Las Vegas, Nevada

 The meeting of the Executive Committee was called to order by President Lewis Coons at 8:35 p.m. on 7 November 1998.  Members present were Robert Lane (President-elect), Norman Fashing (Secretary/Treasurer), Rosie Rossel (outgoing Newsletter Editor) Marilyn Houck (incoming Newsletter Editor), and Hans Klompen and Gary Mullen (Executive Committee Members).

 Lewis Coons reported that Rosie Rossel has resigned as newsletter editor, and that he had asked Vik Prasad if he would be willing to take over the duties; Vik declined.  Marilyn Houck has volunteered to edit the newsletter for one year, however stated she would not be able to produce an electronic version for the ASA web site.

 The feasibility of the ASA taking over the International Journal of Acarology was discussed.  Vik Prasad, current owner and editor of the journal, has requested on several occasions that the ASA do so.  It was decided that a journal would definitely enhance the services offered to ASA members, but that it would also require a large commitment on the part of the ASA.  President Elect Lane was asked to discuss the issue with Vik Prasad and report back at the 1999 Executive Committee meeting.

 Lewis Coons requested that the Executive Committee consider changing the dues structure since the current dues has been in effect for a number of years.   A motion that Active Membership dues be raised from $10.00 to $15.00 and that Student Dues be raised from $3.00 to $5.00 passed.  Another motion that Life Membership be no longer offered also passed.  It was brought out that a change in dues structure would require a change in ASA Bylaws, and therefore a vote on the proposed change in dues structure would be required at the ASA General Business Meeting.  Norm Fashing stated that he mailed out dues invoices in October and requested that a grace period for the old dues structure remain in effect until after January 1, 1999.

 Lewis Coons, acting as chair of the Nominating Committee that this year consisted of the Executive Committee as a whole, reported the following nominations for society officers:

President Elect:  Carl Childers and Hans Klompen
Executive Committee:  Ronald Ochoa, Mathew Pound, and Cal Welbourn

 Norm Fashing presented the financial records for 1997.  As of November 7, 1998, the reserve funds in the ASA bank account is $ 3526.02.   Income (dues and interest) to date amount to $1006.64, and expenditures to $794.50.   Our expenditures this year will not be as large as usual since we published only two newsletters rather than three and we will not be giving student awards.  Fashing also reported that he mailed invoices for 1999 membership dues in mid-October and included in the mailing any past members less than three years in arrear on dues payment .  For those past members over three years in arrear on dues payment, a special letters was sent requesting they consider rejoining the society.

 Norm Fashing also gave a progress report on the ASA web page.  He completed a prototype web page in September and sent the web address to Executive Committee members requesting suggestions for improvement.  In October a letter was sent to all ASA members listing the web address and requesting information for the web membership directory.  Members were also asked to examine the web page and make suggestions for improvement.

 Lewis Coons then asked for possible symposium topics for the 1999 meeting in Atlanta.  Hans Klompen suggested a symposium concerning soil mites, and Bob Lane suggested one concerning emerging diseases that concern mites as vectors.  In the discussion it was suggested that the latter symposium could center around molecular systematics of pathogens and their acarine vectors.

 The meeting was recessed at 10:00 p.m. until Monday, 9 November 1998, at noon.

 The Annual business meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m., 8 November 1998, by President Lewis Coons.

 Norm Fashing presented the Secretary/Treasurer's Report.  Minutes from the 1997 ASA Business Meeting (published in the newsletter and on the ASA web page) were approved as written.  Fashing requested that any members in arrear on dues make payment as soon as possible, and that dues payment would be accepted at any time during the ESA meeting dates.  He also requested that members encourage their nonmember colleagues, including students, to join the ASA.  Fashing also discussed the ASA web page and asked that all members take an active part in its development by sending personal information for the web directory, images of mites, suggestions for improvements, etc.

 In a reversal of normal procedure, President Coons took up new business first.

 Barry OConnor requested that the ASA take a position concerning the deletion of the USDA acarology positions vacated by  the retirements of Ed Baker and Bob Smiley.   According to Manya Stoetzel, the USDA has no funds allocated to maintaining the positions as permanent.  Ronald Ocho has been hired for a two year postdoctoral position to continue work in acarology.  OConnor moved that the ASA develop a resolution that would put badly needed outside pressure on Congress and the USDA officials to reinstate one or two permanent positions for acarologists in the USDA.  The move was seconded and passed unanimously.  OConnor will draft the resolution and send it to both Congress and the USDA.

 John George moved that the ASA sponsor an award to honor the late Joe Camin for his contributions to acarology.  The award would support a graduate student to attend the summer acarology program at Ohio State University or a comparable program elsewhere.  The award would be sponsored by the Entomologial Foundation, and a $10,000 minimum financial reserve would be necessary to provide enough investment income to make the award.  Donations would be requested from ASA and ESA members, as well as other appropriate sources.  A copy of the proposed award announcement follows:

Joseph H. Camin Fellowship
(Sponsored by the Entomological Foundation)

 This purpose of this award is to assist students at the graduate level to attend the Institute in Acarology at Ohio State University or an equivalent institution where they can obtain training in the systematics of acarines.  This fellowship was established in Honor of Joseph H. Camin who was an internationally recognized authority on the systematics and biology of the Acari and the mentor of many aspiring acarologists and entomologists.  The award is intended to support graduate students interested in research on the systematics of mites and ticks.  The award is made annually.  The value of the award will be approximately $800.

