The meeting of the Executive Committee was called to order by president Dana Wrensch at 7:40 p.m. on 13 December 1997. Members present were Bill Wrenn (Past-president), Lewis Coons (President-elect), Norm Fashing (Secretary/Treasurer), Rosie Rosell (Newsletter Editor), Jim Kierans (Archivist), and Hans Klompen, Carl Childers, and Gary Mullen (Executive Committee Members).
Norm Fashing presented the financial records for 1997. Expenditures exceeded income by nearly $500. Factors leading to this deficit include the high cost of producing and mailing a newsletter, financing travel awards and financing the annual mixer. In addition, membership has decreased over the past few years. Cost cutting measures were discussed as well as methods of increasing membership. Included in the discussion was the feasibility of publishing an electronic newsletter accessible on the internet rather than publishing a hard copy.
Rosie Rosell summarized her activities as newsletter editor, and indicated that any help with newsletter production would be appreciated. It was a particularly difficult year since she had to move newsletter production to the location of her new job in Houston. Rosie was commended for her excellent work as newsletter editor.
Since a nominating committee was not appointed for 1997, a discussion of possible candidates for ASA offices ensued. Suggested candidates for president-elect were Robert Lane, Steve Wikel and Rosie Rosell, and for the two executive committee positions John Saur, Lee Goff, Bruce Smith, Vik Prasad and Matt Pound.
For the past several years, the ASA has sponsored a mixer following the Sunday afternoon business meeting. Dana Wrensch announced that this year's mixer was canceled since the ESA mixer was scheduled for Sunday evening.
Possible themes for the 1998 symposium were discussed. Dana Wrensch suggested "Challenges of Life History Analysis", covering topics such as overwintering, dispersal, etc. Gary Mullen suggested "Mite Invertebrate Interactions" and Carl Childers suggested "Plant/Mite Disease Interactions".
Norm Fashing proposed that the ASA develop a web page. It was decided that a web page would add to the membership services provided by the ASA, and that its development should be pursued. It was suggested that the newsletter be published on the ASA page.
Gary Mullen reported that he will be the convener for acarology symposia at the XXI International Congress of Entomology. He requested that symposium proposals be sent to him.
Carl Childers reported that Bob Smiley had retired as acarologist at the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory. Current plans call for hiring a replacement as a two-year postdoctoral position rather than making it a permanent position. It was suggested that the ASA write a letter expressing concern that the position be permanent rather than postdoctoral. Dana Wrensch said she would write such a letter.
The meeting was recessed at 9:30 p.m. until Monday, 15 December 1997 at 12:00 noon.
The annual meeting was called to order at 5:10 p.m. by President Dana Wrensch.
Norm Fashing presented the Secretary/Treasurer's report. As of December 12th, there were 269 members, however 77 were in arrears on dues. Those in arrears were encouraged to pay their dues as soon as possible to maintain their memberships without interruption. Membership has slowly decreased over the past few years; it stood at 306 in 1995. Members were encouraged to invite non-member acarologists, especially students, to join the ASA. A discussion of the development of an ASA web page met with great enthusiasm. Ideas concerning the content of an ASA page should be sent to Norm Fashing. A discussion ensued concerning the publication of the newsletter on the web page. Several members stated their preference for a hard copy newsletter over an electronic copy, and said they were willing to pay more in dues to receive it.
Gary Mullen announced that there would be an acarology section at the XXI International Congress of Entomology to be held in Brazil August 20-26, 2000. He is the convener for acarology and symposium proposals should be sent to him.
Dana Wrensch discussed the loss of the permanent position in acarology at the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory and said a letter of protest would be written to President Clinton.
Ellen Dodson gave the report of the Student Awards Committee. Committee members include Ellen Dodson, Jim keirans and Lance Durden. The ASA Student Travel Award was presented to Shifu Zhao of the University of West Virginia. Five students were in competition for the Outstanding Student Paper Award (Darin London, Texas Tech University, Hugo Aguilar, University of Florida, Andrew Bohanak, Cornell University, Shifu Zhao and Sara Hrachovy, Texas Tech University). All gave excellent presentations and were recognized for their efforts. Hugo Aguilar's paper entitled "Tydeidae associated with citrus in Florida (Acari : Prostigmata)" was selected for the award.
Barry OConnor announced that the McDaniel collection was now housed at Texas A&M University, and that the Tipton Collection had been moved from Brigham Young University to the Smithsonian. In addition, negotiations are proceeding with the NSF with the goal of moving the Ateyo collection to the University of Michigan.
Rosie Rosell requested that membership news be sent to her for publication in the newsletter.
An election of officers was held. Candidates for President-elect were Bob Lane, Rosie Rosell and Steve Weikel and for the Executive Committee, John Saur, Lee Goff, Vik Prasad, Mat Pound and Denise Johanowicz. Bob Lane was elected to serve as President-elect and Lee Goff and Denise Johanowicz to serve on the Executive Committee.
Hans Klompen announced that the 1998 OSU Summer Acarology Program would include a one week introductory acarology course, a two week medical/veternary acarology course, and a two week agricultural acarology course. A soil mite course will not be offered, however Roy Norton may give a short course on oribatid mites. To avoid a time conflict with the International Congress of Acarology, the Ohio State program will begin the first week of August.
Dana Wrensch requested that any suggestions for the 1998 ASA symposium be given to an executive board member. She also thanked Hans Klompen for his excellent assistance during her presidency. Richard Funk was recognized for his many years of outstanding service to the ASA as Secretary/Treasurer, and awarded a plaque as a token of appreciation.
Dana Wrensch installed Lewis Coons as the 1998 ASA President and passed the gavel. Lewis Coons then presented Dana with a plaque recognizing her contributions to the Society.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
The Executive Committee meeting was reconvened at 12:15 p.m. on December 15 by President Lewis Coons. Members present include Dana Wrensch (Past-president), Bob Lane (President-elect), Norm Fashing (Secretary/Treasurer), Rosie Rosell (Newsletter Editor), Jim Keirans (Archivist) and Gary Mullen, Lee Goff, Denise Johanowicz, Hans Klompen, and Carl Childers (Executive Committee Members).
E-mail addresses were obtained from those present so that efficient communication among officers could be maintained.
The next meeting of the ASA will be held in Las Vegas in November 1998. The submitted paper session will be chaired by Lewis Coons. Since the ESA is meeting jointly with the American Phytopathological Society, Carl Childers moved that the ASA symposium be jointly sponsored with members of that society. His motion was approved and he was appointed to investigate the feasibility of the symposium. As a backup symposium, Bob Lane proposed "Control of plant and animal diseases". Lane and Coons will be responsible for organizing the backup symposium if Childers' symposium falls through.
Ellen Dodson led a discussion concerning the student awards. It was decided that the Student Travel Award be $150, and that the recipient of the Outstanding Student Paper Award receive a plaque. Other competitors will receive a certificate. Competitors for the student awards must be current members of the ASA.
Rosie Rosell led a discussion concerning the newsletter. It was decided that the newsletter would be published at a web site, and that a hard copy would be available to those members willing to pay the added cost of printing and mailing. Maintenance of the newsletter web site will be the responsibility of the newsletter editor, and access to that site will be through a link on an ASA web page. Lewis Coons and Rosie Rosell were charged with developing the newsletter web site.
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted,
Norm Fashing, Secretary/Treasurer