Before his death in 2005, Richard Drees had tried valiantly to get the Methods of Soil Analysis - Mineralogy Methods revised and updated.  He had a grand vision of this volume, including aiming the book towards graduate students and practicing professionals with easy-to-follow methods that incorporated sufficient background information and theory, safety issues, and a variety of traditional as well as cutting edge methodology.  Our goal on the editorial committee was to update the first Methods of Soil Analysis monograph in the style of M.L. Jackson's Advanced Soil Chemistry textbook, thus offering the book as a teaching as well as reference tool.  We considered alternative layouts and a more "user-friendly" format that would take this book directly into the laboratory, but ended up sticking to the SSSA Monograph model, which may have stifled creativity and effort, but was the most economical and straightforward.  Richard made all the initial contacts with chapter authors and his notes show that he had personally reviewed and edited many of the chapters.  He struggled for several years to get the monograph completed, but had to relinquish editorship in 2004 due to failing health.  We hope to report at these meetings that all chapters have been submitted, reviewed, and revised and that publication of the monograph will occur in 2006-2007 fiscal year.  It has been a struggle, but in honor of Richard Drees' extraordinary commitment to soil science students and the profession, we look forward to finishing this project and dedicating it to him.  He contributed greatly to the Soil Science Society of America and will be missed!