Biological Society of Washington 134ThAnnual Meeting, 7 June 2007

Abstract

President Heyer called the meeting to order at 10:00 a. m. in the Waldo Schmitt Room, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. Council members and editorial staff present: Wayne Mathis (President-Elect); Stephen Cairns (Secretary); Chad Walter (Treasurer); Mike Carleton, Steve Gotte, Ashley Smythe, Cristian Thompson, Jeff Williams (Elected Council); Bruce Collette (Past-President); and Stephen Gardiner (Editor). Heyer stated that much of his time as President had been devoted to representing the Society at BioOne conferences, being involved in the dialogue concerning the Alliance Communications Group (ACG) proposal, and in appointing people to serve on committees. On behalf of the Publication Custodian Storrs Olson, Heyer reported a modest sales of back issues of the Proceedings but a respectable sale of the Gabon bulletin (Bulletin 12, published in 2006). Heyer then made a plea to the membership for a volunteer to represent the Society in the Washington Academy of Sciences as well as for someone to present a paper in a conference they are organizing in March 2008. Minutes of the 133 annual meeting, held on 14 November 2006 and published in Volume 120(1) of the Proceedings, were approved. The financial audits of the Society for years 2005 and 2006 were then reviewed and accepted. President Heyer called on Chad Walter for the Treasurer’s report. Income from the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006 was $94,158.16, and expenses for the same period were $72,632.63. Total Society assets as of April 15, 2007 were $148,607.75, up from $124,755.09 at the same time in 2006. This increase is due primarily to a 17.4% increase in the value of the Endowment Fund, which resulted from interest and gifts of about $4000. The Society subsidized nearly 22% of page charges in 2006, amounting to $8125. Waived page charges were offset by income from dues, interest, and sales of the Society’s inventory publications. The Treasurer’s report was accepted, and Wayne Mathis made a motion to thank Treasurer Chad Walter for the 12 years that he has served in this capacity. The motion was passed unanimously. Editor Stephen Gardiner reported that 2006 was a transitional year in that he started as Editor at about the time that issue 119(2) went to the printer. The transition was very smooth because of the great efforts of the former Editor, Dick Banks. Stephen extended his sincere thanks to Dick Banks for all of his help during his first months as Editor. Two Bulletins were published in 2006 entitled: