I trust that most of you have by now received the second issue of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society newsletter, "Ellipsaria."  The mailing originated in the Chattanooga area on February 10.  Paul Johnson tells me that he was working from several different mailing lists, and so it is certainly possible that some of our (N=76!) members may have been inadvertently omitted.  Please email me immediately if you were missed.

This issue is really crammed full of news and info.  The April FMCS workshop on Outreach is featured, along with a Nature Conservancy analysis of the conservation status of North American freshwater gastropods, and a nice review of the Black Carp situation.

Now here's the bottom line.  This is the last "freebie" issue of Ellipsaria.  After this one, mailings will only be made to dues-paying members of the FMCS.  As an added incentive, many of you on this list will be familiar Dick Biggins' most informative "Triannual Unionid Report," published in mimeo since 1993.  After the March 2000 Report, publication of this important resource will be transferred to Ellipsaria.

So if you have not yet joined the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society, find the green membership application inserted among the pages of Ellipsaria, fill it out, and send it to Heidi Dunn along with your check for the bargain price of $30.

You'll be glad you did!
Rob