie Bauer: The Professional Geographer seeks more physical geography articles. Consider it as a place to send short contributions; it has about a 45 day turn-around.

5. GSG Awards. [See also Awards section]
The 1994-95 Awards Committee consisted of Will Graf (chair), Dave Butler, and Bill Nickling. We are thankful for their time and effort.
a. The Student Paper Award, presented by Will Graf, went to Jianchun Yi, Univ. Southern California for his paper "From 'the law of the wall' to 'velocity defect law' - A boundary layer flow perspective in aeolian process over sandy beach". Jianchun received $200 as a prize.
b. No Gilbert Award was granted this year for lack of a nomination. Hey! it's up to us.
c. The Distinguished Career Award, presented by Andrew Marcus, went to Harold "Duke" Winters who has mentored so many of us. Congratulations and thanks Duke!
Ron Dorn was asked to serve on the new awards committee with Bill Nickling, and he accepted. Will Graf rotates off the committee and Dave Butler assumes the chair.

6. Election of Secretary/Treasurer for 1995-96.
Bruce Rhoads was nominated and elected unanimously.

7. Other Business.
Jonathan Phillips pointed out Ron Dorn's generous provision of refreshments which we henceforth set upon with vigor.

Respectfully Submitted,    Allan James, Secretary-Treasurer, 1994-1995

TREASURER'S REPORT

  Date       Transaction        Deposit     Expense     Balance
6/20/94    Open Accnt         1755.95                     1755.95
2/21/95    IGA '94 & '95                        700.00      1055.95
  4/6/95    Jianchun Yi                          200.00        855.95
               Student Paper Award
  4/7/95    AAG dues           1150.00                      2005.95
4/25/95    Basil Gomez          200.00                      2205.95
               Donation for Masters'
                 research grant.
4/28/95    Winter Newsletter                  534.18     1671.77
               Photocopying & Postage
4/28/95    Geog.Dept.,USC   200.00                      1871.77
               Donation for newsletter
                 mailing costs.
This accounting does not include costs of this newsletter (postage and photocopying) - unknown at the time of writing but on the order of $500 - which must be subtracted from the balance shown. Nor does it include a $200 donation to the AAG earmarked for the GSG. By the time you read this, the account will be closed and the balance sent to Bruce Rhoads.
    Our numbers aren't as large as I reported earlier, but we are one of the largest specialty groups in the AAG. The breakdown of GSG members as of 3/25/95 and the corresponding GSG income is as follows:
    Student           219 @ $0 =  0
    Regular           215 @ $5 = 1075
    Retired               6 @ $5 = 30
    Life                    6 @ $5 = 30
    Spouse               2 @ $5 = 10
    Dept Assistant    1 @ $5 = 5
    Total 449 $1150
Respectfully submitted,   Allan James, Secretary-treasurer, 1994-95.

AWARDS

The GSG hopes to bestow five awards next spring: theDistinguished Career Award, the Gilbert Award for Excellence in Geomorphic Research, a Student Paper Presentation Award, and two Graduate Student Research Grants one each at the masters and Ph.D. levels. Send nominations or proposals to David Butler, Chair GSG Awards Comm., Geog. Dept., Univ. N. Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Bill Nickling and Ron Dorn are the other two awards committee members.

Nominations are sought for the 1996 Distinguished Career and Gilbert awards to be presented at the GSG business meeting in Charlotte. The Gilbert Award is presented to the author(s) of a significant contribution to the published research literature in geomorphology during the past three years. Only books, monographs, maps, or refereed journal articles will be considered, with the emphasis on refereed research articles. Nominations should include a copy of the relevant publication and a statement as to why the publication deserves the award.

The Distinguished Career Award is for an individual who has made significant scientific contributions to geomorphology over their career. Nominations should include: (1) a description of the candidate's contributions to geomorphology, (2) a brief biographical sketch, (3) a selected bibliography, and (4) three letters of support from colleagues.

