Antle,
Christoffers, Herselius, and other as noted in the minutes
The meeting of the Executive Board was called to order at 8:31a.m.
in the Solitude Room of the Marriott Hotel in Salt Lake City,
Utah. Introductions and additions to the agenda followed.
The
minutes of the May 5th executive board conference call were
approved as printed.
Nancy
Herselius, meeting manager, reported that registration numbers
for Salt Lake City are in line with projections. Board members
thanked Herselius for the weekly updates of registration numbers
in the weeks prior to the meeting. It was suggested that Herselius
continue to explore joint meetings with other groups. Herselius
expressed concern over AAEA's inability to attract exhibitors.
She will begin a marketing effort to attract more vendors for
next year.
Discussion
followed on the report of the Selected Papers Committee co-chairs,
Frances Homans and Donald Liu. The total number of papers submitted
and sent out to be reviewed for the 1998 meeting was 722. A
total of 332 abstracts were accepted and grouped into 83 sessions
of four papers each. No reviewer had more than 10-12 abstracts
to review. While the acceptance rate (47%) was a record low,
the number of accepted papers was a record high.
This
was the first year that two page extended abstracts were used
and the committee voiced concern about the quality of the
papers. To assess this problem, the committee sent a two-question
survey to the reviewers. The survey results indicated that
75% of the reviewers thought the two-page abstract process
should be continued. The committee recommends that the session
discussants be surveyed because the discussants would be a
better judge of quality. The committee also recommends that
authors be limited to a final paper in the 12-18-page range,
with detailed instructions on the required format included
in the acceptance letter. Herselius will be in contact with
the new committee chairs to develop the details.
Herselius
reported that the paper submissions process did not go smoothly
this year, and she will work with the new committee co-chairs
to develop a better process for receiving and entering selected
paper proposals. The Call for Papers, scheduled for publication
in the Sept/Oct Newsletter, will include a set of criteria.
Walter
Armbruster directed the board's attention to a number of informational
items in the board book, including:
A
letter from Jim Bonnen regarding the board's approval of
the proposed establishment of sections within AAEA.
Susan
Offutt's announcement of the data availability free session
presented by ERS.
The
Business Meeting Tuesday a.m., the Committee's breakfast
Sunday a.m., and the Foundation breakfast Wednesday a.m.
Richard
Shumway 's plans for the next board meeting scheduled for
November 6-7, 1998 at the Chicago O'Hare Airport Marriott.
Lona
Christoffers distributed instructions for executive board and
foundation board list-serves that will become effective August
1.
The
board discussed Jeff LaFrance's request to present a Constitutional
amendment, at the Tuesday Business Meeting. It would allow members
to change the AAEA Bylaws during the annual Business Meeting.
After discussion Armbruster appointed a committee of Jerry Skees,
Ralph Christy, and Steve Buccola to prepare a statement of facts
regarding the proposed Constitutional Amendment. Their report
follows.
Report
on Proposed Constitutional Amendment Allowing Members to Change
Bylaws
During the past several years, a number of changes have
been made in the Association. Many of those changes have
been designed to gain more input and a wider participation
from members. The tide has been strong for a participatory
and more democratic AAEA. We take the amendment offered
to allow members to change the bylaws in that spirit. Nonetheless,
it would be inappropriate to allow a small segment of those
members present at any business meeting the opportunity
to make major changes that do not have the support of the
larger membership. Further, as we move to sections, the
opportunity for an organized and small group of the membership
to unduly influence the governing rules of the Association
may increase. For these reasons, we recommend careful consideration
be given to exactly how the membership will be afforded
the opportunity to make changes in the operating guidelines
of the Association.
Upon close examination of the both the Constitution and
the Bylaws of the Association, we became concerned about
many internal inconsistencies in procedures for making changes
to both documents. The Constitution has two relevant Articles:
Article
XIII. Bylaws
Bylaws may be adopted, amended, or rescinded by the executive
board by a majority vote of the members thereof present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present and at which the
same is voted on.
Article XIV. Amendment of Constitution
This Constitution may be amended by the affirmative vote
of two-thirds of the members having voting rights present
and voting at any annual business meeting of the Association
at which a quorum is present, or by majority vote of members
of the Association returning ballots by mail.
The
Bylaws also have language that requires careful consideration
for any recommendations made:
Article
XI. Association Meetings
Section 1. Resolutions. All resolutions pertaining to policy
matters presented from the floor at annual meetings of the
association for approval must be submitted at least one
full week in advance to the executive board. The executive
board shall report all such proposed resolutions and resolutions
initiated by the executive board and the president to the
general membership for action with appropriate recommendation
for or against passage.
Article XX. Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the
members of the executive board present at a meeting at
which a quorum is present and at which the same is voted
on.
