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.

Executive Board Meeting
January 18

Executive Board Meeting
April 30

Executive Board Meeting
September 17

ISTS Executive Board Meeting
January 18, 2005
ICN

Those present included:

Jeff Weld – President
Sara Coleman – Executive Secretary
Barb Jacobson – Exhibitors
Tom Ervin – AEA 9
Aaron Spurr – Web Master and Registration
Jeanne Rogis – Treasurer
Ernie Schiller – Past President
Rick Wells
Marcy Seavy – IAS
Craig Johnson – Executive Director IAS
Kathy Lockhard – AEA 14
Traci Maxted – AEA 10
Birgitta Mead – AEA 1

President Jeff Weld called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm

Minutes are approved as posted.

• Retrospective on ISTS '04 - Jeff Weld
• "In the black" kind of…around $4,000

Craig - appt $40,700 for expenses with $44,000 taken in but ISTS is still in the red for other expenses so still about $7,000 in the red

Jeanne Rogis - Treasurer - Called NSTA on the books but they had not calculated the invoice as of yet. Budget figures for 2004 cannot be finalized until remaining bills and refunds are submitted to ISTS treasurer.

• Survey feedback Jeff shared survey results

• Publicity & attendance - Jeff - looks for ways to increase attendance and membership

Ernie - did not send out the pre conference flyer, saved several thousand dollars, Aaron should put a tag on the web site to remind that this will not be done.  Email and electronic communication can get the word out about the conference.

• ISTS Leadership Position updates:
• Consider an apprentice
• Secretary - term ends in April
• Newsletter - Nadine W. is taking that on.
• Elem. Tchr Section Chair; Earth Sci Section Chair; Chem Ed Section Chair; Regional Director for AEA 267, AEA 11, AEA 13; Facilities Coordinator  

At this point looking at Bob Vesalis for AEA 267, Lynne Campbell for AEA 11 and Elementary Section chair  Still looking for AEA 13

Jeff - so we want to revitalize the three section chairs or do we let it go?  I want to get information from those who are committed to the idea of section chairs. 

       5)  Planning for '05…

• Format changes - Jeff - we are not convinced that we need so much going on in each timeslot, people are frustrated by the choices they have to make.  One idea is that there would be only one keynote and the rest sessions.   . 
• Featured Speaker - have a yes, any other ideas?
• Exhibit Hall time Some way to give the exhibitors exclusive time with attendees
• Staff challenge - keep those communications channels open

• Journal update - Mike

• Sara Coleman: Statewide Staff Development Day

Information has been gathered on 18 organizations, a letter is scheduled to go out by the end of February with ISTS interest in spearheading a statewide staff development day

• Fall Conference - October 19th and 20th, 2005 at the Polk County Convention Center and the Hotel Fort Des Moines

6)  April meeting will be one of those weekends

7)  Adjourn 8:00 pm

Iowa Science Teacher's Section
Iowa Academy of Science
Executive Board Meeting
Perfect Blend Coffee House, Mt. Vernon
April 30, 2005

I. Present:  Jeff Weld – President, Mike Clough – Incoming President; Tom Ervin – AEA 9

Kathy Lockhard – AEA 14 , Barb Jacobsen – Conference Exhibitors, Nadine Weirather --  AEA 16, Gale Vermeulen – AEA 15, Ernest Schiller – Past President, Traci Maxted – AEA 10,  Joan Moorhead – Elem. Section Chair, Aaron Spurr – Webmaster, Conference Registration, Jeanne Rogis – Treasurer, Tony Heiting – Department of Education, Lynne Campbell – AEA 11, Bob Veselis – AEA 1

II. President Jeff Weld called the meeting to order at 8:35 am

III. Minutes approved as presented on-line.

IV.  Treasurer's information – Jeanne

Presented information from the Iowa Academy of Science Office

The NSTA books from the book sale at the conference has not been placed into the conference balance.  So there is no balance for the conference at this point.

V.  General Business

Staff development day update, Sara C.

Still working on contact list.  Plan to have letters out by Sept. and work with the Department of Ed. then the Education Committee of the Iowa Legislature. There is still money for teachers to go to professional development in Title 2.  Need to be more proactive to go get that money. 

Journal developments, Mike C.

Went before the IAS board has budgeted $5 100 for this effort.  First few issues will be available free to everyone to generate interest.  An editor has volunteered. Links to every issue.  First issues directed to elementary teachers.  Others to the other levels as well.  Eventully a password system will be implemented for members (recognizing that some will give out their passwords, but that is okay if it increases readership)  Reviewers list was passed, please pass along names (or volunteer) to Mike. Looking for the activity setting the stage for student learning, looking at all elements of good instruction: wait time, questions to ask, how to deal with incorrect responses, etc.

