Report of the President for the Year Ending June 30, 2000

In his 1999-2000 Annual Report, Executive Director Peter Blair has presented you with a lengthy account of the various programs and activities of Sigma Xi. Dr. Blair, in that report, and, last year, Past-President John Moore in his 1998-1999 President's report described the changes in governance structure, the evolving Sigma Xi Center, and a number of emerging initiatives that Sigma Xi has undertaken in recent years. Thus, I will restrict my report to certain observations, which I would like to share with you, that are based on the experiences of both my year as your President as well as on the many years that I have been active in Sigma Xi at the local, regional, national, and international level.

First and foremost, Sigma Xi is an organization the vitality of which depends upon the interest, involvement and enthusiasm of its members, working primarily at the local, Chapter level. Programs that are directed specifically at these members should serve to build the Society. Programs that are directed at others, however meritorious, are mainly of value to Sigma Xi in proportion to the degree to which they actively and directly engage the participation of Sigma Xi members in their local chapters.

Changes in governance of the Society and certain programs have been developed to reach out to these members. Past President Moore in his report last year stated that the changes in governance structure approved by the November 1998 Assembly of Delegates provided "for more democratic and representative governance." A set of "constituency groups" was created with representation on the Board of Directors. An underlying assumption seems to have been that Sigma Xi members relate better to those from similar backgrounds, institutions, and work environments than to Sigma Xi members from their own geographical region.

My impression has always been that members of Sigma Xi enjoy the diversity of the membership within the Society. At the annual meetings, members from large research universities, small colleges, industrial firms, and private and public research laboratories gather together to exchange ideas and experiences. An excellent example of this interchange was the highly successful 1999 Forum, "Reshaping Undergraduate Science and Engineering Education." The 1999 Forum departed from many earlier Forums in that, rather than the attendees being lectured at by a coterie of savants, those present, themselves, coming from a wide range of backgrounds, became active participants, presenting their own thoughts about and experiences with the shaping of undergraduate education.

One very positive development within Sigma Xi has been the formation of additional Chapters in countries throughout the world and the growing participation of members from these countries in the activities of the Society. For this, much credit is due to the International Committee and its leadership. Another positive development has resulted from the decision of Sigma Xi to reach out to women and members of other underrepresented groups and to bring them into the Society. The creation of the Committee on Diversity as a standing committee of the Society is a testament to the inclusiveness of Sigma Xi. This Committee in its short lifespan has become one of the more active committees of Sigma Xi and has engaged the interest and participation of many new members.

Thus, the changes in governance, and particularly the establishment of the constituency groups, are a work in progress, and at this time it would be premature to judge whether they have or have not fulfilled their purported purpose.

As Dr. Blair notes in his report, in the past few years there has been a significant expansion of the programs that are sponsored by Sigma Xi. Two developing programs merit special notice since they arise from activities initiated or endorsed by the general membership and they involve the active participation of local Sigma Xi Chapters- the Science Advocacy Program and the Mentorship Program(s).

In his 1998-1999 report, Dr. Blair noted that in 1998, during the publication of the membership directory, members were asked if they would be interested in participating in a Sigma Xi mentoring program. According to Dr. Blair, more than 25,000 members responded affirmatively, and those individuals were to receive a follow-up survey. The purpose of the survey was to gather more details about the sort of mentoring these individuals wish to receive or to provide, in preparation of mentoring programs that Sigma Xi planned to sponsor. The results of that survey need to be analyzed in order to implement a meaningful mentorship program, or possibly programs. The Committee on Diversity has also proposed a mentorship program for newly appointed faculty members and graduate students from underrepresented groups to assist them with the development of their careers. Another aspect of mentoring, which is being developed, is Chapter mentoring. This will be a new approach to revitalizing Chapters by matching Chapters with a partner Chapter that has done well in a comparable institution. The intent of such programs would be for Sigma Xi members to share with their students, newly appointed colleagues and other Sigma Xi members their wisdom and insights with respect to a successful and satisfying career in science and engineering and activities which have been successful in their respective chapters.

The Science Advocacy Program is another example of a program that directly involves the participation of Sigma Xi members at the local level. In 1996, Loren Bieber, a North Central Regional Director and Marion Anderson of Employment Research Associates of Lansing, Michigan, developed a program in which Sigma Xi members from chapters within Michigan met with Michigan Congressmen to offer the Congressmen their knowledge and expertise in areas of science and engineering that might be of interest and value to the legislators. In most instances three to five Sigma Xi members from both academic and industrial backgrounds participated in these sessions. Although some Congressmen initially seemed suspicious of the motivation behind these meetings, when they discovered that the Sigma Xi members were not lobbying for funds but were genuinely interested in providing the legislators with expertise that might assist them in the legislative process, all welcomed the scientists and engineers, all expressed their appreciation, and all asked the Sigma Xi members to return for subsequent sessions. This past year the program was extended to a second state, Illinois, with some financial support from the Society. A primary objective of the Science Advocacy Program is for Sigma Xi to make available to Senators and Congressmen, as well as other members of the body politic, the considerable expertise that resides in its highly knowledgeable and remarkably diverse membership. The essence of this program is that Senators and Congressmen meet with their own constituents, individuals with remarkable scientific credentials and from diverse backgrounds, on their home "turf" and outside of the intense atmosphere of Washington, D.C.

Whichever programs Sigma Xi develops in the future, it is my hope that such programs will focus upon ways to involve Sigma Xi members and upon the best and wisest utilization of the Society's resources, including its human resources. The Society needs to return its attention to long-range planning. Our members should be pleased to learn that after a hiatus of nearly two years, the Society's Long-Range Planning Committee will hold a meeting in August, 2000, to evaluate and make recommendations as to the directions in which Sigma Xi should be moving.

Although Dr. Blair reports that groundbreaking for the Sigma Xi Center will finally take place sometime during the Fall of 2000, the Sigma Xi Center still remains a concept that is in need of further definition. For several years the programmatic areas that will be included in the Center have been well delineated. In order to receive adequate funding to complete the construction of the Center and to maintain its activities, however, the unique characteristics of the Center's programs must be made clear. Sigma Xi must also provide its membership with a lucid statement as to the benefits to be derived from the Center, especially those benefits to the membership overall.

The Sigma Xi staff at Research Triangle Park has been a key element in the continuing success of our Society. Although there has been considerable turnover in staff in recent years, and the loss of some highly experienced, key personnel, our staff remains one of the strengths of Sigma Xi. Dr. Blair must be praised for his "modernization" of Sigma Xi, especially for bringing the Society into the electronic age. The web pages on the Internet for Sigma Xi and for American Scientistare important resources for our members. Deputy Executive Director Evan Ferguson continues to provide invaluable historical perspective and support for Sigma Xi's many committees and programs. American Scientist Editor Rosalind Reid leads a premier journal for all who are interested in science and engineering. Working more closely with these individuals and the other staff members of Sigma Xi has been a pleasure and a privilege during this past year.

When I was elected to Sigma Xi shortly which I was working on my doctoral degree, I had no idea of the important role that Sigma Xi would have in my professional and personal life. Serving as a director from the North Central Region and as a member of many Sigma Xi committees were valued experiences. But the highpoint of my association with Sigma Xi has been this past year while serving as your President. For that I am deeply grateful and wish to express my sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the members of Sigma Xi who made that year possible. Sigma Xi is a wonderful organization. It is great because of the quality and diversity of its membership.

Peggie J. Hollingsworth
August 16, 2000