As many ASA-CSSA-SSSA members were impacted by this massive storm, the ASA Executive Committee, which includes CSSA and SSSA Executive Committees, unanimously supported using the ASA Priority Fund to help the Red Cross to provide assistance to those in need.
"As professionals in the agronomy, crop, soils, and related sciences, our members are involved in the stewardship of the earth. We call upon our members at this time to use their resources to aid in the relief efforts," said ASA President Lee Sommers, Colorado State University.
In addition, with the Societies scheduled to host their 2007 Annual Meetings in New Orleans, LA, on Nov. 2-8, the Executive Committee is hopeful the city and convention services are able to meet our needs. Director of Meetings and Conventions Keith Schlesinger visited with staff from the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau in mid-September and they expect the city to be back on its feet within nine months. This means that New Orleans should be ready to host the Societies' Annual Meetings in 2007.
"Our meetings in 2007 could bring some economic stability to the city," says Dr. Sommers. "We remain hopeful that convention services in New Orleans will be fully functional for our meetings."
The Executive Committee encourages members to offer their own contributions to hurricane relief. Sources for charitable contributions specifically targeted for hurricane aid can be found on the Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site at www.fema.gov or the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at www.nvoad.org.
The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) are educational organizations helping their 10,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy, crops, soils and related sciences by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.