A Condensed History of the San Diego Shell Club
1961: San Diego Shell Club founded.
1962: Club is awarded Don Diego Trophy at Del Mar Fair for the outstanding first place Blue Ribbon in club division.
1963 – 1968: Club supports Dr. Rudolph Stohler at the University of California at Berkeley by participating in field study to determine growth of Olivella biplicata (now Callianax biplicata) at the mouth of the Flood Control Channel in San Diego’s Mission Bay.
1964: Club is awarded Special Gold Ribbon Award and Blue Ribbon for first prize at Del Mar Fair for shell displays.
1965: Club hosts American Malacological Union (AMU) – Pacific Division convention in San Diego.
1969: Club prepares a special exhibit in honor of San Diego’s 200th anniversary. Exhibit consists of cases of shells aquaria and many drawings and is displayed for several months at the San Diego Museum of Natural History.
1970: Club initiates The Festivus continuously publishing 11 issues a year plus occasional supplements. Distribution is world-wide to institutions and individuals; articles are peer reviewed and referenced in the Zoological Record.
1971: A group of Club members participates in the Ameripagos Expedition to the Islas Galápagos.
1972: Club begins participation as judges and awards prizes at Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair.
1973: Club prepares a large exhibit of marine mollusks featuring over 17 displays for the main lobby of the San Diego Central Public Library. The exhibit is so successful that it is then transferred to the San Diego Natural History Museum.
1975: Club hosts combined meeting of the Western Society of Malacologists (WSM) and the American Malacological Union (AMU) in San Diego.
1981: Club hosts annual meeting of WSM at San Diego State University.
1987: Club hosts annual meeting of WSM at San Diego State University.
1988: A group of Club members arrange and participate in Grupo Victorian Expedition to the Islas Galápagos.
1989: Club hosts annual meeting of the Conchologists of America (COA) in San Diego.
1990: Club coordinates Anthony D’Attilio Student Research Grant Award ($1000) donated by member Annita Levine."
1991: Club Publishes Supplement "Additions to the Panamic Province Bivalve Literature 1971-1990" 169 pages by C. Skoglund.
1992: Club donates funds for student grants in coordination with WSM and other shell clubs. Club publishes supplement on "Additions to the Panamic Province Gastropod Literature 1971 to 1992" by C. Skoglund.
1993: Club hosts the WSM at the Radisson Hotel in La Jolla California.
1995: Club hosts annual meeting of the Conchologists of America (COA) in San Diego.
1996: Club hosts the WSM at the Handlery Hotel & Resort in San Diego.
1997: Club publishes "The Recent Molluscan Marine Fauna of the Islas Galapagos" 67 pages by K. Kaiser.
1998: Club publishes Anthony D'attilio Memorial issue.
2001: Club publishes "The Recent Molluscan Marine Fauna of Isla de Malpelo Colombia" 149 pages by K. Kaiser and C. Bryce.
2002: Club publishes supplement on"Panamic Province Molluscan Literature 1971- 2001". 286 pages by C. Skoglund. Club supports WSM student grant program.
2003: Club supports WSM meeting in San Diego.
2006: Joint WSM and AMS meeting in San Diego.
2007: Club members participate in Western Society of Malacologists in La Paz Mexico. The late David Mulliner SDSC member and twice past president of WSM is honored. Club publishes supplement on "The Recent Molluscan Fauna of Ile Clipperton" 162 pages by K. Kaiser.
2008: Club embarks upon Mission Bay mollusk study.
2009: Club publishes a special issue "Chitons known from the benthic monitoring program in the Southern California Bight" by T. Stebbins and D. Eernisse.
2010: Joint meeting of Western Society of Malacologists and American Society of Malacology is held in San Diego. Presidents of both WSM Dr. G. Kennedy and ASM Dr. D. Eernisse are SDSC members.
2012: Dr. James McLean is presented the Festivus Life Time Achievement Award for his contributions to malacology and information.
2014: The Festivus publication becomes quarterly. The format is updated and becomes available world-wide as either an electronic or hard copy. Eugene Coan and Paul Valentich – Scott are presented The Festivus Life Time Achievement Award for their contributions to malacology and conchology. Club publishes a special supplement "Icongraphy of the Haliotis Species and Subspecies of Australia and New Zealand" 81 pages by Buzz Owen & Robert Kershaw. The SDSC website is completely revitalized.
