PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2005 ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING

Abstract

The meeting of the Outgoing Council of the Paleontological Society (PS) was called to order by President David J. Bottjer at 5:05 p.m. on 15 October 2005, in the Ken Knight Boardroom of the Salt Palace Convention Center. Council members William I. Ausich, Derek E. G. Briggs, Mark E. Patzkowsky, Roger D. K. Thomas, Anne L. Raymond, Lisa E. Park, Jonathan M. Adrain, Tomasz K. Baumiller, Mark A. Wilson, Michael A. Gibson and Elizabeth A. Heise were present. Susan H. Butts, newly elected Editor of Special Publications, was also present. President Bottjer presented his report. He thanked Derek Briggs for hosting the Council's midyear meeting, held in conjunction with a fine symposium in honor of Adolf Seilacher's 80th birthday, at Yale University. The North American Paleontological Convention, convened in Halifax, Nova Scotia, had been very successful. Credit for the program, warm hospitality, and exciting field trips was due to the organizer, Dave Scott. The National Science Foundation had agreed to fund a proposal submitted by the Society to hold a workshop on Future Directions in Paleontology. This will follow the Council's midyear meeting, at the Smithsonian Institution, in April. Members of the Council were invited to participate. President Bottjer observed that the main theme of the Council's activities was still the transition from a business model focused on providing paper journals to members and institutions in return for their subscriptions, to one that will rely mainly on electronic publishing. BioOne is providing increasing income; more should come next year from GeoScience World. In the future, the Society will have to find new ways to attract members to support its publishing and other programs. Automatic receipt of the Journal of Paleontology will not serve this purpose much longer. The Society will probably move to a membership model that includes electronic subscriptions …