Review of the Thirty-Third Annual Meeting, Athens, Georgia

REVIEW OF THE THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING, ATHENS, GEORGIA Stephen S. Birdsall The Thirty-third Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers was held November 19-21, 1978, at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. The University of Georgia hosted the meetings with R. James Heyl chairing the Local Arrangements Committee. With approximately 310 meeting registrants, the 1978 assembly was slightly smaller than the 1977 annual meeting in Knoxville. Seventy-two papers by 92 authors and co-authors, both record highs, were read at the Athens meeting. Another record was represented by the 16 papers included in the student honors competition , undeniably indicative of the profession's strength in the Division . The Division was welcomed at the Opening Session by Eugene Younts, Vice-President for Services, University of Georgia. Following the welcome, the Division was addressed by Dean Rusk, Sibley Professor of International Law at the University of Georgia, on "The Roots of Wisdom." The program also included a Southern Studies Plenary Session that engendered a lively exchange and panels on The Purpose of Research in Cartography and on The Status and Future of Long Range Planning of the AAG. The honors luncheon banquet address was delivered by Brian J. L. Berry, President of the Association of American Geographers, on "The Future of American Geography." During the Business Meeting (Division President Sanford H. Bederman presiding), it was announced that in a mail ballot Neal G. Lineback had been elected Vice-President and will serve as the next Program Chairman, and Thomas L. Bell had been elected Secretary. The membership enthusiastically approved the recommendation of the Honors Committee (chaired by Melinda S. Meade) that Donald J. Patton be made an Honorary Life Member of the Division. Winners Dr. Birdsall is Associate Professor of Geography at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. He served as Vice-President and as Program Chairman of the Division during 1978. Vol. XIX, No. 1 67 of the student honors competition were Michael Mayfield at the Master's level and Alan Johnston at the Doctoral level. Papers by Lawrence W. Carstensen and by Dianne E. Rocheleau and Marilyn E. Swisher received honorable mention by the Honors Committee. Charles F. Kovacik, Truman A. Hartshorn, and Clifton W. Pannell were elected to the Honors Committee for 1979. The new Nominating Committee is comprised of Susan R. Gross, Dennis L. Spetz, and David C. Weaver. ...