Annual Meeting Minutes
BUSINESS MEETING OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL GEOLOGY
DIVISION
Geological Society of America
Metro Toronto Convention Center
October 27, 1998
Toronto, Canada
The divisional business meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. in Room 712 of the Metro Toronto Convention Center. Rolfe Mandel, the Division’s chair, opened the meeting. All officers were introduced and copies of the meeting agenda, financial statement, and 1997 business meeting minutes were distributed. All were asked by the Chair to sign the attendance sheet being circulated. Thirty-one members were in attendance.
The Chair acknowledged the Awards Committee, consisting of Bill Farand (chair), John Albanese, and Tina Niemi, and turned the floor over to Bill for announcement of this year’s award recipients. The Rip Rapp Archaeological Geology Award recipient was Vance Holliday. In her absence, Reid Ferring read the citation prepared by Eileen Johnson, after which Vance delivered his acceptance remarks. Reid Ferring then presented the plaque and inscribed pewter bowl to Vance. Bill Farand next announced recipients of the student awards. The Student Travel Award (plaque) was presented to William J. Chadwick from the University of Delaware, and the Claude C. Albritton, Jr. Scholarship Award (plaque) for student research was presented to Sarah C. Sherwood from the University of Tennesse. Chair Mandel congratulated the awardees and encouraged the membership to inform their colleagues and students of these awards.
Chair Mandel read the names of individuals on the divisional necrology list and asked for a moment’s silence in their honor. Reports were requested from the divisional officers. Reid Ferring, incoming Chair, reported on the Divisional Chairs Meeting held Sunday morning, October 25, here in Toronto. He noted that, within the next couple of years, changes are to be made in the role of divisions; it appears that they will receive a bigger voice in GSA. A meeting of divisional chairs will be held at GSA headquarters in January, 1999, in order to discuss these changes. One change is that a single council member, with voting privileges, will represent all divisions. In regard to national meeting structure, the Pardee Keynote Symposia will be instituted next year at the meetings in Denver. Eight such sessions are planned, with each being allotted up to $2,000 for speaker support. With only eight sessions available, not all 12 divisions will be entitled to exclusive right for a symposium. Therefore, our division should assemble a quality session as soon as possible, and be prepared in the future to co-present Pardee Keynote Symposia with another division(s), perhaps the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division. A member questioned if there was a possibility of our division being merged with the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Reid indicated that there was certainly no indication of a move toward divisional mergers. Another asked why so many GSA members do not join divisions. This will be a topic for discussion at the January meeting, Reid noted. A third question from the floor concerned the lack of a divisional symposium at this year’s meeting, to which Reid replied that he was responsible.
The Chair asked for the secretary-treasurer’s report from Bill Johnson. He reported balances for the unrestricted net assets ($2,891.13), Claude C. Albritton, Jr. Award Fund ($17,062.41), and Rip Rapp Award fund ($35,240.09). GSA guidelines stipulate that our division can continue to draw from the Albritton Fund at a rate of up to 7% per year, but Bill recommended that a more conservative rate of 5% be used as a baseline. Attention was drawn to the history of divisional membership indicated in the handout: membership is up this year (442) from last (428), but down from a high of 500 in 1991. Chair Mandel asked for a vote approving the secretary-treasurer’s report; the vote was unanimous. The Chair, serving also as divisional newsletter editor, asked for information from the membership that may be included in the next newsletter, due out spring of 1999.
The divisional liaison for the Society of American Archaeology, Julie Stein, reported that the Geoarchaeology Interest Group was only the second to be formed within the SAA, has a membership of 500, and collects a $4 annual membership fee. The interest group is sponsoring a symposium entitled the Geoarchaeology of Big River Valleys to be held at the national meetings this spring (March 24-28) in Chicago. Chair Mandel noted that the SAA has a booth here at this meeting in the exhibits hall.
Chair Mandel announced the divisional election results: Chair Reid Ferring, First Vice Chair Lisa Wells and Second Vice Chair Paul Goldberg. He then turned the meeting over to the incoming chair, Reid Ferring. Chair Ferring first asked for any announcements and old business. Bill Johnson announced that the divisional web site has been linked to the GSA web page and will be updated following this meeting; he also asked for any suggestions to improve the page. The Chair announced the location of upcoming national meetings: Denver 1999, Reno 2000, and Boston 2001. He announced that Paul Goldberg will organize the field trip for the Reno meetings. Steve Kite, treasurer of the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division, inquired if this division would like to share sponsorship of a symposium at the Reno meetings; the Chair suggested that he contact Paul Goldberg.
