Dennis M. Allen
dallen@belle baruch.sc.edu

As your president I'm happy to report that your Federation is going strong. Thanks to your excellent research, our journal publishes the best papers in estuarine and coastal research. Thanks to your participation, our conferences are growing in quality and relevance. Thanks to your dedicated Governing Board members and other leaders, the information we provide to decision-makers and the services we offer to students and professionals are expanding.

Yet there is so much more to do. Will you help?

With the 2003 ERF membership renewal campaign about to begin, I ask you to increase your membership contribution to the Federation by renewing at the Sustaining Member level. Your $200 Sustaining Membership dues include all the excellent member benefits as a regular Full Member, and your additional dollars will enable the Federation to advance estuarine research, enhance the quality of our journal, Estuaries, expand member services, scientific and student awards, and other activities that promote research and management of our coasts and estuaries.

As of August 2002, nine of our more than 1,500 members had expressed their enthusiasm with this extra level of financial support. To each of you I offer a hearty thank you. I suspect that many long-time supporters and other members who believe that the Estuarine Research Federation is having a positive impact are not aware that they can invest more in the future of their organization by renewing at the Sustaining level. I have a feeling that there must be at least 50 current members who are willing to rise to the occasion and become Sustaining Members for 2003. I am hoping that you will be one of them!

The Governing Board has a long history of making good use of our limited funds. Your increased contribution will be very welcome. And, perhaps more importantly your renewal or joining at the Sustaining level will be a vote of confidence-a clear indication that you believe in the Federation's mission of advancing estuarine research.

Thank you for considering this option. Please call me if you have questions or would like to contribute or get more involved in our great organization in other ways.