SUMMARY

The 2024 Gathering at the Fluno Center in Madison, WI

98 members and guests assembled in Madison for the 2026 Gathering. We convened at the University of Wisconsin Fluno Center on the UW campus in downtown Madison. The Fluno Center incorporated a large auditorium with other spacious meeting rooms and a hotel. It proved to be an excellent venue with a very helpful and frindly staff. It is also very close to the beautiful Lake Mendota waterfront. We enjoyed three days of renewing friendships in person, meeting new friends, enjoying varied presentations and social events, and some came away with mementos from the live and silent auctions. Here are some of the comments received:

“ It was exceptionally well organized and smoothly run. Bravo!”

“Everything was well planned and the venue was terrific!”

“This is the first Gathering that I have attended. I had a great time, it was even better than I thought it was going to be.”

Thanks to Valmar Kurol, Dian Belanger and Tom Henderson for the photos above.

Sunday was check-in day and members mingled informally before the start of the Gathering.

Monday, August 12, 2024

Thanks to Valmar Kurol and Robert DeValentino for the photographs above.

Attendees were welcomed and registered in the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club room in the Community House. They then convened in the Grand Assembly Room of the Community House to hear opening remarks, followed by a series of outstanding presentations covering Antarctic science, history and logistics support.

Attendees included participants from the earliest years of Operation Deep Freeze and the International Geophysical Year (IGY)1957-58 (Stephen Wilson, Bob Benson, John Behrendt, David Grisez, Neil Wilson). Also attending were three generations of Ambassador Paul C. Daniels’ family: daughter Jean Portell, granddaughter Ana Daniels and great-granddaughter Chloe Daniels. Ambassador Daniels was the leading U.S. diplomat overseeing the creation of the landmark Antarctic Treaty. Also attending and speaking was Leilani Henry who is the daughter of the first African-American to set foot in Antarctica, George W. Gibbs Jr., during the 1939-41 U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition.

The day was capped by a reception in the Community House where attendees socialized with other members while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Thanks to Valmar Kurol, Karen Tupek and Tom Henderson for the photographs above.

Tuesday featured more outstanding presentations, a live auction of Antarctic memorabilia and travel opportunities, and a series of rapid-fire short presentations by alumni of the NSF Artists and Writers Program, now organized into the Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective (AAWC). AAWC members Maris Wicks and Kirsten Carlson also designed and coordinated the production of the special T-shirts, totebags and postcards for the Gathering.

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Thanks to Valmar Kurol and Tom Henderson for the photographs above.

Wednesday included a historical tour of the Colorado Chautauqua campus, which dates back to 1898. That was followed by an afternoon picnic at the National Center for Atmospheric Research on the southern end of Boulder as well as guided tours of the facility.

Recorded Presentations

For the first time, the presentations at the 2026 Gathering were recorded. Below are the links to each of the Saturday and Sunday presentations, with the exception of the showing of the copyrighted film, Dinosaurs of Antarctica. The discussion of Dinosaurs by the producers is included. Click the title of the presentation to view the recording.

Thanks to everyone who attended, donated, helped, presented, and shared photos. It was a wonderful Gathering and we hope to meet again in 2026!