Dear BSA Members

Good morning! May Newsletter - 51° and sunny in St. Louis!

We are putting the final pieces together for the joint AFS, ASPB, ASPT & BSA conference in July. We'll no doubt see many of you there. For those who can't make Chicago, please put Vancouver on your calendar for 2008!

1. BSA Strategic Planning
Please take a few minutes to read and respond to BSA President Chris Haufler's May letter to members. Over the coming months we will engage in a strategic planning process designed to take the Society forward over the next five to ten years. Your input is critical. I'm sure Chris would love to hear your ideas. His letter can be found at http://www.botany.org/news/newsletters/President070430.php.

2. Botany Conference Updates
We will be accepting Recent Topic Posters for Botany 2007 until June 30^th - http://2007.botanyconference.org/engine/login.php?next=abstract.

Please read the latest Botany 2007 Update located at http://www.botany.org/news/newsletters/botany2007-070510.php.

3. BSA Business & Committee Meetings Schedule
Committee members, Council members and interested parties - The 2007 BSA events, business and committee meetings schedule can be found at www.botany.org/bsa/membership/council2007/.

4. BSA Membership
The BSA is in the process of creating a "Botanical Revival". Membership and student participation is increasing. The Executive Committee is working to develop strong student participation across all aspects of the Society. In 2006 the BSA created a student position on the Council (ex officio on the EC). Mackenzie Taylor was elected by the students as their first representative. She has done a fantastic job in developing this role. You will find her reports in the "Students' Corner" located in the lower left section of the BSA home page.

In 2007, we will add an additional student position. This will create a two year cycle for the student reps in an effort to provide a broader coverage and ensure continuity of ideas and developments. We will also seek student involvement on all relevant committees. We encourage sections to provide similar opportunities.

At the time of writing this note, BSA membership stands at 2,742, with student numbers (612) up 60% on last year. Students, please take the time to get involved in Society activities. We want your ideas - you are the future of botany!

5. 2007 Award Recipients
You will find the 2007 award recipients listed online at www.botany.org/awards_grants/2007Awardrecipients.php.

6. The BSA outreach program PlantingScience.org is off and running. I'm pleased to announce the program received its first grant from the Monsanto Fund to support topic development. Please stop by the Education Booth at Botany 2007 and see how you/your lab/your students can become involved.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

William M Dahl
Executive Director
Botanical Society of America
4475 Castleman Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

PO Box 299
St. Louis, MO 63166-0299

Ph: 314-577-9566
FAX: 314-577-9515
www.botany.org
www.BotanyConference.org
www.PlantingScience.org

Mission: The Botanical Society of America exists to promote botany, the field of basic science dealing with the study and inquiry into the form, function, development, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants and their interactions within the biosphere.

The objectives of The Society are to: sustain and provide improved formal and informal education about plants; encourage basic plant research; provide expertise, direction, and position statements concerning plants and ecosystems; and foster communication within the professional botanical community, and between botanists and the rest of humankind through publications, meetings, and committees.