Report of the Committee on Qualifications and Membership
for the Year ending June 30, 2008

I. Annual Meeting of the Committee

The Committee met October 12-14, 2007 at the Sigma Xi Center in Research Triangle Park NC. The committee's charge, articulated at the Society's 1996 annual meeting, is: to develop policy issues and make recommendations to the Executive Director and/or Board, with the objectives of strengthening the chapters and increasing the Society's membership while maintaining the tradition of honor in science and engineering.

Committee members present:
Dr. Carol Beck, Thomas Jefferson University Chapter (CQM Chair)
Dr. Gregory Buck, South Texas Chapter
Dr. Elaine Davis, Howard University Chapter
Dr. Richard Guillory, Constituency Director, Membership at Large
Dr. John McLean, University of British Columbia Chapter
Dr. Linda Meadows, Ohio State University Chapter (Sigma Xi Executive Director)
Dr. Omar Oyarzabal, Auburn University Chapter
Mrs. Cristina Paul, District of Columbia Chapter
Dr. Andrew Velkey, Tidewater Virginia Chapter

Staff Liaison:
Roger Harris, Director of Membership and Chapters

Staff Guests:
Ms. Sharon Davis, Manager, Membership Services and Benefits
Ms. Kathy McLane, Administrator, Chapter Services and Membership

Guests:
Dr. Richard Meyer, Society Treasurer
Dr. Ann Williams, Society President-Elect

II. Business and activities of the Committee

Motion 3 - The Committee supports continuing to look at ways to include postdoctoral researchers a field in the database for tracking purposes.

Motion 4 - as the chapter annual report is being re-conceptualized the Committee recommends including affiliate activities in the chapter activities section.

Motion 5 - The committee endorses continuing the current practice of a fee for the shipping of back issues for late renewals.

Motion 6 - In addition to Kathy McLane's profiles of model chapters, use models of statistical analysis such as survival analysis to identify factors related to initiation, retention and promotion.

Sharon Davis reported on a direct phone call project by membership department. This is an ongoing project with success on a small scale.

Mr. Harris discussed some methods of membership data analysis and reported on the committee's request for information on chapter best practices. Also included in his report was demographic age profile as well as member category by student, emeritus and regular member. Mr. Harris also reviewed member retention among the different segments while noting that initiation for these segments is fairly steady. Mr. Harris reported on the recommendation by the CQM to contact top-performing chapters and compile their best practices.

Dr. Guillory proposed the concept of a multidisciplinary journal and wanted a reading on the idea from the Publications Committee. A short survey was sent to the members at large. A more detailed survey was sent in April to the Members at Large. The results were in favor of a website for the members at large and an online journal. There is limited support to accomplish both tasks.

The executive director reported on personalizing contact with the membership.

Mr. Harris reported that the current slogan for membership marketing materials is "Science - Research - Honor"

Reviewed at large nominations, chapter and member recognition mechanisms

Membership and chapter officer surveys are underway

• Member survey
  November 30, 2007 to Wednesday, February 20, 2008. 427 completed responses were received to the survey (inactive members)
  Thursday, November 29, 2007 to Saturday, March 22, 2008. 6990 completed responses (active members)

Diversity - internal data collection and ethnicity. The database already has a section for this information. It is currently "optional" and CQM thinks it should remain optional. A plan needs to be in place to encourage the members to enter this information directly into the database via the online member update forms.

Crompton Chapter was revoked at the request of the Chapter due to the downsizing of staff for the corporation. The parent company has undergone many changes in the past few years, with corporate takeovers affecting the health of the chapter.

III. February telephone conference Committee Meeting
The second meeting of the committee was a telephone conference call on February 26, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM EST.

