Boston, Massachusetts
March 25, 1998

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       The first official meeting was called to order by Dr. Paul Frederic, Chair.  The agenda was distributed and approved.  New officers were introduced.  The December Newsletter was distributed which included the address list of officers.  Changes and additions were noted.

       Currently the membership contains 102 members.  The treasury amounts to $162.

       The 3/23/98 draft of the bylaws were discussed.  Several changes were made.  The revised document was then approved.  Most noteworthy was the increase in regular and corresponding membership dues to $4.00.  This includes non-AAG member students.  AAG student membership dues remain unchanged.  Dr. Orland Maxfield assisted with the drafting of the bylaws.  Official thanks were accorded to him.

       A significant point of discussion concerned student membership and involvement as officers.  It was recognized that students can hold regular offices in the specialty group and that concerted effort should be made to identify students and encourage them to be on the board and to serve as officers in the group.

       Jodi Vender of Penn State University was appointed Newsletter Editor.  Michael Dorn of University of Kentucky will work with Jodi in constructing a web site and listserv for the specialty group.

       A working committee to oversee authorship of the HOG Chapter in Geography in America (revised) Gaile and Willmott was appointed.  Geoffrey Martin, Allen Bushong, Chris Haig, and Miriam Hill were the original members.  (Committee membership has since been altered.  William Koelsch has replaced Chris Haig.)

       Paper sessions for the 1999 meeting were discussed.  The specialty group is too new to provide any support to graduate students attending the meeting.

       The directors were asked to solicit suggestions for possible future awards.  These suggestions can include awards for student papers.

       Other business included a discussion that the group should start planning something special for the 2004 meeting.  The meeting was then adjourned.

--Miriam Helen Hill, Secretary