After a tumultuous two weeks of editing, rewriting and scrambling to get approvals, we finalized the newsletter and sent it to print. Much thanks and gratitude go out to Linda Bowen of Computer Marketing Services in New Milford, who walked us through this process of developing a chapter newsletter, and getting it mailed. You will certainly see her touch in the final version ... it looks like it was designed and assembled by a professional, and we're fortunate to be able to say "it was." With great aplomb (and a sigh of relief) we present the final version of our Autumn 2005 Newsletter [860kb] which should be in your mailbox by the time you see this.

Linda also walked us through the process of submitting for a non-profit bulk rate mailing certificate from the Post Office. Much thanks are due Pat van de Kamp for filing those forms.

The Newsletter also becomes a legal document for us. We are required by our Bylaws, to announce the Slate of Directors proposed for election at the annual meeting 30 days in advance of that meeting. And while the Minutes of the Nominating Committee have been available on theis web site since shortly after their meeting, and we've had an article on the Nominees since September 19th, we still take seriously the obligation to provide the Membership with a printed copy of the proposed Slate. This is also the place to find the Absentee Ballot for 2005 Elections (November 12, 2005) to be held at the Annual Membership Meeting at Yale should you not be able to attend.

This Newsletter was mailed out to the entire CT-TACF membership, and a few former members who haven't renewed recently. Obviously there were costs associated with printing and mailing a larger audience. The hopes are that former members, reading about our mission and activities will be encouraged to become involved and renew their membership. This is a great time to be involved with a project that is showing phenomenal promise, and joing a team that is making that happen.

Bill Adamsen CT-TACF Director

Thanks go out to Dr. Fred Paillet for the wonderful pen and ink drawing he provided for the Newsletter Logo. Dr. Fred Paillet recently retired as a Research Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey where he was a prinicpal investigator at the Long Term Ecological Research site Hubbard Brook. He is now Research Professor of Geology at the University of Maine, and where he contines to be interested in paleo-ecology and paleo-climate studies. As you can see from the Logo, he is also an artist of significant talent.