SVP 2000

[Richard Peirce <rpnr@ix.netcom.com>]

It is Monday evening and I have just returned from SVP in Bozeman. It was
one of the best ever. The openess and comraderie were exhilerating. About
1200 were in attendance. All talks were held close together in a part of the
student union building at Montana State University which made it easy to
find one another. The posters and exhibits were a short walk away in a gym.
Definitely a more convenient set up that Snowbird. Most of the big dino
types were there. Frequent shuttle busses ran the 2 miles between hotels and
university so that a car was not really needed. The auction raised just over
$26,000, a record. And the closing banquet was relaxed and spacious - a
first in my experience. Attendees were allowed to find seats as they
arrived, rather than in the mad rush of previous years. Pat Leggi and the
entire host committee are to be congratulated.

Highlights. 1) A 2-day field trip through the Two Medicine/Judith River
Formations conducted by Jack Horner and Paul Goodman with the added good
luck of being seated across the aisle from HPs Holtz and Brett-Surman and
within ear shot of Jim Kirkland. 2) Making the good acquaintance of Philippe
Taquet and finding we share a common interest in the life and work of
Georges Cuvier. 3) Remembering when the DML breakfast was and meeting more
fellow Listers. 4) Being recognized by most people even though I had
forgotten to bring my beret. 5) And most special of all, being given a
specially autographed copy of Fantastic Dinosaurs by its author, our very
own Luis Rey.

It was so nice to meet and get to know so many of you better. Now I must get
the pictures developed and a journal written up.

PS - At the banquet I sat with several others who had been fellow members of
a paleo trip to the Gobi of Mongolia in 1996. One pulled out a bottle of
Ghengis Khan vodka that he bought in Ulaan Baator and has been hoarding for
5 years. It is deliciously smooth. It was just what the Dr. ordered, for my
cough has now vanished.

    ...   Dick Peirce, Grand Junction, CO