date: Wed Feb  6 16:49:24 2008
from: Keith Briffa <k.briffa@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: Invited paper for 2008 GSA (Houston)- apology
to: "George Stone" <StoneG@matc.edu>

   Dear George and Andy
   I have really considered this at some length (sorry for that)  and unfortunately I have to
   conclude that my teaching and research deadlines are such that I really can not commit. I
   appreciate the significance of the event and I am sure that you will find others even
   better qualified than myself ( Malcolm Hughes at Tucson and Mike Mann are names that come
   quickly to mind). Please forgive my reluctance , but work pressures at this time of year
   really will make such a trip not feasible. Very best wishes
   Keith
   At 01:50 04/12/2007, you wrote:

     Dear Dr. Briffa,

     Andy Buddington and I have organized a proposal for a symposium at the Houston GSA next
     October (5-9).  The title of the proposed session is Global Warming Science:
     Implications for Geoscientists, Educators, and Policy Makers (please see attachment).
     You were highly recommended to us by Joe Koch.

     As noted in the proposal rationale, the principal goal of this session is to provide
     geoscientists and geoscience educators reviews of hard science that document global
     warming and its current and projected impacts, and clarify policy implications for
     mitigation and adaptation.  Through its program of authoritative papers, the session
     will tacitly emphasize the importance of rigorous standards of scientific objectivity.
     (An unstated purpose is to counter presentations of disinformation and contrarian
     non-science that have been foisted on GSA -- and, frankly, detracted from the Society'
     reputation --  the past two annual meetings!)

     We are greatly heartened by the enthusiastic response of our invited sponsors.
     Confirmed sponsors to date are the American Quaternary Association (AMQUA), and GSAs
     Geology and Health, Geoscience Education, and Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology
     divisions.  Additional invited sponsors are GSAs Geology and Society Division and the
     National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT).  Jim Hansen has agreed to keynote
     the symposium.

     Because of your stature and the relevance of your research, we respectfully request that
     you consider giving an invited paper in the proposed session.  We are confident that you
     recognize the importance and urgency of communicating current global warming science
     throughout our diverse geoscience community, particularly to researchers, educators,
     students, and policy makers.

     Please let us know your initial response to our invitation at your very earliest
     convenience.  Of course, we will be delighted if you can confirm your intention to
     participate, or if you can indicate tentative confirmation.  We apologize for this short
     notice.  (GSAs earlier-than-usual proposal deadline, Tuesday, December 4 -- tomorrow! --
     did creep up with a rush after this years recent Denver meeting!)  If you feel that you
     will be unable to commit at this time, we will be disappointed but certainly
     understanding.

     Thank you very much for your consideration.

     Yours for the betterment of GSA and the geosciences, and for a highly successful Houston
     meeting!

     Sincerely,

     George Stone and Andy Buddington

     George T. Stone, Ph.D.
     Instructor of Natural Science
     Milwaukee Area Technical College
     700 West State Street, Rm. C472
     Milwaukee, WI 53233-1443
     (414) 297-7430
     [1]stoneg@matc.edu
     FAX (414) 297-6329

   --
   Professor Keith Briffa,
   Climatic Research Unit
   University of East Anglia
   Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K.

   Phone: +44-1603-593909
   Fax: +44-1603-507784
   [2]http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/people/briffa/

