<div dir="ltr">As a natural history professional, we would like to invite you to <b><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.herbariumcurators.org_membership_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=3zGMse8hPwNmJfFjfPKpQSycw2kHn9VI8IJfC0VTaHQ&e=" target="_blank">join The Society of Herbarium Curators (SHC)</a></b>. Since 2005, The Society has complemented SPNHC by focusing specifically on herbaria collections. Our membership consists of hundreds of professionals such as yourself who are involved with herbaria and/or support the mission of SHC.<div><br></div><div>Benefits of SHC membership include:<ul><li><b>Professional development opportunities</b> for everyone from students to experienced curators. Applications for 2018 <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.herbariumcurators.org_grants_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=pe_7qcHLBpd30H3SSGxOaVGBTuOSn4Ldip7gq5MRHTY&e=" target="_blank">student research grants</a> open in January, and we have just <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.herbariumcurators.org_early-2Dcareer_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=Z_A-J8uzc0sgh_VrRTlijUznGkQ7Qu9vHA8OOFLKReQ&e=" target="_blank">launched an Early Career Section</a>. We will also be offering our online <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.herbariumcurators.org_2017-2Dstrategic-2Dplanning-2Dcourse_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=JWpDv0f3M-xzFezS5vaPTE9ecge99gDM_yowgtmAPSc&e=" target="_blank">Strategic Planning for Herbaria</a> short-course for the second time in spring 2018.</li><li><b>Promotion for herbaria</b> through our leadership and involvement in societies aligned with our mission, including the <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__spnhc.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=uF0p3dTMJQ3Q7cptRblmU9LSlzClY9xzqbz-gJUKm10&e=" target="_blank">Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections</a> and the <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.botany.org_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=nXmUm0JGpy0IbA-x6wgZUi2-kXicIZXrvVsNJN0Or50&e=" target="_blank">Botanical Society of America</a>.</li><li><b>Advocacy and emergency logistical support</b> through our Herbarium Assistance Committee. In the past year we saw herbaria at risk of being abandoned, collections facilities on fire, and the effects of disasters from hurricanes in the U.S. and Caribbean to political unrest in Venezuela. These events have left The Society ever more committed to providing immediate support for herbaria worldwide.</li><li><b>Access to a network of expertise</b> via the <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.herbariumcurators.org_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=9Tb4aC7Evqy_5sZI07cNYqhf4KiGWozjlX9qjLWABk4&e=" target="_blank">SHC website</a>, the Herbaria-L listserv (co-sponsored by the <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__aspt.net_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=Bed6__Y1MQtRDJa3pBuLbhi2EBEPvebUffY4XRolm48&e=" target="_blank">American Society of Plant Taxonomists</a>), and our biannual newsletter, <i><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.herbariumcurators.org_newsletter_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=N1IQs7AzQ1z6vb_8k81w5cUF-1V8VxEyd5U1ixldG44&e=" target="_blank">The Vasculum</a></i>.</li></ul>At only <b>$5 for student and $10 for regular memberships</b>, supporting SHC costs less than a hand lens, and enables us to be a strong and consistent advocate for herbaria worldwide. When you <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.herbariumcurators.org_membership_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=cQj6BRlIl1bj-q0XFPZFjHxOhUJiid8oYLT2qXLfY3E&s=3zGMse8hPwNmJfFjfPKpQSycw2kHn9VI8IJfC0VTaHQ&e=" target="_blank">join</a> this year you can now gift a membership to your all-star student herbarium workers, your favorite colleague, or anyone else with a love of plants!<br><br>Sincerely,</div><div><br>Erica Krimmel, on behalf of the SHC Membership Committee</div><div><font size="1"><br></font></div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;white-space:pre-wrap"><font size="1"><div>Membership Committee Chair, Society of Herbarium Curators</div><div>Assistant Collections Manager, Chicago Academy of Sciences</div><div>Chicago, IL, U.S.A.</div></font></span></div></div>