Montana Chapter of the American Statistical Association


Minutes of the 2003 Annual Meeting

September 23, 2003

Montana Tech, Butte Montana


The meeting was called to order by President Marty Hamilton.

Marty thanked Dave Patterson for his work putting together the program of talks today and Chip Todd for making the arrangements for the meeting room and food.

  1. REPORTS

    1. The web site for all chapter minutes (and other chapter related information) was announced. The minutes from last year's meeting were approved.

    2. Jon Graham is on sabbatical, Dave Patterson gave the treasurer's report. As of October 1, 2002, the Montana Chapter of the ASA checking account contained $805.59, down roughly $120 from the prior year. Between October 1, 2002 and September 22, 2003, the following transactions were made on the account:
      Beginning Balance $805.59
      Additions
      Montana ASA Membership Dues: $127.00
      Interest Earned: 2.86
      Subtotal: 129.86
      Subtractions
      Catering for 2002 chapter conference: $-152.00
      Book Award, Robert Boik: -99.95
      Subtotal: -251.95
      Ending Balance (September 22, 2003) $683.50

    3. John Borkowski gave the Chapter Representative report.

      • There are plans for a networking program for first time attendees at the national meeting in Toronto next year.
      • The institutional membership rates are increasing from $390 to $450. Individual membership rates are unchanged.
      • There are 77 ASA chapters.
      • Chapters are encouraged to create a Career Days program. There is money and support available for interested chapters.
      • There is a chapter program to bring distinguished speakers to visit.
      • There are funds to help pay for traveling courses. ASA will pay travel expenses and the chapter is expected to pay for room and meals.
      • There is a chapter officer handbook on the ASA website.
      • Council of Chapters Workshop Table discussion on creating a chapter web site.
        1. Content list of officers, annual meeting, link to ASA, recruitment (what is statistics?), local job listings (cannot be posted on ASA chapter sites).
        2. Production and Maintenance suggest ASA provide template for initial design, use of ASA logo, chapter award for best website, web master (new position?).

    4. Ombudsman Report - Steve Cherry had nothing to report.

  2. OLD TOPICS

    1. Marty discussed the ASA Chapter Service Award. Ken Tiahrt, who received the service award in a ceremony during the technical session, is the Montana Chapter's first awardee. ASA allows the chapter to give a service award every 3-4 years. The chapter executive committee served as the selection committee for the award this year.

    2. The national office of the ASA would like to send a visitor to the next chapter meeting as part of its Chapters Visitation Program.

  3. NEW TOPICS

    1. Marty encouraged chapter members to join ASA. He suggested a reevaluation of chapter membership dues. The current dues are $7.00 for regular members and $0 for students. If dues are paid through the ASA, ASA will keep $1 and $6 are sent to the chapter. After some discussion, John Borkowski moved to raise dues to $10.00 for regular members and leave student membership free, starting immediately. The motion was seconded and approved by unanimous vote.

    2. The membership decided that the secretary and treasurer functions could be combined so that one person would serve as Secretary/Treasurer.
      Steve Cherry moved to use chapter funds to pay ASA membership dues (currently $85) on behalf of the Secretary/Treasurer. This motion was seconded, initially tabled, then raised from the table, discussed and passed by unanimous vote.

    3. The chapter web site at stat/MT_ASA.html was briefly discussed. It contains links to the statistics programs at MSU, U of M, and Montana Tech. The webmaster is Jim Robison-Cox. He will take suggestions for site content and format.

  4. ELECTIONS

    1. Sherry Heis was elected to the Secretary/Treasurer position.

    2. The current Vice-President (Dave Patterson) becomes President for 2004.

    3. Susan Hinkins was elected Vice-President.

    4. John Borkowski will continue as Chapter Representative.

    5. Steve Cherry will continue as Ombudsman.


    2004 Montana Chapter of ASA Officers

    President:

    Dave Patterson, University of Montana, Missoula

    Vice President:

    Susan Hinkins, National Opinion Research Center, Bozeman

    Secretary/Treasurer:

    Sherry Heis, Montana State University, Bozeman

    Chapter Representative:

    John Borkowski, Montana State University, Bozeman

    Ombudsman:

    Steve Cherry, Montana State University, Bozeman

  5. NEXT MEETING

      The next chapter meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 28, 2004, at the Student Union Building, Montana Tech, Butte, Montana.

    The meeting was adjourned.

    Respectfully submitted,


    Sherry Heis
    Chapter Secretary