The
issues quickly become complex. Does Article XI. Section 1,
actually prevent members from bringing amendments to the Constitution
to the meetings? Is there a disconnect in the Constitution
and the Bylaws on these procedures? It appears from the Constitution
that any member can bring up a Constitutional change at any
Business Meeting without prior notice. Yet the Bylaws suggest
differently.
Recommendations:
Eliminate
Article XI. Section 1.
We think members should be afforded the opportunity to change
either the Constitution or the Bylaws. In principle this
is the procedure we recommend:
For Constitutional and Bylaw changes we recommend that
the current language be made clear that one set of procedures
be followed when the board initiates a recommended change
and another set of procedures be followed when a recommended
change comes from outside the board.
The Constitution can be changed, amended, or rescinded
as follows:
Board
initiated change that requires two-thirds of the members
voting in the Business Meeting.
Member
initiated change that requires two-third of the vote
from the members present and then a majority of vote
by mail (or electronic) ballot.
In the event that the Board wishes to endorse the recommendation
that was voted on by the membership, there may be no need
for a ballot. It may simply be that the board chooses
to bring the issue to the membership at the next business
meeting.
Bylaws changes can be made as follows:
Board
initiated changes at board meetings.
Member
initiated change that requires two-third of the vote
from the members present and then a majority of vote
by mail (or electronic) ballot.
Again, the ballot can be avoided if the Board chooses
to support the change.
In closing, we believe there are serious changes that need
to be made in the Bylaws. We think that much of what appears
here can be in a set of procedures.
After
discussion of the report the board asked Armbruster to convey
to the membership that, in discussing this issue, the board
determined there are serious inconsistencies in the governing
documents of the Association that need to be reviewed. Armbruster
will establish a committee to review our basic documents to
make sure they are cohesive, and in compliance with today's
legal standards and the memberships desire for easier input
into the governing process.
MOTION:
Skees moved to endorse the spirit of what is communicated
in this report and establish a process for a comprehensive
review of the content of the Constitution, Bylaws, and standing
rules. Christy seconded. Motion carried.
Armbruster
will chair a committee to review AAEA's legal documents. The
committee includes board members Buccola, Per Pinstrup-Andersen,
and Caswell. Armbruster will also appoint additional members
with legal background to assist in the review.
The
following committee reports were reviewed and filed.
Economic
Education.
Professional
Relations with Economies in Transition.
National
Association of Agricultural Economics Administrators (NAAEA).
International
Committee.
Professional
Activities Committee.
Industry
Committee.
Fellows
Forum Planning Committee.
Awards
Committee.
The
Committee on Women in Agricultural Economics (CWAE).
Employment
Services Committee.
Economic
Statistics and Information Resources Committee (ESIRC).
Posters
Committee. The board is considering setting up a rotating
membership of the poster selection committee to ensure continuity.
Shumway will take this under advisement.
Armbruster
reported on the recent NAREA and SAEA meetings at which he reported
on AAEA's strategic planning efforts.
Armbruster
reported on the current status of the Kellogg Project. A number
of workshops/seminars have been held over the previous 12 months
to strengthen relationships between professional associations
and economists working in public sectors. There are still some
unallocated funds that can be used in projects to expand the
role of agricultural economists in the public and private sector.
The funds are available to groups within the AAEA to develop
seminars and other similar experimental projects.
Shumway
reported accepting six of 18 AAEA invited paper session proposals
for the 1999 ASSA winter meeting. Each relates well to the AAEA
theme for the meeting - "The Science of Agricultural Economics."
In addition, there will be one session co-sponsored with the
Industrial Organization Society.
The
winter board meeting has been scheduled for February 20-21,
1998. The location is still to be selected
A
report from Paul Wilson, Chair of the Resident Instruction Committee
was reviewed. The committee recommends considering a merger
of the Resident Instruction, Extension and Economic Education
Committees into one committee named The Economics Education/Learning
Committee.
The board reviewed the committee's proposed criteria for submissions
for the Organized Symposia/Models for Teaching Excellence
(OS/MTE) sessions at annual meetings.
MOTION:
Buccola moved to approve the proposed criteria. Christy seconded.
Motion carried.
Armbruster
reported on the activities of the ad hoc committee on recognition/awards
nominations and whether AAEA should take an active role in nominating
members for election to academies and for professional awards
outside AAEA. Shumway will set up an ad hoc committee to identify
the top awards and to make recommendations as to nomination
procedures.
Christoffers
reported that moving the AAEA office to the new location has
gone well. The disassociation from Iowa State University will
be completed September 30, 1998.
The AAEA Member Directory will be published in early September.
Christoffers has sold advertising for the directory and expects
the publication to be self-supporting. The board decided that
the directory is a member benefit covered in the basic fee
and will not be sold to individual members.
The
board received the report of the student section. Ralph Christy
has obtained a three-year, $15,000/year grant from ADM to support
SS-AAEA activities. The grant makes the SS-AAEA self-supporting
for three years. The section has recruited 6 new chapters, and
will have 30 teams competing in the Academic Bowl. The students
requested continued support for expanding the number of agribusinesses
attending the Recruitment Fair.
