The Assembly of Delegates to the November 2006 Annual Meeting of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society was convened at the Marriott Renaissance Center hotel in Detroit, Michigan in three sessions on 2, 3 and 5 November 2006. The President of Sigma Xi, Dr. James Baur, chaired all three sessions.
President Baur recognized Parliamentarian Nola Pursiful and introduced Executive Director Dr. Philip Carter, Treasurer Dr. Richard Meyer, and President-elect Dr. James Porter.
President Baur then spoke of the election of the next Sigma Xi President-elect and introduced the first of two candidates, Dr. Ann Williams, epidemiologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and invited Dr. Williams to make her presentation to the delegates.
The president then introduced a DVD presentation by the second candidate, Dr. Henry Petroski, who was unable to attend the Sigma Xi annual meeting. In his presentation Dr. Petroski summarized his involvement with Sigma Xi, and indicated what his priorities would be, if elected.
President Baur then reviewed the different ballots and voting procedures; reminded the delegates that the Minutes from the 2005 Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference are on the Sigma Xi website for review. He informed the delegates that the draft Minutes of this meeting would be approved by the Committee on Minutes following review and comment by all delegates.
The Agenda of the Assembly was then presented by the President for approval. He requested a motion to approve the agenda, as printed. A motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion so a vote was taken and the Agenda was unanimously approved.
The president called the delegates attention to page 35 of the Program, the 2005-2006 President's Report by Dr. Lynn Margulis. Delegates were urged to read the report, as Dr. Margulis was not in attendance at Assembly I.
Report of the Treasurer
Treasurer Dr. Richard Meyer was then introduced and asked to give the Treasurer's report for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2006.
Dr. Meyer reported the following:
- Sigma Xi has again the highest-quality report an auditor can give, a clean report, no errors or omissions. Applies to revenues, expenses, grants and endowments.
- Several recommendations were made to update the Society's computer security systems; these have been implemented.
- Executive Director and Treasurer are aware of the Sarbanes-Oxley regulations, as are the board and officers, so that all can perform their duties in the full spirit of the law.
- The Executive Director, officers and board members have copies of the audited financial statements; please see them if you wish to review these statements.
- Mortgage payments have been reduced by renegotiating the debt instrument.
- Revenues have shown a slight decrease.
- Overall expenses increased 0.92%.
- Draw from endowment has been reduced so that it approximates the return on investment, stabilizing the endowments.
- The building fund endowment (which is invested in high-yield bonds) continues to diminish as the mortgage is paid off. Financing of the SIGMA XI Center has been reduced so that the instrument extends the life of that endowment by another year.
- The reduction in total assets is associated with three categories: cash & cash equivalents; instruments; land, building and equipment.
- Future growth is dependent upon strong support by the members and outside sources. Vigorous development activity to enlarge the endowments is critical to the vitality of the Society.
- Treasurer is in the process of reviewing the five-year budget with the Director of Budget & Finance and the Executive Director.
- Summary: Society continues to be strong, is more efficient in the new Center, has expanded member services, has a clear sense of direction, and it is well managed.
Report of the Executive Director
President Baur then called attention to the Report of the Executive Director (Patrick Sculley) on pages 37-39 of the program, and invited the delegates to read the report.
President announced that on April 1, 2006 Deputy Executive Director Evan Ferguson retired from Sigma Xi. Upon Dr. Ferguson's retirement, the board unanimously issued a proclamation in recognition of his twenty-four years of service to the Society.
Dr. Baur also noted that Dr. Sculley retired as Executive Director of Sigma Xi [in late August of 2006]. He then introduced the new ED, Dr. Philip Carter and invited Dr. Carter to make a few remarks.
Remarks by the new Executive Director
Dr. Carter gave a brief overview of his background and years of involvement with Sigma Xi, and the spoke of the continued importance and relevance of the Society's mission.
9-Point Motion - Annual Dues for 2007-2008 (FY 2008)
Dr. Baur invited the Treasurer (Dr. Meyer) to introduce and explain the 9-Point Motion.
Dr. Meyer reported that the Committee on Finances recommended the 9-Point Motion to the Board of Directors, the Board reviewed and approved the Motion, the Motion is now forwarded to the delegates for their action (Motion is on pages 33 & 34 of the Program). He then officially recommended the 9-Point Motion for 2007-2008 to the Assembly for Adoption. (The Motion will be discussed in the caucuses.)
Proposed Bylaw Change concerning Chapter in Good Standing
Dr. Baur invited Dr. Linda Meadows to come forward to make the motion.
