Earth Systems Science, Inc.

LA Geographical Society 50th Annual Banquet

Dec 25, 2003

The 50th Annual banquet of the Los Angeles Geographical Society (LAGS) was celebrated on 5 December 2003. Sixteen past presidents of the Society were in attendance. Among them, Gregory Lee was the only president to have served 3 terms (1998, 1999, 2001). In the history of the Society, he tied the record set by David Lantis, founding president (1953, 1954, 1957).

For the past 50 years, the LAGS has provided free public lectures. Over the history of the Society, other programs included: a newsletter; $500 merit-based undergraduate scholarships; local field trips; international group tours; monthly theme dinners; teacher training workshops; and international volunteer projects. Membership varies from about 100 to as much as 400 or more over time. More information about the current LAGS activities is available at their website (www.lageographic.org).

Prior to co-founding Earth Systems Science, Inc., Lee?’s three-term LAGS presidency was marked by boosting membership; increasing the frequency of newsletter publication from an erratic 3 times a year to a regular 5 times a year as well as increasing the content from a variable 2-3 pages to a regular 12 pages; increased local field trips from 1 to 2 per month; introducing monthly theme dinners and teacher training workshops; reviving the international travel program with 3 trips to China, and 1 trip to Egypt; launched the international volunteer program; and networked with the California Geographic Alliance and the California Geographical Society and strove to increase LAGS outreach efforts to the community by networking with other LA community groups.

One of those groups was Outward Bound Adventures, Inc. (an Altadena-based non-profit). This connection led to the Los Angeles Community Partners (the local affiliate of the National Parks Conservation Group). While these outreach efforts did not materialize in any new LAGS activities, it did introduce Lee to Patrick McCullough. And after about 10 months of working together on LACP activities, Lee and McCullough decided to co-found Earth Systems Science, Inc. At that time, Lee was ending his third LAGS presidential term. This allowed him the time to devote to the ESSI programs and activities over the past 2 years. McCullough inspired Lee to shift his energies more locally to LA?’s urban youth who are largely disconnected from nature and the greater world in general. McCullough was inspired by Lee?’s broad and deep understanding of the environment and his pragmatic approach to education, job training, multiculturalism and worldview.

Lee is still active in the LAGS. He serves on the LAGS Council, which is the governing body for the Society, and he organized and led the most recent LAGS international group tour to China. The group traveled to selected tributaries of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) before the waters behind the new Three Gorges Dam flooded them. A subsequent trip to visit NW Yunnan Province, China was cancelled due to the SARS pandemic last year.

Although many of the programs started during his LAGS presidencies have since languished, many of those programs have found new life in ESSI. The international volunteer project activity is being revived in northern Thailand. ESSI is making contacts with the Na Fa Village Housewife?’s Association and Mr. Somwang Udomsittikul, President of Sor Aroon, Ltd., to explore various venues for community-based environmental education and English language training in Nan and Uttaradit Provinces. The teacher-training program has been revamped and has found new life in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation to train Habitat Stewards. The Local Field trip efforts have given way to youth training programs funded by the National Park Service Public Land Corps programs and combine environmental education and geographic field methods training with job and career preparation for urban youth.

Hopes for a full circle still exist. Lee hopes the training and exposure to Geography facilitated by ESSI will cause some of the ESSI participants to attend LAGS lectures and activities. This would be another local community geographic resource to help broaden the horizons for LA?’s urban residents.