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THOUGHTS FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT: SCB'S PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIUM

On the road of life the important milestones between birth and death do not come at regular intervals; they are clustered in a manner that might remind an evolutionary biologist of punctuated equilibrium. Graduation, first job, marriage, and parenthood all tend to concentrate during early adulthood. It is not always a happy or content period of one's life, but it is certainly exciting, full of challenges and opportunities. SCB is becoming a young adult and we are starting to pass milestones at a rapid clip--Conservation Biology In Practice, NeoCons, forming international sections, establishing an executive office, and much more--making life very exciting indeed.

One of the most challenging milestones lies down the road a year or two: a serious entrée into the arena of global conservation policy. Many of us, myself included, have sometimes wondered whether we should even travel down this particular road. However, with our membership survey showing 78% support for this idea, the decision is made; that's where we are going. Of course we have some fundamental work to do first. To overextend the driving metaphor, we have to plot a safe and efficient route by ascertaining the optimal way to be "a player" in the global arena. Even more importantly, we have to check our oil, fuel, and tires; i.e., make sure that all our routine activities like publications, web site, meetings, and membership services are running smoothly.

There are at least three things you can do to help. First, when you renew your membership for 2002 please use our new web-based renewal system, and be sure to give us your email address. Email has become a key medium for efficiently communicating with our membership. Don't worry about an SCB email deluge; we average less than one per month and never share our distribution list with other groups. Second, join one of our committees; their roles are outlined in the Activities section of www.conservationbiology.org. Most importantly, please recruit new members at home and abroad. Consider sponsoring a subscription for a student or a colleague in a developing country; in 2002, sponsored subscriptions will cost as little as US$25 for certain options.

The road ahead will have some curves and bumps but I promise a rewarding ride . . . and no further road-based metaphors of dubious suitability for a conservation group!

Malcolm "Mac" Hunter, President

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