SESSION I

Introductory Remarks by the President

2. Dr. Hollingsworth welcomed delegates, spouses, and friends to the one hundredth Annual Meeting of Sigma Xi and introduced Dr. Peter Blair, the Society's Executive Director, Ms. Ann Gilton, Sigma Xi's Parliamentarian, and Dr. John Prados, the Society's Treasurer. She then expressed the hope that many of the delegates had attended the recently-concluded 1999 Sigma Xi forum, "Reshaping Undergraduate Science and Engineering Education: Tools for Better Learning." She indicated that of the many Sigma Xi forums that she had attended, the 1999 forum ranks as one of the very best with high quality presentations and the extensive use of poster sessions and demonstrations that were a very positive aspect of this year's forum. Most remarkable, in her view, was the extremely high level of interest by those in attendance at the forum and the enthusiasm with which they interacted with speakers, panelists, and each other. Dr. Hollingsworth added that the 1999 forum paved the way for future Sigma Xi initiatives in science education and for programs in the developing Sigma Xi Center.

3. Dr. Hollingsworth then reminded delegates that this Annual Meeting is the 100th (Centennial) Annual Meeting in Sigma Xi and perhaps appropriately the meeting will have two new features that result from the new governance structure that was approved by the 1998 Assembly of Delegates: First, this is the first meeting at which the new constituency groups will meet in Sigma Xi. Therefore, delegates will meet, as they have traditionally done, in 3 Regional Assemblies of Delegates to exchange views and experiences from chapters at a variety of institutional settings. However, delegates will also meet in 2 meetings of their appropriate constituency group which will provide an opportunity for delegates from chapters at similar institutions to exchange views and experiences. Secondly, in order to streamline the business of the Assembly, the Reports of Officers and Standing Committees have been available for delegates, chapters, and members to review on the Society's Web site since early September and therefore will not be reviewed in the Assembly. Finally, throughout Saturday this annual meeting will feature undergraduate research posters from students in the greater Minneapolis area. The poster session was arranged by Dr. Sagar Krupa and Dr. Michael Russelle of the University of Minnesota Chapter; Dr. Cathy Manduca, North Central Regional Director; and the North Central Region. She then urged delegates to take the opportunity to attend these sessions and interact with these students.

4. At the request of Dr. Hollingsworth, the Executive Director then explained the voting procedures to be used by delegates to select a President-elect and for any written ballots in the Assembly of Delegates. To cast their vote for President-elect, delegates were to affix a bar code label from the sheet of labels that they received in their registration packets to the top of the ballot; they were then to indicate their selection on the ballot in the spaces indicated. Ballots for election of the President-elect were to be placed in the ballot box in the registration area by 5:30 p.m. Saturday in order to be counted and results of the election would be announced in the final Assembly on Sunday morning. The small, green ballot books were to be used for any elections in the Regional Assemblies or the Constituency Groups. For any ballots taken in the Assembly, the President would announce which number ballot was to be used and delegates were to affix their bar code label to the ballot and mark their ballot; ballots in the Assembly would be collected by the Tellers, scanned electronically, and the results reported to the Assembly. There were no questions concerning the balloting procedure.

5. Continuing, Dr. Hollingsworth reminded the Assembly that there was one recommendation from the Board of Directors and a resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter to be considered by the Assembly. The Board's recommendation was the eight-point motion on annual dues for the year beginning 1 July 2000 while, in addition, there was the substantive resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter that requires consideration and action by this Assembly. She added that there were only 45 minutes in this first Assembly but there would be additional Assemblies on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Therefore, during this first Assembly, agenda items #1-8A would be taken up, including the recommendation of the Board to the Assembly and the proposed resolution and any questions for clarification in regard to these issues would be answered. Thus, the business of the Society would be placed before the Assembly in this first session. Discussion of these issues would then take place in the three Regional Assemblies of Delegates and in the second and third Assemblies of Delegates. Voting on these issues would take place in the final Assembly on Sunday morning. This process should provide ample time for discussion of the issues before voting on them on Sunday morning. Finally, the President advised delegates that agenda items #8B-D (Election of Directors for Constituency Groups, Associate Directors of Geographic Regions, and election of members of the Committee on Nominations) will take place in the Regional Assemblies of Delegates and the Constituency Groups with the results of these elections reported in the final Assembly on Sunday morning.

Approval of the Agenda of the Assembly of Delegates of the 100th Annual Meeting

6. The President reminded delegates that the proposed agenda for the Assembly was contained on page 12 of the Annual Meeting Program that each delegate received at registration and this information also has been available on the Society's Web site for delegates, chapters, and members to review since early September. Without objection, the agenda for the Assembly of Delegates of the 100th Annual Meeting was adopted.

