At the 1997 meetings in Seattle, it was decided that the Environmental Quality Committee would develop recommendations to minimize the environmental impact of the Society's activities. The committee has developed a list of possible actions relating to the annual meeting that can be implemented with minimal inconvenience to the organizing committee and to the membership at large. Many of these suggested actions are dependent on a decision by the Society as to whether and how much members are willing to trade off convenience or cost in the process of reducing environmental impacts (fortunately, many proposed actions are actually money-savers). Our objective in these “greening" efforts is to fulfill the general mission of the annual meeting in the most efficient, environmentally sound, and economic manner possible. For additional information about the ASIH Environmental Quality Committee, contact:

Gene Helfman, Professor
Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706-542-3346
Fax: 706-542-3344
helfman@sparc.ecology.uga.edu

The following measures have been implemented for the 2005 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists:

• The Meeting Announcement has been posted on the web rather than printed.
• Abstracts are submitted electronically.
• Confirmation of abstracts received and scheduling announcements are sent electronically.
• Registration confirmations are sent electronically whenever possible.
• Meeting participant list will be posted on the web site.
• Only washable tableware used for breaks.
• Paper copies of abstracts by request only. Abstracts burned to CD and posted on web site.
• Program book printed on recycled paper.
• Tampa Waterside Marriott is a "green hotel." Towel and linen exchange is optional.

SSAR is sponsoring the Tenth Annual Frameable Art Silent Auction. Preferred donations include herp-related photos, line drawings, prints, paintings, plates, engravings, or anything frameable, if not already framed. Please bring your items (tax deductible for U.S. residents) to the meeting or mail them in advance to: Kris Raymond, 13304A Thomasville Circle, Tampa, Florida 33617; phone: (813) 974-9175.

The Silent Auction will be held in Meeting Room 3. Bidding will open at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, July 7 and will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 10.

A book raffle will be conducted to raise funds for graduate student travel awards. Tickets may be purchased during the Joint Meeting, with the funds going directly toward student travel awards for 2005. The books are donated by publishers, booksellers, society members, etc. Drawings will be conducted on July 10 and prizes awarded on July 11. Contact: Nick Lang, (314) 977-3935.

The Book Raffle will be located in the Grand Ballroom Foyer. Tickets may be purchased starting on Thursday, July 7.

Do you have extra or duplicate reprints, books, or other publications taking up valuable shelf space in your office? If so, please consider donating them to the Graduate Student Reprint & Book Scavenge, to be held at the 2005 Joint Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida. Both herp and fish reprints are requested. This is a great opportunity for younger herpetologists and ichthyologists to add to their research libraries. Donors can bring materials directly to the meeting or ship them ahead of time to: Neal Halstead, Department of Biology, SCA 110, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620.

Please notify Neal if you will be bringing scavenge items with you to the meeting. The Reprint and Book Scavenge will be located in Meeting Room 7. Items will be available for pick up starting at 8:00 a.m., Friday, July 8, and will remain on display until the end of the meeting, or until supplies are depleted.

You are responsible for all travel arrangements, including procurement of visas, if necessary, and acquisition of U.S. currency sufficient for your stay. Assistance in obtaining documentation forms is available at U.S. embassies.