1973
Organizational meeting at the Estuarine Research Federation (ERF) meeting, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Armando de la Cruz was the prime "mover" and organizer of GERS and called a meeting of interested people from the Gulf of Mexico area, attended by about 40. A preliminary constitution was adopted, based on the constitutions of the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS) and the New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS), which together formed ERF. Another society, the Southeastern Estuarine Research Society (SEERS) was organized in 1974 and later the Pacific Estuarine Research Society (PERS) was organized. President, President Elect and Secretary-Treasurer were elected to form the Executive Committee with powers to make appointments by the president with approval of the Executive Committee.
Officers elected for 1974 were:
Armando de la Cruz, President
Winston Menzel, President Elect
Neal Armstrong, Secretary-Treasurer
Annual dues were $5.00 of which $1.00 per member to be remitted to parent ERF.
1974
Executive Committee
Armando de la Cruz, President
Winston Menzel, President Elect
Neal Armstrong, Secretary-Treasurer
Ronald J. Scrudato, Member-at-Large
Alfred E. Smalley, Representative to ERF Governing Board
Armando de la Cruz, Newsletter editor
First meeting was in the fall, 24-25 October at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Robert Woodmansee, local arrangements; Ronald Scrudato, program; Neal Armstrong, registration; Edwin Cake, publicity. There were 31 contributed papers.
Gordon Gunter, Director Emeritus of GCRL was elected an Honorary Member of GERS.
All members joining in 1974 would be charter members.
Membership: ca. 200
Finances: $402
1975
Executive Committee
Winston Menzel, President
Armando de la Cruz, Past President & Representative to ERF Governing Board
Ronald Scrudato, President Elect
Neal Armstrong, Secretary-Treasurer
H. Dickson Hoese, Member-at-Large
Peggy Harwood, Newsletter Editor
Victoria Sullivan, Newsletter Editor
Symposium: "Environmental and General Ecology of Penaeid Shrimp" at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Courtney Hackney, organizer; 7 papers; attendance of 52.
"Rap Session" on 31 May at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, on chemical and physical environments. William Schroeder, organizer; attendance of 9 from Alabama, Florida and Louisiana.
ERF fall meeting at Galveston, Texas, 6-10 October, GERS host society. Contributed session, Armando de la Cruz, chairman; symposium on "Coastal Management," Neal Armstrong, convenor.
Armando de la Cruz and Neal Armstrong asked to start a newsletter for ERF similar to that of GERS.
Neal Armstrong elected to Vice President of ERF
Harry J. Bennett, Professor Emeritus, Louisiana State University, elected as Honorary Member of GERS. Deceased (date?).
After organization of SEERS, many former members from Florida affiliated with it.
Voted to have Newsletter Editor serve on Executive Committee.
Membership: 240
Finances: $482
1976
Executive Committee
Ronald Scrudato, President
Winston Menzel, Past President
Neal Armstrong, President Elect
Dick Hoese, Secretary-Treasurer
Will Schroeder, Member-at-Large
Victoria Sullivan, Newsletter Editor
Workshop, 14-15 October, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, "Estuarine Sanctuaries," Ron Scrudato, organizer; Will Schroeder, program chair; 17 papers
Fall meeting, 28-30 October, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette; Darryl Felder and Will Schroeder, program chairmen.
Sewell H. Hopkins, Professor Emeritus Texas A&M University elected an Honorary Member of GERS. Deceased 15, October 1984.
Constitution amended for representative to ERF Governing Board to be President Elect along with President.
Membership: 313 paid
Finances: $1,052
1977
Executive Committee
Neal Armstrong, President
Ron Scrudato, Past President
Donald Wohlschlag, President Elect
Dick Hoese, Secretary-Treasurer
C. A. Bedinger, Jr., Member-at-Large
Victoria Sullivan, Newsletter Editor
Scheduled spring meeting canceled.
Fall meeting in conjunction with ERF, 30 September- 5 October, Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania; 24 GERS members attended, representing all Gulf states; 7 papers at GERS contributed session.
