The responsibilities of Secretary of this Society bring with them an opportunity to interact with the membership and the public. It is a job that offers a unique perspective on the profession and a general perception of the profession. There is no doubt but that a high level of interest in paleontology is present “out there” in the real world and people are interested in fossils. I continue to receive many, many requests for our educational brochures and there has been a surprising number of requests for membership information in the Society by people for whom paleontology is an avocation.