Distinguished Career Award, 1995 to Harold A. "Duke" Winters

Nomination Read by W. Andrew Marcus

It is a delight to have the opportunity to present Professor Harold "Duke" Winters with the Career Achievement Award of the GSG. Simply put, there is no one over the years who has done more and gone further in championing the discipline of Geography, and the role of geomorphology in that discipline, than Professor Winters. The strength of his accomplishments is highlighted by the fact that he was nominated this year for the Distinguished Career Award by two independent groups, neither of which was aware of the other's nomination. The remarkable breadth of his accomplishments is demonstrated by the two nominations which focus on different aspects of Duke's career and contributions. The letters of nomination which Dr. Winters received were quite remarkable and I hope their authors will forgive me if I occasionally borrow their words in the following comments.
     As a scholar, Duke demands excellence of himself and of others. His research on Pleistocene glaciation of the north-central U.S. continues to reshape our knowledge of the connection between paleotopography and the morphology of the present landscape. Ever the geographer, Duke's approaches to these topics have been geographic, rather than the strictly stratigraphic approach used by so many Quaternary scientists. His work is permeated with examples of how a spatial analytical approach to geomorphology can produce unique insight into how the earth's surface has been shaped.
     Some of Duke's most recent work, for example, has shown how the preservation of paleotopographic features within the modern landscape varies spatially throughout southern Michigan. His 1988 paper in Quaternary Research spurred a debate that continues to this day about the possibilities of new source areas for loess in the Midwest.
     His many publications run the gamut of stellar journals in Quaternary research, including Quaternary Research,Boreas, and Geological Society of America Bulletin. Most notable, however, is Duke's commitment to publication in geographic venues. His five publications in the Annals(including a forthcoming article) and his five in theProfessional Geographer attest not only to his wealth of ideas and research productivity, but also to his love of his discipline.
     Duke's research, however, has reached beyond the standard academic audience which most of us address. As a visiting professor at West Point, he developed a passion for military history and the role of climate and geomorphology in shaping that history. Since 1984, he has collaborated with his West Point colleagues in preparing a volume on the role of landscape in military history. Those of us who know Duke and his clear, concise thinking look forward to the contribution this book will make to military literature and geomorphology. We look forward to the increased respect that the military will have for the field of geomorphology, or terrain analysis as it is called at West Point, as the result of this effort.
     Furthermore, Duke's role as an advocate for geomorphology, and geography in general, reaches far beyond his accomplishments in the research realm. Duke has had a career-long commitment to the growth of the discipline of geography. He was a key member of the smallcoterie of young physical geographers in the early 1960's who set out to improve the role and place of American physical geography, to give it greater visibility within and without the discipline, and to expand a critical mass of young, vigorous and rigorous physical geographers. He has worked towards that end ever since, sustaining a strong belief in the unity of all geography and the importance of physical geography's role in seeking that unity.
     When the face of American geography was being remade in the post-Sputnik era, Winters served on the small committee that represented physical geography on the NSF's Commission on College Geography. That committee helped steer the curriculum reform effort towards process research and teaching in geomorphology and climatology, while encouraging acceptance of new technologies without loss of our field research roots. In more recent years he has represented the Association and physical geography on the NAS's U.S. Committee for the International Geographical Union. In all of these roles, Duke has been especially effective in quietly lobbying for both the profession at large and his more specialized geomorphology colleagues.
     Within the AAG, he has served on the National Council with distinction. His judgement is respected by physical and human geographers alike, so it is no surprise that he has been asked by the Association to chair both the Publication committee and the most recent search for an Executive Director. It is largely through Duke's efforts that we now find the AAG in such good health.  Despite his great contributions in many realms of geography, it is perhaps as an educator of undergraduates, graduates, and faculty alike that Duke is most revered. Oliver Wendell Holmes stated that "The main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition of facts, but learning how to make the facts live." If ever there was a teacher that could make the facts "live" it is Duke Winters.
     Entering Duke's classroom is the next best thing to journeying directly into the field. He has always been a pioneer in developing multimedia approaches to instruction. Many students have acquired their zeal and understanding of geomorphology through his legendary lectures which include the simultaneous use of overhead projectors, laser pointers, multiple slide projectors, and fluorescent chalk panoramas of landscapes. One nominator called him "the Rembrandt of Geography." Given the use of black light chalk, high tech electronics, and laser technology, perhaps the Pink Floyd of Geography would have been more appropriate.
     It is in the field, however, where Duke's talents as an educator truly shine. Going on one of his field trips is equivalent to reading a good novel; a fascinating story about the landscape gradually unfolds, piece by piece, generating interest and excitement about how these pieces fit together. Such experiences have enhanced appreciation of the physical landscape in the minds of countless students and have inspired many to pursue careers in geomorphology and geography.
     It is an impossible task to capture a man such as Duke Winter's contribution to our profession, much less the world at large. Duke's gifts to geomorphology and geography are legion, but his role has reached so far beyond these disciplines that one cannot begin to describe it in a few short words. He is a person of integrity, someone who serves as a role model for both professional and personal conduct. Over the years, his thoughtful advice and guidance have benefitted many of us and his care and compassion have reached many of us far beyond the cloister halls of our classrooms and offices.
     Henry Adams in 1907 stated that "A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence will stop." As I stand here in this room, I am looking at many of the people whom Duke has so profoundly affected, and I can see the ripples of his teachings, beliefs and deep sense of caring carried on to their students and their friends.
     Duke, it is with great pleasure that on behalf of the many people in this room, and the many people whose lives you have touched, I present you with the Career Achievement Award of the Geomorphology Specialty Group.