Membership: ca. 200
Finances: $997
1978
Executive Committee
Curly Wohlschlag, President
Neal Armstrong, Past President
C. A. Bedinger, President Elect
Susan Ivestor, Secretary-Treasurer
?, Member-at-Large
Judy Stout, Newsletter Editor
Fall meeting, 13-14 October, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama; 25 contributed papers; evening slide presentation by Armando de la Cruz, "The uses of mangrove and mangrove vegetation in southeast Asia."
Membership: 141 paid
Finances: $1,321
1979
Executive Committee
C. A. Bedinger, President
Curly Wohlschlag, Past President
Darryl L. Felder, President Elect
Susan Ivestor, Secretary-Treasurer
Judy Stout , Newsletter Editor
Spring meeting, 5-7 April, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas; symposium on "Hypersalinity and Related Phenomena in Estuaries," Courtney Hackney, program chairman. Evening slide presentation by Dick Hoese on "Early hypersalinity or where was the coast 300 years ago."
Fall meeting with ERF, 7-12 October, Jekyll Island, Georgia. GERS contributed session with 16 papers given to "standing room only," Courtney Hackney, chairman. Several invited papers by GERS members at general sessions.
Hurricane Frederick caused disruption of orderly business because it hit Dauphin Island, the home port of secretary-treasurer and newsletter editor.
President appointed Archivist to serve at the discretion of the Executive Committee and to be a member of the Executive Committee.
Membership: 163 paid, 258 on roll
Finances: $820
1980
Executive Committee
Darryl Felder, President
C. A. Bedinger, Past President
John Fleeger, President Elect
Ned Smith, Secretary-Treasurer
Stephen T. Ross, Member-at-Large
R. Warren Flint, Newsletter Editor
Winston Menzel Archivist
Spring meeting canceled.
Fall meeting, 9-11 October, Pensacola, Florida, EPA Gulf Breeze Laboratory, host; invited session on "Natural and Man Caused Perturbations in Estuaries," 10 papers, Walter Sikora, program chairman; 32 contributed papers. Slide presentation by Don Boesch on his recent trip to People's Republic of China.
ERF Governing Board will now have only one representative from each Society. Amendment proposed to have President Elect or designee be representative. Amendment proposed to have at least two nominees for each office.
Membership: 149 paid
Finances: $733
1981
Executive Committee
John Fleeger, President
Darryl Felder, Past President
Steve Ross, President Elect
Ned Smith, Secretary-Treasurer
Walter Sikora, Member-at-Large
Warren Flint, Newsletter Editor
Winston Menzel, Archivist
Spring meeting, 14-15 May, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Mini-symposium on "The Interactions of Fresh and Brackish Water Components of Estuaries," 4 papers; mini-symposium on "The Biology of Sciaenid Fishes," 4 papers; 10 contributed papers.
Fall meeting with ERF, 1-6 November, Gleneden Beach, Oregon; contributed session with 5 papers.
Passed two amendments proposed in 1980.
Membership: 148 paid
Finances: $439
1982
Executive Committee
Steve Ross, President
John Fleeger, Past President
Will Schroeder, President Elect and Program Chairman
Ned Smith, Secretary-Treasurer
John Wakeman, Member-at-Large
Winston Menzel, Archivist
Neal Armstrong, Newsletter Editor
Spring meeting, 17-18 May, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana, Don Weston, local arrangements chairman; mini-symposium on "Estuary Shelf Interactions," 6 papers; 9 papers and 3 posters in contributed session.
Fall meeting, 11-13 November, at Marineland, Florida, joint with SEERS; University of Florida Whitney Lab as host; GERS had 10 of 38 papers, 8 of 23 posters.
ERF increased dues of member societies from $1 per member to $3.
GERS dues increased to $10 for regular and $7 for student.
Amendment to have President and Secretary-Treasurer be for two years instead of one. Amendment to have a Vice President instead of a President Elect.
Dues after October will apply to the following year.
President appointed area representatives for recruitment of new members: John Fleeger, Richard Heard, Scott Holt, Winston Menzel, Will Schroeder.
