Ecological Society of America

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ESA Governing Board
August 5, 2001
Madison, WI

The August 2001 meeting of the ESA Council was attended by Council Members and their representatives: Rick Boyce (Rocky Mountain Chapter Chair), Steve Chaplin (Future Meetings Chair), Young Choi (Asian Ecology Section Chair), Diane DeSteven (Vegetation Section Chair), Christine French (International Relations Committee), Steve Gliessman (Agroecology Section Chair), Emily Heyerdahl (Paleoecology Section Chair), Ross Hinkle (Board of Professional Certification Chair), Rob Jackson (Physiological Ecology Section Chair), Marianne Krasny (Education Section Chair), Michelle Mack (Soil Ecology Section Representative), Peter Morin (Publications Committee Chair), Niki Stephanie Nicholas (Southeastern Section Chair), Craig Osenberg (Aquatic Section Vice Chair), Robert Peet (Historical Records Committee representative and ESA Vegetation Panel representative), David Pyke (Rangeland Ecology Section Chair), Mark Taper (Statistical Ecology Section Chair), and Rick Wetzler (International Affairs Section Chair). ESA Governing Board members were also present, including Steve Carpenter (President), Pam Matson (President-Elect), Diana Wall (Past-President), Ann Bartuska (incoming President-Elect), Lisa Graumlich (Secretary), Jill Baron (Secretary-Elect), James Clark (Vice President for Science), Timothy Schowalter (Vice President for Public Affairs), William Schlesinger (Vice President for Finance), Carol Brewer (Vice President for Education and Human Resources), Sharon Collinge (Member-at-Large--Elect), Rodolfo Dirzo (Member-at-Large), and Julie Denslow (Member-at-Large). Executive Director Katherine McCarter and staff members were present, including Managing Editor David Baldwin, Lou Pitelka (Editor, Ecological Applications), Allen Solomon (Editor, ESA Bulletin), SBI Director Mary Barber, Director for Public Affairs Nadine Lymn, and Financial Manager Elizabeth Biggs The meeting was also attended by The meeting was called to order by President Carpenter at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2000 and adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

I. Report of the President

1. President Carpenter reported that ESA is in excellent condition, both financially and organizationally. He thanked the Washington staff for their support and promotion of ESA efforts.

II. Report of the Executive Director and Staff

1. Executive Director McCarter presented a set of written reports to the Council summarizing the activities of ESA staff over the past year, including the Sustainable Biosphere Initiative (SBI), the Public Affairs Office, and the Publications Office. She highlighted initiatives and accomplishments, including: planning for ESA's new publication, Ecos; the advent of on-line subscriptions to ESA journals for libraries; the new online manuscript tracking system for the Publications Office; the smooth transition for the new Ecology/Ecological Monographs Editor-in-Chief Strong; and an ESA operating budget with revenues substantially over expenses.

III. Reports of the Officers

1. Secretary Graumlich noted that the written reports of the Vice President for Science, Vice President for Education and Human Resources, and Vice President for Public Affairs were distributed to the Council. Individual oral reports were not given in the interest of time. Graumlich provided the following highlights of the written reports.
   
   1. The report of Vice President for Science Clark includes an update on the successful NSF proposal, written by Clark, President Carpenter and Past President Wall, which funded a workshop at NCEAS to develop a science plan for Ecological Forecasting. The workshop took place in October 2000 and included ecologists, climatologists, economists, and managers. Products from the workshop include a report to NSF on research needs for Ecological Forecasting and a paper that appeared in the 27 July 2001 issue of Science.
   2. The report of Vice President for Education and Human Resources Brewer includes a suite of initiatives that will be forthcoming on priority issues including: professional development; scholarship in ecological education; recruiting and retaining ecologists from under-represented groups; developing internet resources for professional development and scholarship in teaching and learning about ecology; and accessible meetings for people with disabilities.
   3. The report of the Vice President for Public Affairs Schowalter includes increase ESA visibility in Washington DC as well as outreach to other audiences. These include participation in Congressional Visits Day and various Congressional committee and subcommittee briefings. The PAC and PAO developed two public activities for the Annual Meeting in Madison: an evening discussion of "Community-Based Stewardship of Natural Lands" and a Public Plenary by noted author Sara Stein.
2. Vice President for Finance
   
   1. Schlesinger reported on the unaudited FY 2000-2001 operating budget. Revenues are over expenses, allowing a substantial repayment to the unrestricted funds. The stabilized budget means that ESA is now in a position to more confidently plan for improving operations and membership services. Schlesinger reported that the reserve (restricted) funds suffered losses due to the downturn in the stock market.
      
