* Password Protected - Western Section members can obtain the password from any Board member.
8 June, 2007: Barry Garrison
Born June 25, 1958, in Ventura, CA, Barry left us too soon on June 8, 2007. Barry grew up in Sacramento and attended Orange Grove Elementary, Churchill Middle and La Sierra High schools. He also attended American River College and later earned a B.S. from Humboldt State University and a M.S. from Virginia Tech in Wildlife Biology. For the past 12 years, Barry has resided in Davis, CA. Barry is survived by & deeply loved by his broken-hearted family: wife of 24 years, Catherine (Cathie) Vouchilas and precious children, Nicole (15 yrs) and Christopher (11 yrs); loving parents, Lowell and Colette Garrison; best friend & brother, Mark; and sisters, Nicole Eastly & Jennifer Harrison; as well as numerous beloved nieces & nephews, in-laws, friends and colleagues. Barry was first and foremost a doting husband and father that was very engaged in his children's lives, participating in various youth sports and cub scouts. He shared his love of wildlife with his wife & children and enjoyed exploring the great outdoors together. Barry enjoyed a distinguished career as a respected Wildlife Biologist working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and for the last 18 years, the California Department of Fish and Game, assessing and protecting fish and wildlife resources throughout the state. He has been an active member and leader of The Western Section of the Wildlife Society. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service on Saturday June 16, 2007, 11:00am, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B Street, Davis, CA. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to his children's college fund. Checks can be made payable to Charles Schwab, in care of Penni Burgess, P.O. Box 181, Alamo, CA, 94507.Obituary published in the Sacramento Bee on 6/13/2007.
Top
13 September, 2005: Past issues of the Transactions of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society are now online!
The Western Section of The Wildlife Society is pleased to announce the online availability of all papers published in the "Transactions of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society" since the publication of the initial issue in 1966 of the "Transactions" with scientific papers. Having these papers available on the Section's web site is a significant benefit for wildlife professionals and the interested public and represents a significant accomplishment for the Section. The papers are available in .pdf format and can be accessed directly from a HTML file containing a chronological index of all papers published since 1966 that includes subject fields (use your browser's Find function (Control F) to find keywords.) These papers are available at no cost to anyone accessing the Section's web site, and the papers can be printed or saved directly from the web site. The papers are indexed by the publication year, title (with the direct web link to the paper), authors, and several subject headings. Older papers that were scanned from the original paper copies cannot be searched within the document, while more recent papers that were converted to .pdf format from electronic text can be searched for keywords or text strings within the document. Work to scan all past issues of the "Transactions" and prepare the index was made possible by several generous donations from Dr. Marshall White, a lifetime member and a past President of the Western Section. We intend to update the directory with each annual issue of the "Transactions" after the most recent issue has been published and distributed to Section members. Please contact the Webmaster if you have problems with the online directory.
Top
7 July 2004: President's Message, April 2004
I am happy to report that the 50th anniversary conference and celebration was a resounding success. Attended by over 475 participants, the conference had many highlights. I especially appreciated the opportunity to meet a number of the charter members of the Western Section, as well as other Past-Presidents and Board members. The commitment to their profession that is exhibited by those who built the Section is truly inspirational. I want to thank Barry Garrison for many hours of work in organizing the special events associated with the 50th anniversary, including the invitation and hosting of charter members and former officers, memorabilia table and banquet events. We also had the opportunity to honor two people for their life-long contributions to wildlife science and conservation: Robert C. Stebbins and C.J. Ralph. The technical program had many highlights as well, and I look forward to what promises to be one of the larger Transactions volumes in recent memory.
It is unfortunate that at the same time we celebrate the Western Section's first 50 years, that we are also facing a challenging financial situation that has required a significant change in our operations for the near future. Although the 2004 conference was financially successful, it was preceded by a sharp drop in revenues at events of the past year or more. At the end of March, the Section's balance was insufficient to cover outstanding bills. Although revenue from memberships and future events will ensure that we pay those bills, it became necessary to lay off our paid staff for the time being. The Executive Board is taking other measures to reduce expenses, such as conducting Board meetings by conference call rather than in person. The Professional Development Committee is also working hard to control the costs associated with upcoming events. Events planned for summer and fall should help to restore the financial condition of the Section, and it is my goal to restore staffing in the fall when preparation for the annual conference becomes most intensive. This is most likely to be on a part-time basis initially, and would take place after a careful analysis of our financial status and a clear plan for future. There is no doubt that the economic situation that has affected travel budgets and employment in our Section's area has taken its toll on us as well. It was especially painful to make this decision given the outstanding service provided by both our Executive Director, Barbara Rocco, and our membership coordinator, Danielle Szalas, for their service to the Western Section. Many of the Section's activities of recent years would have been difficult if not impossible to conduct without their work. Although the upcoming year will be a rebuilding year financially, it is my intent to maintain the Section's role as a premier professional development and support organization.