Christoffers
reported on the feasibility of implementing electronic balloting
by members for AAEA officers and board members. There will be
articles in upcoming issues of the AAEA Newsletter explaining
the option for members to vote by paper or electronically. Members
will also be able to check a box on the renewal notice indicating
their willingness to receive mail electronically.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to allow the option of electronic balloting
in 1999. Offutt seconded. Motion carried.
Armbruster
summarized the report from President Peter Barry reporting on
C-FARE activities. C-FARE held its first briefing for congressional
staffers with an attendance of 35. Their next symposium, to
be held next winter, will focus on environmental issues. C-FARE
is requesting an increase of 50% in the amount of dues paid
by AAEA, bringing the dues payment to $9,000. To educate AAEA
members about the benefits of C-FARE, Offutt and Armbruster
will write an article for the AAEA Newsletter to explain the
C-FARE/AAEA relationship.
Armbruster
reported that Buse's appointment to the CAST Board terminates
with the March 1999 CAST BOARD meeting. Josef Broder is the
second AAEA representative to CAST. Starting in 1999 CAST will
reimburse up to $500 of travel expenses per CAST meeting for
one board member from each society. The board decided that it
was not necessary to replace Buse. Shumway will contact Broder
as to his willingness to continue as AAEA's representative.
Buse has also been representing AAEA at the CAST Conversations
on Change (COC) activities and will not be replaced because
there are six other AAEA members involved in COC.
Julie
Caswell, chair of the ad-hoc Awards Committee, reviewed the
initial report and recommendations made at the Toronto meeting
and presented the committee's recommendations. They recommended
continuing the full range and number of awards, and that the
Awards Committee take a proactive approach to the development
of applicant pools. The committee also recommended that the
AAEA recognize the contribution and importance of all of its
publications by initiating annual awards for (1) Outstanding
Article in CHOICES, determined by the CHOICES Advisory Board
and (2) Outstanding Article in the Review of Agricultural Economics,
determined by its Editorial Board.
MOTION:
Skees moved to amend the AAEA bylaws to institute parallel
awards for CHOICES and the RAE. Buccola Seconded. Motion carried.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to amend Article V, Section 1. Distinguished
Extension Programs of the bylaws by changing the wording
from Distinguished Extension Program Award to Distinguished
Outreach Program Award. Buccola seconded. The motion failed.
The Board asked Shumway to obtain input and reactions to the
motion from the Extension Committee
MOTION:
Shumway moved that, effective in 1999, the PhD award be raised
to $1,000 each and the MS award to $500 each. Pinstrup-Andersen
seconded. Motion carried.
A
request from the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics
Society (AARES) for AAEA to collect membership fees for AARES
on the AAEA dues renewal notice was considered.
MOTION:
Christy moved to approve this request and Penn seconded. Motion
carried.
The
recommendations of the ad-hoc Outreach Committee, chaired by
Glen Pulver, were discussed. The recommendations of the committee
are as follows: 1) The AAEA board should immediately begin involving
non-academic economics professionals more actively in the affairs
of the AAEA including committee assignments, conference planning,
awards, etc., 2) The AAEA should make a commitment to the development
of a comprehensive list of non-academic economics professionals
with interests common to those of AAEA members. The Board referred
this item to the AAEA Office for implementation as part of the
membership recruitment program. 3) The AAEA should develop a
number of services to be targeted at non-academic economics
professionals. Especially important are experimental workshops
outside the Annual Meeting.
Shumway will refer the following two specific items to committees
for further development and implementation: 1) develop one
to one-and-one-half day programs at the annual meeting for
non-academics; and 2) produce a series of monthly success
stories that have an applied focus.
The
revised SS-AAEA Handbook for 1997-98 was presented for board
approval. The major change was deleting a statement indicating
the advisors shall serve as members of the Resident Instruction
Committee because it is not current procedure (Section 4: Duties
of the Advisors.)
MOTION:
Skees moved to approve the SS-AAEA Constitution as presented.
Penn seconded. Motions carried.
The
Graduate Student organizing group presented draft bylaws for
an AAEA Graduate Student section and asked for board input.
A final proposal, including bylaws will be presented to the
Board at it's November meeting.
The
Board discussed the Investment Review Committee report. The
report recommends that both boards approve the use of a fund
manager to advise on the investment of both the Association
and Foundation funds.
MOTION:
Buccola moved to establish a new joint three person investment
committee made up of the heads of the respective Association
and Foundation finance committees and the Executive Director.
Skees seconded. Motion carried.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to approve the Vanguard Group as a financial
advisor for both the Association and the Foundation, contingent
upon the Foundation board making the same decision. Pinstrup-Andersen
seconded. Motion carried.
The board instructed the investment committee to review the
current asset allocation guidelines and ratios and report
back to each board with recommendations at the November meeting.
