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We have been mulling over several possible changes and new configurations for the AASP editorial board for several years now, and I am pleased to announce our new organization and manuscript review process which will officially begin in 1996. Members are as follows:
In a nutshell, instead of the old managing editor/journal editor duo of the past, we now have an editorial committee of nine persons, representing a wide spectrum of palynological expertise, who will handle the review and publication process for the AASP journal. Effectively immediately, manuscripts for Palynology should be sent to the Managing Editor (Goodman) who will review each paper for scientific content and journal style, and then forward it to the appropriate member of the editorial board (the "review editor"). The review editor will handle all reviews and correspondence with reviewers and authors. Authors will then send the revised manuscripts to their review editor, who will insure that changes have been made then forward the entire package to the managing editor for final preparation prior to typesetting. The managing editor will send the entire package to Robert Clarke in Dallas for typesetting (just as we have been doing for the past three years). After the galley is complete, the managing editor and one other review editor (not the person who originally dealt with the paper) will proof the manuscript (along with authors and Clarke, of course). That's about the extent of it. The managing editor will assemble the journal and thus serve as de facto journal editor.
The intent of these changes is twofold. Primarily, we are committed to quick turnaround of manuscripts and we hope that the new organization will be better able to achieve that goal than in the past. Secondly, participation in the publication process by a greater number of persons allows more AASP members to take an active role in organizational activities, and it substantially reduces the amount of work required by any single individual in the group (a major relief after nearly ten years of doing it as a one- or two-man shop).
Mike Farabee has done a commendable job during his tenure as assistant journal editor and journal editor for the past several years. However, he is now interested in pursuing some new projects and has asked that his role and responsibilities be lessened in order to go down those roads. He has agreed to continue with editing and will be handling our Mesozoic spore/pollen reviews in the future. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mike for his continued service to AASP; we have had a productive relationship assembling the journal in the past, and I look forward to working with Mike in his new role as a member the editorial board. Newsletter/Webmaster (Head) and book review (Wicander) functions will continue without change. Please take some time and thank both Reed and Martin for their substantial contributions to the AASP publications committee.
If other AASP members are interested in serving on the editorial board in the future, please feel free to contact me to discuss your plans (I envision this group as a dynamic entity, changing character as the published subject matter of our society and its journal evolve).
"Cogito cogitare, ergo cogito esse."
David K. Goodman, The irf group, inc., 6721 Round Tree Drive, Anchorage, AK 99516. Phone 907-346-4090. E-mail: flyfish@pop.alaska.net
(Notice updated: Dec 1, 1999)
During the period 1957 to 1985, forty-four volumes of the Catalog of Fossil Spores and Pollen plus four index volumes and two translation volumes were published at The Pennsylvania State University. The Catalog provides, in concise and standard format, illustrations, descriptions, and other information for all taxa of fossil palynomorphs, except those covered by other catalogs or those of purely animal origin. A sizable portion of the literature is represented by these 44 volumes. The Catalog is a compendium of systematic information intended primarily for nomenclatural-taxonomic use. Nevertheless, it is useful in obtaining a general view of the fossil spores and pollen characteristic of various parts of the stratigraphic column. The Catalog is a condensed library of palynological systematics, making it especially useful to palynologists where library facilities are limited.
Penn State has no plans to publish further volumes of the Catalog. In fact, they had to relinquish the storage space where the volumes were housed, and they sent a "reasonable" number of each volume to the AASP Foundation. As we understand it, Penn State no longer has any copies available, and AASP Foundation is now the sole supplier for the Catalog of Fossil Spores and Pollen.
Until recently, the cost to institutions for a complete set of the Catalog was $2,760.00, and $85 for individual issues. In early 1996, Penn State placed the Catalog on sale for a limited time for $685.00 for the entire set, and $25 for individual volumes. And now they have completely discontinued sale of these publications.
The two formats for the Catalog are: 1) loose-leaf format and 2) card stock. Both are 8 1/2 x 11" size. Many of the loose-leaf volumes are the originals (vol. 3-4 and 28-44), printed and bound (19-hole "GBC" punched) in sturdy plastic binders; the remaining volumes, plus two indexes and two translation volumes are "out-of-print" but are included in sets as photocopies. The card stock format, printed on 90# or 100# card stock, is also available for 35 of the volumes, with the remaining numbers included in sets as regular paper photocopies.
The AASP Foundation has set a price of $500 U.S. for a complete set of the Catalog. We will try to supply your choice of card stock or loose-leaf option, but there are not complete sets of "all loose-leaf" or "all card stock" options. Individual printed volumes are available at a price of $25.00. There is an additional charge for shipping, estimated to be about $100.00 for shipment within the U.S. and $165 for overseas shipment by M-Bag for a complete set.
Orders or further information may be obtained from: Robert T. Clarke, Mobil E&P Technical Center, P.O. Box 650232, Dallas, Texas 75265-0232. Tel: 214-951-2971; Fax: 214-951-4415; E-mail: rtclarke@dal.mobil.com (Posted: Feb 20, 1997.)