Report of the Committee on Regions
for the Year Ending June 30, 1998

The 1997-98 Committee on Regions successfully provided a forum for the Directors of the various Regions to share successful ideas, to discuss solutions to problems within the Regions.

Meetings
The Committee met in person twice during the November 1997 Annual Meeting in the Washington, DC area, and once in conjunction with the June 1998 Board of Directors meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC. The Virtual Committee meetings – first used last year to disseminate ideas, suggestions and solutions to all Committee members via an electronic mail list serve, and provide a subsequent discussion forum – have continued to be a valuable addition to achieving through discussion at low cost in terms of dollars and member’s time.

Governance
The Committee has had extensive discussions over the past several years on Regional alignment. These discussions have been melded into an extensive reorganization of the overall governance of the Society that will be presented to the Assembly as a separate issue

Young Investigator Award
The Young Investigator Award recognizes scientific achievement, preferably in interdisciplinary research, within ten years of the awardee’s last earned degree. The Award alternates between recognizing physical scientists and life scientists. Last year, for the first time, Directors of each Region evaluated a number of highly qualified nominations for the Award in the physical sciences, and forwarded their Regional selectees to the Committee on Awards. This year was the first selection in the life sciences, and I am happy to report that the nominees were at least as outstanding as last year, and Regional selectees have once again been forwarded. Nominations for the third Award (in the physical sciences) should be submitted to Regional Directors by June 1, 1999.

Appreciation
The Sigma Xi staff has continued their outstanding support to the Committee as well as the Society as a whole. I extend the thanks of the Committee to Harjit Ahluwalia as he finishes his term as Southwest Regional Director. As I rotate off the Board at the conclusion of the 1997-98 year I want to express my sincere appreciation to the other Committee members who have made my job as Chair enjoyable and satisfying.

Thomas R. Flory, Chair, Committee on Regions

Mid-Atlantic Regional Directors
Thomas R. Flory
Penelope J. Padgett

North Central Regional Directors
Cathryn A. Manduca
Loran L. Bieber

Northeast Regional Directors
Zachary Jacobson
Virginia V. Lyons

Northwest Regional Directors
John U. Trefny
C. Susan Weiler

Southeast Regional Directors
Ruth L. Hays
George V. Hillyer

Southwest Regional Directors
Harjit S. Ahluwalia
William R. Klemm