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KIRTLANDIA SOCIETY
General Meeting - October 12, 2002

After coffee and conversation, President Barbara Coleman called the general meeting of the Kirtlandia Society to order at 10:04 a.m. in the Rare Book Room of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Approximately thirty-five (35) members and guests attended. President Coleman welcomed the guests and asked Bill MacDermott to introduce the guests and any new members. He stated there are no new members at this time. However, several guests are in attendance, among them the Litts' grandsons, Jacob and Adam, the Masseys' friend, Nancy Veraar, and a new volunteer in Entomology, Yezid Gutierrez.

President Coleman announced that there was no report on the Adopt-A-Student program due to Walt Stephens' absence. We will be hearing from him next month.

Jane Litt reported that she has two (2) lists for members to peruse and perhaps sign. The first involves listing schools where a member would be able to contact a staff member or teacher, other than just the department head, to publicize our Adopt-A-Student program. Her second list was a sign-up sheet to offer housing to an AAS for the 8-week period next summer should we receive an application from an outstanding student where the only factor prohibiting their acceptance would be a need for housing in Cleveland. Jane also encouraged everyone to visit the newly refurbished Discovery Center.

Treasurer Greenwald said there is not much new to report since September's report. We are solvent, and membership dues are coming in nicely. The Endowment Fund remains at approximately $141,800. Because of current economic conditions, the next report will probably not be as good.

Pete Church, Hospitality Chairman, reminded the members that this year is Photo Society's turn to host the Holiday Party. It will be held on Saturday, December 7. Reservation information will be mailed out later.

Ann DuFresne, Museum Liaison, and Bert Szabo, Vice President, had no reports.

Bob Taylor, Program Chairman, introduced the speaker, Dr. Samuel Root, Professor Emeritus of Geology, at Wooster College. His topic was "Petroleum Resources of Ohio---and Beyond". The focus of his talk was metal resources and fossil fuels and where they fit into our lives in the future. Using charts and diagrams, he managed to communicate to us in simple language the complexities of how oil and gas are formed in geologic strata. Because of this placement of the oil, and the rocks it is found in, he portrayed to us why oil prospecting is as much an art as a science. Dr. Root pointed out that our current oil consumption is greater than ever and that we cannot continue consuming these limited resources at this rate for much longer. As a result, he advocated pursuing alternative fuels as soon as possible as our transition time to other fuels will be 10 to 20 years.

After questions and answers, President Coleman adjourned the meeting at 11:17 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan MacDermott
Recording Secretary

Created 10/2802