Dear fellow BSA Systematics Section members,

This summer in Chicago at the Systematics Section business meeting we discussed several topics of interest to the membership. The main topic that we would like to summarize here is Section finances and activities. Each year the BSA Systematics Section sponsors one or more symposia that have been organized by section members. Systematics Section is the largest section in BSA, and our annual allotment is currently $1,300. Section funds are dedicated to support of symposia. In recent years the American Society of Plant Taxonomists has also provided about $1000 in support of symposia. However, a total of $2,300 does not go very far, especially when a symposium includes a speaker or two who would not normally be attending the botany meetings and needs to have all expenses reimbursed. This year in Chicago we were presented with particularly difficult financial requests because there were so many good symposia. While this may have been partly due to the joint meeting with ASPB, we expect that requests for support will continue to exceed the available funds.

Membership in the BSA Systematics Section has not had a dues requirement in the past, but this has limited our financial resources to the allotment each section receives from BSA. With additional financial resources the section would be able to provide better support of symposia, as well as engage in other activities that support the membership. With these concerns in mind we had a discussion of section finances at the business meeting and the idea of instituting a modest dues requirement for section membership. Following discussion the section members in attendance at the business meeting voted unanimously to establish a $5 dues fee for Systematics Section membership beginning with 2008. Just for reference, if we had the dues fee this year our 798 members would have generated $3,990 that could be used to support symposia and other activities. Combined with the $1,300 allotment, the Systematics Section would have had $5,290 in available funds.

What other activities might the section support? We had considerable discussion on this topic, with no firm decisions made, but lots of good ideas. One that seemed to have particularly strong support was to provide some financial support to help students participate in field trips. Many people in attendance at the business meeting felt that field trips were a very important and valuable activity, especially for students, and that student participation could be enhanced if the trips were made more affordable by providing financial assistance. This is an ongoing discussion. We hope that more of you will join us at the business meeting in Vancouver to explore how Systematics Section can provide better support for the plant systematics community. In the mean time, feel free to email us with any ideas or suggestions you may have.

So, when you receive your BSA renewal next month and see that the Systematics Section now has a $5 dues fee- go ahead and check the box! We need your support to enable the section to provide better support for our activities.

With best wishes,

Kathleen Kron, Chair Systematics Section
Patrick Herendeen, Secretary-Treasurer Systematics Section
Botanical Society of America
9/19/07

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.