Discussion about Aaron (the web guy) being able to set up, links, password protect, and posting of articles. A different look for the journal part is possible.

Ability to use the “peer review”  label for college level as well as the Iowa Teaching Standards.

Disclaimer for possible problems/ liability.

If you know someone who could present some good articles (quickly for the first two issues) let Mike know.

Reg. Director notebook, Tom E.

Passed out new notebooks.  THANKS TOM!!!!!

Budget tightening strategies, Jeff (stipend)

Stipend discussion.  Joan is getting compensation from Title 2 in her district.

Ernie – this is not designed to make science teachers wealthy.  Be very cautious about doing away with this.

Tom – we are talking about Fall Conference compensation, tiny amount compared with the time.

Newsletter—Nadine

Will put out a letter now, next September before the conference.  Looking for articles, esp. from the new President, officers.

Number of announcements increasing, which is good.

C. 2005 Conference development:

Name Tags – Aaron  Going to go with one color and place the year above.  This will save lots of dollars

Publicizing efforts so far—Jeff (past presenters, AEA’s, Legislators. Again in May)

Theme—Jeff (cover)

Standing on the Shoulder’s of Giants

Possible Giants of Science Education in the State of Iowa for the cover

Awards - Discussed possible award winners

Speakers—Jeff

Facilities—Jeff

Good to go

Exhibitors—Barb

Trying to get contracts sign, working with email as Craig needs to sign as IAS rep.

Added perks: luncheon tables up front, website link from ISTS website

Corporate Sponsors

TO DO: Surveys, Pres. Reception, Section Breakfasts, Presenters, & ???

Other:

Stepping up to the plate, Jeff

Sara Coleman volunteers for Chemical Education Section Chair.

We have unopposed candidates for all offices.

Need to have a nominating committee for identification and recruitment of candidates.

Next Meetings… late July, late September, and then Conference day!  Jeff

Passing the Gavel – Presentation of the new president, Michael Clough

Meeting adjourned  11:12 am

Respectfully submitted,

Sara Coleman
Secretary

Iowa Science Teachers Meeting

September 17, 2005

Lynne Campbell – has volunteered to be the Elementary section chair – She will need to be  installed at the elementary breakfast. She should nominate herself and have the members present vote for her.

8:45 call to order

Members present: Jeff Weld, Traci Maxted, Barb Jacobsen, Gale Vermeulen, Jeanne Rogis, Mike Clough, Aaron Spurr, Marcy Seavey, Tom Ervin, Kathy Lockard, Rick Wells, and Lyn Countryman. Lynne Campbell joined us later.

Reviewed and approved the minutes of the last meeting.  Tom moved and Mike seconded the motion to approve the minutes.

Action items

The journal is coming out soon and will be posted on the website. Five issues will be published per year. It looks like a professional journal. Joe has spent a lot of time on perfecting it. The editorial is copyright of the Iowa Academy of Science. The first two issues are free. After that only members will receive the journal. An email will be coming soon to ask people to write articles for the journal. A presentation will also be made at the conference. All regional directors should point teachers to the url. Mike will also be contacting AEA science directors to ask them to go to the website and promote it widely. Each journal will have two articles for elementary and 3 for secondary. The ISTS website under plate survey will ask, “What are your impressions of the journal so far? Would you consider contributing to it?” In the conference program will be an extra page promoting the journal. Joe will send ideas to Lyn for articles as well as encouragement to write for the journal. Mike will send his editorial and an update for the conference to Lyn. In every article the teachers role is made clear. Questions that teachers should ask are included and ways to respond to student responses. Good teaching doesn’t just happen. Science doesn’t teach itself. Mike does the primary role of looking at articles and tweaking them to make sure the teacher’s role is clear.  He then sends them back to the authors to make sure the changes are ok. Therefore, there is a heavy editorial hand to show the teachers’ role. The teacher’s role is made explicit. It was suggested that grad students should also be invited to submit articles.

Congratulations to Mike. Fantastic work.

Jeff – conference

1) Promotion and Registration. An electronic postcard and newsletter have been sent. An October postcard will be sent instructing science teachers to see the advance program on line. Free space will be given in the SAI publication. All should encourage teachers to attend. An ad will be placed in the Des Moines Register. It was asked where it will be located. Jeff is not sure where it will be. We do not pay for the ad. It will be just a blurb of local news in the metro area. Jeff is to let Marcy know what day they run it so she can get a copy.