Dr. Meadows gave an explanation of the requirements for Chapters in Good Standing and the history of how the proposed bylaws change came about, as well as the confusion that arose in the wording of the change. She then officially moved for the adoption of the Substitute Proposed Bylaw Amendment. (The Motion will be discussed in the caucuses.)
Dr. Baur announced that the motions would be voted on in Assembly II, after everyone has had a chance to discuss them in their caucuses.
Appointment of the Credentials Committee, Tellers & the Committee on Resolutions
The president announced the appointments of the following individuals to the Credentials Committee for the November 2006 Assembly of Delegates:
Ms. Lisa Failing-Bentson (Chair), New Mexico Highlands University Chapter
Dr. Jihong Cole-Dai, South Dakota State University Chapter
Dr. S. Clark Rowland, Whirlpool Chapter
The following delegates, two from each region, were then announced by Dr. Baur to serve as Tellers in both the Assembly of Delegates and the respective Regional Assemblies of Delegates:
Mid-Atlantic Region
Mr. John W. Beilfuss, Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Chapter
Dr. Elaine J. Davis, Howard University Chapter
North Central Region
Mr. Douglas W. Grosse, Cincinnati Federal Environmental Chapter
Kenneth Brown, Hope College Chapter
Northeast Region
Dr. Paul H. Carr, Hanscom Chapter
Dr. Darren Richard Gröcke, McMaster University Chapter
Northwest Region
Mr. Asai Asaithambi, University of South Dakota
Dr. Gary A. Laursen, Alaska Chapter
Southeast Region
Dr. Harold H. Harris, University of Missouri-St. Louis Chapter
Dr. Yu-Wai Peter Lin, Barry University Chapter
Southwest Region
Dr. Cynthia L. Dinwiddie, Alamo Chapter
Dr. Ram Subramaniam, Santa Clara University Chapter
Dr. Baur then announced that the following individuals have been appointed to the Committee on Resolutions for the 2006 Assembly of Delegates:
Dr. Grant A. Gardner (Chair), Avalon Chapter
Dr. Beverly Delidow, Marshall University Chapter
Dr. Vanessa L. Lougheed, University of Texas at El Paso Chapter
Dr. Baur then adjourned Assembly I.
SESSION II - Friday, November 3, 1:45-3:00 pm
President Baur called Assembly II to order.
Recognition of Immediate Past President - Lynn Margulis
Dr. Margulis served as the Society's President from July 2005 through June 2006.
Dr. Baur gave a brief review of Dr. Margulis' background and achievements, and invited her to the podium. He presented Dr. Margulis with a Certificate of Recognition, a volume of bound issues of American Scientist containing her editorials, and a special gift, a gemstone globe. A picture of the globe was projected for the Assembly to view, as the globe had already been shipped to Dr. Margulis.
Dr. Margulis then made a few remarks thanking everyone for her gifts. She reviewed her year as President, highlighting the importance and impact of Sigma Xi's GIAR Program, and thanking the Editor of American Scientist, Rosalind Reid, for her delicate editing.
Report of action taken at the November 1, 2006 Board Meeting
Dr. Baur announced that the Board passed a motion to establish a task force to review Sigma Xi's bylaws. The bylaws need to be clarified and updated. Dr. Baur has already appointed John Rintoul, Chief Counsel and Director of Center Programs, to the task force, and will appoint three more members. He then invited the members to inform the task force of any bylaws changes that they would like to have considered.
Board's Reports and Recommendations
9-Point Motion on Annual Dues: Dr. Baur asked if there were any questions on the motion and then asked for a vote. The 9-Point Motion was unanimously adopted.
Proposed Bylaw Change Regarding Chapter Good Standing, and Substitute Proposed Bylaw Change. Dr. Baur presented the Proposed Bylaw Change (yellow sheet) and Substitute Proposed Bylaw Change (blue sheet) to the delegates for discussion and voting.
Several delegates and one Board member came forward to state their concerns about the ambiguous language in both the Proposed Change and Substitute Proposed Change. They suggested that neither should be adopted. Instead, voting should be postponed.
Based on procedural clarification from the parliamentarian concerning postponement, Dr. Kelly Sullivan from the Tri-Cities Washington Chapter made a motion that both proposed changes be voted on and defeated, so that there would be a clean slate for the Bylaws Review Committee to work with. Dr. Don McGraw of the Sigma Xi Board of Directors seconded this motion.
Dr. Baur then put forward the Substitute Proposed Change (blue sheet) for voting. It was unanimously defeated. He then put forward the Proposed Change (yellow sheet) for voting. It too was unanimously defeated.
