2003 MINUTES

  INITIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

    The meeting of the Executive Committee was called to order at the Cincinnati Convention Center by President Carl Childers at 6:10 pm, October 25, 2003.  Present were President-elect Angela James, and Executive Committee members Sandy Allan and Norman Fashing (also Secretary/Treasuer).  Committee members absent were Lynell Tanigoshi, Ronald Ochoa, Doug Norris, and David James.  Also absent were Past-president Dan Sonenshine, Archivist James Keirans, and Newsletter Editor Harold Harlan.

    President Childers informed the Committee that three ASA members had suggested topics for next year’s Symposium:  (1) something with an ecological/taxonomic slant (Angela James), (2) new pest management tools for acarines (Lance Durden), and (3) applied acarology: advances in the biocontrol of mites (David James).  It was decided that the Executive Committee would propose a combined topic, “ecology and biocontrol of mites and ticks”.

    Student Award Coordinator Sandy Allan reported that only one student had formally applied for the student competition award.  It was decided that all current student members presenting papers would be considered.  A discussion ensued as to possible future methods for advertising the ASA student awards.  An early newsletter announcement as well as an announcement on the Acarology List Server will be used in the future.  Sandy Allan also requested that the ASA develop criteria for selecting the award winner.

    President Childers informed the Committee of the candidates selected for election at the 2003 annual business meeting: President-elect (Douglas Norris and Jay Yoder), and Executive Committee (Quentin Fang, Joel Hutcheson, Hans Klompen, Michael Levin, Mariam Lekveishvili, Glen Scoles and William Wrenn).  

    Discussion turned to the ASA newsletter and it was decided there should be two each year, one in March and one in September.  The possibility of an electronic newsletter was discussed since it would save both time and money.   The discussion was postponed so that the newsletter editor could be consulted.

    At the final Executive Committee meeting of 2002, it was suggested that the ASA increase it’s visibility by obtaining a display booth at the International Congress of Acarology to be held in Brisbane, Australia, in July 2004.  Carl pointed out that Hans Klompen had expressed an interest in a booth to advertise the Ohio State Summer Acarology Program, and that Ohio State could possibly split the cost of a booth with the ASA.  It was decided to poll the membership at the business meeting to determine the level of interest as well as find out which members would be willing to man the booth.

The meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING


    The annual business meeting was called to order in the Cincinnati Convention Center by President Carl Childers at 4:10 pm, October 26, 2003.  

    President Childers thanked the speakers and moderators for an excellent 2003 program.  He then called upon Hans Klompen to announce the winner of the 2003 Camin Award, an annual financial award presented to a graduate level student to assist in attending the Acarology Summer Program at Ohio State University or an equivalent institution where they can obtain training in the systematics of acarines.  This year Hans Klompen, Angela James, and Norman Fashing reviewed the applications and selected Renata Freire, ESALQ-USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, as the winner.  President Childers then called upon Sandy Allan to announce the winners of the ASA student awards.  This year Sandy Allan, David James, Dan Sonenshine, and Kerby Stafford were judges, and Christopher M. Ritzi, Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University, was the recipients of both awards.

    Norman Fashing  (Secretary/Treasurer) reported that the balance in the ASA account stood at $8,488.66, however he also reported that the balance included the remaining funds from a USDA grant and therefore some of the balance would be spent by the grant recipients by then end of the year.  Also outstanding were $650 in travel awards and the cost of publishing the newsletter.  Harold Harlan (Newsletter Editor) reported that an extremely busy year allowed him to publish only one newsletter, but that he intended to publish two per year in the future.

    President Childers called for topics for the 2004 ASA symposium from the floor.  None came forth.  He said the Executive Committee had discussed the issue and proposed the topic “Ecology and Biocontrol of the Acari”.  After a discussion, it was decided to go with the Executive Committee topic and that David James would organize the symposium.