Approval of the Proceedings of the 99th Annual Meeting

7. The proceedings of the Assembly of Delegates, held during the November 1998 Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia from 12-15 November 1998, were then approved without objection or correction.

Report of the President

8. Dr. Hollingsworth reminded delegates that the Report of the President for the year ending 30 June 1999 has been available on the Society's Web site since early September. There were no additions made, nor questions asked, concerning the Report of the President.

Report of the Treasurer

9. The President reminded delegates that the Report of the Treasurer was contained in the 1999 Financial Report that has been available on the Society's Web site. There were no additions made, nor questions asked, concerning the Report of the Treasurer.

Report of the Executive Director

10. At the invitation of Dr. Hollingsworth, the Executive Director provided additional remarks to his report that had been available to delegates, chapters, and members on the Society's Web site. In opening his remarks, Dr. Blair welcomed delegates to Sigma Xi's Centennial Annual Meeting and explained that, although the Society was founded in 1886 at Cornell University, its first general convention of the Society's chapters did not take place until 1893. He then expressed the hope that delegates had read his report on the Society's Web site, which is a comprehensive view of the past year's activities and, in particular, chronicles many of the new initiatives within the chapters and in the Society's management and administrative offices. As an update to these activities, Dr. Blair explained that for the past several years, with the generous support of the Wellcome Trust and the Glaxo-Wellcome Fund, Sigma Xi is sponsoring a television documentary on the life of Gertrude Elion, a long-time Sigma Xi member and Nobel Laureate. A pre-production version of the documentary will be shown several times during the Annual Meeting and, after a brief description of Dr. Elion's scientific career and her work in mentoring young women in science, he urged delegates to take the opportunity to view the documentary during the meeting.

11. The Executive Director then explained that at the first Sigma Xi Annual Meeting in 1893, 3 of the 4 chapters attended with the 4th chapter submitting written correspondence on its views before the meeting. It therefore seems that the Society might have a precedent for the Quinnipiac Chapter resolution that is before this Assembly. Continuing with the early history of Sigma Xi, Dr. Blair explained that one of the Society's early Secretaries compiled a quarter century history of the Society in which he recanted how the Society celebrated its important and influential role in "emphasizing the educational and cultural values of scientific training." He added that he found it interesting how some issues remain quintessential as the role of science and technology in our current society is probably as compelling as it has ever been, yet the public's understanding of science and technology is almost abject to the point of being dangerous at times, as Rush Holt emphasized in his McGovern Lecture that immediately preceded this Assembly.

12. Continuing, Dr. Blair recalled that one of Thomas Jefferson's worst fears for the fledgling American democracy was that democracy's worst enemy was an uninformed electorate. In the Executive Director's view, as modern society becomes more and more dependent on science and technology for economic vitality and an improved quality of life, responsible decisions about science can only come about if there is a profoundly improved understanding of its implications and its promise. In his view, Sigma Xi is uniquely suited to pursue this cause with its broad, grass-roots, multi- disciplinary-based chapter structure and the Society's chapters could be effective local catalysts for improving the public's understanding of science and technology. In closing his remarks, Dr. Blair indicated that he believed it is vital to both Sigma Xi's, and to modern society's, future for chapters to undertake this task and he urged delegates on their return to their chapters to consider how their chapter could pursue this noble cause.

Appointment of the Credentials Committee, Tellers, and the Committee on Resolutions

13. The President announced that the following individuals had been appointed to the Committee on Resolutions for the 1999 Assembly of Delegates:
    Susan Weiler, Chair, Whitman College-Walla Walla College Chapter
    Clifton Chancey, Northwest Indiana Chapter
    John Trefny, Colorado School of Mines Chapter

14. Dr. Hollingsworth then announced the appointments of the following individuals to constitute the Credentials Committee for the November 1999 Assembly of Delegates:
    Kelly McConnaughay, Chair, Peoria Chapter
    Sarah Lingle, New Orleans Chapter
    Robert Painter, University of Toronto Chapter

15. The following delegates, two from each region, were then announced by Dr. Hollingsworth to serve as Tellers in both the Assembly of Delegates and the respective Regional Assemblies of Delegates:

    Mid-Atlantic Region
    John Bower, Lynchburg Chapter
    Jane Giniewicz, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Chapter

    North Central Region
    Aaron Monte, University of Wisconsin LaCrosse Chapter
    Jill Yager, Wright State University Chapter

    Northeast Region
    Carl Candiloro, Pace University Chapter
    Barbara Dowds, Regis College Chapter

    Northwest Region
    Barbara Goodman, University of South Dakota Chapter
    Qiang Zhang, Manitoba Chapter

    Southeast Region
    David Benner, Southern Appalachian Chapter
    Cindy Cisar, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Chapter