2015: Club offers a $1000 award for the best student presentation given at a SDSC meeting. Club publishes "The Living and Fossil Busycon Whelks Iconic Mollusks of the Eastern North America" by E. Petuch R. Myers and D. Berschauer. The SDSC website is completely revitalized. The San Diego Shell Club establishes an annual exhibition at the San Diego County Fair.
2016: SDSC holds the first West Coast Shell Show in May. The Festivus Life Time Achievement award was awarded to two individuals: Buzz Own in Northern California for his contribution on the biogeography of Abalone and Dr. Edward Petuch of Florida for his contribution of the study of western Atlantic gastropods.
2017: The second annual West Coast Shell Show was held in Balboa Park San Diego on August 26th and 27th. The quarterly issues of The Festivus include 348 pages.
2018: The San Diego Shell Club hosted the National Conchologist of America Conference with week-long activities. David Waller and David Berschauer were the San Diego Shell Club Co-Chairman for this event and with the assistance of many Club members and attendees this convention was one for the record books. Approximately 170 people registered for the event. The third annual West Coast Shell Show was held in Balboa Park just prior to the COA convention and was well attended. The San Diego Shell Club published three new books to coincide with the COA convention. "Sea Shells of Southern California" by D. Berschauer and R. Clark "Treasures of the Sea; The Unique Seashells of California" by M. Kaufman and P. Kanner and "Jewels of the Everglades" by E. Petuch and D. Berschauer.
2019: Lisa Lindahl President. After hosting the COA convention in 2018, the club had a quiet year as officers and those on the convention committee now had time for other activities and normal club duties.
2020: Roger Clark President. The COVID 19 world-wide pandemic has had a major impact on club activities. Dave Berschauer and David Waller kept the publication of The Festivus on track, but all other club activities such as the Shell Show, both the spring and fall club auctions, and both the club meetings and social activities were cancelled. The board meet routinely via Zoom. A unique situation arose, as the annual meeting and election of the 2021 club officers could not be held in accordance with the by-laws. The 2021 proposed slate of officers begin their duties in January 2021, and an explanation placed in the club records. The election was held in 2021 at the first club auction of that year.
1962: Club is awarded Don Diego Trophy at Del Mar Fair for the outstanding first place Blue Ribbon in club division.
1963 – 1968: Club supports Dr. Rudolph Stohler at the University of California at Berkeley by participating in field study to determine growth of Olivella biplicata (now Callianax biplicata) at the mouth of the Flood Control Channel in San Diego’s Mission Bay.
1964: Club is awarded Special Gold Ribbon Award and Blue Ribbon for first prize at Del Mar Fair for shell displays.
1965: Club hosts American Malacological Union (AMU) – Pacific Division convention in San Diego.
1969: Club prepares a special exhibit in honor of San Diego’s 200th anniversary. Exhibit consists of cases of shells aquaria and many drawings and is displayed for several months at the San Diego Museum of Natural History.
1970: Club initiates The Festivus continuously publishing 11 issues a year plus occasional supplements. Distribution is world-wide to institutions and individuals; articles are peer reviewed and referenced in the Zoological Record.
1971: A group of Club members participates in the Ameripagos Expedition to the Islas Galápagos.
1972: Club begins participation as judges and awards prizes at Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair.
1973: Club prepares a large exhibit of marine mollusks featuring over 17 displays for the main lobby of the San Diego Central Public Library. The exhibit is so successful that it is then transferred to the San Diego Natural History Museum.
1975: Club hosts combined meeting of the Western Society of Malacologists (WSM) and the American Malacological Union (AMU) in San Diego.
1981: Club hosts annual meeting of WSM at San Diego State University.
1987: Club hosts annual meeting of WSM at San Diego State University.
1988: A group of Club members arrange and participate in Grupo Victorian Expedition to the Islas Galápagos.
1989: Club hosts annual meeting of the Conchologists of America (COA) in San Diego.
1990: Club coordinates Anthony D’Attilio Student Research Grant Award ($1000) donated by member Annita Levine."
1991: Club Publishes Supplement "Additions to the Panamic Province Bivalve Literature 1971-1990" 169 pages by C. Skoglund.
1992: Club donates funds for student grants in coordination with WSM and other shell clubs. Club publishes supplement on "Additions to the Panamic Province Gastropod Literature 1971 to 1992" by C. Skoglund.
1993: Club hosts the WSM at the Radisson Hotel in La Jolla California.
1995: Club hosts annual meeting of the Conchologists of America (COA) in San Diego.
1996: Club hosts the WSM at the Handlery Hotel & Resort in San Diego.
1997: Club publishes "The Recent Molluscan Marine Fauna of the Islas Galapagos" 67 pages by K. Kaiser.
1998: Club publishes Anthony D'attilio Memorial issue.
2001: Club publishes "The Recent Molluscan Marine Fauna of Isla de Malpelo Colombia" 149 pages by K. Kaiser and C. Bryce.
2002: Club publishes supplement on"Panamic Province Molluscan Literature 1971- 2001". 286 pages by C. Skoglund. Club supports WSM student grant program.
2003: Club supports WSM meeting in San Diego.
2006: Joint WSM and AMS meeting in San Diego.
2007: Club members participate in Western Society of Malacologists in La Paz Mexico. The late David Mulliner SDSC member and twice past president of WSM is honored. Club publishes supplement on "The Recent Molluscan Fauna of Ile Clipperton" 162 pages by K. Kaiser.
2008: Club embarks upon Mission Bay mollusk study.
2009: Club publishes a special issue "Chitons known from the benthic monitoring program in the Southern California Bight" by T. Stebbins and D. Eernisse.
2010: Joint meeting of Western Society of Malacologists and American Society of Malacology is held in San Diego. Presidents of both WSM Dr. G. Kennedy and ASM Dr. D. Eernisse are SDSC members.
2012: Dr. James McLean is presented the Festivus Life Time Achievement Award for his contributions to malacology and information.
2014: The Festivus publication becomes quarterly. The format is updated and becomes available world-wide as either an electronic or hard copy. Eugene Coan and Paul Valentich – Scott are presented The Festivus Life Time Achievement Award for their contributions to malacology and conchology. Club publishes a special supplement "Icongraphy of the Haliotis Species and Subspecies of Australia and New Zealand" 81 pages by Buzz Owen & Robert Kershaw. The SDSC website is completely revitalized.
2015: Club offers a $1000 award for the best student presentation given at a SDSC meeting. Club publishes "The Living and Fossil Busycon Whelks Iconic Mollusks of the Eastern North America" by E. Petuch R. Myers and D. Berschauer. The SDSC website is completely revitalized. The San Diego Shell Club establishes an annual exhibition at the San Diego County Fair.
2016: SDSC holds the first West Coast Shell Show in May. The Festivus Life Time Achievement award was awarded to two individuals: Buzz Own in Northern California for his contribution on the biogeography of Abalone and Dr. Edward Petuch of Florida for his contribution of the study of western Atlantic gastropods.
2017: The second annual West Coast Shell Show was held in Balboa Park San Diego on August 26th and 27th. The quarterly issues of The Festivus include 348 pages.
2018: The San Diego Shell Club hosted the National Conchologist of America Conference with week-long activities. David Waller and David Berschauer were the San Diego Shell Club Co-Chairman for this event and with the assistance of many Club members and attendees this convention was one for the record books. Approximately 170 people registered for the event. The third annual West Coast Shell Show was held in Balboa Park just prior to the COA convention and was well attended. The San Diego Shell Club published three new books to coincide with the COA convention. "Sea Shells of Southern California" by D. Berschauer and R. Clark "Treasures of the Sea; The Unique Seashells of California" by M. Kaufman and P. Kanner and "Jewels of the Everglades" by E. Petuch and D. Berschauer.
2019: Lisa Lindahl President. After hosting the COA convention in 2018, the club had a quiet year as officers and those on the convention committee now had time for other activities and normal club duties.
2020: Roger Clark President. The COVID 19 world-wide pandemic has had a major impact on club activities. Dave Berschauer and David Waller kept the publication of The Festivus on track, but all other club activities such as the Shell Show, both the spring and fall club auctions, and both the club meetings and social activities were cancelled. The board meet routinely via Zoom. A unique situation arose, as the annual meeting and election of the 2021 club officers could not be held in accordance with the by-laws. The 2021 proposed slate of officers begin their duties in January 2021, and an explanation placed in the club records. The election was held in 2021 at the first club auction of that year.