Acceptance of Career Award:   Harold A. "Duke" Winters

I must first admit that it is more than gratifying to hear the most generous comments from Andrew Marcus and then receive this award in front of such a large and appreciative audience. But two thoughts put the matter into a proper and less selfish perspective. The first is that my accomplishments are attributable more to the mentoring of William E. Powers and a progression of outstanding students than my own endeavor. Bill Powers, my graduate advisor at Northwestern University, was a fine geomorphologist, a splendid man, and one of the three teachers that made the most helpful difference in my academic life. I am forever in his debt for his patience and kindness. Since accepting my first faculty position in 1959 I have also benefited enormously from a progression of talented young scholars (some in this very audience) who challenged my capacity and kept my enthusiasm alive by their presence and participation in the classroom and the field. For that they have my everlasting appreciation. But I don't want you to get the idea that any of them were perfect. For example, the first of those many students was Jim Knox, who I see is again sitting near the back of the room. Jim took my geomorphology course at Northern Illinois University in 1962. In fact, for 33 years I've been patiently but eagerly awaiting the chance to announce publicly that Knox got a B in that class! It is only fair, however, to add that Jim's grade was more likely the result of my inability to "add up the points correctly" than an accurate estimate of his long-proven talent.
     Returning to the point, my second thought is that this award, and the others of the GSG, is more an impressive measure of the growth, substance, and maturity of physical geography and this Specialty Group than the accomplishments of me or any other recipient. Let me explain. I joined the AAG in 1956, and when I went to my first Annual Meeting the following year, you could count the number of geomorphology papers on one hand and their audience could have been seated within one or two rows in this room. Furthermore, nationwide, most introductory physical geography courses were then taught by faculty with some other specialization. In fact, a department was fortunate if it had one research-oriented physical geographer on its faculty. Rarely would you find a geomorphologist, climatologist, and biogeographer on the same staff, and this included most Ph.D. programs of that decade.
     Compare the 1950's with today; the contrast is astonishing. Most physical geography courses are now taught by specialists in that field. Numerous larger departments have several physical geographers, and a sizable number employ two or more geomorphologists. Here at the AAG Chicago, multiple geomorph sessions, each with several papers, are well attended and often overflowing. Our associates in climatology, biogeography, and closely related fields are experiencing the same thing. And tonight I see a room packed with 200 eager and talented people essentially celebrating the health, vigor, and excitement of a vital part of their discipline. For that you have my admiration, congratulations, and very best wishes.
     My job here is to talk and your job is to listen. Since most of you have apparently completed your task, let me quickly share one additional thought. The record clearly shows that a good physical geography program based in fair measure on landforms has always been a sound foundation for departmental development and longevity. Furthermore, the ongoing robust condition of geomorphology within our discipline is reassuring for the present and promising for the future. But our success does not come without investment and commitment from others. As a measure of this, physical programs in geography departments regularly receive widespread and generous support in terms of positions and funding... and those totals are growing. However, if we here tonight, along with the many members of our most closely connected specialty groups, were in departments of geology, botany and meteorology, could we expect similar sustenance and appreciation? The record shows otherwise.
     As a long-term member of the GSA, I don't want you to misinterpret this remark as a slight against a related discipline that I highly value. I am sure that any good geomorphologist here would be a valuable part of a geology department. What I am saying is that integrated physical programs that include geomorphology, climatology, and biogeography flourish and continue to grow within U.S. geography departments while they remain absent or rare elsewhere in the country. I cannot think of better news for dedicated and talented physical geographers who are in the early stages of their career. But no matter how long in this business, none of us should fail regularly to recognize the larger and more powerful message from all of this, that physical programs, certainly including geomorphology, benefit from geography's well-being just as much as it does from our good work.
     Finally, years ago I was told that if you shoveled enough coal in the boiler they may let you blow the whistle. Thanks to all of you and the AAG Geomorphology Specialty Group for letting me pull the cord.