    Southwest Region
    Lovely K. Fotedar, Clear Lake Chapter
    Frank Potter, Fort Hays Chapter

Reports and Recommendations from the Board of Directors

16. The President reminded the Assembly that the motion from the Board of Directors would be presented this evening and questions answered for clarification of the motion. Discussion on the motion would take place in the remaining two Assemblies of Delegates and the Regional Assemblies of Delegates and the motion voted upon during the final Assembly on Sunday morning. She also reminded the Assembly that this motion was contained on page 14 of the program booklet that delegates received at registration and this information also has been available on the Society's Web site for delegates, chapters, and members to review since early September. An explanation of the motion was contained on page 13 of the program booklet and also has been available on the Society's Web site since early September. Dr. Hollingsworth then invited the Society's Treasurer to introduce the eight-point motion on annual dues and fees for the year ending 30 June 2001 (FY2001) on behalf of the Board of Directors.

17. Annual Dues for 2000-2001 (FY 2001). The Treasurer explained that this motion on annual dues and fees is identical in form to those presented to the Assembly of Delegates in recent years. That is, the dues are maintained at the previous year's level adjusted only by the cost-of-living, expressed as the Consumer Price Index or CPI, for the end of the current calendar year. Items 1 (standard dues rate), 2 (rebate to chapters), and 6 (life membership) of the motion would be affected by the CPI and rounded to the nearest dollar. Dr. Prados indicated that, at this time, it is believed that the increase would be no more than US$1.00 for the standard dues rate.

18. In response to a question, the Treasurer explained that item 7 of the motion has to do with the sponsorship of emeritus members by chapters. Thus, if a chapter wishes to sponsor its emeritus members they need to submit to the Society's headquarters by 30 November 1999 a list of their emeritus members for whom the chapter will pay dues at one-half the standard dues rate. Likewise, chapters must notify the Society's headquarters by the same date of any individuals for whom the chapter will pay their annual dues. In response to an additional question, Dr. Prados explained that emeritus members pay annual dues at one-half the standard rate and that chapters can elect to pay this amount on behalf of the member. In response to a final question on this item, the Treasurer advised the Assembly that item 7 of the motion is not a change in policy by Sigma Xi, but each year the Assembly must re-authorize the dues structure of the Society, including the provisions that deal with emeritus members.

19. The delegate from the McGill University Chapter then indicated that previously it has been explained to the Assembly, and recorded in the minutes from the 1998 Annual Meeting, that Sigma Xi's annual dues are to be paid in U.S. dollars. He then suggested that perhaps the eight-point motion on annual dues should therefore indicate the amounts in U.S. dollars. Dr. Prados indicated that he would accept this suggestion as an editorial amendment to the motion on behalf of the Board of Directors.

20. In response to a question from the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology Chapter delegate as to the exact amount of the proposed increase in annual dues, the Treasurer indicated that Sigma Xi will not know the exact amount until the end of the 1999 calendar year when the CPI is calculated. However, it is the Society's belief that the increase in the standard dues rate will be no more than US$1.00

Report of the Committee on Resolutions

21. The President reminded delegates that a resolution was submitted to the Society's Committee on Resolutions by the Quinnipiac Chapter in accordance with the Society's Bylaws for consideration and action by the 1999 Assembly of Delegates. This year, in an attempt to provide more information to delegates about any resolutions submitted to the Assembly, in addition to the resolution itself, the chapter submitting the resolution and an appropriate committee within Sigma Xi have provided statements about the resolution. She further advised the Assembly that the resolution and supporting statements were contained on page 15 of the program booklet that delegates received at registration and this information also has been available on the Society's Web site for delegates, chapters, and members to review since early September. Dr. Hollingsworth then invited Dr. Weiler, Chair of the Committee on Resolutions, to present the Quinnipiac Chapter resolution to the 1999 Assembly of Delegates. Dr. Weiler then presented the following resolution on behalf of the Quinnipiac Chapter:

    Resolution
    We, the members of the Quinnipiac Chapter, resolve that all votes for elections and business of the Society be cast by electronic ballot by each chapter delegate prior to an Annual Meeting; in voting on the Society's business, delegates will have the option of voting approval or disapproval of the motion, or deferring the motion to the Assembly of Delegates' sessions at the Annual Meeting. Further, we resolve that the results of these elections be reported to all chapters in advance of the Annual Meeting and also announced at the Annual Meeting. Any tie election, or any issue not receiving sufficient votes for approval or disapproval, will be automatically referred to the Assembly of Delegates' sessions at the Annual Meeting for discussion and action. The Society's Executive Committee is instructed to prepare experimental procedures for initiating this process for the Annual Meeting in the year beginning 2000.

