President Styles expressed appreciation to the following individuals, groups, and institutions for their part in the Midwest Archaeological Conference, Inc. and the 2008 Annual Meeting:

1. Robert Jeske for organizing the conference;
2. The Hyatt Regency Hotel staff;
3. The Celtic/bluegrass band “Screaming Pattersons;”
4. Outgoing Treasurer Tim Baumann for his work on the SPORG submission system for the conference;
5. Twenty(+) UW-Milwaukee staff and students, especially specific graduate students and faculty (Brian Nichols, Seth Schneider, Jody Clauter,
   Dan Winkler, Kate Foley Winkler, Rick Edwards, John Richardson, and Pat Richardson);
6. The Wisconsin Archaeological Society for providing the food and drinks for the Friday reception;
7. Banquet Speaker John Hart for donating his $500 honorarium to the SAA Endowment Fund;
8. current and outgoing MAC, Inc. officers and executive committee members, noting that the terms of Bill Lovis as President-Elect, Bonnie Styles as President, Ernie Boszhardt as Interim Secretary, Tim Baumann as Treasurer, Jan Brashler as Editor, and John Doershuk as an Executive Committee member were complete;
9. The Nomination Committee (John Kelly, Cheryl Munson and Bill Green) for the recent officer nominations and election; and
10. Jamie Kelly for operating the MAC, Inc. web site

Student Paper: President Styles reported that there were five submissions, and thanked the three judges (Pat Richards, Jason Sherman, and John Richards. The winner is Sarah Surface-Evans (Michigan State University and the Michigan State Archaeologist’s Office) for her paper “Seeing the Forest for the Trees: An Archaeological Site Inventory Project on Michigan State Forest Land.” Sarah was presented with three boxes of books that were donated by the conference vendors.

MAC, Inc. Distinguished Career Award: President Styles summarized the inception of the MAC, Inc. Distinguished Career Award, summarizing qualifications, describing the award, and noting that the award winners will receive an etched glass award and be recognized on the MAC Web site and in the MCJA. The award recognizes an archaeologist who has demonstrated excellence and contributed significantly and regularly to the advancement of Midwestern archaeology. This award is the highest one conveyed by MAC and truly honors someone with a lifetime commitment to and achievement in Midwestern Archeology.

There were five nominations, and two were selected for this award. The three other nominations will remain active for three more years and incoming President Bill Lovis will solicit additional nominations for 2009.

The First Distinguished Career Award was presented posthumously to Dr. Melvin L. Fowler. James Brown offered remarks about “Mike’s career and contributions, noting that he made two lasting contributions: his advocacy of examining the development of the Archaic based on work at Modoc Rock Shelter and other sites, and his recognition of geometric organization of Cahokia informed by his experiences in MesoAmerica. John Richards then rose to acknowledge Dr. Fowler’s wife Dorothy, his son Mike and daughter-in-law Yolanda, and their son David. President Styles then presented the award to Dr. Fowler’s son Mike, who offered comments on how his father had become an archaeologist, and thanked the MAC, Inc. for recognizing his contributions.

President Styles reported that the 2008 Distinguished Career Award recipient is Dr. Robert L. Hall. James Brown offered remarks about Bob Hall’s career, noting his many and diverse specific contributions from work at Cahokia, Crable, various Wisconsin sites, and protohistoric records. Brown noted that Hall sees significance in small objects, and referenced his frightening demonstration of a turkey-tail “bull roarer” at a Chicago conference. Brown concluded by acknowledging Hall’s continued efforts to seek MesoAmerican connections.

President Styles read a tribute from Mary Vermilion who had nominated Dr. Hall. Vermilion recalled her days as a student, particularly noting Hall’s openness, and concluding that he had opened her eyes to rainbows being more than arcs-- they are in fact circles.

Dr. Hall then rose to offer very entertaining remarks about the three stages of a career at conferences (from early presentations, to becoming a discussant, to offering career anecdotes), and realized that he is now a “Heritage Archaeologist.” He noted that his career was initially focused on ethnology, but shifted to archaeology. This combination allowed him to develop the synthesis book Archaeology of the Soul.

Bonnie passed the President’s gavel to Bill Lovis. Bill’s first act was to acknowledge Bonnie Style’s service as past President. He noted incoming officers (Boszhardt as Secretary, Egan-Bruhy as Treasurer, and Schurr as Editor of MCJA).

The 2009 meeting will be held October 15-18 in Iowa City and John Doershuk noted that the format will be similar to Milwaukee with a midweek opening and no papers (but possibly tours) on Sunday.

There is a proposal from the Glenn Black Lab at the Indiana University, Bloomington to host the 2010 annual meetings, and G. William Monaghan rose to note that they anticipated a similar format as well.

No offers for the 2011 meeting being heard, President Lovis noted that the Board will solicit locations.