Report of the President
for the Year ending June 30, 2010

Throughout the past year, the Sigma Xi leadership spent significant time and effort contemplating and reassessing ideas on the Society's value and relevance to its members, its local and global reach, and the viability/sustainability of its current organizational operations. From my perspective, we remain fully committed – continuously seeking ways to remain responsive to member needs, while building on the Society's stellar history and tradition of service to our members, stakeholders and the general public. In addition, we are seeking ways to transform and reposition Sigma Xi into a new, vibrant and globally-valued scientific organization.

Much attention has also been given to raising the level of engagement with the broader scientific community through strategic partnerships and collaborations as well as increasing the Society's presence in the international scientific arena. As such, we worked to identify key organizations with which we could foster potential relationships and/or implement strategies to increase overall awareness of the relevance and value of Sigma Xi as a scientific research society. Among the activities in this regard are continued collaborative interactions with the National Academy of Science on GIAR support; Public Radio International on science and technology groundbreaking news coverage and weekly science podcasts; and new collaborative networking capabilities via ResearchGate. Clearly, each member and chapter must buy-in and become full participants in these efforts to make them successful.

At the heart of the Society's challenges, and a consequence of the protracted declines in membership, are concerns about the fiscal sustainability of Sigma Xi. Fiscal responsibility, accountability and security remain paramount to ensuring the future of Sigma Xi, and these remain among our top priorities. The administrative leadership of Sigma Xi has worked diligently and creatively over the past year, and continues to do so, in search of opportunities that would place the Society on a more stable financial footing (in the face of declining membership). The Executive Director, working with the staff, Board, and Finance Committee, has been strategic and proactive in significantly controlling spending in a climate of limited revenue. These cost-containing steps have been positive but, unfortunately, not sustainable if revenues and membership do not improve. Below are some additional initiatives implemented or adopted during the year as part of a multifaceted approach to ensure the Society's long-term stability:

CHANGE TO ANNUAL MEETING - A new format has been adopted for this year's annual meeting; one intended to be broadly inclusive, to extend our reach beyond "only Sigma Xi members/delegates" to private and public sector organizations with interests in science and technology. In part, our goal is to increase the level of member participation and engagement at the meeting, while reducing the Society's expenses and debt burden associated with the event. Sigma Xi remains the only scientific organization underwriting all expenses for its members/delegates and Board. This year, each Board member was asked to assist in identifying sponsors and exhibitors as well as assume leadership roles during the meeting. These strategic efforts, though small steps, were undertaken to allow the Society opportunities to tap into financial resources previously untouched, while building long-term relationships and bridges that will be rewarding in the future.

MAINTENANCE OF SIGMA XI CENTER – The future of the Sigma Xi Center has been a topic of ongoing discussions and concern for some time. Identifying viable sources of revenue to sustain the infrastructure and its maintenance remain crucial. Several possible solutions, such as identifying alternative investment strategies, leasing and/or divesting, developing novel partnerships and different revenue streams, are being considered. The Executive Director has been charged with seeking and identifying possible options/opportunities for the Center to generate continual cash flow to maintain the building and sustain the activities therein.

As indicated in the above report, Sigma Xi is moving toward new levels of openness and inclusiveness and a new Strategic Plan is forthcoming that we expect will evolve through general member input. If we are to elevate Sigma Xi's status, impact and relevance in the national and international scientific community, all our stakeholders will be required to make their personal, intellectual and fiscal contributions to ensure success.

Joseph A. Whittaker, Ph.D., President

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