22. Following the introduction of the resolution, the President asked if there were any questions for clarification about the resolution. In response to a question from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Chapter delegate, the Executive Director indicated that the statement by the Executive Committee on the proposed resolution was an endorsement of the proposed resolution. In response to two opinions that expressed the view that if the resolution were approved there would be no need to conduct an Annual Meeting because all of the Society's business would be done in advance of the meeting, the President reminded delegates that during this session of the Assembly only questions for clarification of the proposed resolution should be asked; opinion and debate on the proposed resolution would take place in the subsequent Assemblies and in the three Regional Assemblies of Delegates.

23. There then ensued a discussion about the intent of the phrase " … any issue not receiving sufficient votes for approval or disapproval, will be automatically referred to the Assembly of Delegates' session at the Annual Meeting for discussion and action." in the proposed resolution. In the view of two delegates, this phrase appeared to include all possibilities of an election and therefore all issues would continue to be placed before the Assembly. Thus, in their view, the wording of this phrase was ambiguous and confusing and should be clarified. In addition, two delegates raised the issue of an appropriate quorum for the proposed electronic voting which was not addressed at all in the proposed resolution and should be in order to clarify the wording of the resolution. In response, the Chair of the Committee on Resolutions advised the Assembly that the number of votes to approve an issue before the Assembly, either a simple majority or a 2/3 vote, were specified in the Society's Constitution and Bylaws and therefore were not addressed in this proposed resolution. The Quinnipiac Chapter delegate added that the Chapter did not address the issue of whether a quorum for the proposed electronic voting should be those chapters eligible to vote or only those chapters voting; this issue, in the Chapter's view, should be decided by the Assembly and amended to the proposed resolution.

24. A suggestion was then offered that, because of the apparent confusion concerning the wording of the proposed resolution, the chapter might reconsider the wording of the resolution in regard to voting on issues and elections and clarify what a quorum would be if the resolution were approved. Therefore, the Assembly should defer any discussion on this proposed resolution until the wording of the resolution is clarified. Another delegate added that it would be very difficult for the Assembly to discuss the proposed resolution in subsequent sessions without clarification of the wording of the resolution. In response, the delegate from the Quinnipiac Chapter indicated that he would be willing to work with the Chair of the Committee on Resolutions to clarify the wording of the proposed resolution. The President then advised the Assembly that the Quinnipiac Chapter delegate and the Chair of the Committee on Resolutions would reword the proposed resolution and resubmit a revised resolution to the next Assembly of Delegates.

    The President then adjourned the Assembly until the second session on Saturday afternoon.

SESSION II

25. The President opened the second session of the Assembly of Delegates by advising delegates that in this session they would take up items #9 (Presentation of the Certificates of Excellence) and #10 (Recognition for Outstanding Membership Elections) of the agenda, then spend the rest of the session in discussion of the recommendation from the Board of Directors and the resolution that was submitted by the Quinnipiac Chapter. She then invited the Chair of the Committee on Qualifications and Membership, Dr. Penny Padgett, to present the Certificates of Excellence and the certificates for outstanding membership elections.

    Presentation of Certificates of Excellence

26. Dr. Padgett advised the Assembly that Certificates of Excellence are awarded each year by the Committee on Qualifications and Membership to chapters for their outstanding program and membership activities. In selecting these chapters, the Regional Directors reviewed the annual reports from chapters in their regions and made recommendations to the Committee who made the final selections from the list of recommended chapters submitted by each region. This year 16 chapters will receive Certificates of Excellence for their exemplary activities. Dr. Padgett then recognized the 16 chapters, indicating for each why they were selected to receive the award, while Dr. Hollingsworth, with assistance from Ms. Kathy Massenburg, Sigma Xi's Chapter Services and Membership Coordinator, presented Certificates of Excellence to delegates from the following chapters who were in attendance at the meeting: Alaska Chapter, Ball State University Chapter, Baylor College of Dentistry Chapter, Clemson University Chapter, Grove City College Chapter, Howard University Chapter, Kansas State University Chapter, McGill University Chapter, Ohio State University Chapter, Pace University Chapter, Quinnipiac Chapter, Rice University/Texas Medical Center Chapter, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Chapter, and the University of Michigan Chapter. Dr. Padgett added that Certificates of Excellence will be sent to the Middle Tennessee State University and Tifton Chapters who were not represented at the meeting.

