Spring EXCOM Meeting
February 11, 2005
Virginia Beach, Virginia
President Larry Connor called the EXCOM Meeting to order at 0815. Secretary/Treasurer Vic DiCenzo determined there was a quorum present. Fred Jannsen (TX) was an official proxy for Dave Terre and Mallory Martin (NC) for Duane Harrell. President Connor recognized Past President Steve Filipek as well as AFS President Barb Knuth and AFS Executive Director Gus Rassam.
President Connor introduced the other Southern Division officers: Pat Mazik, President-Elect, Bob Curry, Vice President, Vic DiCenzo, Secretary/Treasurer, and Steve Filipek, Past President.
AFS Executive Director’s Remarks: Gus Rassam began by thanking the SDAFS for inviting him to attend their Spring Meeting. Gus then stated that AFS is trying to be more relevant to Chapters and sections. What are the Chapters and Sections missing that the Parent Society can provide, particularly with respect to local advocacy and conservation efforts. The Parent Society would like to find a vehicle for information transfer that gives Chapter members a reason to join AFS. Gus mentioned that AFS membership has leveled off at about 9,000 members. A survey of lapse members indicated that one reason for maintaining membership in AFS is that it is not relevant at the local level. AFS has new membership initiatives such as the young professional to try and maintain members as soon as they get out of school. Gus also mentioned that AFS recently completed a Fisheries Science Review for the Inland Fisheries Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and wants other agencies to know about that type of opportunity.
AFS President’s Remarks: Barb Knuth also thanked the SDAFS for inviting her to the 2005 Spring Meeting and giving her the opportunity to speak at the EXCOM meeting. Barb encouraged SDAFS Chapters to use Fisheries to list activities and share with other Chapters. The AFS is looking at the possibility of holding a joint meeting with The Wildlife Society on special/shared topics, similar to what the SDAFS is doing at the Southeastern Meeting now. The AFS has also been active at addressing concerns from Sections on policy initiatives. The member survey conducted in the fall of 2004 is currently being analyzed and results will be discussed at the Governing Board Meeting in Anchorage.
Helmsbriscoe: Helmsbriscoe, the nation’s largest meeting organizer, conducted a presentation on services they can provide to AFS on hosting large conferences.
President’s Report: Larry Connor reminded everyone about the International Membership Initiative where individuals from developing countries could join AFS for a reduced rate ($5 without Fisheries, $25 with Fisheries). The officers elected not to establish an ad hoc fish health committee at this time, thinking that many of the issues are being handled within current technical committees (eg., parasitic copepod in striped bass committee). Also, many of the fish chiefs indicated that it was getting fiscally difficult to send all committee members to meetings and didn’t see the need for another one. Finally, Larry mentioned that the SDAFS now has a conference call account and that would be available to any technical committees if needed.
President-Elect’s Report: Pat Mazik reminded everyone that SEAFWA Proceedings will not be out in 0ne year (the next meeting) and that the new Guide for Authors will be in the back of each issue (it resembles the Guide for AFS journals). Interdisciplinary symposia (to take advantage of the many different disciplines all in one place) will be at future SEAFWA meetings. Another change to the SEAFWA meeting is that presentations in special sessions do not have to be published. Directors are giving each host state more flexibility in designing a program to meet the needs of the attendees. Pat will write letters to division chiefs asking for workshop ideas. Finally, students will begin to be included in the manuscript review process which will provide them experience in that phase.
Vice President’s Report: Bob Curry said that the bylaws have been amended to allow for electronic voting. The SDAFS Procedures Manual has been updated and will be available on the web page. Amendments to the Procedures Manual will likely occur in the future. Bob was also involved in the Management Committee of the Parent Society and attended several Chapter’s annual meeting.
Past Presidents Report: Steve Filipek mentioned the deadline for the Hutton Scholarship.
Secretary/Treasurer’s Report: Vic DiCenzo asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the EXCOM meeting in Hilton Head. Fred Heitman made the motion which was seconded by Dave Rizzuto. The motion was approved without discussion. Vic DiCenzo indicated his report would stand as printed in the Briefing Book. The balance of the SDAFS account on December 31, 2004 was $23,124.37. Vic has completed the IRS tax return for 2004.
Resolutions Committee: Dennis Riecke had two resolutions. The first, entitled “Resolution for the establishment and development of comprehensive safety training programs for fisheries personnel” was approved after a motion by Fred Heitman and a second by Steve Filipek. The second resolution was entitled “Resolution protecting the nationally significant aquatic natural resources of the lower Mississippi River ecosystem” and is basically a resolution to provide the funding that has been approved but never appropriated. Several minor changes to the language of the resolution and a motion to approve was made by Fred Heitman and seconded by Pat Mazik. The motion was approved.
Trout Committee: The Trout Committee has rewritten its Procedures dealing with quorum. All committees will have the chance to go through their procedures so that it will all be ready for the next version of the Manual. Bob Curry will alert all Technical Committees.