G.K. Gilbert Award for Excellence, 1995

No Gilbert Award was presented because no nominations were made. Make a nomination to David Butler for 1996!

Student Paper Awards

The student paper award was presented by Will Graf, former chair of the Awards Committee. There were four papers, all well conceived and executed. The award went to Jianchun Yi, from the University of Southern California for his paper, "From 'the law of the wall' to 'velocity defect law' - A boundary layer flow perspective in aeolian process over sandy beach". Yi recieved a $200 cash prize for his contribution. Congratulations Yi! Recognition goes also to Bernie Bauer, as Yi's advisor.
     Next year's competition will be held at the national meeting in Charlotte, NC. Dave Butler is now chair of the Awards Committee, so to enter next year's competition send Butler the entry form on the back of the cover page (please post).

Student Research Grants

A proposal to initiate two GSG student research grants for 1996 was passed at the Chicago business meeting. Awards will be based on a competitive appraisal of research proposals: a masters for $200, and a Ph.D. for $400. The award is intended to help cover costs of data, field work, lab analyses, etc. needed to complete the proposed research. Specialty Group awards are subject to AAG Council approval, but a request has been made to Council and Abler assures us that approval should be forthcoming.
     To qualify for a grant, students must be members of the GSG, and be enrolled full-time in a geography graduate program into which they matriculated no more than 20 months prior to the award. The proposal should be no longer than 5 pages. Submit three copies of the proposal, along with an entry form and two letters of recommendation to David Butler, Chair of the Awards Committee. The whole package should be received no later than two months before the spring business meeting. Announcements and entry forms are also listed on the Geomorph List and on our WWW sites.

CONFERENCES & ORGANIZATIONS

Binghamton Geomorphology Symposia

• 1995 Charlottesville, VA. The 26th Binghamton Symp. at Univ. Virginia Oct. 6-7 will focus on Biogeomorphology: Terrestrial and freshwater aquatic systems. Contact Cliff Hupp, USGS Suite 160, Holcomb Bridge Rd., Norcross, GA, USA, Tel.: (404) 409-7700, fax: (404) 409-7725.
• 1996 Champaign, IL. The 27th Binghamton Symposium on "The Scientific Nature of Geomorphology", Sept. 27-29 is being organized by Bruce Rhoads and Colin Thorn. It will examine the philosophical and methodological underpinnings of the discipline. Details in future newsletters.   Contact Bruce: (b-rhoads@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu).

