Savannah, Georgia
October 26-30, 1999

Clear skies and warm temperatures greeted the 67 participants of the 32nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists to beautiful and historic Savannah, Georgia. Fred Rich and Georgia Southern University hosted the meeting full of exciting talks, friendship and adventure.

For myself and some others, this was our first trip to Savannah, and I for one was pleasantly surprised at the architectural diversity, and historic presence of the older part of the city. Situated at the mouth of the Savannah River, just south of the border with South Carolina, Savannah has played an integral part in the settlement of the southern states, and especially in the South's role in the US Civil War. The historic section of the town is laid out in narrow, perpendicular streets, punctuated every 5 blocks with a named square, landscaped with mature majestic live oaks, often festooned with Spanish moss. The squares are usually adorned with a monument paying tribute to a Savannah founder, notable person, or a military hero. One square marks the grave of Tomochichi, a Yamacraw Chief who, with General James Edward Oglethorpe, is credited as the co-founder of the city.

The Days Inn^® was our lodging headquarters. Centered on Bay Street, the Days Inn is within easy walking distance of the famed "Factors Walk," noted for its iron bridges and cobblestones, spanning several city blocks with 19th century buildings, including many cotton factors' offices. Below Factors Walk is River Street a nine-block concourse lined on one side with stores (old cotton warehouses), boutiques, restaurants, pubs, and candy shops! A walk along River Street can be an expensive but very enjoyable journey! The river side of River Street is a place for parks, benches, blues/jazz musicians, stately 'paddle wheelers', yachts, and the statue of the "Waving Girl," said to have 'waved' hello and farewell to all the ships that pass through the Savannah harbor.

The 32nd Annual Meeting began with an Ice Breaker, held at the Savannah History Museum located only a few blocks from the Days Inn. The evening reception was a chance to see 'old' and 'new' friends. The Museum is housed in the restored 1860s Central Georgia Railroad Station. Adjacent to the Museum is the treasured Savannah Roundhouse, the oldest and most complete railroad repair shop in the United States. The very well attended Ice Breaker, was complete with food and drinks to satiate the appetite and warm the spirits.

The talks began on Wednesday, October 27th and were held in the Coastal Georgia Center, a conference center operated by Georgia Southern University and the University System of Georgia. Fred Rich had arranged for the talks to finish early in the day (3:30 p.m. or so) so that the participants could spend more time in discussions after each day's sessions, or have additional time to explore the fascinating "nooks and crannies" of Savannah. I, for one, found this arrangement to be most satisfying, and calming. In addition to the regular sessions of talks covering diverse topics as "What do palynological records record?" (Francine McCarthy et al.), "Pollen analysis of western corn rootworm" (Gretchen Jones and W. Buhler), and Ordovician acritarchs (Uutila and Sarjeant), special sessions on "Short-term Palynological Records with Emphasis on Human Influences" (hosted by Arthur Cohen), and "Cretaceous and Tertiary Palynology of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, Southeastern U.S." (hosted by Joyce Lucas-Clark) were also scheduled. Copies of the program and abstracts volume for this and past meetings are available from:

Vaughn M. Bryant, Jr.
Secretary AASP Foundation
c/o Palynology Laboratory
Texas A&M University, College Station,
Texas 77843-4352 , U.S.A.
E-mail: vbryant@tamu.edu
Phone: (409) 845-5242/845-5255; Fax: (409) 845-4070

Talks and posters presented by CAP members included: "Synopsis of Fossil Fungal Spores, Mycelia and Fructifications" (poster), by R. Kalgutkar and J. Jansonius; "High Resolution Palynology of a Marine Core from Saanich Inlet, British Columbia" (oral presentation) by R. W. Mathewes and M. G. Pellatt; "Testing the Importance of Glacioeustasy in Generating Sequence Boundaries - An Example from the New Jersey Margin" (poster) by F. M. G. McCarthy, K. E. Gostlin & J. Hopkins; "What Do Palynological Records Record" (oral presentation) by F. M. G. McCarthy, P. J. Mudie & K. E. Gostlin; "Controls on Palynomorph Distribution in the North Atlantic from the Miocene to the Recent" (poster) by C. R. Morgan & F. M. G. McCarthy; "Holocene Proxy-Records of the Red Tides" (oral presentation) by P. J. Mudie, A. Rochon & E. Levac; "Dinoflagellate Assemblages from the Paleocene of Southern Chile" (oral presentation) by M. E. Quattrocchio & W. A. S. Sarjeant; "Late Pleistocene-Holocene History of Georgian Bay, Ontario: Sedimentation Patterns in Response to Fluctuating Lake Levels" (poster) by S. H. Tiffin, F. M. G. McCarthy and S.Blasco; and "The Ordovician Acritarch genera Tranvikum and Ampullula: Their Relationship and Taxonomy" (oral presentation) by A. Uutela and W. A. S. Sarjeant.

