1. Call to order Heroes 5:10 pm 2/26/08
We all wish Harold a speedy recovery.
2. No minutes from last meeting
3. Old business
i. Treasurer’s report
Expenditures 2007 $300 sigma xi awards, Gretchen Pruitt delegate Orlando $87.30, Dept BCP $100 colloquium
Balance 1,570.6
4. New business
Discussion of initiatives and possible events
1. Host one dinner each semester for all active members
i. present certificates to new members
ii. student paper competition
iii. Certificates given to Grants-in-Aid of Research recipients
discussion:
i. one dinner each semester should be scheduled as a minimum.
ii. The spring dinner could be the award banquet
iii. Student paper competition could be held in concert with the central scholars. The student provide a paper (published, thesis brief, UG research report …) to the committee. The student would then present a talk at the central scholar symposium. The winner would be selected by the sigma xi committee from the paper and talk criteria. (winner plus one to two honorable mentions can be invited to the spring banquet, UG and Grad categories).
iv. Grant in aid recipients will also be recognized at the banquet.
v. The teacher award will increase to $100
vi. Anna will come to the science day teachers meeting in the Ozark room from 10-10:30 to discuss the new criteria.
vii. Anna and Scott will draft new criteria for awards.

2. Prepare an On-line Science Café (national exposure)
discussion
i. scott will initiate the science café and begin to build a website for the sigma xi chapter
ii. Several felt that environmental science would be a good first café since there is considerable expertise on campus from chemistry, biology and technology in this area and there is considerable community interests.

3. Increase visibility with sigma Xi shirts
i. scott will look at some shirt options and order them as quick as possible. We would like them for the reception and science day. A consensus wants polo type. Preferably it will have UCM sigma xi but we will need to go through certified screeners to do that.

4. Increase visibility with sigma Xi banner (hung at sponsored events)
discussion
i. Steve Mills volunteered to get the banner made for us. Scott will supply language by this Thursday, sign 4-6 feet long and at least 2 feet wide with grommets.

5. Local chapter could host a student research paper competition.
discussion
Anna and scot will meet next week to set up criteria and logistics for award.
i. awarded at banquet
ii. One undergraduate and one graduate award (3 nominations each invited)

6. Host a large recruiting reception for new members right after spring break
i. invite all disciplines
ii. Have nomination and promotion forms ready at the reception
discussion
i. Harold has been working on putting a large reception and recruitment gathering together right after spring break.
ii. Harold has invited Dean Greife to be the main speaker (the date and time is pending)
iii. We will invite all interested disciplines
iv. Jay will be in charge of recruiting and promoting duties for the chapter. We are going to have new member and promotion documents at the reception committee with a table etc.
v. we will also have an agenda and provide a list of new and re-established events we have planned.

Sigma Xi is loosely affiliated with several UCM Events:
However increased visibility and perhaps involvement is needed.
1. Science Day – hosted by UCM spring event
2. Science Olympiad – hosted by UCM spring event
3. Annual Colloquium and Recognition Ceremony – hosted by UCM spring even
4. BioBlitz
i. we will increase our visibility on campus in these events by wearing our shirts, hanging our banner, and continuing our monetary support for these and other activities.
Reporting
1. Annual report
2. Good Standing Criteria
3. Send delegate to national meeting
discussion
i. Harold sent in the annual report last year and a delegate Sydney Everhart to the national meeting last year.
ii. We want to be sure to continue to fulfill the good standing requirements mandated by the national office.
iii. We will make a GroupWise of all active members and distribute to officers to allow for better communication.
5. Election of Officers
1. President elected Scott McKay
2. Vice President elected Jay Raveill
3. Treasurer elected Selene Nikado
4. Secretary elected Anna Oller
discussion
i. discussion of duties
ii. Vice president will be in charge of recruiting and promotion activities for the chapter
iii. Secretary will be in charge of awards ( sigma xi grants, student paper competition, teacher of the year)