I have been a member of the North Central Branch of the ESA since 1975 when
I was a graduate student at the University of Missouri, and I have attended
nearly every North Central Branch meeting for the past 22 years. Like many
students then (1970s), and probably many students now, I was thrilled with the
opportunity to meet so many outstanding entomologists and talk with them about
their research, teaching, and/or extension programs. After I became a regular
member in 1979, I continued to attend the North Central Branch meeting
regularly and enthusiastically, again to meet and visit with outstanding
entomologists.
In recent years, attendance at our North Central Branch meetings has declined,
and the program has diminished from four to three days (only two days if you
count days during which posters are displayed and symposia and 10-minute papers
are delivered). Reasons for these reductions in attendance and submitted
papers and posters may simply be demographic. However, if other reasons for
these reductions prevail, we need to be aware of them. The North Central
Branch has always been the strongest Branch of the ESA in terms of attendance
and numbers of submitted papers and posters. I'd like to think that we can
maintain, or even improve, our record of excellence.
To address my concerns about the vitality of the annual meeting, I sent a
questionnaire to members of the North Central Branch in a special mailing in
February, 1998. Of approximately 1,900 questionnaires mailed, 334 useable
questionnaires were returned (17.5% response rate). A summary of the responses
is for each question and a copy of the Power Point slides I used for my
presidential address in Sioux Falls, SD, in March, 1998, are provided. Please
don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or require
clarification.
The results from the 1998 survey will be reviewed as we develop another, more
detailed survey of North Central Branch members.
-Kevin Steffey, Past President, North Central Branch-ESA
Back to NCB-ESA 1999