  4th Internat. Conf. On Geomorphology; IAG. Bologna (Italy), Aug. 28 - Sept. 3, 1997. Organized by the Gruppo Nazionale Geografia Fisica e Geomorfologia. The First Circular is out. There will be lectures and symposia, and field trips before and after. Contact: C. Cantelli, M. Ciabatti, C. Elmi, or P. Forti. Email: forti@geomin.unibo.it or elmi@geomin.unibo.it

  International Union for Quaternary Research
  INQUA-Berlin. The 24th INQUA Congress will be held in Berlin, Aug. 3-10. For registration information contact: Congress Partner GmbH, Emmastr. 220, D-2813 Bremen.   Tel.: (49)421/219073; fax: (49)421/216419; email: inqua@pkdb.botanik .uni-hohenheim.de; WWW: http://www.uni-hohenheim.de/~pkdb/ inqua/

  1996 Annual AAG Meeting - Charlotte; Don't forget the main event! April 9-13th. As mentioned in the chair's message, Jonathan Phillips and Michael Slattery of Eastern Carolina are organizing sessions on various aspects of fluvial geomorph, sedimentation, and/or the Coastal Plain.
      In addition, the following invitation comes from Tom Paradise:
  Call for Papers: Weathering and/or Related Erosion
  The AAG weathering and erosion group is planning a session or two for the upcoming Conference. If you are working on weathering/erosion research or a related methodological approach that would benefit or interest fellow colleagues, please contact Ron Dorn or Greg Pope at ASU or Tom Paradise at UHH regarding a possible slot in the weathering session. The last two years' sessions attracted standing-room-only audiences. Past topics have ranged from Rock Varnish Cation Ratio Dating Techniques, Weathering influences on Roman Architecture in Jordan, Weathering Rinds as Indicators of Climatic Change, and Climatic Influences on Silica Weathering. Present your research in a thematic session of increasing interest! Abstracts are due in late August. Send them soon to: Greg Pope, ASU, Geog. Dept. Tempe, AZ 85287-0104; or: Tom Paradise, U.Hawaii, Geog. Dept., Hilo, HI 96720-4091; paradise@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu; 808-933-3460.

  Southeastern Friends of the Pleistocene is looking for a volunteer to lead a trip this fall (message dated May 3rd). If interested, call Steve Kite at 304-293-5603 or E-mail (best) KITE@wvugeo.wvnet.edu. The meeting cannot conflict with GSA (early November) or the Binghamton Symp. at Charlottesville (early October). If no one steps forward, there will be no SEFOP trip this year, which leads us to soliciting trips for 1996.... It is not too early to offer proposals for subsequent years.

  28th Internat. Geographical Conf.; in The Hague
  The IGC, August 5-10, 1996, will be restructured around a series of smaller conferences. The Preliminary Program has been released. For a copy or information contact: Congress Secretariate 28th IGC, Faculteit Ruimtelijke Wetenschappen Universiteit Utrecht, Postbus 80.115, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Phone: 31-30-532j044; Fax: 31-30-540604; Email: r.vanderlinden@frw.ruu.nl
   

NEWS ABOUT PROGRAMS - [Your shameless plug can go here - Contact Bruce Rhoads.]

