The 2005 Austin BSA Meetings are nearly upon us! The sectional programs, including the Paleobotanical Section program, can be seen at:

http://www.2005.botanyconference.org/engine/search/index.php?func=ataglance&program=society

The Paleobotany Mixer and Banquet will be held on Monday night. Festivities will include the now traditional auction to raise money for student scholarships and support to attend meeting, such as this year's IBC. This means that we need auction items!

Items that you wish to donate for auction can include books, reprints, tools, hats, scarves, jewelry, toys, and other relevant items, but _no fossils_! As in the past, it is planned to have both a silent and a live auction.

Please bring the items with you to the meetings or if you are not attending the meetings and wish to donate an item or items, please send them to me at James Mickle, Department of Botany, Box 7612, 2214 Gardner Hall, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7612 USA.

If you do have items to donate, please send me an e-mail with a list of the item(s) so that I can prepare tags/silent auction lists beforehand.

Donations are tax-deductible.

Let's make this the best auction ever to raise money to support our students! Remember, our students are our future!

I hope to see everyone there!

THANK YOU for your support of the section!

Jim Mickle Secretary/Treasurer