This is a friendly reminder that we would like to have titles of
tentative papers for AIG2 in a few days. July 15 is our goal. We have
heard from 6 countries so far (Australia, Germany, Japan, U.K., USA,
and of course, Canada).

Intriguing titles include microbial activity in glacial meltwater, Sr
and Pb isotopes in trees in acid impacted settings, boron isotopes in
coffee beans, natural gas sources and migration, isotope studies in
Death Valley including C-isotopes in tree rings, and developments in
analytical capabilities including thermal ionization IRMS of sulfur.
        A high priority for AIG2 will be "Learn from Each Other". In
practice this includes activities ranging from cross-disciplinary
communication to sorting out analytical schemes.

        One suggestion is a session of MINI-PRESENTATIONS of 5 minutes or so
duration, relating how isotope data solved sctual problems (in
contrast to generating data bases for solving potential problems).
Some of us have presented isotope data in court trials. If possible,
such presentations should stress that isotope techniques were the
only and/or the most economical possibility. Case studies include
food adulteration, poaching, well water contamination, etc. A similar
approach could be taken to relating the very obvious (after the fact)
cause of weeks of down time for your mass spectrometer. If there is
favourable response to these mini-presentations, I would like to see
a collection of them published. Please indicate your interest in
giving one or more such mini-presentations.

        Now, responses to questions that have arisen.
- Yes, you can submit more than one paper. However, the probability
of more than one oral presentation per attendee will be very low, to
avoid concurent oral sessions.
- You need to stay over Saturday night for a cheaper air fare? We can
arrange comfortable accomodation at off-season university rates in
Calgary before or after the Symposium. If you spend more time in
Calgary, we will facilitate visits to such sights as the Royal Tyrrel
Museum of Palaeontology. And yes, you can visit our Stable Isotope
Laboratory and a few of you can spend a few days observing, and even
obtaining analyses.
- At least one colleague was told by someone in the hotel that the
prices quoted did not include taxes. I can only say that we have a
signed letter stating that our quotations are correct. We trust that
the problem was that of some hotel receptionist not fully aware of
the deal. Please inform me quickly if this reoccurs.
- We had not pursued selling display space or renting booths. We
encourage equipment manufacturers, service laboratories, etc. to
tastefully advertise their offerings by posters, handouts, etc. In
return, we anticipate a financial contribution to the Symposium for
activities such as helping deserving colleagues in countries where
"hard" currency is not available to them. Sponsors will be listed in
subsequent mailings and in the Book of Abstracts with their addresses
as complete as they desire.

        Many attendees at AIG1 in Norway have commented favourably on its
personable nature and how they were able to get to know so many
colleagues. I have received pleas to "keep it small" to promote such
an environment. There are many conferences competing for the
participation of isotopers these days but we hope that you can
include AIG2 in Lake Louise, Sept. 31, Oct. 1-4, 1997 in your plans.
We will try our best to assure that there will be a good time
academically and socially (including a short performance by an
old-time fiddling group one evening).

Roy Krouse