Recognition of NSB-Sigma Xi Fellow
Dr. Baur then invited Dr. Michael Crosby, Executive Director of the National Science Board (NSB), up to the podium to explain the collaboration Sigma Xi has with the NSB and introduce the Sigma Xi fellow who serves on the NSB.
Dr. Crosby extended the good wishes of Dr. Steven Beering, the Chairman of the NSB, President Emeritus of Purdue and a long-time Sigma Xi member, for a successful conference. The NSB board is also pleased to initiate the partnership between Sigma Xi and the NSB to create the joint fellow position at the NSB office. Dr. Crosby gave a brief explanation of the NSB and how it relates to the National Science Foundation, and then introduced the first Sigma Xi-NSB fellow, Dr. Elizabeth Strickland.
Dr. Strickland thanked Sigma Xi and the NSB for the opportunity to be the inaugural fellow, and spoke about her background and work at NSB.
Dr. Baur then adjourned Assembly II.
SESSION III - Sunday, November 5, 8:00-9:00 am
President Baur called Assembly III to order.
Committee on Resolutions
Dr. Baur then called for the report from the Committee on Resolutions. The chair of the committee, Dr. Grant Gardner presented the report.
Dr. Gardner presented two resolutions for adoption:
- Be it resolved that the 107th Annual Assembly of Delegates of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, commends Dr. James F. Baur 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 107th 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
Northwestern University Chapter
Syracuse Chapter
75 Years
University of Pittsburgh Chapter
Harvard Chapter
25 Years
University of Alabama at Huntsville Chapter
Charleston Chapter
Northeastern Oklahoma State University Chapter
No seconding of the resolutions was necessary. Dr. Baur put each resolution forward for voting. Resolutions 1 and 2 were unanimously passed by the Assembly.
Credentials Committee
Dr. Baur then called for the report of the Credentials Committee. The chair, Ms. Lisa Failing-Bentson presented the report.
Ms. Failing-Bentson reported that 128 chapters were represented at the November 2006 Annual Meeting of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, by 145 delegates and additional delegates. The Membership-at-Large was represented by 3 delegates. The committee notes the delegates representing the Hungarian, the Iberian and the Swiss chapters were in attendance at the November 2006 Annual Meeting. Therefore, in summary, there were a total of 128 chapters represented by 145 delegates and additional delegates in attendance at the meeting. On behalf of the committee Ms. Failing-Bentson moved for the adoption of the report.
No seconding was necessary. Dr. Baur put the report to a vote. The report was unanimously adopted.
Future Annual Meetings of Sigma Xi
President Baur then announced the location and dates for the next two Sigma Xi Annual Meetings:
November 1-4, 2007 in Orlando, Florida
November 20-23, 2008 in Washington, D.C.
Election Results
The President then announced the election results:
President-elect, July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008
Ann H. Williams, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Chapter
Board of Directors, July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010:
Comprehensive Colleges & Universities Constituency Group
C. Clifton Chancey, University of Northern Iowa Chapter
Area Groups, Industries, State & Federal Laboratories Constituency Group
Kelly O. Sullivan, Tri-Cities, Washington Chapter
North Central Geographic Region
Linda K. Meadows, Ohio State University Chapter
Southwest Geographic Region
Donald J. McGraw, San Diego Area Chapter
Associate Directors, July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010:
Baccalaureate Colleges Constituency Group
Joanne Kivela Tillotson, SUNY at Purchase Chapter
Canadian/International Constituency Group
Geza Gordos, Hungary Chapter
Mid-Atlantic Geographic Region
Andrew J. Velkey II, Tidewater Virginia Chapter
Northeast Geographic Region
Pamela Kerrigan, Manhattan College Chapter
Committee on Nominations, November 6, 2006 to November 2009
Research & Doctoral Constituency Group
Penelope J. Padgett, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapter
Northwest Geographic Region
Gary A. Laursen, Alaska Chapter
Southeast Geographic Region
Melissa A. Kenney, Duke University Chapter
Remarks by the President-elect
Dr. Baur then introduced Sigma Xi President-elect Dr. James W. Porter, from the University of Georgia Chapter. Dr. Porter will serve as President from July 1, 2007 until June 30, 2008.
Dr. Porter gave a PowerPoint presentation focusing on three topics: 1) to demonstrate that we live in a connected world, 2) to provide an example of local science and engineering in creating a sustainable world and 3) address Sigma Xi's role in this changing world that will face scientists in the 21st Century.
President Baur then pronounced Assembly III and the 2006 Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference for 2006 closed.
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