NOTE FOR CONTRIBUTORS

The continued health and survival of Ordovician News depends on YOU to send in items of Ordovician interest such as lists and reviews of recent publications, brief summaries of current research, notices of relevant local, national and international meetings, etc. As more geological software becomes available, details of this would also be welcomed by many of us. Also please ensure the SOS´s Secretary (responsible editor) is notified of any changes in address, telephone or fax number and e-mail address.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Welcome to the new issue of Ordovician News in hard and soft versions, the fifth one since I am serving as editor. Current number (20, 2003) is assembled as webpage for easier downloading of required information from the page of contents. Even though we are still mailing a few hard copies; in particular, for those Ordovician friends who are not able to get into the network. Our previous electronic distributions were very successful, particularly by dramatically diminishing costs of printing and postage, as well as by allowing us to have the newsletter in the personal computer for permanent and easy access. In case members of the Ordovician community have any comment on this issue, the secretary would be pleased to hear from them. I would like to thank you all for the many contributions for the current number.

Present issue was assembled just after the 9^th International Symposium on the Ordovician System, 7^th International Graptolite Conference & 2003 Field Meeting of the Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy was held in Argentina, in August 2003. As member of the Organizing Committee the time consuming preparation of these events, represented a delay on delivery of present issue. Many of us had the opportunity to meet at the venue, San Juan City, where I think we spent enjoyable times sharing our common interests on most updated Ordovician geology. Remember to visit the web site of INSUGEO (CONICET – Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina) to download the proceedings and field trip guides of the events (http://www.unt.edu.ar/fcsnat/INSUGEO). On behalf of the organizing committee I wish to thank you all who had the opportunity to participate in 9^th ISOS, and contributed hallmark pieces of work.

Several other important international meetings and field trips, particularly related to Ordovician stratigraphy and paleontology, are included. Recent advances on proposed stratotypes, and names for the global Ordovician subdivisions, are documented. Also you will find information on several new international projects, scientific reports and honorary notes. And, as always, your personal contributions on current research, publications, and updated addresses.

I am particularly grateful for the technical support provided by John Francis (California State University, Long Beach, USA), who uploaded current issue of Ordovician News in its internet web site.

I appreciate very much your confidence in my service to the secretariat of the Subcommission.

Guillermo L. Albanesi

CHAIRMAN'S AND SECRETARY'S ADDRESSES

STANLEY C. FINNEY GUILLERMO L. ALBANESI

Dept. of Geological Sciences CONICET – Museo de Paleontología

California State University - Long Beach Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Long Beach, CA 90840 C. C. 1598, 5000 Córdoba

U.S.A. ARGENTINA

Tel: +1 (562) 985-8637 Tel: +54 (351) 471-8655

Fax: +1 (562) 985-8638 Fax: +54 (351) 421-6350

E-mail: scfinney@csulb.edu E-mail: 1) galbanes@com.uncor.edu

2) galbanesi@arnet.com.ar