The Vanguard advisor will be invited to attend the November
board meeting.
At
a previous board meeting the staff was instructed to submit
a proposal for recovering the costs of mounting and distributing
selected papers, their abstracts, and abstracts of poster sessions
on AgEcon Search. The AAEA office recommended fees of $5 per
successful poster abstract and $10 per successful selected paper
and its abstract. After discussion the following motions were
made.
MOTION:
Offutt moved to increase the registration fees of the Annual
Meeting by an amount which covers the full costs of posting
papers and posters to AgEcon Search. Christy seconded. Motion
failed.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to charge the AAEA office to design a submission
fee plan and implement it. Penn seconded. Motion carried.
MOTION:
Buccola moved to eliminate the abstracts of selected papers
and posters from the December issue of the AJAE. Penn seconded.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to table the motion to eliminate the abstracts
of selected papers and posters from the December issue of
the AJAE until the November Board meeting. Christy seconded
the motion. Motion to table approved.
Armbruster will talk with NAAEA members for feedback on the
issue of eliminating the abstracts in the AJAE and report
back at the November board meeting.
Buccola
recommended allowing executive board members to participate
in the selected papers and posters sessions at our professional
meetings. The adoption of this policy will require a change
to the bylaws. Buccola proposed the following policy statement
be adopted and the bylaws be modified accordingly.
AAEA
president and board members are barred from participating
in any portions of the summer or winter meetings programs
in which the board or president select participants. These
portions currently include the principal paper session,
organized symposia, and free sessions. No exceptions may
be made to this rule.
AAEA
president and board members are not barred from participating
in portions of the summer meeting program in which the board
or president does not select participants. These portions
currently include the selected paper and poster sessions.
MOTION:
Buccola moved to accept this proposal. Skees seconded.
MOTION:
Shumway moved, Penn seconded, to amend the proposal to read
as follows (additions in bold and deletions shown as strikeouts).
AAEA
president and board members are barred from participating
in any portions of the summer or winter meetings programs
in which the board or president select participants or
in other situations of apparent conflicts of interest.
These portions currently include the
principal paper sessions, invited papers sessions,
organized symposia, and free sessions,
and pre- and post-conference workshops. No exceptions
may be made to this rule.
AAEA
president and board members are not barred
from participating in portions of the summer meeting program
in which the board or president does not select participants.
These portions include the selected paper and poster sessions.
The amendment carried.
The main motion as amended carried.
Shumway
asked to revisit the decision on how AAEA fellows are selected.
It has not yet been implemented, and the current fellows selection
committee has voiced some concern about the new procedures.
Under the new procedure, approved at the Toronto meeting, the
board makes the final selection from recommendations by the
selection committee.
MOTION:
Christy moved to reverse the motion of last year regarding
the order in which the AAEA selects Fellows. Buccola seconded.
Motion failed.
MOTION:
Pinstrup-Andersen moved to allocate enough funds for the
Fellows committee to meet face-to-face on one occasion so
as to select the list of fellows to submit to the board.
Christy seconded. Motion failed.
The Toronto board decision stands. Shumway will encourage
the Fellows Selection Committee to use conference calls as
a means of communication throughout the selection process.
Buse
distributed the audited 1997 financial reports for board review
and presentation at the Annual Business Meeting.
MOTION:
Penn moved that the tables be presented at the Business Meeting.
Christy seconded. Motion carried.
Buse
next presented the 1998 six-month balance sheet and summary
income and expenses for board review. Year-to-date income and
expenses are in line with the approved budget. The portfolio
account is up $63,600 for the year through unrealized capital
gains, interest and dividends. AAEA investments showed an annualized
return of 20%, slightly outperforming the average of all mutual
funds. The distribution of assets is in line with the investment
guidelines as established by the board.
Donna
Dunn reported receiving eight responses to the Request for Proposals
to outsource the AJAE/RAE. She reported that a preliminary
analysis of the RFP's indicates that outsourcing the two journals
appears to be economically viable.. Dunn, with a committee of
Spiro Stefanou, Cramer, Shumway, and John Antle (chair), will
continue to analyze and report back with a final recommendation
and supporting financial information at the November board meeting.
Penn
reported for the committee evaluating the feasibility of outsourcing
CHOICES. Although the decision on this publication is
not as clear-cut as for the journals, the committee does see
potential advantages in that publishers could handle the external
subscription list, sell advertising, and promote the magazine
more widely. This committee recommended that the AAEA Office
continue to negotiate with potential publishers to obtain the
best financial/services package that might be available and
report back to the board with a recommendation. The board concurred
with the recommendation.
Offutt
reported for the Finance Committee, stressing that revenue generation
needs a great deal of continuing attention. Projections need
to be based on board decisions as to what programs, products
and services to provide members and then adequately fund them.
The committee was also concerned about the long-term viability
of a strategy that relies heavily on reserves to finance ongoing
AAEA activities and products.