The final talk on Friday afternoon was an excellent presentation by Dr Steven Emslie (Ornithologist, University of North Carolina) on "A Fossil Death Assemblage of Seabirds and Fish: Evidence for Toxic Red Tides in the Late Pliocene of Florida". Through a well-organized and stepwise presentation, Dr Emslie demonstrated that a very large death assemblage of cormorants (Phalacrocorax sp.) and other seabirds from the extensive Pliocene fossil beds near Tampa Bay, Florida died in a single catastrophic event, probably a red tide. The lecture was well received. (See also: Emslie, S. D. & Morgan, G. S. Science 264:684-685, 29 April 1994.)

Friday (October 29th) was also the time for the Group Photo and Annual Business Luncheon. The photography of the group took place outside the Coastal Georgia Center with Vaughn Bryant, Jr and Bob Clarke behind the camera, set on a timer, so that they, too, could join in the picture. (Note: Vaughn has informed me that the photo has turned out well. Pers. comm. November 5, 1999.)

The business luncheon is always a time to learn something more of the activities of the society, and to catch up on the status of the varied publications currently on the work table of the AASP Foundation. Outgoing President, Chris Denison, carried out the duties of reporting on the current status of the organization, and with the traditional handing over of the AASP Gavel and copy of "Robert's Rules..." passed the meeting to our new President, Fred Rich, with David Pocknall assuming the elected position of President-Elect.

Several awards were bestowed to a variety of persons at this meeting. First and perhaps the most moving of the awards was the first AASP Excellence in Teaching Award, presented to Dr Aureal Cross. The presentation was made with a testimonial by Leonard Eames (former graduate student of Dr Cross), followed by a very emotional acceptance speech from Dr Cross. The room was quiet, waiting to hear from Dr Cross about those "early days" when palynology was just an infant. Dr Cross, and many in the audience, held back tears, as he spoke of how he wished he could live to be 1000 years old so that he might have a chance to do all the things remaining to be done in palynology. He closed, with tears now visible, by commenting that no one can have this sort of career by doing things alone. "…We all owe it to each other…we stand on each others shoulders…we need our students and our colleagues…we do not earn these awards alone…". A standing ovation followed.

Ken Piel read a detailed tribute, and presented the AASP Distinguished Service Award to Professor Vaughn Bryant Jr. Another well earned award, another standing ovation. Dr Bryant accepted the award graciously and spoke to the group about his entry into palynology and how he was "urged" to join AASP as a Quaternary Palynologist amid a group of "stratigraphic specialists". Vaughn's long service record and his "genetic deficiency" which does not allow him to say "no" has provided AASP with many years of unfailing service and cooperation.

Daniel Michoux accepted the best poster award on behalf of Samuel Piriou, Daniel Michoux, and Rene Braun for the co-authored poster entitled "Organic Sedimentation in the Early Cretaceous of the Austral Basin (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina)". Two students from Brock University shared the best student poster Award. Sarah Tiffin, in co-authorship with Francine M. G. McCarthy and Steve Blasco presented the poster, "Late Pleistocene-Holocene History of Georgian Bay, Ontario: Sedimentation Patterns in Response to Fluctuating Lake Levels", and Jennifer Hopkins with Francine M. G. McCarthy & Kevin E. Gostlin co-authored the poster entitled "Testing the Importance of Glacioeustacy in Generating Sequence Boundaries - An Example From the New Jersey Margin". The best student paper award went to Robert K. Booth for his co-authored presentation with Stephen T. Jackson on "Impacts of Historical Logging and Fire on a Lake Superior Coastal Wetland, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan", a talk that clearly and convincingly demonstrated that the modern wetland vegetation at Grand Tracerse Bay is the result of late 19th and early 20th century fires following extensive lumbering in the region.

Friday continued to be a busy day. Following the business luncheon and group photo session, the AASP Board held its annual meeting. Some participants joined Eddie Robertson as group leader for an afternoon field trip to the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal, sponsored by Georgia Southern University and Reinhardt College. The trip showcased local history and floodplain forest communities along the Ogeechee River.