Aaron – registration and revenue

86 are registered so far. This is ahead of last year when we had 40. There have been no mail in registrations which is behind from last year. In the past we had several by now. Aaron is worried that they will not come in time. There has been a change this year on name badges. They will not be preprinted in color. 2000 sheets of perforated cardstock were purchased.  We will save $350 over three years. If participants order a vegetarian lunch ticket, it will be printed on the name badge and they can give the ticket right to the server. 9 business cards will also be printed with participants info printed on them. These can be handed out to people. All Aaron has to do is hit input when participants have registered on line and the computer inputs all the info. Aaron doesn’t have to handle credit card numbers. Things are stored on the UNI server. This takes ½ the time to do as in the past. This program is on line now. Not many presenters have registered yet. It was noted that the name badge had last year’s theme “Diversity in Science Education.” “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” is this year’s theme. It was noted that the 86 registered is in addition to presenters since few have registered. It will take 300-350 participants to break even.

Jeff needs to tell the Convention Center to do put up the booths for Wednesday & Thursday. They will also supply 3 or 4 workers to help hand out programs, etc. There have also been one or two volunteers in the past. The Convention Center gets the names of retired volunteers to help. No help is needed behind the registration counter. Aaron’s wife will help too. Aaron does need 2 more people for about 1 hour to hand out name badges. The staff registration desk is open 7:30-9:00 on Thursday. Jeff will ask Bob Veselis and Leslie Moore to help. Mike could also get some of his students to come. Others could be pulled out of the breakfast sessions if more help is needed. Breakfasts are advertised to begin at 7:45. Chairs are empowered to gather folks to attend the breakfasts. All need to get registered. Rick stated that when he went to register on his Apple computer a message stated that it will be insecure in transit. Aaron says this is wrong.

Marcy stated the Academy is talking about purchasing lanyards in navy or royal blue which say Iowa Academy of Science. Do we want to purchase some. The cost is $1.17 each. They would be used to hang the name tag from. They could also be sold at the bookstore. Each has both a ring and hook. IAS are going to give them away at the spring meeting. Do we want to order some and sell them for $2.00? They could be added to on line registration. Aaron stated this would be hard to do since some have already registered. The general view was we don’t want to spend money for them unless we can make it back. Do we want to sell them at the bookstore? Marcy also stated they could buy them and we could buy some of the leftovers for next year. Mike made a motion to buy 200 and sell them in the bookstore for $2.00. Tom seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous against the motion. The motion did not pass.

It was discussed about giving away shirts at the conference for those who become members at the conference. Many register on line and become a member at the same time. The shirts cost us $8. The free journal and t-shirt idea are proposed to get our membership up. What about reducing the cost of the t-shirt? We could have a one time special - today only. Shirts can be purchased for half price if you are a member. Jeanne would have a list to check at the bookstore. New members can show their receipt. Mike will make an announcement at the lunch – “Today is the day to join – all members get the journal and a shirt for $10.” Jeff will order more shirts– # of shirts for male and female.  Kathy McKee purchased shirts for the presidential award. The fit was better. Jeff will check on the possibility of getting different shirts.

2) Lyn Program - Lyn asked how many programs to print. 500 were made last year. Rick wants 50. The IAS office would like 5. The cost last year was under $500.  There will be no color this year so the programs will be cheaper. It was decided to print 600. Tom was asked to circle mistakes for Lyn. Lynne Campbell would like to change the description of her session. She is to get the changes to Lyn by Monday. She is at the end of the rope. Craig needs to approve everything with academy name on it. Lyn will send a copy of the program on to Craig to review by Monday.

Lyn needed information about the president’s reception. Will there be a ribbon cutting? Ernie brings the scissors. A microphone will be set up. Lyn can use last year’s write up and change the date. It was asked if we should start earlier.  Light refreshments will be served and two tickets will be given to each attendee to receive a drink of choice. The reception will be from 6:30-8:00. Guests must have their badge to show they have paid or $5.00 will be collected. This committee should meet at Checkers for supper after the reception.

Gale will write a short paragraph about being president elect. Lyn wil use her picture from the web.

A 5th session has been added. Times are a little different from last year. Morning times are the same. It is only the afternoon that is different. 1:30-2:00 has been left open so participants can visit vendors at the exhibit hall.

4) Exhibitors - Barb stated that there has been a flurry of activity lately as forms have been going out via email. Several came in just recently. She must finalize the exhibit hall set-up two weeks ahead of the conference. Last year she set 2 tables at the last minute. She has 19 commercial exhibitors and 18 non-commercial now.  Lyn needs to know info from PEPCO. Barb did not send addresses. She has them and will send the information to Lyn. Next year she will add to the distributers’ sheet to ask them to send a digital logo. Lyn couldn’t pull all of the logos off the web.

