6elcome to the Southwest Section of the Alabama Geological Society's Newspage The Southwest Section of the Alabama Geological Society (SWAGS) formed in February of 2001 to foster a network of geologists in the coastal areas of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.  Membership is open to all active members of the Alabama Geolocial Society and others who wish to become active memebers.  Membership information on the AGS can be found at http:homepage.mac.com/jpashi/AGS.htm.  Membership in SWAGS requires $5 dues to SWAGS in addition to that required for membership in the AGS.  SWAGS meetings are recognized for continueing education credits by the Alabama Board of Licensure of Professional Geologists.  Meetings begin with a short business meeting followed by a speaker.  If you have an interest in giving a talk on a geology related project you have been or are involved with, please email Jim Connors (jconnors@usouthal.edu) with details.   May 20, 2008-SWAGS/OAI Field Methods Mini-camp (15 slots still available 5/16/08) OAI will host a field methods mini-camp from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Gulf Coast Groundwater Research Center (2768 Barksdale Drive North, Mobile Alabama).  The program will include surveying, water level surveying, potentiometric surface map preparation, critique with discussion and a grillout (see below for last year's grill master).  The Alabama and Mississippi Boards of Professional Geologist have authorized 3 PDH credits for those attending (please check with other states for their PDH credit policy).  Cost for this program is $15 for SWAG/AGS members and $25 for non-SWAGS/AGS members. Registration at the door will be $40.  Attendance will be limited to 25, so please complete and send in your registration form with the appropriate fee early to secure your place in this program.  Make checks payable to SWAGS. January 15, 2007-Jim Connors This was a well attended meeting to kick-off the new year.  The business meeting focused on how to improve meetings and attendance.  A comittee was set up to schedule speakers and it was voted on to increase meetings to every other month.  We will work to have a combination of speakers, field activities and will work to coordinate USA Geology field trips with SWAGS piggy backing.  With the business handled, Jim went on and gave an informative presentation on the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer grant programs.  These two programs work to advance opportunities for small business by working with a research group like that at USA.  For additional information, check out www.sbir.gov October 16, 2007-Elections On October 16, 2007 a new slate of officers was elected to govern SWAGS for the coming year.  Newly elected officers include: Jim Connors, President, Patrick Hallet, Vice President, Tom Powers, Secretary and Doug Haywick, Treasurer.  Please support these new officers by becoming involved in this local geological society. April 17, 2007-David Allison will give a presentation at USA's Life Science Building room 119 after short business meeting begining at 7PM.  Social starts at 6:30 PM.  PDH/CEU are available for this and all SWAGS meetings. Presentation topic: Constraints on southern Appalachian tectonic evolution generated by recent northern Alabama Piedmont mapping and analysis. January 16, 2007 Speaker/topic: Steve Carey/Caves and Karst of the Gulf Coast Lower Coastal Plain Meeting at USA's Life Sciences Building; Social at 6:30 with meeting at 7 Mr. Steve Carey, an associate professor of biology at the University of Mobile, gave a well received presentation on caves and karst landforms in southwest Alabama.  Steve walked us through a presentation that began at the mouth of several caves he has studied and ended in some of the more remote regions of these same caves.  Interpersed with the wonderful photography, he relayed stories of cave flora and fauna and local cave lore.  Most of the caves are formed in the Vicksburg Group with others found in the Bashi marl within a belt streching from Waynesboro, Mississippi to Marianna, Florida.  Steve welcomed questions and their was plenty of "cave" stoies to go around.  Steve indicated he would be able to give a presentation at a later date on volcanoes, another favor subject of his.  Judging from the quality of his Caves presentation, we'll have him back.  Thanks again Steve...dod  October 17, 2006-Elections Mr. Ralph Hellmich of the State Oil & Gas Board was our speaker for this evening. Ralp spoke on the Little Cedar Creek Smackover play, the Devonian Tight Shale Play and other topics of interest.  Officers for the coming year are:  Dan O'Donnell, President; Brent Rogers, Vice President, Tom Powers, Secretary and Doug Haywick, Treasurer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AGS's 41st Annual Field Trip Write-up In case you missed the AGS's 2004 field trip, Scott Brande brings it to life in words.  Scott's write up of the Alabama Geological Society's 41st Annual Field Trip as orignally published in the AGS's Newsletter  (Volume 18, Number 1) can be found here.  Special thanks to both Scott and Phillip Henderson Editor of the Newsletter for permission  to post the write-up.  On behalf of SWAGS, we hope you enjoy it.