Recognition for Outstanding Membership Elections

27. Dr. Padgett reminded delegates that each year the Committee on Qualifications and Membership recognizes the 15 chapters in Sigma Xi that initiated the greatest number of new members during the Society's last fiscal year that ended 30 June 1999. As Dr. Padgett then announced the 15 chapters to be recognized, the President, with assistance from Ms. Massenburg, presented Certificates of Recognition to delegates from those chapters in attendance at the 1999 Annual Meeting. The following chapters were recognized: Arizona State University Chapter, Brown University Chapter, Carleton College Chapter, Claremont Colleges Chapter, Denison University Chapter, Georgetown University Chapter, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chapter, Mount Holyoke Chapter, Ohio State University Chapter, Princeton Chapter, Smith College Chapter, Swarthmore College Chapter, University of Connecticut Health Science Center Chapter, University of Texas at Austin Chapter, and the Washington University (St. Louis) Chapter.

Reports and Recommendations from the Board of Directors (resumed)

28. The President advised the Assembly that they would now spend the remainder of the session, if necessary, in discussion on the recommendation from the Board of Directors and the Quinnipiac Chapter resolution. Dr. Hollingsworth added that voting on these issues will not take place until the third and final session of the Assembly on Sunday morning when they will be the first two items undertaken at 9:30 a.m.

29. Annual Dues for 2000 - 2001 (FY2001) (resumed). The Society's Treasurer advised delegates that two items for clarification of the eight-point motion on annual dues and fees had been raised by delegates, both of which, in his view, could be remedied with editorial additions to the motion that would not change the intent of the motion in any way. Dr. Prados then proposed that the first of these would be to add the term "US" to each of the six monetary amounts indicated in the motion, which would clearly indicate that dues and fees are expressed in U.S. dollars. The second point of confusion in the motion seems to be in part 7 of the motion which refers to the option that chapters have to pay the annual dues on behalf of their emeritus members without referring to the Society's Bylaws that define the qualifications and annual dues rates for emeritus members. The Treasurer then proposed that, to clarify this point of the motion, the following words be added to the beginning of point 7:

    "Emeritus members, as defined in Bylaw II 7D, pay annual dues at a rate 1/2 that for Members and Associate Members. Each chapter desiring to pay the dues of emeritus members in accordance with Bylaw IV 1A (iii) will submit prior to 30 November 1999, a list …"

    Dr. Prados added that the annual dues for emeritus members have been 1/2 the rate for members and associate members for decades and that the rest of point 7 in the motion deals with how chapters inform headquarters that they will pay dues for their emeritus members and does not need further clarification. The President then asked and received the consent of the Assembly to add these editorial changes to the Board's recommendation for annual dues for 2000 - 2001 (FY2001).

30. Report of the Committee on Resolutions (resumed). At the request of the President, the Quinnipiac Chapter delegate presented the following substitute motion and chapter supporting statement to the Assembly that was circulated to delegates during the second Regional Assemblies of Delegates:

Resolution
We, the members of the Quinnipiac Chapter, resolve that the Board of Directors consider the merits of electronic discussion and voting in order to involve a representative from each chapter in the electoral process.

Chapter Supporting Statement
The Quinnipiac Chapter of Sigma Xi has proposed a resolution to initiate electronic balloting, not only for the philosophical niceties of the idea, but more for the powerful advantages gained in how we conduct Society business. With the Society's business posted on a Web site sixty days in advance of the meeting, and all chapters notified of this action as required by the Bylaws, chapters could read, print, or down load the business immediately for discussion in the chapter and subsequent electronic vote.

The Quinnipiac Chapter hopes that the opportunity to vote electronically will encourage chapters who do not attend annual meetings to at least give their input and support. The Chapter recognizes the special role of the annual meeting in focusing on those issues that are best resolved through discussion and thoughtful deliberation by the delegates.

In summary, the intent of this resolution is to obtain increased voter participation and support in deciding the issues before the Society. We think that adopting this resolution can only enhance the role of delegates attending the annual meeting in directing the business of our Society.

The President then advised the Assembly that this motion is a substitute motion for the one that was introduced during the first session of the Assembly and opened the floor for questions and comments on the substitute motion.

31. Four delegates then spoke against the resolution because, in their view, the resolution would eliminate in-person discussion and voting on issues and candidates at the Annual Meeting and should be avoided. The resolution, if adopted, might have serious long-term consequences for the Society by discouraging delegates from attending the Annual Meeting. Dr. Klemm, Southwest Regional Director, then informed the Assembly that the Southwest Region suggests that electronic voting only be done for the election of the President-elect and Treasurer and that these candidates be required to address the Assembly and be available for discussions with delegates prior to voting. Dr. Ceri, Northwest Regional Director, indicated that the Northwest Region proposes two models for implementing electronic voting within Sigma Xi: First, that electronic voting be done only for the offices of President-elect and Treasurer. Secondly, that voting be carried out electronically after each Annual Meeting with the Assembly's discussions posted on the Society's Web site for all chapters to review prior to casting their vote.

