Dear SVP Member,

I want to thank you for your membership and ongoing support of SVP, and encourage you to renew your SVP membership for 2008-09. Renewing your membership ensures that you'll continue to have access to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (JVP) and to enjoy lower member registration rates to SVP events. Also, your prompt renewal helps us spend less on administration and more on programs and services for our members.

Here are some of SVP's achievements for the current membership year. SVP now has over 2,300 members from 52 countries. We have initiated the first SVP-sponsored Field Conference to occur August 5-7 in the Hanna Basin, Wyoming. The SVP Web site includes a timely SVP news area, with archived copies of all e-mail blasts. All of the back issues of the JVP will soon become available to SVP members free, through a Web link on the Members-only web page to JSTOR and BioOne.

Coming attractions include a climate forum for SVP members and the public at the Cleveland SVP meeting, the first overseas annual meeting in Bristol, England in September 2009, increased support for student travel to the Bristol meeting, a new program to provide opportunities for scientists from developing countries to attend the annual SVP meeting (starting with the 2009 meeting), and creation of a DVD about SVP that highlights our society, our members, and our annual meeting. (The rough cut, viewed in early June, is terrific!)

This year, we have an IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP YEAR CHANGE! SVP's normal membership year has been October 1 through September 30. The Business Office and Executive Committee have decided that SVP will benefit from a membership year that coincides with the calendar year, and that transition begins this fall. In order to move to a calendar year, (January 1 through December 31), SVP must have a 15-month year from October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. Dues have been pro-rated for this 15-month year. With regard to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (JVP), subscribing members will receive five (5) issues of the JVP during this 15-month membership year.

I also request that you consider making an additional contribution to one or more of our program and scholarship funds that are listed on the online member renewal form. By making a contribution to one of SVP's funds, you're helping to ensure a strong future for vertebrate paleontology. If you make a donation of $145 or more (in addition to regular member dues of $140), you will be recognized in a special member category. Your gift will be acknowledged in the SVP News Bulletin, in the third 2008 issue of the JVP, and in signage at the 2008 annual meeting.

NEW! SVP has instituted a new Vertebrate Paleontology Education and Research Fund that will be used to support new and continuing educational and research programs with broad benefits for the society. This fund conforms will provide resources to support the best new ideas that come along.

Your continued membership with SVP benefits each of us with an array of scientific, professional and career resources. Thank you.


Sincerely,

Catherine Badgley
President, SVP

To renew your SVP membership for 2008-2009, follow these instructions:

1) Go to the SVP Web site and log in to the Members' Only Area.

2) Once logged in, look for the link at the left side that says "Dues Reminder." This should appear just below the "Edit Password" link. If you do not see the "Dues Reminder" link, it means you are not logged in, or your dues have already been paid.

3) Click on the "Dues Reminder" link. After you have read through the introduction page, you must agree to the Ethics Statement clause to proceed to the renewal form.

4) On the dues renewal form, we have set up the mandatory dues, which must be checked, along with the optional donation categories. Each donation category can be checked/selected if you wish to make a contribution. If you choose to make a donation to a fund, there is a suggested minimum contribution amount of $10.00 USD. With each donation, the total price displayed at the bottom of the list of items will increase.

5) If you have any questions, you can call the SVP business office at 847/480-9095, or e-mail us at svp@vertpaleo.org.