Physical Geography at the Univ. South Carolina
Our physical geography program continues to grow, and I am pleased to announce that David Cairns is joining our faculty this fall. David's specialization is in biogeography, with an emphasis on geomorphic interactions. As a student of George Melanson and field experience with Dave Butler, Cairns has developed a deep appreciation for biogeomorphic interactions and should fit right into our program.
     Greg Carbone, continues to teach and research weather and climate, and has been active developing water budget and crop yield models. In recent years he has been developing an interface between WSD-88D (NEXRAD) doppler precipitation data products and hydrologic models, including GIS.
     Allan James teaches and does research in fluvial and glacial geomorphology, erosion/sedimentation, Quaternary science, water resources and event-based surface hydrology, including spatially distributed models.
     In addition to our individual research and teaching interests, we three physical geographers anticipate the development of interactions in the realm of surface hydrology and watershed modelling. The geomorphology lab is well endowed with soil and sediment analytical equipment including sonic sifter, fume hood, gravity oven, muffle furnace, still, etc.
     In addition, Susan Cutter (chair) is active in hazards research and environmental studies and the program is expanding rapidly in those areas. This dovetails with our long-standing strengths in Geographic Information Processing (GIP) where we have six full-time faculty (5 full professors) in GIS, remote sensing, and cartography. Our capabilities in GIP, including several GIS, remote sensing, and carographic computer labs with advanced equipment, make USC an ideal place for students interested in combining physical geography with GIP. -- A. James
 

The CANGEORG Discussion List
This Geomorph List message from Dan Smith:   CANGEORG is an email distribution list for members of the Canadian Geomorph. Research Group (CGRG), which was founded in 1993 at the 3rd Int. Geomorph. Conf. Its objectives are fostering and promoting the research and application of geomorphology in Canada. Members of CAC, CAG, AQQUA, or CANQUA may join CGRG by application through these associations or directly as associate members. CANGEORG is moderated by Dan Smith [Dept. Geog., Univ. Victoria, P.O. Box 3050, Victoria, BC V8W 3P5, Canada. Phone (604)721-7328, FAX (604)721-6216, E-mail smith@uvvm.uvic.ca). CGRG Members are invited to join CANGEORG by emailing this command to listserv@uvvm.uvic.ca: SUBscribe CANGEORG YOUR DAN

NEWS FROM MEMBERS
There was none. Email Bruce Rhoads your messages now!

LETTER TO NEWT GINGRICH

Dear Mr. Speaker:
I write on behalf of the members of the GeomorphologySpecialty Group of the Association of American Geographers. We number almost 500 scientists concerned primarily with the study of landforms; that is, of earth features and processes on the land surface of the planet.
     Our group voted unanimously last March to ask Congress to maintain support of the U.S. GeologicalSurvey and the essential role it plays in the collection, dissemination, and interpretation of data so important to our work.
     The U.S.G.S. has traditionally been a non-partisan institution concerned primarily with science; not with the development or maintenance of facilities as so many other agencies are. In this role, the U.S.G.S. has been able to maintain an objective, unbiased approach to geologic, cartographic, and water resources problems. Data provided by the U.S.G.S. have, therefore, become the most trusted and reliable source of information in these fields. In addition to data collection, the Survey has provided important leadership in the development of scientific methodology.
     While we agree that balancing the Federal budget is of the utmost importance to the well-being of our children and future generations, we also feel as scientists that the role of the U.S.G.S. is essential to our ability to provide planners and policy-makers with objective guidance and analyses needed for rational and informed decisions.
     L. Allan James, Chair, Geomorphology Specialty Group

The Newsletter is On-Line.

If you're reading Geomorphorum on paper, note that it is available on the Geomorph List and on the U.So. Carolina Geog. Dept. WWW page at:  http://www.cla.sc.edu/geog/gsgdocs/    [this URL updated; webmaster, 1/20/01]
  From there click on "Newsletters" and pick your issue.
One purpose of establishing the Geomorph List was to reduce newsletter printing and mailing costs which can exceed $500 per issue. The newsletter is an important voice of the GSG, but need printed copies be sent to all members? Use of electronic media can save money for student awards and other purposes. Advances in information technology such as the WWW allow passing formatted text and graphics and improved readibility of electronic text.
    A list of volunteers willing to forgo hard copies has been inititated that will be passed on to future editors. So far about 50 members have elected to take their copies via email. We thank each and every one of you. If you are a GSG member and do not need to receive a hard copy, email the message 'I don't need a hard copy' to Bruce Rhoads along with your zip code (labels are sorted by zips): b-rhoads@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu.
     Allan James, Editor 1994-95