32. Dr. Hollingsworth then reminded the Assembly that they were considering only whether to accept, or not accept, the substitute resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter to replace the original chapter resolution that was presented to the Assembly during the first session of the Assembly of Delegates. Thus, the Assembly is not considering whether to adopt either the original resolution or the substitute resolution but only whether to allow the substitute resolution to replace the original resolution; voting on adopting either the original resolution, or the substitute resolution, would take place during the final Assembly of Delegates on Sunday morning.

33. The delegate from the University of New Mexico Chapter then proposed that the substitute resolution be amended and the President, on behalf of the delegate, read the proposed wording for the amendment to the Assembly:

    The Quinnipiac Chapter recommends that the Board of Directors consider the merits of electronic discussions and voting in order to involve a representative from each chapter in the election of the President-elect and Treasurer.

    Dr. Hollingsworth then advised the Assembly that, with this proposed amendment now before the Assembly, the Assembly must first decide whether to accept, or not accept, the proposed amendment, then it can decide whether to accept, or not accept the substitute resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter as amended, or as originally proposed during this second session of the Assembly. In response to questions from two delegates, the President advised the Assembly that, in accordance with the Society's governing documents and parliamentary procedures, the proposed amendment from the University of New Mexico Chapter, and the substitute resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter, can be considered by this Assembly of Delegates without the required 90-day notification to chapters, and neither the proposed amendment nor the substitute resolution call for any changes to the Society's Constitution and Bylaws.

34. The delegate from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Chapter, on behalf of the Southwest Region, then advised the Assembly that the sense of this proposed amendment was that the elections of the President-elect and Treasurer could be done electronically because these elections do not require discussion among delegates; issues that require discussion among delegates would not be done electronically in this proposed amendment. Three delegates, however, spoke against the amendment because the proposed amendment, in their view, would not allow the Board of Directors to consider other options for electronic voting other than the election of Officers, and the proposed amendment was ambiguous and not necessary because it did nothing but direct the Board of Directors to undertake its normal duties and responsibilities.

35. Following these comments, the President announced that the Assembly would now vote whether to accept, or not accept, the proposed amendment from the University of New Mexico Chapter to the substitute resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter. Without further discussion, the Assembly voted not to accept the proposed amendment from the University of New Mexico Chapter.

36. The Assembly then returned to the question of whether to accept, or not accept, the substitute resolution proposed by the Quinnipiac Chapter. Dr. Hollingsworth advised the Assembly that, in addressing this issue, they would not be voting on whether to adopt the substitute resolution but only whether the substitute resolution should replace the original resolution that was presented by the Chapter during the first Assembly of Delegates. If the Assembly agrees to accept the substitute resolution, then the substitute resolution would be discussed and voted upon in the final Assembly of Delegates on Sunday morning. If the Assembly votes not to accept the substitute resolution, then the original resolution proposed by the Chapter in the first Assembly of Delegates would be discussed and voted upon in the third session of the Assembly on Sunday morning.

37. Without further discussion, and with delegates standing either in favor or opposed to accepting the substitute resolution, the President announced that the Assembly had agreed to accept the substitute resolution with 104 delegates in favor and 54 opposed. Dr. Hollingsworth then advised the Assembly that, during the third Assembly of Delegates on Sunday morning, the Assembly would discuss and vote on whether to adopt the substitute resolution of the Quinnipiac Chapter and the eight-point motion on annual dues as amended. She further advised the Assembly that these items would be the first two items of business undertaken by the Assembly on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. The President then adjourned the Assembly until Sunday morning. 

SESSION III

38. The President opened the final session of the Assembly of Delegates by reminding delegates that they would undertake immediately the eight-point motion on annual dues and the Quinnipiac Chapter resolution, both of which were amended during the second session of the Assembly.

39. Annual Dues for 2000 - 2001 (FY2001) (resumed). In a point of clarification, the President advised the Assembly that the cost of living index (CPI) in the amended eight-point motion relative to dues for 2000-2001 referred to the U.S. cost of living index. Without discussion, the eight-point motion on annual dues for 2000-2001 (FY2001) was approved as amended.

40. Report of the Committee on Resolutions (resumed). The President re-read the substitute resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter that was accepted by the Assembly during the second session of the Assembly of Delegates to replace the Chapter's original resolution. Without questions or additional comments, the Assembly cast their votes either in favor or opposed to adopting the substitute resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter. On receipt of the tallies, the President announced that 68 votes had been cast in favor of the substitute resolution and 108 were opposed and the substitute resolution from the Quinnipiac Chapter was therefore not approved by the Assembly.

