PaleoSoc.org
Title
The Paleontological Society
Description
The Paleontological Society is an international organization devoted exclusively to the advancement of the science of paleontology. The Society was founded in 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was incorporated in April 1968 in the District of Columbia. The Society is a nonprofit organization exempt from taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. At the end of 1994, the Society had 1,591 members in several membership categories, including regular, student, retired, emeritus, and spousal. Members, representing 40 countries, consist of professional paleontologists, academicians, explorationists, science editors, earth-science teachers, museum specialists, land managers, students, amateurs, and hobbyists. The Society subscribes to a Code of Fossil Collecting, which was overwhelmingly adopted by vote of membership in 1993.
The Paleontological Society has five geographic Sections--Pacific Coast Section (March 1911), North-Central Section (founded May 1974), Northeastern Section (March 1977), Southeastern Section (November 1979), Rocky Mountain Section (October 1985), and the South-Central Section (November 1988)--and a number of working groups. The Society holds an Annual Meeting, which is ordinarily in the fall at the same time and place as the Annual Meeting of The Geological Society of America (GSA). The Sections also hold meetings, which are usually in the spring at the same time and place as comparable Sections of the GSA. At the meetings, members present volunteered papers and poster sessions; the Society normally hosts an invited speaker symposium. Field trips are occasionally offered. At the Annual Meeting, a short course is presented, and the Society has its Annual Luncheon, Awards Ceremony, and Business Meeting.
To become a member of The Paleontological Society, one must subscribe to the Journal of Paleontology, which is published six times annually and has a total world-wide circulation of 2,545 copies. The Society publishes Paleobiology, which is released quarterly and has a subscription of 1,832. The Society also publishes, on an irregular basis, The Paleontological Society Memoirs (issued as supplements to the Journal), Short Course Notes, and Special Publications. The Paleontological Society is one of several societies that sponsors the production and revisions of the multi-volume Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, published and copyrighted by the Geological Society of America (GSA) and the University of Kansas Press. The Society's official newsletter Priscum is issued to all members twice yearly.