Membership: 233 paid; purged 76 in arrears
Finances: $1,742
1983
Executive Committee
Will Schroeder, President
Steve Ross, Past President
Walt Sikora, Vice President and Program Chairman
Ned Smith, Secretary-Treasurer
Neal Armstrong, Newsletter Editor
Scott Holt, Member-at-Large
Winston Menzel, Archivist
Spring meeting for Louisiana State University canceled.
ERF meeting, 22-26 November at Virginia Beach, Virginia.
ERF sponsored a trip to China (People to People) to meet with Chinese counterparts. GERS members who went: Neal Armstrong, Winston Menzel and wife Margaret, Sammy Ray and wife Charolette, Will Schroeder, Judy Stout, 21 March - 11 April.
Membership: 196 paid
1984
Executive Committee
Harold Stevenson, President
Will Schroeder, Past President
John Wakeman, Vice President and Program Chairman
Judy Stout, Secretary-Treasurer
Wiley Kitchens, Member-at-Large
Neal Armstrong, Newsletter Editor
Winston Menzel, Archivist
Spring meeting, 17-19 May, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama; mini-symposium on "Management and Public Policy," 4 papers, Wiley Kitchen, chairman; mini-symposium on "Regional Aspects of Coastal Science," 4 papers, Will Schroeder, chairman; contributed session with 15 papers and 3 posters.
Changed time of election of officers to spring meeting period instead of fall.
Fall meeting, 25-26 October, Galveston, Texas, Texas A&M Marine Laboratory host, Pete Sheridan, local arrangements coordinator; mini-symposium on "Applied Ecology and Management Potential of High Marshes," 4 papers, Armando de la Cruz, chairman; mini-symposium on "Management and Public Policy," 3 papers, Wiley Kitchens, chairman; contributed session with 15 papers and 3 posters. Special presentations on "Aliens from Inner Space," Roger Hanlon; "Heartbreak Turtle", National Marine Fisheries Service; "Australian and Indian Mariculture," Sammy Ray.
1985
Executive Committee
Harold Stevenson, President
Will Schroeder, Past President
Peter Sheridan, Vice President and Program Chairman
Judy Stout, Secretary-Treasurer
?, Member-at-Large
Donald Harper, Newsletter Editor
Winston Menzel, Archivist
Summer meeting in conjunction with the ERF Biennial meeting at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, 28 July - 2 August. Contributed session with 9 papers, Judy Stout convenor.
Fall meeting, 7-8 November, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Lab, Ed Cake, local arrangements coordinator, with 21 papers and 1 poster in contributed session, 1 movie.
1986
Executive Committee
Pete Sheridan, President
Michael Vecchione, Vice President and Program Chairman
Harold Stevenson, Past President
Judy Stout, Secretary-Treasurer
C.B. Subrahmanyam, Member-at-Large
Donald Harper, Newsletter Editor
Winston Menzel, Archivist
Spring meeting, 15-16 May, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Cocodrie, Louisiana, Nancy Rabalais, local arrangements coordinator, with 22 papers and 1 poster in the contributed session and mini-symposia on "Biological Implications of Coastal Marsh Erosion," 5 papers, Eric Knudsen convenor and "Physiological Ecology of Estuarine Organisms," 6 papers, Raymond Henry convenor. First Great International Invitational LUMCON/GERS Pirogue Races.
Freeport McMoran Best Student paper:
Gary Shaffer, Louisiana State University (first)
Shiao Wang, Louisiana State University (second)
Winston Menzel unanimously awarded lifetime honorary membership for his many achievements in estuarine research, his student training, and his support and participation in GERS.
Membership: 199
Finances: $1,924
Fall meeting, 30-31 October, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Eric Knudsen, local arrangements coordinator, with 21 papers in the contributed session and a mini-symposium on "Recruitment Processes in Marine Organisms," 9 papers, Jim Power convenor.
Freeport Sulphur Best Student Paper awards:
David Burdick, Louisiana State University (first)
Thomas Matthews, University of Alabama (second)
Membership: 241
1987
No spring meeting; not enough abstracts.
Biennial Estuarine Research Federation meeting in New Orleans, October 25-29. Special GERS session at meeting.