Election of Officers

41. The President announced that the following individual had been elected by the Assembly of Delegates to serve as President-elect of the Society from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001:

    Marye Anne Fox, North Carolina State University Chapter

Election of Directors and Associate Directors by Constituency Groups

42. Dr. Hollingsworth then announced that the following individuals had been elected by their respective Constituency Groups to serve as Directors of the groups, and as members of the Board of Directors, for three years from 1 July 2000:

Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency Group
Sue Ann Miller, Hamilton College Chapter
Canadian/International Constituency Group
M. Anthony Whitehead, McGill University Chapter

43. The President also announced that the following individuals had been elected by their respective Constituency Groups to serve one year from 1 July 2000 as Associate Directors of the groups:

Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency Group
David Pearson, Bucknell University Chapter
Canadian/International Constituency Group
David Cass, University of Alberta Chapter

Election of Associate Directors by Geographic Regions

44. Dr. Hollingsworth then announced that the following individuals had been elected by their respective Regional Assemblies of Delegates to serve as Associate Directors for their region for three year terms from 1 July 2000:

North Central Region
Kathleen Antol, University of Notre Dame Chapter
Northwest Region
Lawrence Duffy, Alaska Chapter

Election of Geographic Regional Members of the Committee on Nominations

45. The President also announced that the following individuals had been elected by their respective Regional Assemblies to serve on the Committee on Nominations:

Mid-Atlantic Region
(to serve three years from 7 November 1999)
Peter Cervenka, David W. Taylor Chapter
Northeast Region
(to serve two years from 7 November 1999)
James Haynes, State University College at Buffalo Chapter

Election of Constituency Group Members of the Committee on Nominations

46. Finally, Dr. Hollingsworth announced that the following individuals had been elected by their respective Constituency Groups to serve on the Committee on Nominations:

Research & Doctoral Universities Constitutency Group
(to serve one year from 7 November 1999)
Lee Merserve, Bowling Green State University Chapter

Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency Group
(to serve two years from 7 November 1999)
Paul DeYoung, Hope College Chapter

Canadian/International Constituency Group
(to serve two years from 7 November 1999)
David Cass, University of Alberta Chapter

Comprehensive Colleges & Universities Constituency Group
(to serve three years from 7 November 1999)
John Knesel, University of Louisiana at Monroe Chapter

Area Groups, Industries, Federal & State Laboratories Constituency Group
(to serve three years from 7 November 1999)
David Morrison, Research Triangle Park Chapter

Report of the Credentials Committee

47. The Chair of the Credentials Committee reported that 211 chapters were represented by 217 delegates and additional delegates at the November 1999 Annual Meeting. The membership-at-large was represented by 3 delegates. The Committee noted that delegates representing the Prague Institute of Advanced Studies and Hungarian Chapters also were in attendance at the November 1999 Annual Meeting. Therefore, there were a total of 211 chapters represented at the November 1999 Annual Meeting and 220 delegates and additional delegates in attendance at the meeting.

Report of the Committee on Resolutions

48. The Chair of the Committee on Resolutions moved the adoption of the following commemorative resolutions on behalf of the Committee:

    BE IT RESOLVED that the 100th Annual Assembly of Delegates of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society commends Dr. Peggie Hollingsworth for a very successful meeting. Be it further resolved that this Assembly commends the Officers of the Society and the Sigma Xi staff for their assistance in organizing and running the meeting.

    BE IT RESOLVED that the 100th Annual Assembly of Delegates of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society commends the following chapters in recognition of their anniversary celebrations as chapters of the Society:

    100 Years
    University of Pennsylvania Chapter

    75 Years
    California Institute of Technology Chapter
    Johns Hopkins University Chapter
    University of Virginia Chapter

    50 Years
    Frederick Chapter
    Oklahoma State University Chapter
    Roche Research Chapter
    Temple University Chapter

    25 Years
    California State University at Bakersfield Chapter
    East Carolina University Chapter
    Fort Hays Chapter
    Pace University Chapter
    Peoria Chapter
    Pikes Peak Chapter
    Sangamon State University Chapter
    University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire/Stout Chapter

Remarks by the President-elect

49. In opening his remarks, Dr. Gibbons congratulated Sigma Xi on its successful forum and indicated that the Society seems much better equipped to deal with the issue of undergraduate education, and other issues, now that Sigma Xi has had such a successful dialogue within the forum and Annual Meeting. He indicated that he was honored and humbled to be the Society's President-elect and that he would try to visit the Society's chapters and to get to know more of the Society's members. Dr. Gibbons added that he looked forward to the opportunity to serve Sigma Xi as its President.

