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10th CAVEPS and Quaternary Extinction Symposium
March 29 - April 2, 2005
Naracoorte, SA, Australia

CANQUA June 5-8, 2005
NOTICE: The server to the Winnipeg CANQUA abstract submission site has been periodically down for the past day or so. Please try again if you've been rebuffed; the format and address can be found on the meeting web site <http:www.umanitoba.ca/canqua>. We are extending the deadline until next week.

2^nd International Congress
“The World of Elephants”
Hot Springs, South Dakota, USA September 22-25,  2005

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AMQUA 2000 Biennial Meeting
AMQUA had its biennial meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on May 22-24. The meeting was hosted by the University of Arkansas and the Environmental Dynamics Program. The meetings were at the University of Arkansas Center for Continuing Education. Field Trips ranged from float trips on the Buffalo River to GIS Workshops to the Archaeology and Geoarchaeology of the Mississippi River Valley. The weather was warm, the barbecue spicy, and the beer cold.
    Speakers focused on "Landscape and Biotic Responses to Climate Variability: Future Impacts and Past Lessons." Scales of change varied from interannual to millennial and topics ranged from climate models to evidence for past droughts to effects on landscapes, vegetation, and humans. The last day focused on future impacts. Lessons from the past indicated that climate has fluctuated on a wide variety of scales in the past and can be expected to do so in the future. In most cases, the biota was able to respond to these variations by shifting geographic distributions. However, because of anthropogenic disruption of the landscape, biotic response to the future may be severely restricted. Humans have adapted to past change by developing strategies to deal with these changes. Of course the impetus for change in the future will be technologically driven.
    Many of the participants at the conference felt that we were close to understanding how climate change is driven. Many of the papers focused on El Niño and whether the future climate will essentially be a permanent El Niño. Also, the effect of volcanism in forcing short term climate change was discussed.
    The banquet was held at a local barbecue establishment. The two distinguished career awards and the Denise Gaudreau award were presented at the banquet. The gavel of the presidency was handed to Cathy Whitlock by Russ Graham at the end of the business meeting.
    The meeting was a great success and we thank all of those who participated. We are especially indebted to the Host Committee chaired by Peggy Guccione and the Program Committee chaired by Robin Webb.
Russ Graham
Outgoing AMQUA President

4. Old Business
a. Easterbrook Committee Update
Whitlock reviewed Don Easterbrook's bequest that will come to AMQUA as a part of his estate. She is planning to meet with him at the upcoming GSA meeting. Councilors discussed various proposals that had been forwarded for using the monies, including the establishment of a special themed conference.

b. Proposal for AMQUA 2002 Meeting
Whitlock reviewed David Yesner's written proposal to host the 2002 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska from August 5-7. The meetings would be held at the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) and would utilize university housing and facilities. The UAA Chapter of the Alaska Quaternary Center would take the lead in developing the local arrangements with involvement of the UAA departments of geology, anthropology, and biology. Several state and federal agencies would also assist as would the Alaska Quaternary Center office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Field trips would be offered in southcentral and interior Alaska and would feature: Recent glacial history of the Spencer-Blackstone Ice Complex; Holocene history of the Bering Glacier and vicinity; sea-level changes, glacial history, and archaeology of the Kenai Peninsula outer coast; Holocene tephra sequences of the Anchorage area and Kenai Peninsula; Pleistocene and Holocene tephras and soil sequences in interior Alaska; Paleoindian sites of the Nenana and Tanana River valleys and Tangle Lakes region; and archaeology and human paleoecology in the Kachemak Bay region, southcentral Alaskan Coast. Yesner indicated that he would work to secure discounts on airfares. Discussion of Proposal: Councilors reiterated concerns over costs of airfare to Alaska and noted that the funding level for student travel grants might need to be increased. Although Yesner's proposal listed potential themes, Graham noted that the themes for the meeting need to be considered as a separate issue and should be discussed at the upcoming council meeting at the GSA meetings in Reno. The proposal to convene the 2002 meeting in Anchorage was accepted by the council.

5. New Business
a. Participation in INQUA 2003 Meeting
Graham noted that INQUA will meet in Reno, Nevada in August, 2003. The INQUA commission is currently working on the program. Graham asked councilors to consider whether or not AMQUA should take part in INQUA. Whitlock noted that CANQUA and MEXQUA are planning to affiliate with INQUA. Councilors noted a willingness to affiliate, but a concern over a financial commitment. Graham noted that he is a member of the U.S. National Committee and that there would be a financial commitment. He noted that the U.S. National Committee would be submitting a proposal to AMQUA. The possibility of holding a special conference/symposium at INQUA was discussed. The council voted to affiliate in principle with INQUA (at no cost to AMQUA).

b. 2004 AMQUA Biennial Meeting
The council expressed the importance of maintaining a regular schedule for AMQUA biennial meetings and voted to hold an AMQUA biennial meeting in 2004. Councilors noted that an east coast venue would be desirable for the 2004 meeting.

c. Outgoing Officers and Councilors
Graham thanked the outgoing officers and councilors for their service to AMQUA. Officers and councilors who will officially finish their terms at the business meeting are: Russ Graham, President; serves as ex officio; Cathy Whitlock, President Elect; becomes President; Councilor for Archaeology: David Meltzer; Councilor for Geohistory: Art Bettis; Councilor for Geochronology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry: William McCoy; Councilor for Marine Geoprocesses: Ellen Cowan; Councilor for Paleobiology: Eric Grimm; Councilor for Paleoclimatology: Lisa Ely; Councilor for Terrestrial Processes: Leslie McFadden

d. Other New Business
(1) AMQUA Exhibit Booth
Councilors discussed the benefits of taking the booth to professional meetings and noted its value in increasing visibility. Bill Johnson volunteered to take the booth to the 2001 Society for American Archaeology meeting and to pay for the shipping. Councilors noted that it should be sent to the 2003 INQUA meeting in Reno. Styles noted that it will be sent to the 2000 GSA meeting.

(2) AMQUA Experts Web Site
Elias noted that the AMQUA experts Web site is being demonstrated in the poster session and that he still needs volunteers for some regions.

(3) Liaisons from MEXQUA and CANQUA
Grimm noted that the council had previously agreed to solicit nominations for liaisons from MEXQUA and CANQUA. Graham indicated that he would make the requests via letters to the organizations.

(4) Vitality of AMQUA
Whitlock expressed a concern over the vitality of AMQUA as an organization. Webb noted that attendance at meetings is dropping because AMQUA members go to other professional meetings. Others noted that attendance has been variable and primarily reflects the location and theme of the meeting. Guccione noted that the membership had only declined a little in recent years, from about 1100 to 981. Councilors expressed the need to recruit student members. Guccione agreed to determine the percentage of members who are students. (She later determined that students members constitute 15.8% of the membership.) Bill Johnson suggested that we summarize historical data on past meeting venues, themes, and attendance. Styles agreed to summarize these data.

6. Adjourn
Graham adjourned the meeting at 1:30 P.
Bonnie W. Styles
AMQUA Secretary

Treasurer's Report
General Fund - April 30, 2000
A.G. Edwards         21,470.56
Bank of America          997.15
Total                       22,467.71
Outstanding checks   3,506.57
TOTAL                $18,961.14

Denise Gaudreau - Feb. 25, 2000
Beginning balance      6,703.88
Outstanding checks       500.00
TOTAL                   $6,203.88

Membership: 981 (244 in arrears)