Finances: $4,057
1988
Executive Committee
John M. Wakeman, President
Peter F. Sheridan, Past President
Robert W. Hastings, Vice President
Nancy N. Rabalais, Secretary-Treasurer
Paul R. Ramsey, Newsletter Editor
Gary R. Gaston , Member-at-Large
R. Winston Menzel, Archivist
Fall meeting at McNeese University, Gary Gaston, local arrangements. 21 papers, including 5 papers in mini-symposium on "Status of Red Drum in the Gulf of Mexico."
Freeport Sulfur best student paper awards to Michael Banks, Univ. of Texas Marine Science Inst. (first) and Elizabeth Wilson, Texas A&M University (second).
Finances: $3,098
1989
Executive Committee
John Wakeman, President
Peter Sheridan , Past President
Cindy Moncreiff, Vice President
Nancy Rabalais , Secretary-Treasurer
Spring meeting at LUMCON in Cocodrie, April 6-8, Nancy Rabalais, local arrangements. 32 contributed papers, including 7 in a mini-symposium on the "Biology of Red and Black Drum in the Gulf of Mexico."
Freeport Sulfur best student paper awards to Dan Childers, Louisiana State University, and Dave Stanley, Louisiana State University.
Second Great International Invitational LUMCON/GERS Pirogue Races were a splashing success.
No fall meeting. The Estuarine Research Federation met in Baltimore in October 1989.
Finances: $4,656
1990
Executive Committee
Robert Hastings, President
John Wakeman, Past President
Cindy Moncreiff, Vice President
Nancy Rabalais , Secretary-Treasurer
Frank Reilly, Newsletter Editor
Gary R. Gaston, Member-at-Large
Andy Tirpak, Member-at-Large
Spring meeting, Gulf Coast Research Lab, Biloxi, Mississippi. 17 presentations, but the meeting was well attended (58 registrants).
Best Student paper awards were: Mark C. Benfield, Texas A&M University, Galveston, and Michael H. Saucier, Dept. of Marine Sciences, Louisiana State University.
The position of Archivist was left open, with the current officers instructed to pass along the files to next respective officer.
Donald ("Curly") Wohlschlag was made an Honorary Member.
Fall meeting at Center for Coastal & Marine Studies, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, local arrangements, Dave Bechler. 15 presentations, including 6 in a mini-symposium on "Waterfowl Dynamics in Estuarine Systems," and 2 posters. Student travel awards were given to the 5 students presenters at the meeting.
Finances: $6,552
1991
Executive Committee
Robert Hastings, President
John Wakeman, Past President
Dave Flemer, Vice President
Nancy Rabalais, Secretary-Treasurer
Frank Reilly, Newsletter Editor
Andy Tirpak, Member-at-Large
Spring meeting, joint meeting with SEERS in Gulf Breeze, Florida, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Florida, Dave Flemer, local arrangements. 30 presentations, 5 posters.
Student paper awards were presented to Mark Benfield, Texas A&M University, and Daniel Llewellyn, Southeastern Louisiana University.
Estuarine Research Federation Biennial Meeting in San Francisco. GERS sponsored a travel award to Rick Raynie to attend the meeting (lottery).
Nancy Rabalais elected as Member-at-Large for Estuarine Research Federation governing board (2-year term).
Finances: $6,829
1992
Executive Committee
Gary Gaston, President
Robert Hastings, Past President
Scott Holt, Vice President
Nancy Rabalais, Secretary-Treasurer
Lawrence Rozas, Newsletter Editor
Rick Roller, Member-at-Large
Spring meeting, April 2-4, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, Scott Holt, local arrangements. 30 presentations, approx. 68 in attendance.
Best student paper awards, Sally Jo Palmer, Texas A&M University, and Elizabeth A. Wilson, Texas A&M University. Four travel awards were made to students attending the meeting (lottery).
Fall 1992, Estuarine Research Federation met with the Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association in Plymouth, England.
Finances: $8,483
1993
Executive Committee
Gary Gaston, President
Robert Hastings, Past President
Jon Pennock, Vice President
Nancy Rabalais, Secretary-Treasurer
Lawrence Rozas, Newsletter Editor
Tina Miller-Way, Newsletter Editor
Rick Roller, Member-at-Large
Spring meeting was held in conjunction with the Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting in Mobile, Alabama, April 2-4. Four student travel awards were made to student presenters at the meeting.
