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E-CANOPY                                                                                                                                                   APRIL 2009

IN THIS ISSUE
Annual OTS Meeting
In Memory of Carl Rettenmeyer
La Selva Receives Award
Support OTS for Earth Day
Richard Thompson Auction
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Annual Meeting Focuses on New Science Initiatives

The spring meeting of the OTS Board of Directors, Assembly of Delegates, and Board of Visitors will be held on April 17-18, 2009 at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica.

AOD meetingThe meeting will have a special focus on science in OTS. We will take this opportunity to highlight the science being conducted at all three stations, introduce our new available infrastructure for biological research, and, most importantly, develop and flesh out plans for new science initiatives identified by the Science Committee.
 
OTS now has a newly appointed Science Director, Dr. Carolina Murcia, who will lead our efforts in advancing OTS' science agenda. Over the last several months, the newly reinvigorated Science Committee has been working on identifying critical research frontiers in tropical studies. This meeting will provide an excellent opportunity to brainstorm with Carolina and the Vice Chairs of the Science Committee, Dr. Greg Gilbert and Dr. Jim Beach.

As established under OTS' strategic plan, now is the time to take a more proactive role as an organization in tropical science. OTS has already hosted successful workshops on two emerging themes identified by the organization - Global Change and Tropical Ecosystems and Tropical Forest Restoration and Ecology. The first of these workshops already resulted in a $500,000 NSF grant to establish a research coordination network of scientists working on long-term tropical forest change.

Despite the difficult economic times, there are a number of opportunities that are beginning to take shape in which OTS and researchers and educators within the OTS consortium may be particularly well-suited.  We envision that our April meeting will lead to actions over the next year or two which will bring researchers and institutions together in creative research and educational ventures in which OTS is likely an active partner. Please look for new opportunities and updates to be announced in future issues of E-Canopy and the OTS website, www.ots.duke.edu.

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Carl Rettenmeyer In Memory of Carl Rettenmeyer

It is with great sadness that we share the news that longtime friend of OTS, Carl Rettenmeyer, passed away on April 9, after a long illness. 
 
Carl was born in Meriden, Connecticut in 1931.  He graduated from Swarthmore College and received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1962.  He was on the faculty of Kansas State University for about 11 years before joining the faculty of the University of Connecticut in 1971 as a Professor.  He served as Head of the Section of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology from 1980 to 1983, and then as Executive Officer of the Biological Sciences Group from 1983 to 1985.  During his career at Kansas State and later at UConn, he became a world-famous expert on the biology of army ants, and was the leading expert on the huge array of insects and other invertebrates that live in association with army ant colonies.  He did extensive field work in Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, Kenya, and Tanzania.  He also was known as an expert photographer, and his photographs grace the pages of scores of books on ants and tropical rain forests.  He also worked tirelessly to document the lives of army ants on film and video.
 
Carl was the Founding Director of the Connecticut Museum of Natural History, which he transformed from a mostly virtual museum headquartered in his lab in Torrey Life Sciences in 1982 to a full-fledged museum that has continued to inspire generations of Connecticut naturalists.  It was through Carl's persistent efforts that the Museum became a major focus of public outreach beyond the boundaries of the University.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice. For the online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.
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La Selva Receives Bandera Azul

Bandera AzulAfter a two-year effort and two site reviews from the Rainforest Alliance, La Selva Biological Station received the coveted Bandera Azul (with three stars-the highest level) for best environmental practices.  Bandera Azul is a national designation and success is based on compliance in categories such as regulation of water use, treatment of kitchen and sewage wastes, recycling, community outreach, and production of species inventories.

Congratulations La Selva!
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Support OTS Students and Researchers
in honor of Earth Day!

Even during a global recession, aspiring students and scientists still need OTS.  Our educational model is recognized worldwide and we continue to draw students from
OTS Alumniaround the world. In fact, this year we have received substantially more applications to our courses than ever before.  At the same time - due to the economic climate - we have also received more requests for financial aid than ever before.  OTS takes pride in the fact that we have been able to offer aid to students and researchers. Yet our ability to meet this increased need is ever more limited. OTS has always been about opportunities, but these opportunities are now in jeopardy. 
 
We realize that in these tough times, everyone needs to safeguard their resources. We are too in our own lives. We are very hopeful that with your continued support, we will be able to weather the current economic storm and continue to provide students and young researchers with the opportunity to participate in an OTS course and work at our field stations.

We ask, that in honor of Earth Day 2009, you show your support to OTS with a gift of $30, $50 or more to our Core Fund. OTS has made it through difficult times in the past and each time has come out stronger. Working together, we can do so again. We owe it to you, to future generations of students and researchers, and, most importantly, to more than 70% of the world's biodiversity that can be found in the tropics.

OTS Neck Tote
For a gift of $30, we will send you an OTS neck tote. 
The OTS waterproof neck tote is made of recycled plastic. It is just the right size to hold extra cash and keys while you enjoy the forest. Made of 100% recycled material with an enhanced biodegradability additive.

OTS Messenger Bag
For a gift of $50, we will send you an OTS messenger bag.

The OTS Messenger bag is constructed of durable 100% non-woven light weight soft textured polypropylene (80 GSM) with 60% post consumer recycled material. This bag features a 48" shoulder strap (2" w) and front flap with Velcro closure. Non-woven poly is a heavy-duty material and is reusable and recyclable.

CLICK HERE to make your gift today. Type the code EARTH09 into the comments field to receive your OTS gift.

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Richard Thompson Charity Auction Supports OTS

Fans and friends of Richard Thompson  have generously donated items in honor of Richard Thompson's birthday for a Fan Charity Auction supporting two of his favorite causes: OTS and the Teenage Cancer Trust. Richard Thompson

The online auction opened on Sunday, April 12. To view and bid on the many items donated by Richard Thompson's fans and friends, please go here:

RT_FAN_CHARITY_AUCTION

The auction will run through Sunday, April 19.

There are over 50 rare and unusual items to entice you, including:
--limited-run "staff" T-shirts from the you?me?us? tour
--publications, from Dirty Linen and Frets to nearly complete sets of Hokey Pokey and The Ledge
--Cropredy memorabilia
--items autographed by Linda Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Shirley Collins, John Kirkpatrick, and many others--as well as RT himself
--beautiful photos and posters

OTS would like to extend our thanks to the fans and friends of Richard Thompson for including OTS in this event and we are thrilled to join in the celebration of RT's life and work by promoting this event to our community. 

Please bid generously and often!
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