   2. Schlesinger moved that the Council accept a revised dues structure for ESA membership as follows:
      
      • $50 per year for members with annual salaries of <$40,000;
      • $75 per year for members with annual salaries between $40,000 and $60,000;
      • $95,000 for members with annual salaries of >$60,000;
      • $25 for student memberships; and
      • $15 for student memberships for developing countries.

   The motion passed by a majority vote. IV. Presentation of the Budget.

IV. Presentation of the Budget.

1. Schlesinger presented the proposed ESA FY 2001-2002 budget. Key assumptions include: i) inflation will be 2%; ii) membership numbers will be the same as in the previous year; iii) the number of library subscriptions for Ecology and Ecological Applications will decrease by 4%; iv) member subscriptions will be the same as in 2000; and v) there is no growth in ESA's core funded programs. Revenues are calculated conservatively and expenses are calculated precisely based on end of year 2000 and year to date 2001 accounting information. The proposed budget includes the commitment to repay $50,000 to unrestricted funds. Library print subscription rates are raised. Schlesinger moved that the Council accept the FY 2001-2002 budget proposal. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

V. New ESA Publication, Ecos..

1. President Carpenter described progress in launching the new ESA publication to be called Ecos. This effort is the culmination of the work of the Publication Visions Committee that analyzed the role of publications in placing ESA as a significant scientific society in the future. In seeking to implement this vision, Carpenter, President Elect Matson, an ad hoc committee and ESA staff developed a successful proposal to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Lucile and David Packard Foundation to create a Publications Fund which will support the initial start-up of the publication. Ecos will be a timely, highly relevant, readable scientific journal that will focus interdisciplinary ecological science on the most important environmental issues of the day. ESA is in the process of implementing the business plan, including the selection of an Editor-in-Chief.

VI. Future Meetings Committee.

1. Future Meeting Committee Chair Steve Chaplin announced that the site of the 2004 Annual Meeting would be Portland, Oregon. The decision was based on suitability for ESA's meeting needs as well as price and general attractiveness of the site. The 2005 site will be chosen from San Antonio, Memphis and Indianapolis. The Future Meetings Committee is broadly soliciting input from members regarding meeting site evaluation criteria.

VII. New Business.

1. A. President Carpenter announced that a total of $5000 would be made available for Long-Range Plan Implementation Grants to sections, chapters, and committees. Individual grants of up to $1000 will be made. ESA staff will distribute further information regarding application procedures.
2. President Carpenter expressed great appreciation to Program Chair Paul Zedler for his efforts in organizing a timely and well-balanced program for the 2001 Annual Meeting.
3. The Governing Board has encouraged the Program Chair to evaluate more stringently symposium proposals. President Carpenter re-iterated that sections and chapters are not necessarily guaranteed a symposium slot in each year's program, given that meeting length may dictate a reduced number of symposia in the future. Pros and cons of the role of sections and chapters in sponsoring symposia were discussed.

VIII. Recognition of Robert Peet, former Editor-in-Chief of Ecology and Ecological Monographs.

1. President Carpenter thanked Robert Peet for his long-standing contribution to ecological science as the Editor-in-Chief of Ecology and Ecological Monographs.

IX. Recognition of Governing Board Members Leaving the Board.

1. A. President Carpenter thanked Past President Wall, Member-at-Large Rodolfo Dirzo, and Secretary Graumlich for their contributions to the Governing Board.

X. Statement of Incoming President.

1. Incoming President Matson expressed her gratitude to the past presidents, past Governing Board members, and the ESA staff, especially Executive Director Katherine McCarter, for putting the Society on a solid financial footing. This stability creates an opportunity for ESA to move vigorously towards its long-term goals. The centerpiece of this effort will be the launching of Ecos as a concrete step, positioning ESA as a vital, forward thinking organization.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa J. Graumlich, Secretary