The Finance Committee recommended adopting a new table of
membership fees for 1999. The table would raise1999 regular
member dues from the current $65 without the AJAE to $80,
all other classes accordingly, and a charge of $10 for an
AJAE subscription.
MOTION:
Buccola moved to propose the new dues structure to the membership
at the business meeting. Christy seconded. Motion carried.
The
Finance Committee recommended a new table of postage surcharges
to more nearly cover the full cost of mailing publications.
MOTION:
Christy moved to approve the postage surcharge as outlined
by Buse. Penn seconded. Motion carried.
The Finance Committee also endorsed a policy that requires
processing fees for allied associations to cover the full
cost of servicing that association and eliminates all subsidies.
The office proposed that AAEA charge each association for
which it collects membership/subscription fees a $50 setup
charge plus $1 per member/subscriber processed.
MOTION:
Skees moved to approve the processing fees that treat all
allied associations equitably and cover costs. Penn seconded.
Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
The board meeting reconvened at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, August
1, 1998.
Gary
Seevers, President of the Foundation Board, reported on Foundation
activities and finances. He reported that the Foundation portfolio
has increased 23% in the last 12 months and is currently valued
at over $900,000. Grant funding has five strategic focus areas
for 1998 including two new ones, industry involvement, and technology
in education. Seevers announced that $31,500 was donated by
individuals and corporations in support of activities at this
Annual Meeting. Obtaining a multi-year grant by Archer, Daniel,
Midland to support undergraduate student activity for three
years was a major accomplishment. Seevers reported that the
Foundation's goal of $1,000,000 by the year 2000 is attainable.
The board is exploring ways to better recognize the appreciation
clubs in foundation activities and grant funding. Seevers thanked
the board for its support of office activities through the $10,000
annual allocation to the Foundation.
A
proposal from the C-Fare board of directors establishing a Congressional
Science Fellowship Fund was considered by the board. Seevers
announced that the AAEA Foundation granted the project $10,000
last year that it was not used and has been carried forward.
MOTION:
Offutt moved that AAEA support a Congressional Fellow at a
minimum level of $45,000, but not to exceed $55,000. Buccola
seconded. Motion failed.
MOTION:
Buccola moved to support an AAEA Congressional Science Fellow
by a 50-50 match of funds raised in a dedicated fund raising
program. The support would continue for a maximum of three
years at which point the board will re-examine the program.
Offutt seconded.
MOTION:
Penn moved to table the motion. Christy seconded. The motion
passed.
Armbruster appointed a committee of Buccola, as AAEA board
representative, Skees, as an AAEA member representative, and
a to-be-named representatives from the Foundation Board to
work with C-FARE to develop a specific plan for fund raising
and report back with a proposal at the fall board meeting.
The
board considered a proposal from Nicole Ballenger that AAEA
sponsor an interdisciplinary symposium at the meeting of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2000.
The topic would be global food security.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to co-sponsor this session at the 2000 AAAS
meeting. Christy seconded. Motion carried.
Pinstrup-Andersen was appointed to work with Ballenger to
develop this symposium.
The
Board considered a proposal to jointly sponsor a Call for Papers
on "Climate Change, Agriculture, and Forestry", and a pre- or
post-conference workshop at the 1999 Annual Meeting in Nashville.
It was proposed by Peter J. Kuch from the Environmental Protection
Agency. The special awards, workshop, and proceedings will be
underwritten with funding from EPA and awards will be presented
at the workshop.
MOTION:
Christy moved to accept this proposal. Pinstrup-Andersen seconded.
Motion carried.
Shumway will work with Armbruster and appoint a committee
to work with Peter Kuch to implement the project.
Harry
Ayer, CHOICES editor reported on the past year's activities.
Several changes have been implemented to make CHOICES
more readable and attractive. Article submissions remain high.
Ayer is planning a special millennium edition for 4th quarter
1999. The call for abstracts has been issued and 54 responses
have been received. Ayer requested $3,500 in additional funding
to expand the millennium edition from 44 to 60 pages.
MOTION:
Christy moved to expand the millennium edition from 44 to
60 pages and allocate an additional $3,500 to cover costs.
Pinstrup-Andersen seconded. Motion carried.
Ayer noted that his term as editor ends December 31, 1999.
A call for editor(s) will be placed in the January/February
1999 Newsletter. Shumway will appoint a committee to write
the call for a CHOICES editor for review at the November
board meeting. The goal of the committee will be to select
a replacement CHOICES editor by the end of the 1999
Annual Meeting.
Spiro
Stefanou, American Journal of Agricultural Economics
co-editor, presented the editors report. The editors have developed
an automated editorial procedure and protocols to facilitate
their work. The journal is back on schedule as of the August
issue, due mainly to the outsourcing of several issues. The
electronic distribution of galleys to authors has reduced the
final production time of the Journal. In response to a board
initiative, the editors continue to work on adopting a process
that clearly identifies non-refereed papers. Distinctive pagination
is the proposed solution. It will generate the least confusion
for readers attempting to retrieve cited papers.