Lisa Wells announced that she was going to propose a Penrose Conference and that more information would follow. Chair Ferring indicated that he would like to have a major fund drive this coming year to raise more money for the Albritton Fund in order to permit the division to make more substantial awards for student research. He stated that he would develop a plan to propose to the division. Rolfe Mandel proposed that the division adopt the policy that the recipient of the Rip Rapp Award be appointed to a term on the Awards Committee, and moved that Vance Holliday, this year’s recipient, replace Bill Farand on the committee. Vance accepted the nomination, the motion was seconded and passed.
A call for any other announcements was made. With none, there was a motion for adjournment, which was seconded and passed at 6:55 p.m.
Written and submitted by W.C. Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer
MINUTES:
The division business meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. in room 256C of the Salt Palace Convention Center. James, Dixon, the Division’s Chair, opened the meeting, with 25 persons signing the attendance sheet. All officers, seated at the head table, were introduced, and copies of the meeting agenda were distributed to the attendees.
After his introduction by the chair, Jonathan Price, the 1998 Program Committee Representative, indicated that he was present to outline the major programmatic changes proposed for the 1998 Annual Meeting to be held in Toronto and to listen to concerns and comments from the division membership. He outlined a number of changes to be made. The keynote address, of which there is now only one for the entire meeting, will be expanded to one per day for the Toronto meeting and later expanded to two per day (one a.m., one p.m.). Any division or affiliated society can propose a keynote presentation and request up to $2,000 in support from GSA. Topical Sessions, replacing the Theme Sessions and Division Symposiums, will be instituted. Each division and associated society will be guaranteed at least one Topical Session consisting of up to four speakers. Another new type of session will be one presenting late-breaking research, with some general sessions continuing to be offered. Jon also indicated that, beginning in 2001, meetings will be shifted one day of the week earlier, i.e., activities now held on Sunday will be held on Saturday, etc. Members will also realize expanded use of the web for abstract submission. Reid Ferring inquired about the future of field trips held in association with the annual meetings. Jon explained that the future scheduling of meeting locations will have a tremendous impact on the field trips. In order to reduce costs, the national GSA meetings will be held in Denver every three years. In addition, GSA management would like to alternate in the other two years between designated east and west coast cities (Boston and Seattle have been proposed). It is also proposed that many (most?) field trips would be held as stand-alone events (not necessarily coincidental with the annual meetings) and in association with GSA Section meetings. The attending members reacted negatively to the concept of using two cities. Other observations from the membership focused on the fact that the annual meeting program is already complicated, and the keynote concept would permit even fewer contributed abstracts. Also, Jon did not know if the member cost of the meeting or the abstract fee would go up if east and west coast cities were not designated. In conclusion, Jon suggested that the Division prepare an official statement for submission to GSA management regarding the proposed changes. Incoming Chair Mandel and division member Andrew Warne volunteered to compose a division statement for submission to management.
Chair Dixon introduced Gail Mahood, our division GSA counselor. Gail asked that members communicate any concerns to her via email (gail@pangea.stanford.edu). She pointed out that GSA had traditionally lost money on meetings, but if GSA were to make a long-term commitment to a city/facility (i.e., a standing order), it would get better rates. Seattle and Boston were selected because they were most popular according to a recent survey sampling the GSA membership. She further noted that only 16 cities in the United States and Canada have convention facilities large enough for GSA. Meeting siting comes down to dollars (i.e., GSA can not continue to draw down endowment funds to make up deficits, and GSA management would like to raise dues. Kevin Pope pointed out that he would spend additional money to go to a desirable location. In closing, Gail observed that perhaps GSA was underestimating the draw of field trips to meetings and that attendance may suffer without them.
Chair Dixon acknowledged the Awards Committee, consisting of Floyd McCoy (chair), Bill Farrand, and John Albanese. John Albanese came to the podium to announce the awards for this year: Rip Rapp Award to Tjeerd H. van Adel, Student Travel Award to Beth Miksa, and Albritton Scholarship (student research) Award to Jason Rech. John then presented the students with award plaques and certificates. Chair Dixon encouraged the faculty membership present to spread the word of these awards and encourage their students to apply. The citationist for the Rip Rapp Award, Kevin Pope, replaced Curtis Reynolds. In Professor van Andel’s absence, Lisa Wells read his acceptance speech and received the award plaque and pewter bowl on his behalf.
