Recent Awards from the 2013 Spring Meeting in Nashville

Distinguished Service Award:

David Rizzuto

Dave has been active in the American Fisheries Society. He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Tennessee Chapter from 1995 to 2000 and served as President from 2001 to 2002. He also received the Chapter’s Outstanding Service Award in 2000.  In the Southern Division Dave has been a long time member of the Small Impoundments Committee, having been on that committee for the past 15 years.  Dave’s most important contributions to the Southern Division however have been his involvement with hosting the Spring meetings.

Greg Summers

Greg has been a tireless worker on behalf of the greater good for the SDAFS. Greg has led efforts to compile the archives of the SDAFS in electronic format. Further, over the past several years he has coordinated and implemented the use of podcasts for all presentations given at the SDAFS meetings. These podcasts allow people who were not in attendance to see the slides and hear the speakers for every presentation, which is wonderful service to our members. Because of Greg’s hard work the SDAFS has been a leader in communication within the society, and other Divisions are now following suit and providing podcasts to their members.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

AGFC hosted the 66th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) in October 2012.

Hall of Excellence: Fisheries Management Section of AFS

Phil Bettoli

Phil Bettoli was inducted into the FMS Hall of Excellence for 2012. This honor is given to fisheries professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of fisheries management. Each inductee has a plaque on display with their likeness and highlights of their careers and contributions to the fisheries management profession. Congratulations, Phil!

2012 SEAFWA John F. Dequine Best Paper Award for 2012

Tie for 1^st place:

Brandon W. Baker and Steve E. Lochman. Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Title:  A Population Assessment and Minimum Length Limit Evaluation for White Bass in the Arkansas River, Arkansas.

Mike Morgan, Sterling Hayden, and Robert Pierce II.  Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri.

Title:  Social and Cultural Aspects of Paddlefish Anglers at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

Best Student-Subunit Award

Mississippi State University

From faculty advisor Dr. Wesley Neal:

This incredible group of students has been extremely active this year both in AFS activities and community outreach. They provided a tremendous amount of assistance with planning and logistics to the Mississippi Chapter in hosting the 2012 Southern Division meeting in Biloxi, including helping with organization, registration, AV, and even bartending!

Best Poster Award:

First Author:  Cher Newman (University of Southern Mississippi). Length frequency changes of longspine porgy from 1987 to 2011: evidence of shrimp trawling bycatch impacts?
 - certificate for co-author (G. Walter Ingram, Jr.)

Best Student Presentation Award:

1^st place, Best Student Presentation:
First Author:  Michael Bednarski (University of Georgia). Influences of drought on shortnose sturgeon in the Altamaha River, Georgia
- certificates for co-authors (Douglas L. Peterson)

2^nd place, Best Student Presentation:
First Author:  Jamie Morgan (University of Georgia). Endocrine disruption in juvenile fathead minnows exposed to cyanobacteria
- certificates for co-authors (James Herrin, Kristen Kellock, Rebecca Haynie, Susan Wilde, and Robert Bringolf)

Additional Plaques

Meeting and Local Arrangements Chair: David Rizzuto
Program Chair:  Phil Bettoli and Frank Fiss
Fund Raising Chair:  Bobby Wilson
Outgoing President Plaque (2012 – 2013):  Brian R. Murphy

Gavel Plaques from BJ Tees, San Marcos, Texas

Call for Nominations

The 2014 SDAFS Awards Committee is now accepting nominations for four Southern Division Awards:

Please consider nominating your colleagues and AFS units who are doing outstanding things for AFS! 

Nominations will be accepted until December 7, 2013. Letters in support of the nomination from other members are welcome. Electronic submissions should be in PDF or MS Word format. Submit nominations to the SDAFS Awards Committee Chair.  Contact information appears below.

Awards Criteria

Below are summaries of the awards criteria and past winners. To nominate a member or chapter for an award, forward a letter to the Awards Committee Chair that outlines the nominees’ contribution to the Division.

Distinguished Service

Service is the foundation of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. The purpose of the Distinguished Service Award is to recognize outstanding contributions of time and energy for special projects or activities in service of the Southern Division.

Past recipients include:

• David Rizzuto for his service to the Division as host of the Spring Meetings.
• Greg Summers for his service to the Division in the field of communications: Greg coordinated and implemented the use of podcasts for all presentations given at the Spring Meetings.
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hosted the 66th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies in October 2012.
• Dick Luebke for service to the Division as SEAFWA Associate Editor
• Bruce Saul for service to the Division as longtime Chair of the Student Affairs Committee
• Fred Janssen for developing and maintaining the Division and several subunit Internet websites
• Duke Energy Co. for longtime support of the Southern Division, especially the Spring (formerly Midyear) meeting.

Outstanding Achievement

Outstanding service to the Division,The purpose of the Outstanding Achievement Award is to recognize individuals for their noteworthy and long-standing contributions to fisheries, aquatic sciences, and the Division, thereby rewarding individuals for their contributions, enhancing visibility of the Division, and increasing the aspirations of the membership. It is our Division’s highest honor. Candidates are reviewed according to criteria set forth in the Division Bylaws that include:

• A monumental work,
• Original techniques or research methodology,
• New ideas, viewpoints, or data which contributed significantly to fisheries management or our understanding of aquatic resources,
• A new, successfully executed fishery research or management program of regional or national importance,
• Imaginative and successful program in fish conservation education at any level of teaching or graduate student guidance,
• Important faunal or ecological discoveries or taxonomic criteria,
• Research especially beneficial to mankind,
• Interdisciplinary research involving leadership in lab or field,
• Multiple, successful efforts in a variety of fields, as biology, public understanding, technical and popular writing, lab and field research,
• Inspirational leadership and enunciation of principles.

