The mission of the Iowa Science
Teachers Section of the Iowa
Academy of Science is to advocate
for excellence in science education
by promoting professionalism,
influencing policy, and enhancing learning.

The mission of the Iowa Academy of Science is to further scientific research and its dissemination, education in the sciences, public understanding of science, and recognition of excellence in these endeavors.

ISTS Fall Executive Board Meeting
Saturday, January 27, 2001
Baker Hall, UNI Campus
Cedar Falls, IA

ISTS Fall Executive Board Meeting
Saturday, January 27, 2001
Baker Hall, UNI Campus
Cedar Falls, IA

Meeting called to order at 10:20 am

No secretary pro-tem was elected. The meeting was audiotaped and those tapes are available for anyone who requests copies.

Members Present: Doug Herman, President-elect; Jeff Hepburn, Past-President; Erica Larson, President; Lyn Countryman, Ex-Officio and Newsletter Editor; Peg Barbour, Treasurer; Karen Couch Breitbach, AEA 7 Regional Director; Rick Wells, AEA 9 Regional Director and Conference Exhibits Coordinator; Ernie Schiller, AEA 16 Regional Director; Bruce Frana, Earth Science Section Chair; Aaron Spurr, Webmaster and Fall Conference Registration Coordinator; David McCalley, IAS Executive Director

I. Approve the Minutes - Erica Larson

II. Treasurer's Report – Peg Barbour
Submitted. $3 788.07 as of August 2000
Jane reports -$5167 and we have -$16 000 from Peg’s records.
Registration was $30 000 from Peg’s records and $41 000 from Jane’s.
Peg and Jane are working on developing a paper record of the registrations to include the checks, credit cards etc.
Discussion of the advantage of the accounting coding system which enables us to differentiate Fall Conference monies from ISTS monies. Dave reports that IAS is working towards an audit as well.

III. Next Year's Budget – Peg Barbour
Submitted Report. Lyn Countryman moved the $900 be used for the president, president-elect, and Exhibits Coordinator for an NSTA conference per year for the purpose of working for ISTS. Delete funds from secretary, treasurer and past-president. Ernie Schiller seconded. Motion carried

Lyn moved to approve the 18 month budget as amended. Ernie seconded. Motion carried

IV. Committee Reports
A) 2000 Fall Conference – Jeff Hepburn, 2000 Fall Conference Chair
Jeff reported a profit of $8 369.18 for the 2000 conference. Thanks to all who helped!

1. Registration - Aaron Spurr
Fewer people to the preconference this year

2. Fall Conference Survey – Erica Larson
Results submitted

3. Exhibitors - Mike Zeller
Mike reported that we had 41 companies using 51 tables, and for the noncommercial there were 15 representatives with 16 tables. Exhibitors were responsible for in excess of $13 000.

4. Facilities - Kären Wignall
Jeff made a facilities report

5. Speakers - Jeff Hepburn
The conferences speakers had the following attendance
FEATURED SPEAKERS attendance
Scott Chumbley 26
Sandy Benedetto 3
Jim Hurley 62
Brian Ellis #1 59
Brian Ellis #2 36

6. Pre-Conference and Program – Jeff and Erica
110 meals order for the preconference
Advance Program - On-line Advanced Program, would it be possible to send postcards on the web?
This will not be possible at this time

7. Awards – Lyn Countryman
Corporate Friend of Science went to Pioneer
Friend of Science went to Jody Cunningham
Distinguished Service Award went to Ernie Schiller

8. Corporate Sponsors and fund-raising totals – Tom Ervin
Submitted a report

9. Bookstore – Peg Barbour
Concerned about placement of the store. Is it possible to have people preorder/ prepurchase books from our URL.
Speaker book and posters were part of the profit.

10. Section Breakfasts: Chemistry (Heather Adams), Elementary (Vicki
Oswald), Earth Science (Bruce Frana)
Attendance is down.

B) ISTS Program Committee Reports
1. Web Page - Aaron Spur
Report submitted
Server is working well. There were 5 377 distinct hosts served, 22 904 total requests for pages, and 147 925 total requests in 2000

2. PR/Newsletter/SOP – Lyn Countryman
No articles yet for the Newsletter. Would like conference and preconference presenters to submit an article as well as the section Breakfast Reports from the section chairs.

Lyn will put in a article about the switch to cards instead of an Advanced Program.