Saturday was different. Some of the participants left Savannah for their home base, others stayed in Savannah to see more of the city, and its cultural and entertainment offerings. Thirty-eight of us, myself and Susan included, joined Fred Rich, for a very exciting trip into the legendary Okefenokee Swamp (a National Wildlife Refuge), one of the largest swamps in America.

The day began with a soft light rain that cleared before we arrived at the swamp. The Okefenokee (Indian term for 'Land of the trembling earth') is a fresh water swamp with its water fed from rain, and is characterized by constantly flowing waters in channels that eventually give birth to the south and east flowing Saint Mary's River emptying into the Atlantic Ocean, and the southwest flowing Suwannee River (of Stephen Foster Fame) which drains into the Gulf of Mexico.

The all-to-short trip, was replete with botanical, zoological, geological and historical tidbits of information supplied by Fred Rich. I was left quite amazed at the breath and depth of the information supplied by Fred. Susan and I learned a great deal in the few hours we were actually in the swamp. Fred showed us some of the more common water and terrestrial plants of the swamp including Spanish Moss (Tillandsia, Bromeliaceae), Nyssa bicolor (Tupelo), Gordonia lasianthus (black laurel, a member of the tea family native to the southeastern USA), the carnivorous Sundew (Drosera, Droseraceae, pollen in tetrads), and the white flowering water lilies (Nymphaea odorata).

Just as we entered the refuge, Fred commented that he could guarantee not a single mosquito would be seen or felt. The all day adventure into the depths of the swamp proved Fred correct. Fred directed the four, ten-seat aluminum, 6hp boats, down the Suwannee Canal and into the Chesser Prairie. The prairie is an open "savannah" wetland of patches of sedge and grass (batteries) and more mature mounds with bald cypress and other trees (houses). The diversity of the biota within the numerous prairies is truly remarkable. At several spots we stopped to listen to another short 'lecture' from Fred, who also took several peat cores, demonstrating the nature of the peat. Cores were taken to levels (about 3.5 feet ) where charcoal bands, indicating major swamp fires, were recorded in the core. These fires are a natural way in which the swamp reverses the successional stages, which tend to fill in the area, thus reopening the prairies and maintaining the water regime. (See also: Rich, F. J. & Bishop, G. A. 1998, Geology and Natural History of the Okefenokee Swamp and Trail Ridge, Southeastern Georgia-Northern Florida. 33rd. Annual Field Trip, Georgia Geological Society, October 9-11, 1998, Georgia Geol. Soc. Guidebooks volume 18, number 1, pp. 1-109).

In summary, I feel the 32nd Annual Meeting of the AASP was very much a success. It is appropriate here to thank the Coastal Georgia Center, specifically Tim Moore, Nancy Hester, and their staff for their wonderful job of coordinating the catering and providing us with solutions to all the little problems. "The devil is always in the details, and it's good to know that there is someone competent on hand to help ferret him out!" (pers. comm. Fred Rich, November, 1999).

CAP members should be aware of the fact that next year AASP will hold the 33rd Annual Meeting jointly with the Geological Society of America (GSA) in Reno, Nevada. The meeting will be held from November 13-16, 2000. AASP is working out the details for special sessions(s) that will focus on palynology. All CAP members who are also members of AASP will receive mailings including GSA Today so that they will know just what is planned. Thomas Demchuk and Fred Rich are organizing the Reno meeting together, with help from the AASP Board.

During our stay in Savannah, Hollywood was also there, filming on the streets near the Days Inn. Robert Redford was there, as producer and director of a new film "The Legend of Bagger Vance" a $70 million effort about one golfer's search for his authentic swing. With the film set in the 20s, the streets, buildings and autos of Savannah were converted, through Hollywood magic, into the days when dinners were served for 25 cents and the pace of life was a fair bit slower.

A visit to Savannah, Georgia, at anytime is a visit to the past. The charm, elegance, the southern meals and hospitality, all join to make the visitor feel welcomed and a very real part of the southern heritage.

I want to thank Fred Rich for providing some much needed facts and figures for this article and to Susan Jarzen for her secretarial skills and the photography.

David Jarzen
Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida
P.O. Box 117800
Gainesville, Florida
FL 32611-7800
U.S.A.
E-mail: dmj@flmnh.ufl.edu
 

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  This article first appeared in CAP Newsletter 22(2):10-14, 1999.