During our 43rd Annual meeting, February 9-11, 2007 more than 80 people attended our meeting. It was gratifying to watch the direction that current geographic research is leading our profession. Along with the faculty presentations there were graduate and undergraduate sessions. Topics ranged from Techniques and Physical Geography to Karst topography, as wells as International and Human Geography. The six poster presentations were judged for the Student Honors Competition category for Best Poster. A great thank you goes to our 2007 corporate sponsor Jeanne Fillman Richards and Storm Richards of Storm L. Richards & Associates, Inc. for supplementing the Student Honors Paper and Poster competition cash prizes. Suggestions and recommendations on how to increase corporate sponsorship for FSG events is always encouraged.

One of the goals this year is to increase and maintain our membership. Conference attendance has been increasing steadily in the past few years but there is room for greater expansion. It is critical to continue our efforts to reach all geographers in Florida and encourage them to join our society. The viability and strength of every organization depends on their members. I am optimistic that all Geography Department Heads will make an extra effort to invite everyone to join our society.

Our members enjoy the following benefits: Receive a copy of the annual issue of The Florida Geographer journal; Keep up-to-date on issues and developments in the field of Geography; An opportunity to present your scholarly research in a more intimate and friendlier setting; Meet and network with other Florida Geographers; Learn about new approaches, methods and techniques; Hear papers and discussion of work of others; Get access to Information about job availability; It shows you are involved and dedicated to our field; Professional membership is an excellent addition to your resume! Today it is an exciting time to be a geographer. Our discipline is re-discovered again because the need to generate new geographic knowledge, tools and methods through research is becoming fundamental. Geography provides a special way of looking at our surrounding place and space. Analyzing the world around us from a spatial perspective is the most important contribution we as geographers can make.

The Florida Society of Geographers since 1964 has established a tradition for providing a forum to showcase the current geographic research of our colleagues. I am eager to hear your ideas on how to continue growing FSG membership and scope. If we all work together and use our strengths we can continue the 44-year tradition. In closing, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you as your President in the coming year.