Attendees:
Stephanie Connolly, USDA-NRCS (recorder)
Wendy J. Noll, USDA-NRCS
Marsha Sheppard, Pinawa, MB, Canada
Inmen Lebron, Riverside, CA
Heather Dion, Dept. of Chem, WSU, Pullman, WA
Joyce Schyer, USDA-NRCS
Susan E. Samson-Liebig, USDA-NRCS (chair)
Bob Luxmoore, ESD-ORNC
Lenore Vasilas, USDA-NRCS
Sabine Goldberg, USDA-ARS
Patty Wright, USDA-NRCS
Annie Engebretson, SSSA HQ
Ann Mason, New Private Sector Rep.
Margie Faber, USDA-NRCS
Suzanne Allaire-Leung, Orange, CA
Jim Culver, USDA-NRCS

Susan Samson-Liebig called the meeting to order @ 6:00 p.m. in the Minneapolis Convention Center during the first day of the Annual Agronomy Society of America Meeting.

Founder and member, Barbara Leuelling, Soil Scientist - US Forest Service, Superior National Forest, gave a presentation about her life and career as a woman soil scientist and about the inspirations and origins of the Association of Women Soil Scientists.

The following is a summary of that presentation:

-Graduated with a B.A. in English Literature, Knox College, IL
-Graduated with a M.S. in Geography, Louisiana State University, MS
-During her graduate work, she supervised 2 crews of students to assist her in mapping the Mississippi Delta
-Barbara worked at a wildlife refuge on the Delta
-1978 - Barbara moved with spouse to Seattle and accepts a position as a hydrogeologist with a geotechnical firm. She specialized in projects dealing with soil stability, mapping bulk densities, and site inspections.
-Barbara accepted a position at Fort Stanwick National Monument, NY
Barbara described some of the hurdles and obstacles that she faced as a hew female soil scientist. She encountered situations such as a romantic advance from a coworker; biases and attitudes about women working in the field; and the perceptions from employers that hard labor would be objectionable to her spouse. One break through she recounted was the ability to move from a "lab tech" in her lab during her graduate studies to "one of the guys" after breaking a beaker during her last week of work in the lab.

In 1980, Barbara began her career with the US Forest Service at the Isabelle Ranger Station. She was the first professional woman to work in the forest as well as the first soil scientist. She was part of an earlier initiative by the US Forest Service to integrate a male/female professional workforce. She found the District Ranger to be very supportive and the Recreationist to be up front and forwardly combat the problems that appeared. The other women technicians helped her learn how to do business in the National Forest and Forest Service and linked her to the workforce. It was during this time that Barbara felt that there was a need to form a society of women professionals to start networking.

Barbara was faced with new issues as a professional and was looking for other professionals willing to share their experiences, especially in an environment which was dominated primarily at the time by white males.

She identified some basics early on:

Professionals are different from technicians in that they are expected to delegate tasks to staff; prepare a budget; and develop a program.
She knew that women in the US Forest Service appeared professionally threatening to their male counterparts and peers. Some women even experienced physical violence. It was then that the USDA developed the Federal Women's Program. A forum began to discuss the issues that arose between men and women; the program still functions currently.
Also during this time, Barbara received an interagency circulation that consisted of approximately 30 handwritten letters. This was the compilation of memoirs on the Origin of Women in Natural Resources compiled by Linda Donahue. Through Linda's efforts Barbara realized she, herself, could start the Women in Soil Science newsletter. Barbara began receiving many small notes of encouragement that meant the world to her, and the notes encouraged her to pursue the newsletter for years. Margie Faber was one of the supportive women, as was Donna Duffy, the first woman soil scientist that Barbara met. Barbara still keeps these early correspondences. The newsletter gained ground and culminated in the first AWSS meeting attended by Barbara, Peg Harris, and Carol Wettstein at the '90/'91 ASA meeting.

Barbara still sees problems and stereotypes in the workforce. She sees tendencies for women to ask themselves if they are as good, better, or not as good as their male coworkers.

Barbara ended her presentation with a wonderful quote. "The real things in life are those that happen to us."

(Additionally, Barbara relayed her personal feelings through stories, work environment examples, and friendships she had with other women professionals.)

REPORTS FROM SELECTED COMMITTEES:

MENTORING:
Lenore Vasilas reported on the mentoring award. She stated that the Association received only 2 nominations for the award, and it was decided unanimously that both nominees share the award. The first mentoring award went to Barbara Leuelling and Margie Faber at the Soil Water Conservation Society 2000 Meeting. It was discussed that the next mentoring award be given at the 2001 ASA meeting in Charlotte, NC. There was more discussion to pursue developing a membership drive to fund the award. Also, the group talked about the progress of the ASA's Women in Agronomy Committee, to establish a mentorship award through the SSSA and if the efforts of the two groups were still combined.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION:

Continued interest and discussion of keeping separate from the ASA Women in Agronomy
Benefits of not being associated with ASA or SSSA
Maxine Levin suggested assembling a list of technical papers to be presented by women at annual meetings and conferences. Susan will follow up with suggestions of putting a site on the web page.
Approached the possibility of sponsoring a symposium.
The importance of being politically connected with larger groups.
THE PROPOSAL FOR A NEW LOGO:
Donna Hulka designed a new logo. It is a circle with a natural resource design inside. When you turn the design side ways, it is a face of a woman. Stephanie Connolly suggested that the logo be turned into an animated logo that gets clicked on when you enter the AWSS web site and has a monthly message attached and turn sideways so that you see the face.

NEW PRIVATE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED:
Ann Mason volunteered to be this representative. She is a private consultant with her own company. She will take the place of Myra Peak, former representative. Myra stepped down from this position several years ago.

OUTREACH:
Marsha Sheppard proposed the idea of actively starting outreach again. She suggested for future booth displays that we have stickers with our web site on them. The group also talked about getting a listserve e-mail to departments in Natural Resources and Agriculture of land grant institutes and other known ag related institutions.

Susan ended the meeting and the minutes will be submitted by Stephanie J. Connolly and posted on the web page.