David
Debertin, Review of Agricultural Economics editor, reported
that the transition to the new editor, Gail Cramer, is on schedule.
Work on the first issue of 1998 is finished. The length of the
final page number count of the second issue of 1998 is expected
to be about twice the length of a normal issue creating additional
postage costs. Debertin requested the board approve the additional
postage costs. Since he has already informed authors of the
acceptance of their manuscripts, Debertin was not comfortable
telling authors that their manuscripts would not appear in this
issue.
MOTION:
Buccola moved to authorize increasing the second 1998 issue
up to the maximum pages allowed before incurring additional
postage costs, and hold the remaining articles for 1999. Pinstrup-Andersen
seconded. Motion carried.
Shumway will write the letters to authors of those articles
that will be delayed. [Note: Subsequent investigation determined
that the larger RAE could be mailed at a standard B
rate, following email approval by the Board.]
Gail
Cramer, incoming editor of the Review of Agricultural Economics,
detailed his editorial philosophy, policies, and guidelines.
Board members were encouraged to give Cramer feedback on his
policies. Cramer distributed a list of the names as tentative
appointments to the editorial council for RAE. Antle will write
letters to the editorial council and the co-editors formally
appointing them. The editorial council was charged with considering
a possible name change for the RAE.
Dunn
reported on progress in developing a communications strategic
plan. It is based on staff input and with input and feedback
from an advisory committee. A final plan will be ready for board
approval at the November board meeting.
Armbruster
led a discussion to implement the section structure along with
the bylaw changes required to implement sections. A suggested
new bylaw section was proposed.
ARTICLE XIII. Committees
Section 4. Sections.
Any
fifty (50) Association members in good standing may organize
a section of the Association by requesting authorization
in a signed petition addressed to the executive board. The
petition shall include the proposed name, the specific area
of agricultural economics of interest, and the scope and
purpose of the proposed section. The petition shall be sent
to the executive secretary for review. If found to be in
proper form, the executive secretary shall forward it to
the executive board for approval or disapproval of probationary
status.
Upon
approval of probationary status the business office shall
assist in organizing and operating the section for a probationary
period not to exceed three years.
The
officer(s) of the approved probationary section shall draw
up bylaws for its operation. The bylaws shall specify officer(s),
terms of office, member eligibility criteria, and purpose
and goals of the section, consistent with the Association
Constitution and Bylaws. The secretary or other designated
representative of the section shall submit the bylaws to
the executive secretary of the Association for approval
by the AAEA executive Board.
The
AAEA executive board may approve establishment of the section
at any time during the probationary period, provided its
bylaws have been approved and the probationary section has
elected eligible individuals to hold the offices prescribed
in its bylaws.
Each
section, including probationary sections may have a chair,
chair-elect, and a secretary or such officer(s) as prescribed
in its bylaws. Officer(s) of the section shall be elected
for terms established in the section's bylaws.
Any
members of the Association may join any probationary section
or sections of the Association by enrolling with the executive
secretary of the Association and by meeting membership requirements
of that section's bylaws.
The
Association shall encourage sections to propose timely principal
paper sessions, symposia, and free sessions for presentation
at the Association's annual meeting. Subject to the approval
of the AAEA executive Board, sections may hold seminars,
symposia, workshops or equivalent activities at times other
than the Association annual meeting. All section activities
will be under AAEA sponsorship
Each
section and probationary section shall submit an annual
report of its activities to the executive secretary by September
30. Included with this report shall be a proposed budget
for the next calendar year.
Sections
and probationary sections may assess annual dues, if their
members so choose. Funds collected shall be deposited in
the general funds of the Association and credited to the
section. They shall be disbursed on vouchers signed by the
section chair, secretary, or other designee and the executive
secretary of the Association.
Services
for sections will include providing quarterly financial
reports and lists of current members to the secretary or
other office specified in the section bylaws.
The
AAEA executive secretary is responsible for monitoring the
performance of sections over time to ensure that the minimum
membership of 50 is maintained, that the section operates
in a financially responsible manner, and that it operates
in a manner consistent with the Association Constitution
and Bylaws. When a section fails to do so for two consecutive
years, the executive secretary will inform the section officer(s)
and the AAEA executive Board. The executive board may then
dissolve the section.
When
sections undertake any revenue generating activity they
shall have access to AAEA office services at a full cost
recovery (direct and indirect).Any revenues
beyond cost reimbursement shall be divided at 75% for the
section and 25% for AAEA.
MOTION:
Shumway moved approval of Article XIII, Section 4. Sections.
Christy seconded.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to amend the motion to adjust paragraph "c"
to include the words "consistent with the Association Constitution
and Bylaws". Skees seconded. The motion on the amendment
carried.
