Report of the Committee on Regions
for the Year ending June 30, 2005
During the past year, the Committee on Regions met during the Society's November 2004 Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference in Montreal. In addition to the Regional Directors, Patrick Sculley (Executive Director), Evan R. Ferguson (Deputy Executive Director), and Lisa Rhoades (Manager of Chapter Programs), participated in the meeting.
Two main themes dominated the meeting of the Committee in Montreal. First, the Directors reviewed the Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference that concluded immediately prior to the Committee's meeting. During this discussion, the Directors had many suggestions that might improve the meeting and several of these have been incorporated already into the program of the November 2005 meeting. The Directors also had several questions and suggestions in regard to some of the Society's programs. Overall, the Directors felt that the November 2004 meeting went very well and the Committee praised the Directors and Sigma Xi staff for their efforts in conducting such an outstanding meeting.
The second major topic that occupied the discussion of the Committee on Regions was the apparent lack of continuity in the election of Regional Directors in the Society. For example, on 30 June 2005 four out of six Regional Directors will be replaced, which is an extremely large turnover for any committee or organization and does not provide for continuity among the Committee. The Directors agreed that a proposal be developed and presented to the spring 2005 meeting of the Board of Directors that would provide for two Regional Directors to be elected at each annual meeting; i.e., to put the election of Regional Directors back in "sync." This was done at the May 2005 meeting of the Board of Directors via a proposed, temporary change in the Society's Bylaws that subsequently was approved by the chapters.
Finally, the Directors also recommended to the Society's President that Dr. Timothy J. Ng, incoming Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, serve as Chair of the Committee for the year beginning July 1, 2005, and that Dr. John J. Kelley, incoming Northwest Regional Director represent the Regional Directors on the Executive Committee for a two-year term, effective July 1, 2005.
On 30 June 2005, the following individuals concluded their terms as Regional Directors and therefore as members of the Board of Directors: Christopher Lange, Northeast Regional Director; Richard LoPinto, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director; and Jack Sommer, Southeast Regional Director. I also concluded my tenure as Chair of the Committee on Regions and as Northwest Regional Director on 30 June 2005.
Joining the Committee on Regions on 1 July 2005 were Alan Miller as Director of the Southwest Region, replacing Jim Baur who became President-elect of the Society; Timothy J. Ng as Mid-Atlantic Regional Director; John J. Kelley as Northwest Regional Director; J. Zachary Jacobson as Northeast Regional Director; and Ann H. Williams as Southeast Regional Director.
As I conclude my term as Chair of the Committee on Regions, I would like to thank all the Directors with whom I have had the privilege of working with during the past six years for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the Society. I also would like to thank the administrative staff for all their efforts in support of the Committee and the Directors. It has indeed been a real pleasure to work with such a dedicated and enthusiastic staff.
The Committee on Regions for the year ending 30 June 2005 included:
Howard Ceri, Chair and Northwest Regional Director
James F. Baur, Southwest Regional Director
Christopher S. Lange, Northeast Regional Director
Richard W. LoPinto, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director
Linda K. Meadows, North Central Regional Director
John W. (Jack) Sommer, Southeast Regional Director
Respectfully submitted,
Howard Ceri
Chair, Committee on Regions
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