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A Benefit for GSA Foundation Supporters:

Donor Field Trips

Camaraderie over happy hour after dusty days in the field,
friendships forged under the hot desert sun, new personal and
professional connections: Although these things may not be what
lured attendees to the GSA Foundation’s first-ever Death Valley
Rendezvous in 2019, they are the kinds of experiences and connec-
tions that 25 participants left with after our six-day trip together
based in Shoshone, California, USA.
GSAF decided to pilot this type of trip because we wanted a
meaningful way to show appreciation for those who support GSA
and its programs through donations to the Foundation. Offering Stops during GSAF’s 2022 Death
Valley Rendezvous.
unique field experiences for donors and their guests proved to be
an ideal avenue, and when one of our committee members sug- excursion. Feedback from partici-
gested we call the trips “rendezvous,” all agreed it was the perfect pants has been so positive, and the slots filled so quickly, that we
reference for the fellowship we hoped to foster. have a third trip to Death Valley coming in the spring of 2023.
Some attendees were longtime friends of the Foundation, and This September, we will travel internationally with a Rendezvous
some we were meeting for the first time; some were students, in the Mountains of Saint Francis. Our trip leaders are Alessandro
some current professional geologists across disciplines, others Montanari and Paula Metallo (Osservatorio Geologico di
retired from long careers, and some were family members of Coldigioco), Frank Pazzaglia (Lehigh University), and Jan Smit
geologists attending. The trip held interest for all: Death Valley (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), each with extensive experience
and the surrounding area offer a fascinating spectrum of geo- in the Apennines and the Marche region of Italy. We are eager to
logy to ponder, from the towering walls of Titus Canyon to the bring together another group of geology-minded friends for a rich
Amargosa River Valley. Trip leader Darrel Cowan (University of experience exploring the area’s geologic wonders and cultural his-
Washington) led lively, rich discussions at each site. In addition, tory over six field days, from a medieval landslide on the coast to
we spent time talking about the ecology of the area with a local a walk up the Bottaccione Gorge and the original K-T boundary
Nature Conservancy naturalist: from pupfish once thought to be outcrop, with geo-archaeologic museums, caves, Jurassic ammo-
extinct to the curious migration of the Phainopepla. One of the noid collections in a Renaissance castle, historic villages, and,
students—a Wright-Troxel Research Grant recipient—gave an of course, food of the region to round out the trip.
evening presentation on his research focused on a nearby site. GSAF will continue offering one to two Rendezvous each year
And Shoshone Village was a welcoming homebase conducive for our donors, and we have a growing list of potential trip sites as
for us to gather, relax, share ideas and reflections on the days you have responded with such interest in continued opportunities.
over meals, and explore on foot between scheduled activities. Please watch for 2023 trip announcements, and feel free to contact
After two seasons on hold due to the pandemic, our second Debbie Marcinkowski at +1-303-357-1047 or dmarcinkowski@
Death Valley Rendezvous this past spring was another grand geosociety.org if you would like information.

Visiting sites for GSAF’s 2022 Rendezvous in the Mountains of Saint Francis.
www.gsa-foundation.org