Committee Members Participating
Dr. Carol Beck, Thomas Jefferson University Chapter (CQM Chair)
Dr. Gregory Buck, South Texas Chapter
Dr. Elaine Davis, Howard University Chapter
Dr. John McLean, University of British Columbia Chapter
Dr. Linda Meadows, Ohio State University Chapter (Sigma Xi Executive Director)
Dr. Omar Oyarzabal, Auburn University Chapter
Mrs. Cristina Paul, District of Columbia Chapter
Dr. Andrew Velkey, Tidewater Virginia Chapter

Committee Member Unable to Participate Dr. Richard Guillory, Constituency Director, Membership at Large

Staff Liaison Kathy McLane, Manager of Chapter Services and Membership

Staff Guest Sharon Davis, Manager of Membership Services and Benefits

• The FY09 budget
• Dues increase for FY10
• Staffing for strengthening chapters, membership and international chapters
• Initiative to contact lapsed members by CQM
• 100 chapters' programs workshops would be held in June and July to work on revitalizing 100 chapters
• Membership issues, dues, initiation fees, advance payments. The staff has instituted advance payments for the initiate members at large. A number have taken advantage of this option. It is an option on the dues notice to encourage members to pay in advance. This will be opened up to all chapters later this year.
• New executive director update- Dr. Baker is now onboard as of April 15, 2008.
• Update on annual meeting - water theme, banquet venue. The staff sent a survey to the chapter officers concerning the banquet venue asking for feedback.
• Discussion of the interdisciplinary journal

IV. Chapter Awards for July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007
A complete listing of chapter award winners with brief descriptions can be found at: http://www.sigmaxi.org/chapters/winners/index.shtml

1. Chapters of Excellence Awards
   Certificates of Excellence were award to the following chapters for overall outstanding activity during the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. Nominees were chosen by the Constituencies Directors based on Chapter Annual Reports and winners were selected by the Committee on Qualifications and Membership as Chapters of Excellence.

   Central Arkansas
   Kirksville
   McGill-Montreal
   Natick
   National Institutes of Standards and Technology
   Northern Michigan University
   Oakland University
   University of Colorado
   University of Minnesota at Duluth
   

2. Chapter Outstanding Program Awards
   Chapter Program Awards were given to the following chapters for outstanding programs overall outstanding activity during the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. Nominees were chosen by the Regional Directors based on Chapter Annual Reports and winners were selected by the Committee on Qualifications and Membership as Chapters of Excellence.

   District of Columbia
   National Institute of Standards and Technology
   New Mexico Highlands
   Northwestern Pennsylvania
   University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

3. Certificates of Recognition
   Certificates of Recognition were awarded to the following chapters, on the basis of initiating the most new members last year.

   Brown University
   Carleton College
   Claremont Colleges
   Denison University
   Lafayette College
   Massachusetts Institute of Technology
   McGill-Montreal
   Mount Holyoke College
   North Carolina State University
   Oberlin College
   Smith College
   Southern Maine
   Swarthmore College
   Williams College
   University of Chicago

V. Approved New Chapters, Mergers and Name Changes

1. New Chapters
   The following new chapter was installed:
   SE842 Florida International University

   International Partner
   902 Sigma Xi Romania

2. Name Changes
   The following name changes were approved by the Committee:
   Whitman College-Walla Walla University (formerly Whitman College-Walla Walla College)

3. Chapter Merger
   The following chapters merged to become one area group:
   Tulane University, University of New Orleans, Louisiana State University Medical Center and New Orleans became the Greater New Orleans Chapter

4. Revoked Chapter
   Crompton Chapter

VI. Membership of the Committee
For the year ending June 30, 2008, the Committee on Qualifications and Membership consisted of the following members:

Dr. Carol Beck, Thomas Jefferson University Chapter (CQM Chair)
Dr. Gregory Buck, South Texas Chapter
Dr. Elaine Davis, Howard University Chapter
Dr. Richard Guillory, Constituency Director, Membership at Large
Dr. John McLean, University of British Columbia Chapter
Dr. Linda Meadows, Ohio State University Chapter (Sigma Xi Executive Director)
Dr. Omar Oyarzabal, Auburn University Chapter
Mrs. Cristina Paul, District of Columbia Chapter Dr. Andrew Velkey, Tidewater Virginia Chapter

Staff Liaison:
Kathy McLane, Manager of Chapter Services and Membership

VII. Acknowledgment
The Committee wishes to thank the staff for their work and dedication to membership, chapters and programs.

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