DFC Members, Now that everyone has presumably finalized their plans to attend the 2006 Death Valley Symposium, it's time for my annual "call for Awards Committee members."
As is traditional -but not mandatory- I am seeking at least one individual with an "agency" background and one individual with an "academic" background to serve with me on the committee this year. (Two of each would be better, of course - the more the merrier, eh?). Since I have no official affiliation outside of the Council, I serve as an "independent." I have been in touch with several of you who have volunteered in the past. Some of you (Marty Brittan & Chuck Minckley, for example) have graciously offered to serve again. Others have been willing but have needed to recuse themselves (Astrid Kodric-Brown) because they have a student who is competing for one of the awards. Most of you who are attending the upcoming meeting have not served in the past and are qualified to serve now. The question is, are you willing? It is my philosophy that the more people we can involve in the workings of the DFC, the stronger the DFC becomes. This is why I resist asking the same people to serve over and over again. I want MORE people involved in the awards process! So please consider this opportunity to expand your DFC participation. The Desert Fishes Council seeks your support beyond simply paying dues & registration fees and showing up at meetings. We'd like you to participate in the student awards process as well. Many of our award winners continue on as constant DFC members for the rest of their careers. You can be a part of this recruiting process. I know I tend to "run on" at the mouth (or is it fingers?). It's a family curse! But those of you that have no interest at all have already clicked out. Right? For those of you who haven't yet clicked out, please read on. So here's how painless your commitment will be. Stewart Reid, our Program Chair, has once again come through for the Awards Committee members! THANK YOU, Stewart! As it now stands, there are a total of 12 student presentations: 9 for the Hubbs Award for best student presentation; 3 for the Miller Award for best presentation by a Latina/Latino student. There is 1 Hubbs & 1 Miller presentation at the end of the Friday afternoon session; and, there are 8 Hubbs & 2 Miller presentations through the Saturday morning session. Grouping the presentations always makes our job easier because it facilitates necessary & important comparisons. If you elect to serve on the committee, you only have to "focus" late Friday afternoon & Saturday morning. The rest of the time you can goof-off, kick back, or occupy yourself with collegial conversation. It's a small chunk of your time..isn't it? If you decide to come on-board, I will provide all necessary materials: grading sheets (in English & in Spanish, if necessary), clipboards, writing implements (come on, you couldn't bring your own pencil?), and small flashlights. I'll also send you all abstracts of the student presentations -gleaned from the DFC website- so you can have a heads-up on what's being presented. AND, I'll offer to personally buy you all breakfast at our Thursday or Friday morning committee meeting. You can even have the Eggs Benedict! I fully expect to get MANY affirmative replies after this scintillating email. Please understand that I must limit the committee to 3 or 5 members. That means: myself, 1 agency & 1 academic person; or, myself, 2 agency & 2 academic personnel. And so, fellow DFCers, I eagerly await your responses to this clarion call to committee participation. You might want to tie your response to this email to your voting this Tuesday. GO VOTE; vote "Green" as the case may be in your particular state (not the Political Party, necessarily, but the concept). And PLEASE consider being a part of the Awards Committee. I trust that I can rely on your commitment, as much as you most certainly rely my mine. Eric S. Gustafson Awards Committee Chair Desert Fishes Council E. S. Gustafson
