• The Power of Place - - Geography Awareness Week at USGS | Resources
• Undergraduate Geography Association, UW

Ms. McIntosh gave an overview of several key topics related to the 2000 U.S. Census. She highlighted issues related to race and Hispanic ethnicity. First, respondents were asked whether they are Hispanic or Latino before being asked about race. This allowed people to identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino regardless of which race they selected. Second, respondents were allowed to select one or more of six racial categories. This results in 63 possible racial designations (6 single racial categories + 57 combinations of two or more racial categories), all available at the census block level.

Cam pointed out that with these changes in race reporting, there is no comparability in race statistics with earlier censuses. Also, users must be careful in analyzing the race data because situations can arise in which aggregations of sub classes could result in populations greater than the total population. Regarding census geography, Ms. McIntosh mentioned that census blocks are now defined by four digit numbers (rather than three digit numbers with suffixes) and that blocks no longer have a minimum population requirement. The change in numbering means that there is no relationship to block numbering in the 1990 census.

Another geographic product that is being developed is Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). These are approximate area representations of USPS Zip Code service areas based on Census 2000 blocks. Data reported in this way will be very useful for marketing studies since many businesses collect customer data based on zip codes. Census 2000 also includes an Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation (ACE). This is a survey of about 300,000 housing units that will be used to measure and correct the overall and differential coverage of the U.S. resident population to provide the most accurate population estimate. However, because of constitutional concerns,

this data will not be used for apportionment of congressional representatives. Ms. McIntosh highlighted that most Census 2000 data will eventually be available on-line making access to and research of census data easier than ever. Availability is as follows: Dec. 31, 2000 Official State apportionment counts April 1, 2001 Redistricting counts April - Dec. 2001 100 percent data products Dec. 2001 - March 2003 Sample data products Additional information on Census 2000 can be found at the following website: http://www.census.gov

For MORE DETAILS, Click here!

Here are some further Web pages which might help: http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/AWG/assoc.html#k12
Thanks for caring about geographic literacy in Washington State!

The items that need to be used in the letters to the State Board of Education, the Superintendend, and the local legislative people are:

1. That funding for developing and state testing of the Social Studies (History, Geography, Economics, and Civics) be provided.
2. That the Social Studies be a required part of the Certificate of Mastery at the tenth grade level as they are the foundation for citizenship.

   Social Studies should be part of the certificate of Mastery since it is in social studies that students learn the essentials of citizenship. It is of critical importance that our students become well-informed citizens if we are to continue as a strong democracy.

3. That the testing for Social Studies be at grades 5, 8, and 11. The testing is presently at 5, 8, and 10. Since over 90% of the State's high schools teach the U.S. History at grade eleven, this would require a major shift in materials, staff, new texts, and reading levels. It is a big change. We really need the 11th grade as a testing area.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NAMES AND ADDRESS: URL:

• http://www.k12.wa.us/sbe/Duties.html#CURRENT MEMBERS
• Dr. Terry Bergeson: URL: http://www.k12.wa.us/
• WASHINGTON STATE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL STUDIES: (home page) http://www.learningspace.org/socialstudies/

The Fulbright Scholar Program for faculty and professionals had more than 26 awards available in Geography for lecturing and/or doing research abroad during the 2001-2002 academic year. Although the August 1 deadline is past, there are still some awards open and recruitment will continue. Click here for more!

Conference title:
Rethinking the Line: The Canada-US Border

October 22 to 25, 2000
The Waterfront Hotel
Vancouver, British Columbia

More Details!

May 25, 2000: Geography Bee Winner 2000:

• Finalists [National Geographic's WebSite]
• Webcast of May 24 Proceedings [Winner: Felix Peng]
• Seattle Times Account: "Boy's global outlook wins him geography bee," Thursday, May 25, 2000; by Anjetta McQueen The Associated Press

  Felix Peng's love of geography began when he was a toddler and his parents pointed out their birthplace, Taiwan, on a globe. The 13-year-old Connecticut boy's hobby paid off yesterday when he won the National Geography Bee.

• Washington State's Winner: Kyle Q. Haddad-Fonda, Shoreline (1999 & 2000) [Seattle Times, May 19, 2000]
• 1997: Alex Kerchner; Home state: Washington; Grade level: Seventh After finishing among the top ten finalists in 1996, twelve-year-old Alex Kerchner returned to the national competition and became the 1997 national champion.
  Also: "Kirkland boy wins U.S. geography bee", [Seattle Times, May 28, 1997]

The editor of this AWG Online Newsletter is still hoping to receive abstracts of as many of these presentations as possible. Please send your paragraph by E-mail (krumme@u.washington.edu) or via this "box". Thanks (gk).

Douglas K. Fleming, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington, popular instructor of courses on Western Europe, international trade, ocean shipping and the airline industry, is giving a public lecture next week in the UW's "Last lecture" series. His topic is "Seattle's Maritime Orientation: The Character of a Seaport"; the talk is on

Professor Robert Kuhlken (CWU) reports:
"Just wanted to let you know that Dr. Robert Michael Pyle [ http://www.cwu.edu/~geograph/pyle.html] will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming AWG meeting in Ellensburg."