The conference call, organized by President Walter Armbruster, began at 10:30 am, October 9, 1997, with a review of the agenda.

1. Christy reported for the executive director search committee.
   1. The committee advertised the position of AAEA executive director in the Sept/Oct AAEA Newsletter. Armbruster noted he had become aware that the AAEA constitution refers to a position of executive secretary, and Richard Shumway had received a letter from a member on the same point. The board discussed whether it is authorized to hire an executive director until the terminology of the constitution is changed. Christy noted that the management audit recommended the title of executive director as more accurate. It was agreed that the board is operating in good faith, that the job duties and responsibilities of the executive director are the same as for the executive secretary, and thus the title change is a technicality. The board will bring the necessary change in the constitution to the membership at the Salt Lake City annual business meeting in August 1998.

   2. The search committee, in following the boards direction and the recommendation of the management audit, contacted several executive search firms to help with the search. The search firm will be looking beyond the agricultural economics profession. A request for proposals produced two viable bids. The committee recommended acceptance of the CMG/Linda Shinn bid/proposal.

      MOTION: Ralph Christy moved to hire CMG/Linda Shinn to conduct a partial search for an executive director at a cost not to exceed $25,000 including expenses. Jerry Skees seconded. Motion carried.

      Christy was instructed to request Shinn to work for a November 15 closing date for applications, but to advertise the position as open until a suitable candidate is found.

2. Buse summarized his negotiations with experts to assist AAEA in the process of disassociation from Iowa State University.
   1. On the advice of Neil Harl, Buse interviewed Brent Appel, from the firm of Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen. Appel specializes in employment law. Appel and his firm have agreed to work with AAEA and the ISU Economics Department to facilitate a smooth transition and disassociation from Iowa State University. Buse expects the ISU agreement to be completed by the end of this year (1997) and the transition to be completed by the end of 1998. Appel estimates the cost of his services to be $5,000-8,000. Later, if necessary, Appel's firm can assist the AAEA office in developing employee contracts, basic personnel manuals, etc.

   2. Buse also interviewed Jaey Sedlacek of J.L. Sedlacek, Inc. a firm specializing in developing and administering employee benefits packages. Sedlacek will develop a proposed benefits package for AAEA employees. The cost of this service is estimated at $2,500. J.L. Sedlacek, Inc can also manage and administer the AAEA benefits package if that becomes desirable.

      MOTION: Steve Buccola moved that the board approve the proposed contracts suggested by Buse up to $8,000 for the employment specialist, and up to $2,500 for the benefits specialist. Christy seconded. Motion carried.

3. The date for the 1998 ASSA meeting in Chicago makes it difficult to hold a board meeting before the beginning of the ASSA sessions. In addition, the timing of the search for an executive director suggests the timing of potential interviews would likely be later than early January. Armbruster asked the board to consider moving the winter board meeting to a different time and location. The board agreed to hold the winter board meeting on February 20-21, 1998, at the new ERS facility in Washington, DC.

4. Armbruster asked the board to revisit the changes approved at the Toronto board meeting with respect to the selection and election of AAEA Fellows. The board agreed that a slower approach to the implementation of their fellows selection policy was desirable.

   MOTION: Skees moved to add the clause "Effective for 1999, the Fellows..." to the beginning of Article V, Section 5 of the bylaws as adopted at the 1997 Toronto board meeting. Richard Shumway seconded. Motion carried.

   The revised bylaw Art. V. Sec. 5 will read as follows:

   ARTICLE V. SELECTION OF FELLOWS
   Section 5. Candidates. Effective for 1999, the fellows selection committee shall select candidates from the nominees (approximately twice the maximum number to be elected) and present the list of candidates to the executive board of the association together with supporting biographical data for each.

5. Armbruster noted that the term of the current RAE editors expires at the end of 1998. The board agreed to place a call for applications in the January/February AAEA Newsletter, with a deadline of late February. Armbruster will appoint a committee to oversee the selection process at the November board meeting.

There being no further business, the conference call ended at 11:55 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rueben C. Buse
Executive Secretary
October 15, 1997