Dear BSA Members

Good morning! BSA Newsletter #8, May 12, 2005
(on the web at: http://www.botany.org/EmailMessages/newsletter-8-5-12-05.html)

1. Please respond to Representative Frank Wolf's (R-VA) "Innovate or Abdicate" message to President Bush
2. UMEB Application Deadline Is Approaching
3. Phycological Section Student Travel Award Deadline Is Approaching
4. BSA Sectional Survey - Please Participate!
5. Summer Plant Science Bulletin - online now!
6. BSA Grant Opportunities Newsletter
6. Botany 2005 - Conference Registration Is Now Open

1. Please respond to Representative Frank Wolf's (R-VA) "Innovate or Abdicate" message to President Bush.
"Innovate or abdicate," that was Rep. Frank Wolf's (R-VA) message in a letter to President Bush calling on him to triple funding for basic scientific research. To read more go to: http://www.aibs.org/public-policy-reports/public-policy-reports-2005_05_10.html

It is great to see someone in Washington stepping forward to support basic science in this manner, I'd like to suggest we each take a few minutes to send Representative Wolf a fax saying, "Thanks, keep up the good work." His fax number is: (202) 225-0437.

You may also want to let your Representative know this is important to you. You can find your Representative and her/his contact details at: http://www.house.gov/house/Searchindex.shtml

2. UMEB Application Deadline Is Approaching
Please take the time to get involved and nominate eligible students from your institution. The deadline for applications in the BSA “Increasing diversity at the annual Botanical Society of America meeting” program is June 1, 2005. Please note: This is part of a wider program called "Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology" (UMEB) and is a fantastic opportunity for members to provide support for minority involvement in plant biology. This program is specific to the BSA. Please take the time to get involved. For more information go to: http://www.2005.botanyconference.org/StudentSupport/UMEB.php.

3. Phycological Section Student Travel Award Deadline Is Approaching
This year the Phycological Section of BSA is instituting a $400 travel award to assist a student (graduate or undergraduate) attending the BSA meeting. If you have a student who is making a presentation or who would benefit from attending the Botany 2005 meeting in Austin, please encourage them to apply. For more information please go to: http://www.botany.org/emailmessages/Phycological-5-12-05.html.

4. BSA Sectional Survey
If you haven't taken the time to participate in the BSA Sectional Survey, please do so now. Scientific disciplines have undergone tremendous changes in the last few decades, but the Botanical Society of America's (BSA) sectional structure has remained relatively unchanged. The BSA Executive Committee is looking for advice from our membership to evaluate this structure to help us stay relevant and grow. Please take a few minutes to respond to the short, 10 question online survey located at: http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?id=91162

5. Summer Plant Science Bulletin - online now!
The summer issue of the Plant Science Bulletin is online at: http://www.botany.org/PlantScienceBulletin/2005/psb51-2.html.

6. BSA Grant Opportunities Newsletter
The May/June edition of the BSA Grant Opportunities Newsletter is now available online. It can be found at: http://www.botany.org/newsletters/GrantNews-May-June05.pdf.

7. BOTANY 2005 Registration
Registration for the Botany 2005 conference, August 13-17 in Austin, Texas is now open at: http://secure.botany.org/secure/engine/login.php?next=registration. For more information on the conference go to: http://www.2005.botanyconference.org/

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Bill Dahl
Executive Director
Botanical Society of America
4475 Castleman Ave.
PO Box 299
St. Louis, MO 63166
Phone: (314) 577-9566
FAX: (314) 577-9515
www.botany.org