 Award procedures.  All members of the ESA or the Acarological Society of America (ASA) are eligible to nominate candidates for this fellowship.  An application must contain the following information:

 1. Name, address, telephone number of nominee
 2. Description of nominee's academic studies including academic plans for the coming school year
 3. Current official transcript of college grades (May be sent separately)
 4. Brief statement of nominee's research interests and goals in acarology
 5. A letter of recommendation from nominee's academic advisor

Three copies of each application and supporting information must be forwarded to the ESA National Office, 9301 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD 20706-3115 by September 1.  Selection of the fellowship recipient will be made by a committee consisting of the current president of the ASA and the two most recent past presidents.  The current president of the ASA will select alternatives to the selection committee if one or both of the past presidents cannot serve.  ASA presidents and past-presidents are usually members of ESA, but at least one member of the selection committee must be a member of the ESA.  Formal selection will be forwarded to the Executive Director of ESA by November 1.

 Award Procedures at the ESA Annual Meeting.  The award will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the ASA.

Comments and discussion concerning the award ensued.  Durland Fish asked if funds collected for the award would be returned if the $10,000 minimum investment was not attained.  He was assured such funds would be returned to the ASA.  The motion passed unanimously.

 Lewis Coons next took up the election of ASA officers and presented the following recommendations from the Nominations Committee:

President-elect:  Carl Childers and Hans Klompen
Executive Committee Members:  Ronald Ochoa, Mathew Pound and Cal Welbourn

Nominations were solicited from the floor.  It was moved and seconded that the nominations be closed.  Ballots were dispersed and the results tallied.  Hans Kompen was elected to serve as President-elect, and Mathew Pound and Cal Welbourn were elected to serve on the Governing Board.

 Lewis Coons then moved in behalf of the Governing Board that annual membership dues be raised from $10.00 to $15.00 for active members and from $3.00 to $5.00 for student members, and that the category of Life Membership be eliminated.  Dan Sonenshine called for a friendly amendment to increase active membership dues to $20.00 rather than $15.00.  Secretary/Treasurer Fashing spoke against a $20.00 per year dues for Active membership since it may discourage foreign acarologists as well as others who do not attend our annual meeting from joining,   More discussion ensued, and the friendly amendment passed.  The motion to increase the dues structure was called to a vote and passed with 24 yes, 2 no; a vote greater than the 2/3 majority required to amend the Bylaws for a dues increase.  The annual dues for ASA membership is now $20.00 for active membership and $5.00 for student membership.  There is no longer a category for Life Membership, however those members currently holding Life memberships will retain Life Membership status.  The new dues structure will go into effect in February of 1999.

 Lewis Coons turned the meeting over to Bob Lane for a discussion of possible topics for the 1999 ASA symposium to be held in Atlanta.  The symposium is planned for the usual time slot on Sunday.  Lane provided the following three topics on behalf of the Executive Committee:

Soil Mite Ecology
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Molecular Techniques to Characterize and Build Phylogenies in Vectors and Diseases

Barry OConnor discouraged a symposium revolving primarily around ticks since we have had a number of tick related symposia in recent years.  He also said that ESA Section D officials were concerned that too many tick related symposia in the ASA Formal Conference detracts from the Section D programs.  No new symposium topics were suggested from the floor, and discussion resulted in the choice of a symposium concerning  "reemerging and emerging diseases."

 Lewis Coons then honored Rosie Rosell with a plaque for her dedicated service to the ASA as newsletter editor for the past three years.  He also announced that Marilyn Houck, a former ASA newsletter editor,  has volunteered to act as interim newsletter edit for one year while the Executive Committee searches for a new editor.  Marilyn will publish three issues of the newsletter in 1999.

 Lewis Coons opened discussion on the establishment of a journal by the ASA as an additional benefit of ASA membership.  The ensuing discussion resulted in mixed opinions, with some members in favor and others against.  Vik Prasad has on several occasions requested that the ASA take over publication of the International Journal of Acarology and make it the official journal of the ASA.  It was concluded that more information was needed from Prasad concerning such a takeover before proceeding further.  Bob Lane will discuss the issue with Vik Prasad and report back at the 1999 ASA Business Meeting.

 Lewis Coons called for additional business and, since there was none, installed Bob Lane as 1999 ASA President..  Bob Lane presented a plaque to Lewis Coons for his dedicated work in behalf of the ASA during his term as president.  Lane than thanked all participants in the submitted paper session as well as the symposium.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

 The Executive Committee meeting reconvened at 12:15 p.m., 9 November 1998.  In attendance were Bob Lane (President), Hans Klompen (President-elect), Lewis Coons (Past-president) and Norman Fashing (Secretary/Treasurer).

 It was established that Bob Lane and Lewis Coons would serve on an ad hoc committee to investigate the possibility of ASA taking over the International Journal of Acarology.

 A discussion of methods to increase membership ensued. Hans Klompen will advertise the ASA at the Ohio State Summer Program in an attempt to increase membership, especially among students.

 The 1999 ASA symposium topic was discussed, with the decision in favor of a topic concerning "molecular aspects of diseases and their acarine vectors".  Lance Durdan was suggested as the possible symposium organizer; Bob Lane will talk with him to determine if he is willing.  A "backup" symposium topic concerning soil mites was suggested.  Hans Klompen will organize the soil mite symposium if the primary topic falls through.

 The possibility of an Acarology Mixer at the 1999 meeting was discussed.  Bob Lane will talk with Carl Childers concerning the possibility of obtaining donations from Industry to fund a mixer, and also contact Executive Committee members to assess their opinions on a matter.

 The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

Minutes Respectfully Submitted,
Norm Fashing, Secretary/Treasurer