Minutes Business Meeting Acarological Society of America

San Diego, December 9, 2007

President Ron Ochoa opened the session by thanking the speakers and moderators for an excellent set of presentations.

Reports:

Secretary / treasurer (Hans Klompen). The funding situation is good, with a current balance of $ 14,719.80.

Newsletter (Harold Harlan): One issue was generated in 2007, with nearly all copies sent by e-mail. Printed versions were sent for 9 members.

Award news:

The 2007 Joseph A. Camin Fellowship was awarded to Rebecca (Becky) Trout, University of Arkansas (Major professor Dayton Steelman).

The award for best student presentation for 2007 went to Anthea Carmichael, San Francisco State University (Greg Spicer, advisor). The winner received a $150 check.

Due to the lack of applicants, no ASA travel award was given.

News and updates

Remembrance for acarologists who passed away this year (Ronald Ochoa). President Ochoa called for a moment of silence for three of our colleagues that died this year: Bill Bruce, Donald Tuttle, and Anita Hoffmann.

Possible affiliation with a journal (Ronald Ochoa). Discussion centered around the board proposed partnership between ASA and SAAS (Systematic and Applied Acarology Society). Specifically, the option to offer electronic access to SAA (Systematic and Applied Acarology) for a significantly discounted price (details of the proposal as described in the newsletter and e-mail messages).

Floor discussion provided the following clarifications: SAA will not be the official journal of ASA, the proposal is solely an option to provide added value to membership. Further cooperation between ASA and SAAS might be possible, but that is not part of the current proposal. Also, future agreements with other journals, such as IJA (International Journal of Acarology), are not excluded, although they may have to be structured differently. The SAA association is very cheap, most other journal affiliations will probably be too expensive to add to standard society membership.

Issue 1. Should ASA go ahead with the partnership agreement with SAAS providing electronic access to SAA for ASA members. Voting included e-mail ballots send earlier, and votes by members in attendance. Totals: 38 in favor, 10 opposed, 4 abstain. The proposal is passed.

Issue 2. Proposal to raise fees for active, sustaining, and student membership by $5/year to cover the basic costs of SAA subscription. Life and emeritus members are offered the option of subscription for $10/year. Accepted by the same numbers.

Option to provide secure on-line payment of ASA dues (Hans Klompen). On-line dues payment by credit card would be an added option, alongside standard payments by check and/or cash. On-line payment will include a surcharge of $2-4 to cover credit card and site fees.

Vote total (e-mail and membership in attendance): 48 in favor, none opposed (although a number e-mail respondents did not address this issue). Proposal is passed.

Society elections. The executive committee presented two candidates for President-Elect and four (three from the committee plus one floor nomination) for the Executive Committee. Due to a tracking mistake Cal Welbourn was listed a candidate for a new term, but his current term is not quite over, and his candidacy was therefore retracted. Ashley Dowling, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, was voted in as President-Elect. The two new executive committee members elected for a full 3-year period are: Michael McAloon, University of Connecticut, Storrs, and Diana Sammataro, University of Arizona, Tucson. The election of Ashley Dowling to president left his seat on the executive board open. Quentin Fang, Georgia Southern University, third in the executive board elections, agreed to serve out Ashley term on the committee.

Symposia 2007. Two proposals were suggested, “Soil ecology” and “Invasive plant mites” , neither with associated organizers. No further proposals were received from the floor. Soil ecology was suggested, with Hans Klompen as current organizer.

President Ochoa handed the gavel to the new president Jim Amrine. President Amrine thanked his predecessor for his service, and closed the session (5:30pm).

Call for additional business brought up no additional issues.

Submitted for approval to the membership,

Hans Klompen

Secretary/treasurer ASA