It was a general feeling among those who attended the NATO / ARW meeting
on the Galaxy Distances and Deviations from Universal Expansion, that
during the week in Hawaii a milestone had been passed in work on the
distance scale. While not until the last minute did most of the
participants know who else would be attending, no one was displeased
with the showing. As it turned out, scarcely a single active worker in
the field of the distance scale missed the event. Few knew all of the
outstanding work that was to be revealed, and/or the long-term programs
that were to be encapsulated in the first few days. Areas of general
agreement were pinpointed with candid speed, and most of the discussion
moved on quickly to new data, and areas deserving special new attention.
As quickly as one project was reported as being brought successfully to
a close, a different group would report on new discoveries with new
directions to go. New data, new phenomena; but the sentiment was that we
were building on a much safer foundation, even if the Universe was
unfolding in a much more complex and unexpected way than was previously
anticipated. In editing these proceedings a decision was made well in
advance of the Meet- ing that no attempt would made to record the
discussion. This was done for many reasons.