2008 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference

November 20-23, 2008
Marriott Renaissance Hotel
Washington, D.C.

Resolution #1
McGill-Montreal Chapter Resolution: let it be resolved that this assembly directs the Board of the Society to put the Sigma Centre building up for sale, without delay.

Comments from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors: There is a legally binding contract with the mortgage company that restricts the sale of the building for two years.

Recommendation to voting delegates from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee: Vote against this resolution.

Action at the meeting: This resolution was withdrawn.

Resolution #2
North Carolina State University Chapter Resolution: Whereas the Sigma Xi endowment has suffered significant reduction in value over several years; some significant portion of the reduction appears to be due to exceedingly poor investment performance; and the reduction in value is not consistent with investment performance of similar funds, such as university endowments, over the same several years; be it therefore resolved that the Board of Directors be required secure professional assistance to conduct an in depth investigation of the reduction in fund value over the period from Society years 1999 through 2007; that, based on the results of the investigation, the Board determine whether legal action against a fund manager or managers is appropriate; that, if legal action is determined to be appropriate, the Board shall pursue such action expeditiously; and that the Board shall apprise the active membership of the status of the investigation and of the decision of the board, reserving, however, the responsibility to maintain appropriate confidentiality relative to details of legal action processes, if any.

Comments from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors: Performance of the funds of the Society, because of their smaller monetary value, can not be directly compared to large university endowments. The Society's investments are and have been compared for performance against appropriate benchmark funds. Legal and professional advice has been provided to the Board and it is the unanimous opinion of the Board and advisors that there are not grounds to seek legal action.

Recommendation to voting delegates from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee: Vote against this resolution

Action at the meeting: This resolution was withdrawn.

Resolution #3
Ottawa Chapter Resolution: let it be resolved that the Executive Director of the Society shall henceforth distribute to the Chapters, at least 60 days before the Assembly, a report on fulfillment of resolutions of the Assembly of Delegates, giving the disposition of each resolution presented to the previous Assembly and progress towards satisfying all outstanding and ongoing resolutions.

Comments from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors: Disposition of resolutions is and always has been included in minutes of annual meeting and other reports of the assembly. This resolution appears to be adding additional burdens that are not necessary.

Recommendation to voting delegates from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee: Vote against this resolution.

Action at the meeting: This resolution was passed.

Resolution #4
Ottawa Chapter Resolution: let it be resolved that the Executive [Director] present to this very Assembly a complete summary account of money spent on acquiring the Sigma Xi Center, this account to include a summary of money paid to date, a statement of the outstanding debt, an estimate of the future costs of the debt, a summary of the growth and use of the fund variously known as the Capital Fund, the Building fund, and the Capital Campaign Fund, and a summary of the other sources of money applied to the acquisition.

Comments from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors: a report on the finances associated with the Sigma Xi Center building was requested by the Board of Directors at the April, 2008 meeting of the Board to be prepared by the Treasurer and Executive Director for presentation at the Annual Meeting in November 2008.

Recommendation to voting delegates from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee: Vote against this resolution as the action has already been taken by the Board, thus the resolution is redundant

Action at the meeting: This resolution was passed.

Resolution #5
Ottawa Chapter Resolution: let it be resolved that the Society have in progress by June 30, 2009, a process to extinguish the debt on the Sigma Xi Center by November 30, 2009.

Comments from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors: This resolution is not properly constructed and it is subject to multiple interpretations. Only the Board of Directors has the fiduciary responsibility and authority to address contracts.

Recommendation to voting delegates from Committee on Resolutions and Executive Committee: Vote against this resolution.

Action at the meeting: This resolution did not pass.

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