World Aquaculture December 2018

WWW.WA S.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2018 25 ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 2 6 ) newsletter became World Aquaculture magazine in 1988, affiliated societies and chapters were created, the WAS book series was established, and combined meetings with other societies increased dramatically. Home Office staff over the years included Sheree Ellison (Manager, 1984-1987), Juliette Massey (Manager/Director, 1987- 2007), Carol Mendoza (Manager/Director, 1995-present). Other staff members over the years were Cynthia Williams, Ruthann Girvin, Ellen Motichek, Ann Merchang, and Judy E. Andrasko. WAS Meetings Since the change of the name of the Society to WAS, annual meetings have been convened outside the United States every three or four years, or more often when WAS collaborates with other aquaculture groups. A continuing series of triennial meetings was introduced in 1978 when WAS first collaborated with the Catfish Farmers of America and the Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society in Atlanta, Georgia. Triennial meetings now involve the United States Aquaculture Society (formed in 1990), the National Shellfisheries Association, and the Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society. As affiliates, chapters, and associates were developed in conjunction with WAS, the number of meetings involving the Society increased dramatically. In 1993, the first joint meeting of the EAS and WAS was held in Torremolinos, Spain. Not only are collaborating meetings held, but special meetings are often held with respect to concentration on specific topics. Rather than proceedings, the information presented in those meetings often give rise to books that comprise the WAS book series. In the early years, conferences were the responsibility of the Home Office, working with committees established by the WAS Board. As membership and the number of WAS meetings increased, arrangement of meeting space, locations, and associated costs virtually overwhelmed the time and abilities of the Home Office staff. Successful annual meetings were critical if WAS was to meet its financial obligations. The situation became so dire that there was concern that the Society might collapse due to the inability to meet its financial responsibilities. During the early 1990s, the situation became so dire that there was concern about the potential collapse of the Society. To address the pending bankruptcy issue, the consensus of Society leadership was that a competent and experienced conference manager was needed to direct what was the greatest source of the revenue to the Society. In 1996 John Cooksey was engaged as Executive Director and he quickly turned the finances of WAS around. He also began to develop the various conferences and tradeshows beginning with the triennial meeting that year. Proof that WAS is heavily devoted to the global advancement of aquaculture is the list of meetings scheduled from August 2018 to future meetings scheduled through February 2023. They include France; Colombia; New Orleans, LA; India; Costa Rica; Honolulu,