Ernie moved that we amend the budget to provide a $500 honorarium to the newsletter editor to include the current newsletter. Peg seconded. After discussion, motion carried.

Dave McCalley requested a discussion about the Iowa Science Teachers Journal
The IAS bylaws state that IAS will publish an ISTJ. There has been member requests to investigate reviving the ISTJ. IAS has the copyright for ISTJ and under Bob Harmon’s tenure it became a publication of national merit. Dave feels the time is correct to offer this service to IAS members as a place to publish. What is the value of this to this group? What would this mean to the Fall-Winter-Spring Newsletters? A printing form bid with advertisements would be a benchmark to see its viability. Karen Couch Breitbach strongly suggested maintaining SPARKS as a separate newsletter to keep its special identity. Bruce brought up the state’s mandate for action research. There should be a jury makeup for this publication as well.

3. Elections – Shannon Cde Baca

4. IAS Annual Meeting – Doug Herman and Dave McCalley
ISTS - Don Hershaw - Zoo
Invertebrates in the classroom
Technology
ESTA Award Banquet

5. Membership – Each Regional Director will report on ideas for
increasing ISTS/IAS membership at the AEA level.

V. Other discussion
1. ICE sponsorship = Iowa Coalition of Educators
Robert Shumaker - National Zoo Primatologist

2. ISTS Letter of Support for grants involved in teacher renewal and
retention.

3. ISTS Letter of Congratulations to Teacher of the Year nominees (Ernie S., Margaret S-K and Hector I. and the winner (Gail Wortman)

4. AEA Regional Director terms and replacements / Developing leadership in ISTS

5. ISTS Fall Conference 2001 Presenter Forms (check on the Website for on-line version)

6. Next important meeting dates; April 20th and 21st IAS Annual Meeting, ISTS Section Business Meeting and Executive Board Meeting (changing of the guard)

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm

Respectfully Submitted,
Sara Coleman, Secretary

ISTS EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS
Saturday, April 21, 2001
Hotel Ft. Des Moines, Des Moines, Iowa

The Meeting was opened by President Doug Herman at 3:47 pm.
Those present included: Sara Coleman - Secretary, Tony Heiting -
Department of Ed, Tom Ervin AEA 9, Ron Wilmot Akron-Westfield School, Bill
Kline - President elect, Jeff Hepburn - ex officio, Ginny Elliott - STC
Intermediate, Rick Wells - Exhibits Hall Coordinator, Erica Larson - Past President

I. Approve the Minutes - Sara Coleman
Erica moved to approve the minutes. Tom seconded. Motion passed.

II. Treasurer_s Report - Peg Barbor

Erica wants to make everyone to be aware of the fact that we are trying to keep better records. We have our own codes as ISTS, so if there are any bills approved we need to send them to Peg. She will code it and send to Jane.

Jeff made the point that if the Academy goes to a zero balance will this happen before or after the fall conference. If this is done before, we need some form of seed money to support the conference and the web master expenses.

Tom Ervin moved to accept the report
Rick Wells 2nd
Motion Carried

Fall Conference Report - Erica Larson

Erica - we are down on number of the blue mugs, consider whether we want to buy more. Fall conference presenters forms are out, but we are not getting some of the biology teachers that were not at our conference because of NABT last fall. Jeff will get some names to Erica.

Keynote Speaker - Dr Raymond E Arvidson Professor and Chair of Earth and Planetary Sciences Washington University St. Louis, MO. He will speak on Mars and the Mars Rover. Great connections to elementary through college science teaching

Several good speakers lined up

Friends of the Science Award - Jeff Hepburn Passed out forms

Facilities - Jeff Hepburn
Preconference at the Hotel Fort Des Moines
The conference will be at the Polk County convention Complex
and we will take care of the deposit
Registration - online as much as possible
Exhibits - Rick Wells
Checks are starting to come in

Corporate Fundraising - Tom Ervin
Last years Friend of Science was Pioneer and they have given money already. We have 20% of last years total already in the bank

Preconference Flyer - Postcard experiment has gone by the wayside. Looking at ways to reduce the numbers of flyers, so that the right people each get one flyer. Tony - can provide mailing labels of all the science teachers in the state and remember to get more to the elementary teachers. Erica will make personal contact with the AEAs as regards to
mailing.

NSTA District XII Meeting Galena Ill June 8- 9 Erica Larson
Leadership Meeting - Erica is willing to go.

