On behalf of the USDA, ARS Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory, the Plant Science Department of South Dakota State University, and the Ramkota Inn, welcome to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the annual North Central Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Sioux Falls is nestled in the southeast corner of South Dakota on the Big Sioux River at the site of the triple waterfalls for which the city is named. The capital of South Dakota is Pierre, located on the Missouri River in the center of the state. Yes, it is pronounced "Peer". South Dakota is bisected by two time zones, the mountain and central. Pierre is in the central time zone and West Pierre, just across the Missouri River, is in the mountain time zone. We also define ourselves as being "East River" or "West River."
Prior to the arrival of European settlers the land we now define as South Dakota was home to the Arikara, Cheyenne, and Sioux tribal groups. Indians of the Sioux language family once occupied land ranging from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia west to the Rockies, North into Canada, and south to the Carolinas, Mississippi and the Arkansas River. The Sioux living in what became western South Dakota were the "Lakota", meaning "alliance of friends" and those in eastern South Dakota referred to themselves as the "Dakota", from which the name of the state was drawn.
The earliest record of European incursion into South Dakota is the La Verendrye Plate, a lead plate bearing Latin inscriptions claiming the land in the name of Louis XV. The plate was buried in 1743 and was found in 1913 by school children near present-day Pierre. A second, nearly identical, plate was found in 1995 on the Cheyenne River by a canoeist who was overwhelmed by the publicity surrounding the discovery and eventually dropped the artifact from an airplane back into the river near the site where it was found.
Early European exploration of the Dakotas was motivated in the early 1800's by the fur trade and is associated with such names as Lewis and Clark, Jim Bridger, and the legendary Hugh Glass. The towns of Lead and Deadwood in the Black Hills grew out of the activities of gold seekers in the Black Hills during the late 1800's.
The Center for Western Studies at Augustana College provides resources in the form of manuscripts, photographs, and artifacts for those interested in history and culture of the Northern Plains. Indian and European culture and natural history of the Dakotas have been reflected in the works of several artists of South Dakota heritage, including the Native American Oscar Howe and Harvey Dunn, whose works can be viewed in the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings. The well-known artist Terry Redlin recently opened a magnificent gallery in Watertown and the studio of artist John Green in Madison would welcome your visit.
Sioux Falls has several nearby attractions that are worth visiting. The EROS (Earth Resources Observation System) center is located about 20 miles to the North and conducts daily public tours. The Pipestone National Monument near Pipestone, Minnesota is well worth seeing and is open daily. There are also the Old Courthouse Museum, The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum, and the Pettigrew Home and Museum. Shopping is available on a grand scale at the Empire Mall. No portrait of South Dakota is complete without mention of the Corn Palace in Mitchell, decorated annually since 1892 in ever-changing motifs using various parts of the corn plant. Farther west is Wall Drug (coffee still 5 cents) and Mount Rushmore, where the plains and badlands meet the majestic Black Hills.
Registration badges are required for admission to all functions. The registration desk in the East Lobby will be open for check-in for those who preregistered and for on-site registration during the following times:
| Sunday | 1:00-8:00 PM |
| Monday | 8:00 AM-5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00-Noon; 2:00-6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00-Noon |
A message board and tacks will be available in the registration area for posting announcements. Changes in the scheduled program and other meeting news will also be posted here. Notices concerning changes in the scheduled program should be submitted to the meeting registration desk. Lost and found articles may be turned in and retrieved at the registration desk.
Room 1062 has been set aside as a hospitality area for spouses and guests of meeting participants. Information on tours and activities will be available. Spouses and guests are welcome at the continental breakfasts on Monday and Tuesday. Coffee and pastries will be provided on Wednesday, 7:30-9:00 AM, in Room 1062.
The Board Room is available for informal meetings, such as committee work or discussions with the press. Contact the registration desk regarding availability and a sign-up sheet for reserving the room.
The Employment Opportunity Center is located in the Crystal Room. Employers are invited to advertise available positions and job seekers are encouraged to distribute their vitae in the folders provided in the room. Check the daily program schedule for times when the room is open.
Rooms are equipped with 35-mm slide projectors designed to use standard 80-slide carousels. Each speaker must provide slides in a carousel marked with his/her own name and paper # to the projectionist at least 10 minutes before the beginning of the session. Extra slide carousels will not be available in the meeting rooms. Speakers may preview slides in Room 1064. Check the daily program schedule for times when the room is open. Contact Billy Fuller or Mark Boetel, Audio-Visual Sub-Committee, if you have questions about projection equipment or replacement of bulbs.
Poster presentations are scheduled for Monday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (set up on Sunday, 4:00-8:00 PM), and Tuesday, 8:00-Noon and 2:00-5:00 PM (set up on Monday, 6:00-9:00 PM). Authors are requested to be at their poster between 4:00-5:00 PM to answer questions. Posters should be removed between 5:00-6:00 PM on the day of the presentation.
Speakers and moderators are requested to follow standard practices for ESA meetings. Moderators are responsible for maintaining the printed schedule by not starting any presentation before the scheduled time and by not allowing any speaker to exceed the allotted time for his/her presentation. Speakers that exceed their allotted presentation time will be requested by the moderator to conclude their presentation immediately. Please be considerate of others. Moderators in each room should obtain a pointer and timer from the Audio-Visual Room (1064) prior to the presentations. Pointers and timers should be returned to the A-V Room immediately after the session concludes. The ESA guidelines state that no smoking is allowed in any meeting room. For additional information, contact Billy Fuller or Mark Boetel, Audio-Visual Sub-Committee.