Former recipients of the OAA include:

Jack Dequine, Hudson Nichols, Larry Neilson, Bob Martin, Ben Jaco, Connie Arnold, Don Hayne, Bob Stevens, Buck Byrd, Don Estes, Monte Seehorn, Carl Sullivan, Robert Jenkins, Richard Stroud, Don Baker, John Gottshalk, Janice Hughes Little, Richard Robbins, Fred Harris, Susan Shipman, Barry Freeman, Larry Olmstead, Churchill Grimes, Steve Miranda, Rich Noble, Bobby Grinstead, Chuck Coutant, Mike Van Den Avyle, John Ney, Norville Prosser, Jimmie Pigg, Scott Van Horn, Phil Durocher, Barry Smith, and Gene Wilde.

To nominate a member for the OAA, forward a letter to the Awards Committee Chair that outlines the nominees’ contribution to the Division, the Society and the profession. Letters in support of the nomination from other members are strongly encouraged.

Best Chapter

The chapter should assemble packets containing the following information. Applicants must adhere strictly to the word length requirements in each section as noted. If sending hard copies, forward three sets of the application and support materials to the Awards Committee Chair for review.

1. BACKGROUND & CHAPTER STRUCTURE

1a. Chapter Name:
1b. AFS Division:
1c. Chapter President:
1d. Address:
1e. Structure of Chapter:

Officers:

President -
President-Elect -
Secretary-Treasurer -
Immediate Past President -
Student Subsection President -

Committees:

Standing Committees:
Executive:
Nominations:
Program:
Arrangements:
Newsletter
Environmental Concerns:
Education:
Finance:
Ad hoc Committees:
Membership:
Awards:

2. ABSTRACT: What makes your chapter unique and why is it outstanding? (300 words or less).

3. MEMBERSHIP

3a. Membership Report:

Membership Total Number
% increase (or decrease) Type from previous year
Total Membership
New Recruits
Lost Members
Student Members
Parent Society Members

3b. Efforts towards enhanced recruitment and retention (150 words or less; attach brochures or incentives).

4. REGULAR CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

4a. Number of Annual Chapter Meetings:
4b. Duration of Meeting(s):
4c. Meeting Location(s):
4d. Participation:

Number Registered:
Percent of Membership Attending:
Number of Presenters:
Meeting Theme(s):

4e. Special Accomplishments of Meeting(s):
4f. Social functions at Meeting(s):
4g. Additional Chapter/Committee Activities:

5. MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS

5a. Newsletter (include a newsletter as an attachment or web page address).
5b. Number published per year:
5c. Average length (pages):
5d. Typical no. of contributors:
5e. Job announcements?: Y or N Average number: Yes;
5f. Forum for members to express views?:
5g. Unique aspects of newsletter (50 words or less):
5h. Additional Chapter Communications:

6. SPECIAL SYMPOSIA/WORKSHOPS/PROJECTS:

Briefly describe any special or unique enterprises of your chapter (200 words or less per item; abstracts, index, or proceedings may be included as an attachment).

7. STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Describe in 200 words or less; attach supplemental material as needed:

8. RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

8a. Awards (name of award and criteria):
8b. Scholarships (name and criteria):
8c. Grants (name and criteria):

9. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

Outstanding Subunit

OVERVIEW :

Give a brief overview and history of your subunit. (100-150 words)

MEMBERSHIP:

Give a brief description of your membership such as the number of members and the number of institutions that participate in your subunit. Include any information on awards and other activities related to encouraging participation and increasing membership. Fund raising activities should be included here. (100 words)

TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES:

Describe activities that your subunit is involved in, such as technical demonstrations, fishery projects, and other activities that involve your subunits professional scientific skills. (100-150 words)

EDUCATION, OUTREACH, & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

Summarize projects that focus on education and outreach to user groups or the general public. (100-150 words)

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:

Please include appropriate supporting documents for each section. Include these as attachments. If you have documented these activities on a website, the URL will be sufficient.

LETTER FROM ACADEMIC ADVISOR:

Please include a letter of support from your academic advisor.

Awards Committee

Timothy H. Bonner, Chair
Texas State University-San Marcos
Department of Biology
Freeman Aquatic Biology Building
601 University Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666
Phone: 512-245-2284
FAX: 512-245-7919
Email: TBonner@txstate.edu

Bruce Saul
Department of Biology
Augusta State University
2500 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30904-2200
Phone: 706-737-1539
FAX: 706-667-4098
Email: bsaul@aug.edu

Stacey N. Robbins
SC Department of Natural Resources
Marine Resources Division
331 Ft Johnson Rd
Charleston, SC 29412
Phone: 843-762-8889
FAX: 843-762-8737
Email: robbinss@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us

William L. Fisher
Research Ecologist, Assistant Leader & Adjunct Professor of Zoology and Geography
U.S. Geological Survey, Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
404 Life Sciences West
Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078 USA
Phone: 405-744-6342
FAX: 405-744-5006
Email: wfisher@okstate.edu

S. Bradford Cook
Professor and Director, Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Program
Department of Biology
Box 5063
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN 38505
Phone: 931-372-3194
FAX: 931-372-6257
Email: sbcook@tntech.edu