The 1999 Tampa SEDAAG Program Report

Southeastern Geographer Vol. XXXX, No. 1 , May 2000, pp. 1 1 6- 1 1 7 THE 1999 TAMPA SEDAAG PROGRAM REPORT Ronald L. Mitchelson The Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers (SEDAAG) continues to enjoy a high level of activity, as indicated by participation at its annual meeting in Tampa, Florida. The total of 97 submissions (posters and papers) was about 20% fewer than the record number of submissions established the previous year at the Memphis meeting. The number of posters, only in their second year of program inclusion, increased from nine in 1998 to 12 for the Tampa meeting . This type of opportunity for sharing research results appears to be favorably embraced by SEDAAG's membership. While the number of posters submitted increased, the number of paper submissions fell substantially, from the record of 1 14 established at Memphis in 1998 to 85 at Tampa, a 25% decline. A slight substitution effect might be in evidence as posters' popularity could come at the expense of papers'. When paper authors, poster authors, panelists, session chairs, discussants, committee members, and World Geography Bowl participants are aggregated, slightly more than 200 program participants were listed in the Program, which has emerged as the norm for the meeting over the past five years. The total number registered was 357, for another well-attended meeting. In compliance with last year's SEDAAG decision to limit the number of Student Honors sessions to two, the Honors Committee evaluated 16 papers. Ten of these student papers were selected for competition and the remaining six were included in the regular program. Undergraduate students submitted two papers for the nonrefereed Gamma Thêta Upsilon session. Student authors and coauthors accounted for nearly 30% of total program participation. The Tampa program was organized into 22 sessions, with five concurrent sessions during much of the meeting. The program did provide a rare plenary session focused on the cultural geography of the South. Physical geography was well represented in the program with five sessions dealing with aspects of climate, geomorphology , biogeography, and hazards. Additionally, a panel session assessed the status of physical geography in the Southeast. The diversity of study in human geography also was manifest in the program, with sessions highlighting social theory , ethnicity, economic geography and development, and political geography. Land-cover change, at a variety of scales, was a focal concern in a number of papers, including those that provided a session on remote sensing. Growing interest in geographic education and learning permitted the creation of a session devoted to interesting and timely topics. An emergent theme that seems overdue is the effect of Dr. Mitchelson is Professor and Chair ofGeography at East Carolina University , Greenville, NC 27858. Internet: mitchelsonr@mail.ecu.edu. PROGRAM REPORT1 17 the Internet and the World Wide Web on geography as well as the effect of geography on the use of these new information technologies. The World Geography Bowl remains a prominent element within the annual program, with excellent leadership coming from Neal Lineback. Eighty-four students and 34 faculty facilitators, representing 17 colleges and universities, were involved in the Tampa competition. New faces appeared in the championship round as the Kentucky team bested the team from Tennessee. The victorious team included BiIaI Ingram, Mary Curran, Vincent Delcasino, Antony Holcomb, Lisa Rainey, Maureen McDorman, Tobie Saad, and Owen Dwyer. Based on the previous year's success, a student all-star team again competed against a Professional Dream Team as a warm-up to the Championship Round. The student team trounced the Dream Team, which will go unnamed here. The Local Arrangements Committee, headed up by Tracy Newsome, orchestrated a well-run meeting in Tampa. Florida's hospitality was at its best. Participants were presented with three excellent field trip opportunities, which highlighted important development trends and issues. Additionally, the Committee provided wonderful venues for the poster session, departmental displays, and vendors. The annual business meeting and the honors luncheon, which featured keynote speaker Reginald Golledge, AAG President, concluded a busy agenda. Reg delivered an inspirational talk entitled "Thoughts about Geography in the 21st Century." At the Honors Luncheon, Ron Abler, Executive Director ofthe AAG, was presented the SEDAAG Lifetime Achievement Award...