Top
7 June 2004: The Wildlife Society announces WILDLIFE JOBS ONLINE
The national TWS web site now has a new jobs board at http://www.wildlife.org/jobs/.
The fee for advertising a position on Wildlife Jobs Online is $350 (USD) for each 150-word increment of the position announcement text. TWS members may place free advertisements (150 words or less) for Volunteer Positions and Internships. Please provide your full membership name and membership number (if known) in lieu of payment information. The TWS member must be listed as the application contact in the position description to receive a free ad. More information is available at http://www.wildlife.org/jobs/WildlifeJobsOnline.pdf
Top
12 April 2004: Charter Members, Presidents, and Officers gather at the 2004 Annual Conference in Rohnert Park
Charter Members
Presidents
Officers
Top
5 January 2004: New Publication Available through the Western Section
The Western Section has available for sale the latest publication from the California Department of Fish and Game. The "Atlas of the Biodiversity of California" can be purchased for $20 each plus $4.50 shipping and handling to the continental US. We can
ship outside of the continental US for an extra shipping fee. An online order form is available. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.About the Atlas
The "Atlas of the Biodiversity of California" is a fascinating guide to the state's biological resources. This book is a bound collection of maps, stunning photographs, and artistic illustrations, -all depicting the state's rich diversity of plant and animal species. It includes 87 nature photographs, 48 full-color maps, and 10 wildlife illustrations by Dugald Stermer, a well-known author and artist. The Atlas details the Golden State's biological resources and covers a wide array of terrestrial and aquatic animals. Featured articles by dozens of California Department of Fish and Game experts cover many diverse species, habitats, and programs geared toward conserving and protecting the state's wildlife and wild places.
This book explains the state's remarkable geography, shows how we measure biodiversity, and provides samples of the complexity and uniqueness of many of California's treasured wildlife habitats. The Atlas answers such questions as why should we care about biodiversity, what plants and animals occur in California, how they have been lost or become threatened, and what preservation and restoration strategies are underway for the protection of the state's wildlife species.
From college students to outdoor enthusiasts, environmental planners to policy makers, the "Atlas of the Biodiversity of California" will appeal to anyone with an interest in California's biological resources. For additional information about the Atlas, visit the DFG website at www.atlas.dfg.ca.gov.
Top
13 December 2003: Western Section TWS Sponsorship
Two of the Western Sections recent Symposia, the Burrowing Owl Symposium and the Invasive Species Symposium were sponsored by a number of organizations. The logos of these organizations, with links to their websites, appeared on symposia information and registration pages on our website. For a donation to defray the costs of publishing and maintaining the website of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, your logo will appear on our home page.
Contact Cynthia Perrine at csgperrine@yahoo.com for information on this new program.
Top
Your Section Needs Your Help…
To my knowledge, we've never solicited contributions from our members; however, we now need your help.
This past year, the Western Section has felt the economic crunch resulting from cutbacks in state and federal training and travel funds, as well as generally slow economic times. Attendance at our 2003 Annual Conference was below normal, although expenses were higher than those of the previous year. Although we are making every effort to reduce Section expenses (e.g., an electronic Newsletter), we need to continue with some upcoming events and activities.
We've been asked to keep our workshop and conference registration fees to a reasonable level while, at the same time, continue to offer high-quality events that you enjoy. We are working on an education program for grade-school students, a promotional video for college students, a mentorship program, and Section-sponsored field trips for grade-school students to introduce them to and educate them in wildlife and conservation biology.
In addition, with most presenters at our workshops and conferences now using PowerPoint presentations, we find it necessary and more cost-effective to purchase some LCD projectors. LCD projectors cost about $1,500-2,000 each. When we rent them at our conference facilities, the facilities charge $800-1,000 per day for each! (Multiply that expense by four projectors for 3 days!)
Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to the Western Section as you renew your Section membership or simply fill out the online contribution form and submit it electronically. Any amount will be appreciated!
Thank you for your continued support!
Western Section of TWS
President John Harris
Top
29 July 2002: Seen any kit foxes lately?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is interested in any sighting by a biologist of San Joaquin kit fox in the most northern portion of its range. Sightings are rare in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Joaquin Counties, and we would like to follow up with immediate trapping and radio-collaring of any foxes seen in these three counties. There are also red foxes, gray foxes, and coyotes in all three counties.Please contact Cheryl Johnson at (916)414-6528 or Cheryl_D_Johnson@fws.gov. She will need a description of the animal and a location. For information on kit foxes, their habitat, and distinguishing characteristics, please see the following web sites:
- http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/es/training.htm
http://arnica.csustan.edu/esrpp/sjkfprof.htm
http://sacramento.fws.gov/es/animal_spp_acct/sj_kit_fox.htm
Top