The members of that same group who initially came together as strangers soon found themselves among lifelong friends - people with whom they shared a core passion in archaeology and with whom they also shared a bond of trust, mutual respect, and a timeless sense of having fun by doing interesting things together. That same flame of belonging and friendship continues to burn brightly among today's members of SSAS; let us hope it will continue to burn as strong and passionately among future members of the Society.

Over the years, whether people provided leadership for the group and/or took time away from their families to participate, the spirit of community and camaraderie (so important for an organization like this) has kept all of us thinking fresh new thoughts, willing to leverage those ideas to help move the Society in new directions.

My heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all SSASers - past and present - who have made the Society into what it is today.

Kind regards,

Craig Mayer
Founder - South Suburban Archaeological Society