MOTION:
Skees moved to amend the motion by adding a section "l"
stating "When sections undertake any revenue generating
activity they shall have access to AAEA office services
at a full cost recovery (direct and indirect). Any revenues
beyond cost reimbursement shall be divided at 75% for the
section and 25% for AAEA". Christy seconded. Amendment failed.
MOTION:
Offutt moved to amend the motion by inserting section "l",
without the last sentence. Penn seconded. Amendment carried.M
MOTION:
Skees moved to amend the motion by deleting the words "and
operating" in paragraph b. Offutt seconded. Motion carried.
The original motion to approve adding Article XIII, Section
4. Sections to the bylaws as amended carried.
Buccola asked to be recorded as voting no on the main motion.
A
proposal to establish an Extension Section was reviewed by the
board.
MOTION:
Shumway moved to approve the Extension Section as a probationary
section. Christy seconded. Motion carried.
Shumway pointed out several inconsistencies between the proposed
extension section bylaws and the AAEA bylaws. The committee
will be advised to bring the bylaws into conformance with
the AAEA bylaws.
Christy
requested that the board recommend to the members at the business
meeting that, in the AAEA Constitution, all references to "Executive
Secretary" be changed to "Executive Director."
MOTION:
Skees moved that the change be recommended to the members
at the business meeting. Christy seconded. Motion carried.
The change will be presented to the membership at the Business
Meeting Tuesday morning.
Christy
next presented a number of suggested changes to the AAEA bylaws.
NOTE: The original bylaw is reproduced with board deletions
shown as strikeouts [strikeout] and suggested
additions in brackets and bold [addition].
Resolution
to Change Executive Secretary to Executive Director.
Upon approval of equivalent changes in the constitution
at the annual business meeting, the bylaws be changed to
replace the title "Executive Secretary" with "Executive
Director."
Update
Business Office Address
ARTICLE I.
The business office of the association shall be the business
address of the association. The registered[business] office of the association shall be the
Department of Economics, Iowa State University,
[415 S. Duff Street, Suite C] Ames, Iowa, [50010]
and the registered agent at such address
shall be Neil E. Harl [at the Department of Economics,
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50010].
Change
in the Responsibilities of the Choices Editor.
ARTICLE XVI. CHOICES
Section 2. Role of the CHOICES Editor. The editor
shall:
Be
responsible for matters related to the printing of CHOICES,
including serving as the major contact person
with the CHOICES printer and act as
the principal advisor to the executive board on decisions
in CHOICES printing.
Change
in Postage Surcharges.
ARTICLE IV. ASSOCIATION FEES
Section 1. Dues. Each member shall pay calendar year association
dues in United States dollars. Calendar year dues are payable
on or before January 1 of each year. New members of the
association may receive back issues of those official association
periodicals included with their membership for the calendar
year of membership. Changes in the amounts of dues for each
class of membership are approved by the vote of the general
membership, based on recommendations of the executive board.
The dues schedule is published annually in the AAEA Newsletter
and the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Calendar year dues [may] include subscriptions
to certain association periodicals for members within
the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Other association members may be assessed a surcharge
to cover the additional cost of providing products and
services to locations outside of the United States,
Canada, and Mexico. Airmail delivery of periodicals
may be elected at [an additional] cost.
Procedure
for appointment of Editorial Boards.
ARTICLE XV. American Journal of Agricultural Economics
Section 1. Role of executive board. The executive board
shall:
Elect[Select] the editor of The American Journal
of Agricultural Economics (hereinafter referred
to as the Journal) from nominations made by the
president.
Section
3. Associate editors. A Board of Editors will assist
the editor(s) in executing Journal policy in the
review of manuscripts submitted for publication in the Journal.
The Board will consist of associate editors to be appointed
by the president-elect on recommendation of the editor(s)
[and with the approval of the executive board]. The
editor(s) as Chair and the Board of Editors will constitute
a committee to select the paper to receive the award as
the Outstanding Journal Article.
ARTICLE XVI. CHOICES
Section 1. Role of executive board. The executive board
shall:
Elect[Select] the editor of CHOICES.
Section
3. Editorial Advisory Board for CHOICES. [Upon recommendation
of the editors,] members of the Editorial Advisory Board
shall be appointed by the president-elect [with the approval
of the AAEA Board]. This advisory board will have standing
committee status, with members appointed for three-year
staggered terms or other lengths of appointment as prescribed
by the executive board of the association.
ARTICLE XVII. Review of Agricultural Economics
Section 3. Editorial Council. An editorial council will
assist the editor(s) in executing RAE policy. Each collaborating
association, other than AAEA, will appoint three members
to the editorial council. To assure appropriate balance
of council membership the AAEA president-elect, on recommendation
of the editor(s), [and with the approval of the AAEA
Board,] will appoint the remaining members.
Remove
executive board responsibilities which are inconsistent
with current procedures.
