Old Business:
Bob Horton presented an update on the revision of Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 1. He reported that Clarke Topp and Jacob Dane have agreed to serve as co-editors of the revised monograph. A report of the Soil Science Glossary Committee was given by Alan Mitchell. Don Scott reported that the committee nominated to examine the Vadose Zone Hydrology journal had concluded that the conditions have not changed since two years ago and recommended that Div. S-1 forward the request for consideration of the new journal to the Executive Board. The recommendation was approved. Bob Luxmoore gave a lengthy report on the ASA and SSSA Board meetings. Included in his extensive report on the ASA Board meeting was information on the development officer hired for the Agronomic Science Foundation, results of a survey of the organization and location of the national meetings, professional certification programs, costs of membership with option without journals, page charges for publication of the first six pages, availability of electronic publishing in 1998, increase in subscription, current status of the Journal of Production Agriculture, the Washington presence, changes in the ASA Awards reception, ASA and SSSA budgets, and the active use of the Web site. Information from the SSSA Board included the formation of the accreditation board for Soil Science, Council of Soil Science Examiners, SSSA membership in the American Geological Institute, International Union of Soil Science, the need for a U.S. National Committee for Soil Science, North American Proficiency Testing program and proposed changes in the SSSA organization. Dave Mulla gave a report of the SSSA Journal Editorial Board. He reported that 61 and 41 Div. S-1 papers were published in SSSA Journal in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

New Business:
Kurt Pennell reviewed the additions to the S-1 Web page. Andy Ward gave an update on the S-1 news and reported that there are 350 subscribers. Tim Ellsworth gave a brief update on the recently held Chapman AGU conference and Fieke Leij reported on the hydraulic properties conference. Dave Mulla reported that 81 posters and 61 oral presentations were presented in the 1997 Div. S-1 program.

Don Scott presented possible ideas for the 1998 Div. S-1 program including symposia on Vadose Zone Hydrology and Sorption - Desorption of Solutes During Transport in Porous Materials and Sunday workshops on Site-Specific Agriculture and Applications of Regression Techniques to Agriculture.

Mary Beth Kirkham announced that the SSSA Board of Directors at their 30 October meeting ratified the establishment of an endowment of the Lena and Maria van der Ploeg Fund, the Don and Betty Kirkham Fund, the Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics Award and the Kirkham Conference. The fund, named in memory of Lena and Maria van der Ploeg, will provide support for the Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics Award Program which annually honors a mid career scientist who has made outstanding scholarly achievements and educational contributions in soil physics, and also to sponsor a quadrennial Kirkham Conference in soil physics. The fund will be operated through the Agronomic Science Foundation which will accept donations and control the investment and dispersal of funds. The selection of recipients, the identification of themes and the coordination of quadrennial research conferences will be administered by the Soil Science Society of America. The intent is to receive nominations for the Don and Betty Kirkham Award and make the first award at the 1998 SSSA luncheon in Baltimore. This generous endowment was established by Rink van der Ploeg.

Dave Mulla announced the award winners from S-1 for SSSA and ASA including those who received designation as Fellows. He then introduced the incoming Div. S-1 chair, Don Scott. Don thanked Dave for his excellent service to S-1 during the year and asked for ideas and suggestions for activities in Div. S-1 for the next year. The meeting was adjourned.