Old Business:
David Nofziger, our ASA-SSSA Board Representative reported on the ASA and SSSA Board meetings. We were informed that the society is in need of new financial resources, such as increased dues, or should reduce its operating expenses. A membership drive is underway to obtain additional revenue. It was pointed out that we should do a better job of promoting membership among graduate students. The SSSA is especially hard hit because it needs $50,000 now as part of organizing the 2006 World Congress of Soil Science. A new interdisciplinary journal, Vadose Zone Journal, has been approved. Glenn Wilson serves on a committee looking into a federation structure for the societies. A new division, A-9 (Professional Practitioners) was given permanent status. A motion was proposed by David Radcliffe to express our support for electronic publishing of all previous journal volumes and promoting a voluntary pre-pay of $75 per member towards covering the cost of producing the necessary CDs. The latter will include a search engine. The motion was seconded and approved. David Nofziger then reported that the Journal of Natural Resource and Life Science Education was in financial trouble. A short discussion followed, but no specific recommendations were made. The next item of discussion was that of volunteered papers at the annual meetings. The membership did not like the idea of requiring that a presenter of a volunteered paper should be a member of the society, but it was suggested that non-members should pay a higher registration fee than members. The requirement that the corresponding author should also be a member of the society was received favorably. To avoid the problem of having too many similar papers by the same authors, e.g., duplication of oral and poster presentations, the membership discussed charging a fee for each abstract (Peter Wierenga) or for charging for abstracts when submitting 4 or more (Bob Luxmoore). Members interested in serving as division chair or on a committee of the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS) are encouraged to visit the IUSS website. However, this time around no US citizens can become division chair.

Rien van Genuchten reported on behalf of the new Vadose Zone Journal (VZJ). He especially thanked Bob Luxmoore for all his help in getting the new journal established. There are currently 19 associate editors, which will most likely be expanded to 25. The associate editors represent many fields of interest, such as soil physics, soil chemistry, soil microbiology, geo-hydrology, civil engineering, chemical engineering, etc. The journal will be an all electronic journal and the first issue is planned for June/July 2002. A manuscript tracking system will allow one to follow progress of a manuscript during the review process. More information about VZJ can be obtained on the website http://www.soils.org/journals/vzj.html. Discussions are under way to give members of the American Geophysical Union, the Geological Society of America, and the American Chemical Society the same subscription rate as SSSA members.

Our Technical Editor, David Radcliffe, announced two new S-1 members to the editorial board, viz., Yakov Pachepsky and Laosheng Wu. A manuscript tracking system will be implemented in early 2002.

Jacob Dane and Clarke Topp reported that Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 4 - Physical Methods was finished. The publication date is set for Spring 2002.

Jan Hopmans reported that the Global Soil Physics Data Base was not yet completed.

Bob Luxmoore and Glenn Wilson briefly discussed the need of a federation structure of the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA combined with other societies into something like a Land Resources Federation of approximately 40,000 members. This would be helpful for financial and organizational reasons.


New Business:
Magdi Selim announced that 219 S-1 papers were presented in Charlotte. This was the second highest number, only to be surpassed by S-6. The 2001 S-1 program contained 5 symposia: Don Nielsen, Temperature Effects on Soil Physical Properties, Spatial Variability in Soils, Quantitative Agricultural Management Effects on Soil, and Bridging Scales in Soil Physics.

Andrea Engebretson spoke on behalf of the Council of Soil Science Examiners (CSSE) located in Madison, Wisconsin. She discussed involvement of the SSSA regarding exams for ARCPACS and licensing states, and the setting of performance criteria. Work of the CSSE is especially important for students going into consulting and for continuing education. Information is available on the CSSE website.

Glenn Wilson presented a proposal for the S-1 Early Career Award. He handed out copies of the nomination and evaluation processes. Jan Hopmans moved that we accept the proposal. It was seconded and approved. The Early Career Award Committee consists of Jan Hopmans, Art Warrick, Gerard Kluitenberg, and the S-1 past chair Magdi Selim. Members will serve for three years and will be chair during their third year (note: this means that one member must be replaced in 2002 after one year of service, and another member must be replaced in 2003 after two years of service).

Wilford Gardner announced that a Food Security program will be offered during the 2006 World Congress of Soil Science to be held in Philadelphia. The 2002 Congress will be in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Gardner praised the Thai facilities and encouraged the membership to make nominations for the different IUSS commissions (see the SSSA website for a nomination form)

Toby Ewing reported that the next Kirkham Conference will be held at Utah State in 2004.

Announcements:
Dani Or received the Don and Betty Kirkham Award from the committee chair Gerard Kluitenberg. Next year’s committee chair will be Tim Ellsworth.

Magdi Selim announced that Warren Busscher and Keith Bristow were inducted as Fellows in the Soil Science Society; Bob Horton received the Soil Science Research Award; the Emil Truog Award was presented to Rodney Venterea. Jim Biggar and Dale Swartzendruber were the recipients of the Soil Science Distinguished Service Award.

Magdi Selim then introduced the incoming chair, Jacob Dane, who thanked Magdi for his excellent services to the S-1 division and adjourned the meeting.