2002 Final Business Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Meeting opened at 5.00 pm in room 118 Conference Center, with 36 in attendance.
Cranston read minutes of preliminary business meeting, approval proposed by Chris Thompson, seconded by Nathan Schiff.
Reports
Governing Board report, Michael Ivie
In his last report to section A concerning Governing Board matters, Ivie noted that 4 ESA annual awards for 2001-2 were made to practicing systematists. The budget has been passed with no conference registration increase for 2003, although non-member and on-site will rise. In 2003, Cincinnati ("Entomology, for many disciplines - a great science"), there will be an effort to provide computer projection in all presentations. This is envisaged as causing some extra organizational problems for session chairs and moderators.
ESA is seeking new mission and vision statements reflecting new emphases. Thomas Say Proceedings and Memoirs have been too expensive and ceased. Even authors were unwilling to purchase / accept backlog, which has been given away. Final business meeting seeks a budget surplus of $126,941. Entomological Foundation has new by-laws. Ivie concluded by thanking the section for 6 years of support for his Governing Board work.
Report of Program Committee Representative, John Heraty
(This was mostly reported at first business meeting, not final). The preliminary program meeting was chaired by Jim Shaddy, and will be chaired by Robert Wright in 2003. The theme of the 2003 meeting will be "Entomology from Many Disciplines - A Great Science". The Program enhancement funds (PEFs) for 2002 were $20,200, of which $19,900 was used. A similar level of funding was proposed for 2003 but requires approval. In 2002, there were five program symposia, 21 section symposia, 34 informal conferences and 10 informal conferences. All informal conferences will be replaced by regular symposia in 2003. This is anticipated to have no effect on the current informal conferences and business meetings in Section A, which will be submitted as symposia. The numbers of symposia in 2003 should retain the same as the total number of symposia and conferences in 2002. There was some discussion over terms, and it was suggested that we use "member symposia" or "specialty symposia" to distinguish these from regular section symposia. It was asked that we poll the membership for their feelings on this issue. Section A members voted unanimously for a system involving Program Symposia, Section Symposia, and Symposia. All symposia will be able to solicit PEF funds and that PEF funds will be used to pay partial or full registration fees for non-members. Program symposia will be due on December 13, and must include full information on organizers, speakers, talk titles, and an estimate of requested PEF funds. These symposia will be decided upon by January 24. Section Symposia are due by March 1. Regular posters and oral presentation titles are due by June 10.
Publication Council, Barry O'Connor
Barry O'Connor reported that a Thomas Say monograph committee was set up to consider symposia. If publications were to be taxonomic monographs only, the other sections' participation was in doubt. O'Connor stated that poor quality reprints was a one-off issue, unlikely to be repeated. The issue of provision of supplemental material (such as extensive distributional information) on the web was discussed, with costing issues amongst matters to be resolved - costing in the next year.
Thomas Say Committee, Joe McHugh
The new narrower focus of Thomas Say publications (see above) requires changes to the editorial board. John Brown was applauded as his editorial term ended. Joe McHugh announced his cessation in 1 years time. There were no new submissions in the past year, 1 prospective publication, 1 Monograph and 1 Proceedings, 4 mss in preparation. Time from submission to publication was estimated at 5 years under current finances. Discussion of the finances of Thomas Say ensued (including Oswald, McHugh, Thompson), with some confusion as to whether expenditure on new publications arose directly from sales, or whether there was a role for endowment income/interest. New rep. requested to clarify for membership.
Systematic Resources
Mary Liz Jameson and John Oswald reported minimal activity, with some uncertainty about their charge, and whether a role as liaison between ECN and ESA was in order. Possible roles of committees and branches in preparation of lists of institutions and collections were raised (discussion about utility and openness to abuse followed). Ivie explained that roles of Standing Committees and their charges were established and shouldn't be changed without Governing Board notification. Noted that all Standing Committee roles up for review. Jack Miller asked if Systematic Resources committee knew its role - answer in affirmative. Jay McPherson clarifed some issues, and the Committee were thanked.
Annals of ESA
John Oswald. Details of fast tracking of manuscripts revealed – should be fully operational December 2nd. Members advised to read article on December newsletter, and consult http://www.rapidreview.com/ website.
Other Business
Questions from Section A Members
Brett Ratcliffe asked for confirmation that the Sunday of National ESA meeting should have no overlap. Ivie confirmed, noting that all conflicts cause trouble to judging presentations. Catherine Duckett asked if student presentations could be staggered. Issues of maximum of 12 presentations per session, judging efficiency etc prevented such organization, and we will have to live with conflicting student presentations.
Symposia Proposals Received for 2003
Program Symposia:
Howard Evans and his Impact on Entomology (Matthews & Hook)
Evolution of Pollination Syndromes (Sydney Cameron)
Section Symposia:
Speciation - Tribute to Tom Brown (Kelly Tillman & K. Tauber)
Evolution of the Cucujoidea (Andy Cline)
Empircle Methods in Systematics (D. Judd & Andy Brower)
Phylogenomics (Whiting & Weigmann)
Roundtable discussion on name Homoptera (Louis O'Brien and Carl Schaeffer)
New business
Resolution 7
Whereas, the Entomological Society of America recognizes the primary role of the National Science Foundation in the funding of research in Insect Systematics in the United States, and Whereas, the need for work in Insect Systematics has been identified as a critical issue for scientists and managers in agriculture, ecology, behavior, conservation, biodiversity and many basic sciences, Whereas, the Entomological Society of America is strongly supportive of the current funding of Insect Systematics by NSF Programs through the Systematics, Biological Research Collections, Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories, and Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy Programs. Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Entomological Society of America strongly commends the National Science Foundation for the creation of the new programs of Planetary Biodiversity Inventories, Revisionary Syntheses in Systematics and Assembling the Tree of Life, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Entomological Society of America supports the continued growth of all these programs in support of scientific discovery in the field of Systematics.
Motion to send to Governing Board, proposed by Chris Thompson, seconded Joe McHugh, passed 34-0.
Susan Weller (chair) announced that Jim Woolley had volunteered as editor for Thomas Say publications - applause. Weller announced that 2-3 judges would be required to judge student applications for travel funds for ICE 2004.
Sue Weller thanked her support team for 2001-2, and the chair passed to John Heraty. Applause.
The nominating committee recommends the following slate of officers and asked for any further nominations from the floor: Section A Secretary Elect (2003-2006), Paul Goldstein (Chicago Field Museum) and Carol van Dohlen (Utah State University), and Section A members were asked to support the nomination of Scot Hutchins (section C). Motion to accept by Chris Thompson, seconded by Jim Wooley. Support was unanimous.
Closure proposed by Chris Thompson, seconded by Jim Woolley; the meeting closed at 5.45.
Respectfully Submitted,
Peter S. Cranston, Secretary, Section A