The President’s Message

A Year Like No Other

Cynthia Palomares, 2019–20 AEG President think I need a “redo” as 2019–20 AEG President. In fact, I think we all could use a redo for at least the first half of 2020. As I took over the AEG l Annual Meeting is provided in this issue of News and on AEG’s website: https://www.aegannualmeeting.org/ AEG

President’s role at the Annual Meeting in Asheville, and updates will be available soon.

North Carolina, in September 2019, I had ambiDuring this time of COVID-19, I would like to tious plans to visit each Chapter, and to give a stress that well-reasoned science is a very

“State of AEG” presentation to Chapter members important factor to be considered when making along with a technical presentation. At these Chapter decisions. The integrity of the science is critical events I also planned to reach out to individual members to because of its limiting or empowering effects on hear how AEG has impacted or potentially could impact their decisions. This holds true whether the decisions are being careers. But I have to remind myself, as John Lennon once made in our personal lives, the government or the courts. said, “Life happens while we are making other plans.” Reasoned decisions must be based on methods generally

As I write this report, due to the coronavirus disease accepted by the scientific community as valid and reliable, (COVID-19) health risks, all in-person AEG Chapter meetings for and whether the connection between data and conclusions is the time being have been cancelled. I support this approach, well reasoned. As a scientific association, AEG has an obligawith our members’ health and safety as a top priority. As such, tion to promote and advocate for well-reasoned science

I requested that Chapter-level activities be conducted via “virduring decision-making processes and to strive to increase tual” webinars for now, and many Chapters have stepped up to public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in the plate, and held or have planned virtual webinars for their society’s use of resources, response to natural hazards, and members. In addition, a number of Association-level webinars the health of the environment. have been held recently and are also planned for the near Finally, in order to improve member engagement with our future. As of early June, four Association-level webinars have already been held, all with very good attendance numbers. This is a great way for members to stay connected with our profession and with AEG. Before the pandemic changed most of our travel plans, I did have the opportunity to attend several AEG Chapter meetings. In 2019, I visited and gave presentations in Texas in October, Seattle in November, Portland in November, and in younger professional and student members, I am working with Headquarters to enhance our social media platforms. Did you know that AEG currently has a number of social media platforms that you can engage with to see what’s going on with our profession and within AEG? We currently …in order to improve member engagement with our younger professional and “

January of 2020 I I made it to San Francisco, Fresno, student members, I am are on Facebook,

Anchorage and Fairbanks. Thank you to all AEG Chapter offiworking with Headquarters Instagram, Twitter, and cers and members for making me feel welcome and for your commitment to AEG! In mid-May, the Governor of Oregon mandated that no large gatherings may occur in the state through September 2020. Since our 2020 Annual Meeting was planned to be held in Portland in September, the AEG Executive Council had no choice but to move the meeting to a virtual format. The dates will be the same—September 16–18, 2020—but the meeting will now occur online. The Annual Meeting ComLinkedIn. In addition, a new Facebook group (different from a page) has been set up to encourage more interaction between our members. You can post a variety of items to this FB group, and I encourage you to share information about projects you are working on, cool geology sites that you have visited, or other general information that may be relevant. A social media policy to enhance our social media platforms. ” mittee is currently looking at various virtual platforms to find has also been developed for Chapter-level social media platthe best fit for AEG. We plan to maintain a similar agenda forms and is now available to members on AEG’s website: with an opening session with a keynote speaker, technical https://aeg.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/MemberResources/S sessions, poster sessions, an AEG Awards event, and a busiocialMediaStrategySpring2020.pdf ness meeting. We do plan to move the in-person Portland If your Chapter currently does not use social media plat

Annual Meeting to September 2023. This meeting will be forms to communicate with members, look for changes in the held at the Portland Downtown Marriot Waterfront Hotel, the near future. same location that was planned for the 2020 meeting. San Thank you for your continued commitment to AEG! If you

Antonio, Texas, is the location scheduled for the 2021 have any comments or questions or would like to volunteer,

Annual Meeting, and Las Vegas is the location selected for please contact me at president@aegweb.org. the 2022 Annual Meeting. Information on the 2020 Virtual