50. Continuing, the President-elect indicated that, in his view, these are unprecedented times for humankind that are characterized by no major wars, widespread economic progress, the globalization of markets and communications, rapid expansion of democratic governments, a heightened awareness of global environmental problems, and a global feeling that science, engineering, and technology are essential and central drivers of the progress that is being made around the world. On the other hand, all the signs are not good in his estimation as one sees the rise of religious conservatism almost to the point of revisionism, anti-science views appearing in many attitudes and statements, neo-isolationism, a yearning for "star wars" and the resumption of nuclear testing as though these were the way to nirvana, trade isolationism, a lack of interest in development assistance, and a sense of anti-government that pictures government as not part of us but against us.

51. Dr. Gibbons continued by explaining that, in his view, our political focus tends to be on the short-term, while research support is about long-term objectives. Thus, we have almost an inability, especially politically, to face issues that change slowly; i.e., those issues that have a relatively long time constant associated with them, such as population growth and the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which seem to be beyond the reach of political interests. He then cited Albert Schweitzer, a renowned optimist, who said "Mankind has lost its ability to foresee and forestall; he will end up destroying the earth" and indicated that the willingness to foresee and forestall is something that scientists, and society, must keep in mind for the years ahead.

52. In regard to whose responsibility it is to lead this effort, the President-elect indicated that, in his view, it is the people with a sense of numbers and those with an eye toward the future. Citing James Madison, Dr. Gibbons added that the leaders should be those people with an understanding of the power that knowledge gives us and this view is a clarion call not only for education, but also for awareness-level raising among the Society's members and among all of society. The President-elect then indicated that Sigma Xi might be one of the leaders of this effort because the Society has a breadth of engagement in scholarship broadly across the research agendas, and in education, is outstanding and unique among organizations, and has a distribution around North America and the globe that reaches communities and political leaders through its local chapters in ways that no one else can.

53. In his view, one of the Society's jobs is to remind people of the payoffs that research promises and the imperative to foster more research and education. We must also remind ourselves that we have an enormous responsibility to acknowledge that we developed life saving drugs but also biological and chemical agents, nuclear weapons, and missiles as part of the process of science and technology. Sigma Xi, and the entire scientific community, bears a responsibility to talk not only about the opportunities available in the application of the knowledge of science and technology, but also of its stewardship towards the greater condition of mankind.

54. Dr. Gibbons closed his remarks with a reminder that the Society therefore has many tasks to undertake in the future and thanked the delegates for entrusting him with the Presidency of Sigma Xi.

Remarks by the President

55. The President advised the Assembly that she assumed the Presidency of Sigma Xi while representing the Society on a Sigma Xi-sponsored Alaskan expedition, which was a wonderful and exciting trip involving many Sigma Xi members. She urged delegates to avail themselves of the opportunity to participate in the "Sigma Xi Expeditions" program, a portion of the fees for which are returned to Sigma Xi to assist in operating the Society's programs. She also indicated that one of the duties of the President of Sigma Xi is to write editorials for American Scientist that give her the opportunity to let members know of topics that are of interest to her and, hopefully, to the entire membership. Dr. Hollingsworth indicated that she greatly appreciates the feedback she has received regarding these editorials thus far and urged delegates to provide their feedback to her on these editorials as well in the future.

56. Dr. Hollingsworth reminded delegates that this year's Annual Meeting was preceded by a Forum, "Reshaping Undergraduate Science and Engineering Education: Tools for Better Learning," that was one of the best in a long series of excellent forums sponsored by Sigma Xi. She indicated that she had never witnessed such enthusiasm from a group of participants in a Sigma Xi forum and heard several participants indicate that they were anxious to return home and try some of the new ways of teaching undergraduates that they had learned at the forum. She advised delegates that Sigma Xi's forums lead to new initiatives, and strengthen existing programs, within the Society and the promotion of such programs would be a key function in the developing Sigma Xi Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. She also advised delegates that work already had begun on the 2000 forum on "ethics in science" that will take place in Albuquerque in conjunction with the 101st Annual meeting and urged delegates to attend both the November 2000 Forum and Annual Meeting.

57. Continuing, the President reminded delegates that this Annual Meeting was the first meeting during which the Society's new governance procedures, adopted by the 1998 Assembly of Delegates, were implemented, including a gradual reduction in the size of the Board of Directors and the implementation of chapter-based Constituency Groups. In her view, new problems and opportunities are being encountered in the transition phase to the new Sigma Xi governance and urged delegates to send their comments and suggestions to the Society's headquarters to assist Sigma Xi in this transition period. She added that, in her view, Sigma Xi remains a chapter-based, membership-driven organization and the strength of the Society lies in the dedication and loyalty of its membership. She urged delegates to take back to their chapters the enthusiasm generated by this year's Forum and Annual Meeting.

Adjournment

58. Dr. Hollingsworth thanked delegates for allowing her to serve as the Society's President and expressed the hope that they had found this year's Forum and Annual Meeting to be as satisfying an experience as it was for her. She then declared the 100th Annual Meeting of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society adjourned.