CELEBRATING GEORGIA’S AQUATIC DIVERSITY

Join us January 19 – 21, 2021 for the first Georgia AFS Virtual Annual Conference.  We will be posting information soon about how to submit your video presentations and other events we have planned for the meeting.  

The 2021 Conference Program will include: presentations on cutting-edge scientific research, opportunities to share experience and knowledge, networking opportunities to build relationships with colleagues, technical sessions and posters to entice the mind, and an awards event to celebrate achievements.

Registration

Georgia AFS will be charging a modest registration fee to attend the 2021 Annual Virtual Conference.  Proceeds collected from registration fees will help cover the cost to deliver a meeting that provides attendees with a rewarding conference experience and any proceeds remaining after we pay meeting expenses will be used to fund the Chapter’s public outreach efforts and provide additional support to the GoFish Education Center classroom.
 
Registration fees for professionals will be $30 for members and $40 for non-members.  Registration for students and retirees will be free for the 2021 meeting.  
 
Because the virtual meeting format has dramatically reduced the costs of hosting the meeting, we voted to allow students to attend the meeting free of charge.  We hope your school will take advantage of the great educational opportunity this provides, by encouraging your students to register for the meeting and even incorporating oral and poster presentations, symposia, and other meeting components into your class activities.  We further hope that if you do so, you will consider making an institutional donation to the chapter (suggested amount $50-$100), of which 100% will be directed toward funding student travel and development of educational programs and materials in the future.
 

2021 Georgia Chapter AFS Virtual Annual Meeting Registration Form

We need everyone to complete the Chapter Membership form even if you paid for your Chapter membership through AFS.
 

 

Abstract Submission

Anyone planning to submit a presentation should plan for a 10-minute video presentation and a 5 minute live Q&A.  We are also still planning for a Poster Session and information about video poster presentations will be posted to our website soon. 

Call for Abstracts – We welcome topics including, but not limited to, fisheries management, aquatic invasive species, fish health, aquaculture, endangered species, non-game aquatic species, fisheries ecology in the urban interface, and all coastal fisheries. Please email your abstracts to Carolyn Belcher  (Carolyn.Belcher@dnr.ga.gov) by December 15, 2020. Abstracts (300 words max) should be submitted as an attachment in a Word document and include the following information:

Presentation Title
Presenting Author (with contact information; work address and email)
Co-authors (with contact information)
Abstract (300 words max)
Presentation type: Oral or Poster
*Please also indicate if you are a student presenter

Award Nominations

Link: Guidelines for writing and submitting Georgia AFS Chapter Award Nominations

Do you know a fishery professional who has gone above and beyond to get the job done?  We are looking for nominations for Fisheries Professional of the Year.  You do not need to be a nominee’s supervisor to nominate them for this award.

Do you know of a Chapter member who has made outstanding contributions to the Chapter and its mission?  Nominate them for the Distinguished Service Award.

Do you know of a person or organization who has made a specific contribution or hosted an event that supports the Chapter or its mission.?  Consider nominating them for a Certificate of Appreciation.  This person or organization does not need to be a member of GAAFS.

Do you know someone who has recently retired/or about to retire soon and have made numerous and significant contributions towards the advancement of fisheries research and/or management in Georgia over the course of their career?  Nominate them for the Career Contribution Award.

Do you know of an individual or group for their outstanding contributions or service to fisheries conservation in Georgia?  Nominate them for the Fisheries Conservationist of the Year.

Do you know a person who may not be directly employed as a typical fisheries professional (e.g. biologist, technician, etc.), but provides exceptional work that is essential to the mission of promoting the conservation, development, and wise use utilization of fisheries resources.  Nominate them for the Unsung Hero Award.

Award nominations should be submitted to Steve Sammons (sammosm@auburn.edu)  by January 4, 2021.

Information about past award recipients: https://gaafs.org/award-nominations/

Scholarship Information

We will only be offering the Ronnie J. Gilbert Scholarship for 2021.  https://gaafs.org/students/

Fundraising/Donations

Each year at the annual meeting the Chapter has a raffle/silent auction to fund conservation projects, community outreach projects, training workshops, scholarships, and travel awards which support the Chapter and its mission.  Recent contributions include a donation to the GoFish Education Center classroom in Perry, GA and a donation to support the Crayfish Creek restoration project.

The Chapter accepts monetary donations as well as raffle/silent auction donations.  You can contact our Fundraising Chair, Jackson Sibley, for more information.

https://gaafs.org/support-the-chapter/