Membership Recruitment Idea - Ernie Schiller
He has offered to host a preconference and/or a breakfast meeting to discuss the benefits of membership We will tell Ernie to pursue this.

Iowa Science and Math Coalition - Doug Herman
They would like to have our membership on their committee Meetings have conflicted in the past. Discussion of how to get communication to the president, past president, and president elect. Doug will pass on the email addresses to that organization.

Correspondence and Future meetings and dates
Tentative dates
Summer Retreat July 19 or 20th.
Sept Meeting Sept 8th

Other:
Tom lets consider other meeting sites for our meetings since the academy meeting seems to have been set in Des Moines. What about ICN?

Sara moves to adjourn
Bill 2nd
Motion passed

Meeting Adjourned 5:03 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Sara Coleman
Secretary

ISTS MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Saturday, April 21st, 2001 at 3:00 PM
Hotel Ft. Des Moines, Des Moines, Iowa

MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Meeting was opened by President Erica Larson at 3:28 pm.
Those present included: Sara Coleman - Secretary, Tony Heiting -
Department of Ed, Tom Ervin AEA 9, Ron Wilmot Akron-Westfield School, Bill
Kline - President elect, Jeff Hepburn - ex officio, Giny Elliott - STC
Intermediate, Rick Wells - Exhibits Hall Coordinator, Erica Larson - Past President

I. Approval of General Membership Meeting Minutes from April 22nd, 2000 - Sara Coleman
Motion to accept Tom Ervin 2nd Doug Herman
Motion Carried

II. Treasurers Report - Peg Barbor
Discussion of the budget, looking at ways to get the books balanced with the academy office
Report submitted
Tom Ervin moved to accept the report
Rick Wells 2nd
motion carried

III. Old Business -
Recognition of Past Officers - Erica Larson
Recognition of Jeff Hepburn - Past President and 2001 Fall Conference
Chair Recognition of Karen Couch Brietbach - ISTS Newsletter Editor

IV. New Business - Election Committee Report - Shannon Cde Bacca

Results of 2001 Election

Bill Kline - President Elect

IV. Installation of New Officers - Erica Larson The following
individuals were installed as ISTS officers
Doug Herman President
Bill Kline - President Elect and IAS Annual Meeting Section Coordinator
ISTS Directors - AEA 2 Bob Veselis (2004) AEA 9 Tom Ervin (2004) AEA 10
Terry Coleman (2004) AEA 13 Shannon Cde Bacca (2004) Newsletter Editor -
Lyn Countryman

IV Adjournment
Motion to adjourn Sara Coleman
Tom Ervin 2nd
Motion carried

Respectfully submitted,

Sara Coleman
Secretary

ISTS Summer Leadership and Planning Retreat
Saturday July, 21, 2001
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Prairie City, Iowa

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 am by President Doug Herman

Those present included: Sara Coleman – Executive Secretary , Rick Wells – Exhibits coordinator, Dave McCalley – IAS Executive Director, Heather Adams – Chem. Ed. Chair, Erica Larson – Past President, Jeff Hepburn – Ex Officio, Kathy Lockard – Elem. Teaching Chair and AEA 14, Bob Veselis – AEA 2, Bill Klein – President Elect, Kathy McKee – DOE Environmental Consultant, Tom Ervin – AEA 9 and Corporate Funding Coordinator.

I. Approval of the Executive Board Minutes – Sara Coleman
Erica moved to accept the minutes Rick seconded Motion carried

II. Treasurer’s Report – Peg Barbour
No treasurer’s report was tendered

Dave presented the ISTS journal from July 2000 through June 2001
Start the year free of debt, all the conference monies is directly applied to this year conference. ISTS was brought to a zero end of the fiscal year figure. Dave has an updated treasurers report but did not bring it. He presented figures of $5 075 current balance (this is after the deposit of the Polk County Convention Center) and the amount transferred to bring to the current balance $10 840.96

Sara asked a clarification question as to how that $10 840.96 figure was found. Dave said that the money came from the sale of the farm $50 000 was spent to bring the budget out of the red. ISTS received $10 000 plus to bring us to a zero balance.

Tom said that the $5 000 final balance came from money received from Rick as facilities and Tom as Corporate fundraiser. Jeff stated that having made money on his conference only reduced our debt. Our efforts to align with IAS accounting procedures has assisted in these figures. Tom finds that its hard that ISTS was ever indebted. Dave said that the overall balance was inflated so it will be difficult to ever know those figures.