Chair Dixon made a call for reports from division committees. Rolfe Mandel, symposium organizer, wished to express his gratitude to E. Mott Davis and Mrs. Davis for permitting the symposium to be dedicated to their late son, Jonathan, and his contributions to geoarchaeology. Bill Johnson, Secretary/Treasurer, reported balances for the unrestricted net assets ($3,056), Student Award Fund ($1,529), Albritton Scholarship Fund ($13,868), and Rip Rapp Award Fund ($23,258). He noted that the Albritton Scholarship Fund had finally reached a balance from which we can make annual withdrawals and suggested up to 5% per year be used (GSA limits us to 7%/yr). Division membership, at 428, is up 26 from last year. Chair Dixon asked for a vote approving the secretary/treasurer’s report; the vote was unanimous.
Rolfe Mandel, editor of the division newsletter, announced that members should send him news and suggestions for future field trips. He suggested members use email to contact him (mandel@falcon.cc.ukans.edu). John Albanese reported on the year’s activity of the Awards Committee. Rolfe Mandel, departing member of the Educational Committee, announced that the new edition (10th) of the division’s Directory of Graduate Programs in Archaeological Geology and Geoarchaeology was available at the Society of American Archaeology (SAA) both in the exhibit hall, and would be on the division web page. Compilation of the Albritton Slide Collection is getting off the ground. Rolfe asked GSA if they would sell the collection when completed, but they were reluctant; however, they have no objection to it being marketed at the division level. Rolfe will step down from the committee upon completion of the collection. Rolfe next reported as division liaison to the Society of American Archaeology. Our division had a booth at the SAA meetings held last spring in Nashville. Art Bettis and Julie Stein spend appreciable time helping to manage the booth. He noted that SAA represents a strong market for GSA publications in geoarchaeology. Further, SAA now has a new interest group in geoarchaeology. The SAA booth in the exhibit has SAA membership application forms for anyone interested. Gary Huckleberry then reported on the year’s activities of the Nominating Committee.
Chair Dixon announced division election results: Chair Rolfe mandel, First Vice Chair Reid Ferring, and Second Vice Chair Lisa Wells. Chair Dixon then turned the meeting over to incoming Chair Mandel, who in turn expressed his gratitude to Jim Dixon for serving as chair. As the first new business, Chair Mandel asked for new committee chairs. Jay Noller was designated chair of the Educational Committee, and Gary Huckleberry chair of the Nominating Committee. He then asked for nominations to fill a vacant position on the Awards Committee. Lisa Wells nominated Tina Neimi; it was seconded and passed unanimously.
Reid Ferring reported on plans for the 1998 symposium to be held in Toronto: he suggested a theme focusing on pre-Clovis contexts in North America, and perhaps South America. Members were asked to contact Reid with suggestions for the symposium. He also announced that the division field trip at the Toronto meeting will consist of a two-day trip visiting three archaeological sites on the Niagara Escarpment, all of which offer unique insights into the prehistory of southern Ontario. Chair Mandel noted that we offered no division field trip this year because no one came forward to lead one. Lisa Wells in gathering ideas for the 1999 Denver meeting and suggested going south of Denver with a field trip. She asked for suggestions.
Chair Mandel called for old business. None was offered and the call went out for new business. Reid Ferring observed that only a trickle of money was coming into the Albritton Scholarship Fund and would like to get it to the point where we as the division can make substantial awards to students. He suggested that an aggressive fund drive be formulated, which could ask for the equivalent of one-day’s salary from the professional member of the division. At the request of the chair, Beth Miksa, recipient of the Student Travel Award, agreed to serve as student member to the Education Committee. Chair Mandel announced that he is preparing a summary of the year’s activities in archaeological geology for publication in Geotimes, and would appreciate any suggestions sent to him by email.
Chair Mandel called for any other announcements. Tina Neimi indicated that a local newspaper was doing an article on geoarchaeology in conjunction with the meetings. Chair Mandel suggested that members see today’s GSA meeting newsletter for the article on E. Mott Davis and his family history. Ed Hajic will replace Bonnie Blackwell as division representative to the Joint Technical Program Committee.
Chair Mandel called for other business and announcements. There were none, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
submitted by W.C. Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer