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Fig.1. ASA membership population distribution across the northeastern United States. Each red dot represents the mailing zip code location of each member as of September 2005. A 2-D Gaussian random number generator with a standard devi- ation of two minutes of a degree was added to the dots to spread the location of members that share the same zip code.
Fig. 2. ASA membership population distribution across the eastern United States.
Fig. 3. ASA membership population distribution across the western United States.
recent ASA approval on the formation of student chapters. Each chapter has its own character and activity level, which are influenced by the motivation and desires of the officers and members.
Meeting attendance depends on many factors including ASA regional member population size, density, and fields of interest. Figure 1 illustrates the ASA member population dis- tribution as of September 2005 in the Northeastern United States. Each red dot represents the zip code of the mailing address of each member. Note that the largest population dis- tribution runs along the northeastern corridor from Boston, MA, to Washington, DC. Most chapters are located in regions with a very high member population size and densi- ty. There are other regions, such as spots in Connecticut, Norfolk VA, and New York State, that may support Regional Chapters.
Population size and density are not the only factors in determining if a region can support a chapter. North Carolina has a very active chapter but the number (75) and density of ASA members are not large as indicated in Fig. 2. Why? Most chapters encourage non-ASA members includ- ing students that greatly increase attendance and outreach. The Norfolk area has a similar population size but does not have a chapter.
Oxford, MS, does not have a chapter but it has a very tight population size of 35 members. In Florida, the Gainesville area has a chapter that just re-started. It has a very tight population density that benefits the chapter since mem- bers will have a shorter trip to and from the meeting location. In the past, however, this chapter covered most of the state by holding meetings in various locations. ASA members in
Texas are mainly in the Austin, Dallas, and Houston areas. Dallas has an active chapter (North Texas Chapter) that sup- ports science fairs.
There are Chapters in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Madison. The chapter in Minneapolis is very active (Upper Midwest Chapter). Detroit, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Champaign, St. Louis, and Buffalo could also support Regional Chapters but none have been established in these cities yet. Thirty-one ASA members and students in Lincoln, Nebraska have recently formed the University of Nebraska Student Chapter. The most recently formed Regional Chapter is the Student Chapter at the University of Kansas.
Among the western states (see Fig. 3), Denver has about 84 members but lacks a Regional Chapter. Salt Lake City, with 63 members, has a recently activated student chapter at
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