Erica – Clarification for new people, Tom as Corporate fundraiser gets the seed money for the next conference as well as Rick selling space in the exhibit hall.

Rick – How did Lyn lose money? Erica – lower participants was the main reason. Jeff – I called in many favors to help with expenses for my conference

Dave – The board has a greater appreciation of ISTS. Recognize the ‘luster’ of ISTS. When trying to raise money for IAS, ISTS and the Junior Academy has really helped.

Discussion about price and types of keynote speakers

Erica – the report sheet from Jane is very helpful.

Jeff – one of my goals as president was to make the change in preparation for the financial situation.

III. Old Business

1. IAS Annual Meeting Report – Dave McCalley and Doug Herman

Encourage NASA speakers because they can be contracted for expenses only. The IAS annual meeting has grown each of the past three years. Hotel Fort Des Moines meetings have been in the 300 – 330 area. We are trying to get ISTS to become more involved in the Spring meeting. Would like to get more from other science educators – college, science centers etc. Would like to mount a symposium.

IAS Spring meeting is April 19 – 20, 2002 There is no known conflicts this year.
Bill asked the results of the survey on dates. Most stated they liked the current April dates. Some asked about combining ISTS and the IAS in the fall. Heather remarked that fall would be difficult for Junior Academy members. Dave said that the Junior Academy plans on a few sessions orientated towards research at the high school level. There is money available for research grants. $25 000 is available after a 5 year waiting period for grants for student research. There is other money available for Junior Academy as well.

IV. New Business

1. Report on District Meeting ISTS in Illinois – Erica Larson
NSTA Regional Director Position is available

We are region 12 with Wisconsin and Illinois. They were very intrigued with online registration. The three states want to do more sharing. At this meeting the NSTA Region XII Statement of Collaboration of State Groups was prepared. I would like this group to take action on this.

Erica – I propose to have a NSTA communication position attached to a current position.
Sara – the current structure of the secretary position could easily absorb that position
Erica – I move that we accept the NSTA Region XII Statement (with corrections) document attached
Bob – second Motion carried
Erica – I move the secretary be the designated contact person with support from Erica for a one year trial basis.
Bill – seconded Motion carried

2. Report on CAG’s Meeting NSTA in Colorado Springs, CO – Erica Larson

Went to the business meeting. The NSTA executive board was there having their summer meeting. Summer congress made resolutions and had one day of business meeting. The rest of the time was spent on leadership type activities.

The body proposed and passed items having to do with the characteristics of good science teaching

3. Fall Conference Update – Erica Larson, Jeff Hepburn, Rick Wells, Tom Ervin
Conference Chair – Erica Larson
Advance programs are out!

Facilities – Jeff Hepburn
Everything is progressing well and on track

Dave – last year we gave the Junior Academy members overflow meals (meals paid for by the Section to get a price break for the room) Will that continue for this year? Larry needs to give numbers of student coming for lunch. The academy will pay if necessary

Exhibit Hall Coordinator – Rick Wells
Will do the exhibitors check off
Has confirmation postcards
28 exhibitors so far, of the 28, 9 are non commercial Collected $6955 with $985 pending so far
45 tables and 10 commercial workshops so far
Jeff – any comments from last year?
Rick – the only negative comment was the size of the exhibit booth
Jeff – foyer space is very expensive so we should get every one inside
Dave – Can we not intermix the commercial and non – commercial?
Tom – but plum spots paid plum money
Erica – Can survey to see how the exhibitor feel.
Jeff – NASCO will not be able to come, wants 2002 date

Corporate Funding – Tom Ervin
Usual format. Pioneer and Rockwell has donated already

4. Information from the IAS Board Meeting from July 7th – Dave McCalley

Dave has tendered his resignation to the Academy effective June 30, 2002. Current president has been working with UNI as far as office facilities are concerned. Dave will be meeting with the Dean to continue its good relationship with UNI. The university shares the cost of an executive director. The executive director search should be able to come from any where within the state. The universities real support is _ of the executive salary. Dave suggests we look at emeritus people as possibilities.

Dave – we sold the farm for $650 000. Some of the funds went to lawyers and closing costs. Investing in a CD allowed to recoup the $7000 costs. Finance committee decided to invested in a protected account. Not touching the principal. Not going to touch the money for one year. Hope to draw on the gains. However, that means that the farm dollars are not available. The earnings are available, but we hope not to touch it. I tell you this because I want to reiterate that the Academy is trying to be as responsible as we can.