    An election was held to fill the positions of President-elect, two three-year Executive Committee terms, and one one-year Executive Committee term.  Candidates proposed by the Executive Committee for President-elect were Douglas Norris and Jay Yoder, and for the Executive Committee, Quentin Fang, Joel Hutcheson, Hans Klompen, Michael Levin, Mariam Lekveishvili, Glen Scoles and William Wrenn.  Nominations were opened to the floor, but none came forth.  While ballots were being cast and counted, Dr. Vikram Prasad, editor of the International Journal of Acarology, announced his production of another video detailing the research of an acarologist.  The video, entitled “Discoverer of Mites and Ticks” featured Norman Fashing and his work on phytotelm mites.  Dr. Prasad formally presented a DVD copy of the video to Norman Fashing and played a section of the video for the audience.  It was then announced that Douglas Norris had been elected to serve as President-elect, and  Hans Klompen, Michael Levin (three-year terms) and Quentin Fang  (one-year term) to serve on the Executive Committee.

    President Childers reported that the Executive Committee members had approved the purchase of a display booth at the International Congress of Entomology to be held in Brisbane, Australia, in July 2004.  The Summer Acarology Program at Ohio State University would share the cost of the booth, and the booth would be used to promote the ASA as well as the Ohio State Program.  President Childers called for comments from the floor.  There were no objections to the purchase of a booth.   Members willing to help man the booth were asked to contact Childers.
 
    President Childers installed Angela James as the 2004 ASA President and passed the gavel.  Angela then presented Past-president Childers with a plaque recognizing his contributions to the Society.  President James then asked for new business from the floor, but none was brought forth.  She announced that the Executive Committee had decided that future newsletters would be published in an electronic format and sent to members as a PDF e-mail attachment.  An electronic newsletter will save both time and money, and members that desire a hard copy can print the file.  She requested that anyone objecting to an electronic newsletter contact her.

    The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 pm.

FINAL  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING


     The Executive Committee meeting was reconvened at 4:25 p.m. on October 27 by President Angela James in the Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby.  Members present included Carl Childers (Past-president), Doug Norris (President-elect and Executive Committee member), Norm Fashing  (Secretary/Treasurer), Harold Harlan (Newsletter Editor), and Hans Klompen, Michael Levin, and David James  (Executive Committee Members).  Absent were Archivist James Keirans, and Executive Committee members Quentin Fang and Ronald Ochoa.

    The logistics of an electronic newsletter were discussed. Newsletter Editor Harold Harlan said he had no objection, and it was decided that future newsletters would be sent as e-mail attachments in PDF format.  Secretary/Treasurer Norman Fashing said it would be necessary to obtain accurate e-mail addresses for all members, and that he would mail a request for address updates to the membership.  

    Discussion turned to the 2004 ASA meeting.  David James will organize the symposium, and Doug Norris will coordinate the submitted papers session. It was pointed out that there will again be an early deadline for the submission of papers since the session is now handled as an ESA “symposium”.  Secretary/Treasurer Norman Fashing said he would notify the membership of the deadline when he requests address updates.  It was suggested that a call for papers also be published via the acarology list server.

    Carl Childers said he would further investigate the purchase of a booth at the International Congress of Entomology and also coordinate payment with Ohio State.  Ideas for the content of the display were requested.

    A discussion ensued concerning the student awards as well as methods to encourage students to join the society.  Michael Levin said that the present $150 travel award was too low and suggested it be increased.  Committee members agreed.  It was also agreed that ASA should give more than one travel award if there are enough applicants to merit additional awards.   The current award for the best student presentation is a plaque.  It was agreed that a monetary award be provided in addition to the plaque to enhance its value.  It was also agreed that students should formally apply for an award to be eligible.  Michael Levin pointed out that it is possible for students to compete for both the ASA award and an ESA award. Committee members did not find this to be a problem since it would encourage more students to apply for the ASA award.

    Norman Fashing pointed out that at one time the ESA had a set of guidelines that listed the various duties of the ASA officers.  The Committee felt that such a list is beneficial and will try to locate a copy to update and supply to officers.

    President James adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m..

Minutes respectfully submitted,
Norman Fashing, Secretary/Treasurer