Chapter Reports:
Alabama – None given.
Arkansas – Annual meeting with The Wildlife Society and the Society of American Foresters.
Auburn University – Report stands. Developed a Hutton Scholarship Ready Kit.
Florida – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. The Chapter celebrated its 25th Anniversary at this years meeting. A statewide student subunit was formed. Larry Connor added that an additional $15,000 to the endowment fund to cover the cost of scholarships.
Georgia – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Kentucky – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Louisiana – None given
Mississippi – None given. Last year the Chapter celebrated its 30th anniversary and at that meeting, two Hutton students presented at the meeting and won best presentation. Currently working with Louisiana to hold a joint meeting in 2006 with emphasis on the Lower Mississippi River.
North Carolina – Report stands as in the Briefing Book. A total of 84 members were at the annual meeting. The Chapter approved $5,000 in support of the Hutton fund and the NC State Student Subunit will serve as mentors..
Oklahoma – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. Last years SDAFS Spring meeting was financially successful.
Potomac – None given.
South Carolina – None given.
Tennessee – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. The TN Chapter is hosting the 2007 SDAFS Spring Meeting in Memphis and bidding on the 2009 Parent Society meeting in Nashville.
Texas – None given. At the annual meeting at the BassPro Shops in Grapevine, the Chapter hosted a largemouth bass management symposium. Three $1500 scholarships were awarded. The Chapter is hosting the 2006 SDAFS Spring Meeting, the 2008 SEAFWA and bidding on the 2009 AFS Meeting. The Pond Management Manual has been updated and is available for download on the SDAFS and Texas Chapters websites.
Texas A&M – None given.
Tidewater – None given. Sponsored a Marine symposium at this years Spring Meeting.
Virginia – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Virginia Tech – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
West Virginia – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. Pat Mazik mentioned that the Chapter is working on a web page and will be hosting the 2008 SDAFS Spring Meeting.
Standing Committees:
Audit Committee Report – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Awards - Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Mail Ballot - Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. Fred Heitman (TN) was elected as Vice President and Greg Summers as the Secretary-Treasurer.
Membership – None given.
Nominating – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Program – Report stands as added to the Briefing Book.
Student Affairs - Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. Stuart mentioned that the committee worked on providing student lodging at the SDAFS Spring meeting for 65 students and have 60 students involved in the student-mentor luncheon. A new selection process is in the works to choose hosts for the Student Colloquium.
Ad Hoc Committees:
Catfish Management – None given. The committee meeting on Thursday was very well attended and new projects are being discussed. The committee also sponsored a catfish ageing workshop at this meeting.
Marine Resources – None given. Larry recommended to Pat that the ad hoc committee not be renewed given the lack of interest the past two years. Some marine scientists have indicated that it is probably too general to be effective.
Technical Committees:
Aquaculture – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. The committee is thinking about sponsoring a symposium at next year’s SDAFS Spring Meeting. Also, the committee developed a draft BMP plan for effluent at fish production facilities.
Instream Flow - Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Nongame Aquatics - Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Pollution – None given.
Reservoir - Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. Approximately 30 people attended the committee meeting on Thursday. The committee has also begun plans for the 4th Reservoir Symposium, perhaps in Atlanta in 2007. The focus will be ecosystem/basin wide management rather than single reservoir/species.
Small Impoundments – The committee is sponsoring a workshop in 2007 to assist students and young professionals with small impoundment management. Extension people will also be invited.
Striped Bass – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book.
Trout – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. The trout committee is hosting the next East Coast trout workshop in Lock Haven, PA in 2005. There is also a subcommittee working on getting the MICROFISH program in a Windows-based format.
Warmwater Streams – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. The Extended Abstracts from the symposium in Oklahoma City in 2004 are available on the web site. The new Chair is Frank Fiss and the new Secretary-Treasurer is Kin Hodges. The Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Unit is now in charge of video distribution.
Appointed and Elected Positions:
AFS Nominating Committee Representative – Don Jackson (MS) and Don Orth (VA) have been put forth as candidates for AFS 2nd Vice President.
Continuing Education – Bill Fisher (OK) is the SDAFS liaison
Newsletter Editor – Virginia Tech Chapter is still producing the newsletter which is now predominantly electronic..
SEAFWA Proceedings, Fisheries Editor – Report stands as presented in the Briefing Book. A new guide for authors has been written.
SEAFWA Director’s Liaison – Mike Van Den Avyle will be stepping down as the liaison.
Watson Award Committee Representative – This is the final year for Ben Jaco.
Webmaster – The abstract submittal process is good but will be re-designed for next year.
New Business:
Bob Curry mentioned that the strategic plan for AFS is done and on the web page. He encouraged units to follow it and use it as a guide.
Bob Curry moved and Dave Rizzuto seconded to adjourn the EXCOM meeting and the motion carried. President Conner adjourned the meeting at 1105.