Erica – How is the fund raising going? Dave – there are two main funds, one at about $5000, the other around $7000. We have received less than $2000 in individual gifts over the last two years.

Dave – please consider bring the ISTS journal back. (a refereed journal) I have had several people ask about why it is not being done. The ISTS newsletter is costing about $8 000 a year. A bid has been put out to do the newsletter at $1800 - $2 000 per issue. Perhaps combining elements of the newsletter and the journal. I am seeking funding for a 5 year period. Looking at selling ads and trying to become self sufficient within that 5 year period. Tom – Was Carl Bolwinkle the last editor? Dave – Yes Tom – There are many professional organizations are going to online, are we looking back rather than forward?
Dave – there is some considerations for going this direction. A negative, no hard copy for libraries. Erica – at a conference from a few weeks ago. Illinois is the only other state with a journal. About half have ads in their newsletters. Tom – There are many avenues to publish. NSTA, Teaching journals. Do we need a resurrected journal? Doug – it is difficult to get into larger journals. Dave – surveys have come back with that teachers should have a place to publish. Tom – Is there a reason that people cannot submit to the newsletter? Dave – just sharing ideas the newsletter should be fine. Bill – is the intent to bring more teachers to see a relationship with the academy Heather -- when gaining membership is there a possibility choice of journals? Support a journal that is specific for people who teach science. Dave – The comment he has heard is that the Journal of the IAS doesn’t fill my needs. Can we have something else? The board is looking at possibilities.

Dave – We have established a committee for the Stan Weinberg Memorial Fund. Stan Weinberg was the head of the Social Issues Committee during the 1970’s during the creationist heyday. Developed a committee to defend science teachers. There are several members on the committee. Abe Epstein, John Patterson, and Paul Bartel

V. Committee Reports

1. Membership

Erica – Why do we have our own membership committee?
Dave – It is important to have an ISTS member on the IAS membership committee.
Erica – Doug this will be your charge to get a Regional Director to chair and the other ex offico members
Bill – How many come to the conference that are not members?
Dave – many. If you make a high difference between member and non member you will lose attendance
Bob – it is hard for regular teachers to see a real benefit to membership. Also, in the registration packet include something tangible for Academy membership
Heather – We talked in the Chem. Ed. about having some sort of journal to share ideas, this would be a benefit
Erica – how do we use the power we have to bridge our teaching section with the academy meeting. One thing we could do is advertise during our conference
Sara – this could be a charge to our membership committee to set up

Discussion of different strategies: professional video of the conference, membership information at the luncheon plates (tent signs)

2. Elections – Review of positions to be filed for the next year

President –Elect and Secretary are available for election

3. Awards and Recognition Committee – Jeff Hepburn
Still seeking nominations, but time is short
Erica – Is there a pool of nominees for the awards? Jeff – no

4. Spring Program Committee – Bill Klein, Chair
Discussion on the history of what had been done previously: assessment, portfolio assessment, science teaching and evolution, and the use of technology

Discussion of possible topics for spring program: Facilitation of student research, science literacy

5. Newsletter Report
no report tendered

Articles from the leadership are always welcome

6. Other committees

VI. Planning for the future

1. Possible study committee to look at terms of office for President and Vice President
Doug – In other states the terms of president and vice president are longer, is this something we can consider?
Sara – historical perspective that the strategic plan from about four years ago discussed this issue where we were looking at the intertwined presidency and conference chair.
Dave – I would like to put this issue back on the table
Erica – you could appoint an adhoc committee to study the issue

2. Any other ideas/issues members wish to put forth
Erica – Announcement: has sent three letters of support for different grants as a representative of ISTS

Erica – Thursday evening October 18th we are invited to an awards ceremony Food and Agricultural Society

Kathy – ICE meeting Dues are $200 to join and $50 a year. Do we want to join?
Erica – Last September we got stuck knowing if we can join another group as a section of the Academy. We will draft a letter and talk to Dave. Look to going to the next Academy Board meeting

Next Executive Meeting September 8, 2001 Ox Yolk Inn Amana on Interstate 80
Motion to adjourn Heather
Bob -- second
Motion carried

Meeting adjourned at 3:14 pm