ARTICLE XV. American Journal of Agricultural Economics
Section 1. Role of executive board. The executive board
shall:
Elect
the editor of The American Journal of Agricultural
Economics (hereinafter referred to as the Journal)
from nominations made by the president.
Approve
the criteria to be used in selecting members of the
Journal's Board of Editors.
Determine
long-run policies affecting the Journal, including
copyright and related policies.
Approve
the general content of specific issues of the Journal.
[d]Determine the annual budget for editorial
operations and printing of the Journal.
ARTICLE XVII. Review of Agricultural Economics
Section 1. Role of the AAEA Executive Board. The executive
board shall:
Assume
financial and technical responsibility for publication
and distribution of RAE, including the setting
of appropriate page charges and fees.
Act
upon requests from U.S. regional agricultural economics
associations to be collaborating associations in publishing
RAE.
As
needed, establish an editor selection committee with
equal representation by AAEA and other collaborating
associations.
Select
the editor(s) of RAE from nominations made by
the editor selection committee.
Establish
criteria to be used in selecting AAEA members of the
RAE editorial council.
Determine
the annual budget for editorial operations and printing.
Approve
the general content of specific issues of RAE.
Waugh
Lecture Process.
ARTICLE VII. Duties of Officers
Section 1. President. The president shall be the chief executive
officer of the association and, subject to the control of
the executive board, shall in general supervise and conduct
the business and affairs of the association. He/She shall,
when present, preside at all meetings of the association
and of the executive board. He/She shall have authority
to sign, execute, and acknowledge on behalf of the association,
those instruments provided in Article VIII hereof and instruments
necessary or proper to be executed in the course of the
association's regular business or which shall be authorized
by resolution of the executive board. The president shall
make appointments to special and standing committees and
subcommittees created by action of the executive board as
vacancies occur. In consultation with the executive board,
he\she shall be responsible for preparing a program for
the annual meeting and shall provide overall coordination.
[In consultation with the Administrator of ERS, he\she
shall arrange for the Waugh Lecture.] The executive
board with the president-elect as chair shall act as the
program committee for the principal papers. In general,
the president shall perform all duties incident to the office
of president and such other duties as may be prescribed
by the executive board from time to time.
Section
3. Past-President. The past-president shall serve
as chairperson of the Nominating Committee, chairperson
of the Waugh Lecture committee, executive board
representative to the Fellows Selection Committee, and
one of the executive board representatives to the AAEA
Foundation. The past-president shall also monitor the
association bylaws and propose appropriate changes in
the bylaws. The past president shall perform such other
duties and have such authority as from time-to-time may
be assigned to him/her by the president of the executive
board.
Change
in Procedure for Officer Ballot.
ARTICLE VIII. Elections
Section 1. Ballots.
A
brief biographical sketch [and a statement of goals
and concerns for AAEA] of each nominee for president-elect
and director selected by the Nominating Committee shall
be included with the ballot. The official ballot, and
biographical sketches[, and statement] for candidates
for director of the AAEA Foundation, conducted under
the Bylaws of the foundation, also may be mailed with
the association's official ballot, provided that the
business office determines that the combined mailing
will reduce the costs of elections. The ballots, and
biographical sketches[, and statements] for the
two elections shall be clearly labeled.
Rename
Selected Committees.
ARTICLE XIII. Committees
Section 1. Standing committees. There shall be standing
committees on:
Awards
Economic Statistics [and Information Resources]
Extension
Fellows Election [Selection]
Finance
Industry
International
Membership
Nominating
Opportunities and Status of Blacks in Agricultural Economics
Professional Activities
Resident Instruction
Tellers
Women in Agricultural Economics
Each
standing committee may recommend to the executive board
the creation of specific subcommittees.
Add
Awards for CHOICES and the Review of Agricultural
Economics
ARTICLE VI. Awards Program
Section 5. Professional Publications [(d) Outstanding CHOICES Article. The editor(s)
and advisory board of CHOICES, with an editor as
chair, shall choose a maximum of one outstanding article
in the volume published in the year preceding the year of
recognition. All articles are automatically eligible for
consideration.
(e) Outstanding RAE Article. The editor(s) and
associate editors of the Review of Agricultural Economics,
with an editor as chair, shall choose a maximum of one
outstanding article in the volume published in the year
preceding the year of recognition. All articles are automatically
eligible for consideration.]
MOTION:
Christy moved to approve the above bylaw changes. Skees
seconded. Motion carried.
Christy
reminded the board that the implementation of the strategic
plan is an important and ongoing activity of the board. The
Strategic Audit Committee, appointed by Christy, and chaired
by Mark Drabenstott, was charged to review progress on the strategic
plan. Shumway will remind the committee chair to have a report
for the November board meeting.
Armbruster
asked for comments from retiring board members, Skees, Offutt,
and Christy.
The
board adjourned at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, August 1, 1998.
Having trouble seeing the menu?