Best student paper awards, Cynthia Moncreiff, Mississippi State University, Sean Powers, University of New Orleans, and Kuo-Tung Jian, Texas A&M University.
Estuarine Research Federation Biennial Meeting in Hilton Head, South Carolina, 6 student travel awards given by GERS.
Finances: $8,711
1994
Executive Committee
Dan Childers, President
Gary Gaston, Past President
Jon Pennock, Vice President
Nancy Rabalais , Secretary-Treasurer
Tina Miller-Way, Newsletter Editor
Rick Roller, Member-at-Large
Spring meeting at Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, local arrangements by Rick Roller and Tom Bianchi. 23 presentations, 1 poster. 3 student travel awards.
Best student papers, Kamille Hammerstrom, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Cory Lambert, Lamar University.
Finances: $8,302
1995
Executive Committee
Dan Childers, President
Gary Gaston, Past President
Earl Melancon, Vice President
Nancy Rabalais, Secretary-Treasurer
Tina Miller-Way, Newsletter Editor
Terry McTigue, Member-at-Large
Spring meeting at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, local arrangements, Robert Twilley, Bill Rizzo, Terry McTigue. 34 presentations, 9 posters, approx. 75 in attendance, 4 student travel awards.
Best student paper awards, Sean Powers, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Robert Dauost, Florida International University, Margaret Pace, Louisiana State University, Jorge Espinoza, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Tom McGinnis, University of Southwestern Louisiana.
Beginning of Institutional Liaisons Program, headed by Dan Childers. Hosted 6 students at the spring meeting.
Constitutional amendment will change the officers to President Elect and President for 1996 for 2-year terms.
Estuarine Research Federation meeting in October 1995 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Nancy Rabalais elected President-Elect of ERF.
Finances: $9,211
1996
Executive Committee
Ed Proffitt, President
Dan Childers, Past President
Terry McTigue, President-Elect
Lawrence Rozas, Secretary-Treasurer
Tina Miller-Way, Newsletter Editor
Nancy Rabalais, Member-at-Large
Cindy Moncreiff, Member-at-Large
Spring meeting was a combined meeting with the Southeast Estuarine Research
Society and the Benthic Ecology Meeting held at the University of South Carolina
in Columbia, SC; local arrangements, Daniel Childers and (Sally Woodin, Bruce
Coull, Dennis Allen with SEERS/BEM).
7 GERS presentations, approx. 500 in attendance; Institutional Liaisons Program
hosted 7 students at the meeting.
GERS Web Page was established at LUMCON; initially designed and set up by
Lynette Duet.
Jessica Kastler became the first student member elected to the GERS Executive
Committee.
Finances: $9,284
1997
Executive Committee
Ed Proffitt, President
Dan Childers, Past President
Terry McTigue, President-Elect
Lawrence Rozas, Secretary-Treasurer
Tina Miller-Way, Newsletter Editor
Nancy Rabalais, Member-at-Large
Cindy Moncreiff, Member-at-Large
Jessica Kastler, Student Representative
Spring meeting at the University of Southern Mississippi Institute of Marine
Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory; local arrangements, Cindy Moncrieff
and Chet Rakocinski.
30 presentations, 7 posters, approx. 80 in attendance, Institutional Liaisons
Program (Mentors in Marine and Estuarine
Sciences) hosted 6 students at the meeting.
Best student paper awards: Rob Daoust, Florida International University and
Jessica Kastler, Louisiana State University (both given travel awards to attend
ERF meeting in Providence, RI).
Executive Committe voted to begin publishing GERS meeting abstracts in Coast
Research Reports.
Name of ILP program changed to MIMES (Mentors in Marine and Estuarine Sciences).
GERS Web Page upgraded by Ben Cole.
Estuarine Research Society meeting held in Providence, Rhode Island. Nancy
Rabalais became president of ERF. Gene Turner represented GERS in the Regional
Contrasts Thematic Session.
Finances: $11,177