7) Award winners - Sara Coleman distinguished service award. Others - Schiller girls, Travis Benner, Jeff Hepburn, Daniel Spady (?Did I get these names right?). Tom is working on plaques for every one. He will be on the podium to honor Foss. He will also give out Sara’s award.

Special guests? Anything else on the program? There is really not time to get anything more in.

6) Corporate Sponsors - $2800 has been given to date. Some sponsors gave a little less than in the past. Some have continued at the old rate. Space Grants and Scope Shoppe give checks for the president’s reception, etc. From now on Rick will encourage them to give to the president so they can be included on the front page of the program. (Barb has two exhibitors giving $100 to presidents’ reception.) Rick gave a handout of the letter sent to Marcy with the amounts given. On the back of the page was a list of contacts he has made. Many have been dead-ins. Rick sends a letter and the previous year’s program to each. It was suggested to go directly to one of the Iowa plants for John Deere. Pella Windows might be a new company to contact. Contact _____ Banzanti (I didn’t get this name.) Iowa math and science coalition said they would give money last year so they were included on the program but didn’t give any money. This was pointed out in this year’s letter and they still haven’t given anything. Scope Shoppe will be giving away a camera for a microscope this year. They have always provided the keg and given a microscope or other equipment. All recipients of door prizes should be encouraged to write thank you notes when prizes are received. Business cards for the companies can be found in the back of the program.

Lodging -16 rooms have been reserved - 1 presidential room for Mike and 15 doubles.  Jeff can call within 48 hours in advance of the conference to manipulate the rooms.  He will ask Bob Yeager if he wants a room. It was suggested that an invitation be sent to the Des Moines schools to invite them to come to the president’s reception even if they cannot attend the conference. The reception is free if they are a member and registered for the conference. Others will pay $5.00. Participants receive drinks and snacks and have the opportunity to visit with the exhibitors.

Book store - Jeanne stated that even though the NSTA bill was not paid from last year they will still allow her to order. Marcie stated that the check has gone out. There are some interesting new titles in the catalog but they will not be available until October. Jeanne sent the catalog around for members to look through to see if there is anything they feel she should order. Jeff asked Marcy if he remembered correctly that he could not  put  his book in the bookstore. Marcy said it was fine to put it in the bookstore and that they will talk. Tom will help set the bookstore up before Jeanne can get there. There is a need for volunteers to help in the bookstore. Bob Veselis will be asked. Mike will also ask students to help set up on Wednesday night. The use of credit cards was discussed. Marcy will write out a format for their use and print copies to have at the bookstore. Jeanne will send out a list of time slots for volunteers to sign up to work.

Tom - award plaques – Tom’s new title is “Awards Coordinator.” Two friends of science will be given. The individual award is to Dr. Charles Drew. Scope Shoppe will receive the corporate award. Mike Schlinder will accept the award for Scope Shoppe. The distinguished service award will go to Sara Coleman. Plaques will be given to Gayle as the president elect, to Jeff  as the conference chair, and to Kathy as the new secretary. A lifetime distinguished  service award will be given to Dr. Robert E. Yeager. Mike, Tom and Jeff will work out a schedule. Time will also be used to recognize individual chairs, regional directors, etc. Jeff will do this. Tom will take pictures during the day and put them on a disk. They will be sent to Jeff, Mike and Aaron. They will also be put on the website. Mike can use them next year.

The President’s Reception will be from 6:30-8:00. Otherwise everything will be an identical format to last year. A keg, other drinks and snacks will be available. Ernie will do the decorations and work on coordinating the colors. Jeff is working with Marquees to set up AV equipment. Every room has an overhead. Marcy will bring an extra lcd projector and will have a lap top if anyone needs one at the last minute. Jeff will bring extension cords. These are in a big trunk box (supplies box). Ernie has it. After the reception leadership folks should gather at Checkers. Jeanne expressed a concern about the money box. It could be given to Mike after the reception or locked in a room on the first floor.

Ginger will keep a closer eye on the snacks and luncheon food than she did last year. Last year the staffers were not always available. A purse was stolen last year by one of the caterers. Four years earlier things were taken from under the tables in the exhibit hall. Jeff will talk to security about these incidents.

Breakfast - Sara will attend the chemistry breakfast. Lynne will lead the elementary group. There is no biology section but Jeff can have breakfast with them if they come. Tom will do the earth science breakfast and will help them to identify a chair.

Luncheon agenda – Tom is doing the under plate survey. Mike and Jeff  will do the agenda.

Three legislature representatives will be attending. Tracey will meet Carmine and escort her around. This will have a great impact on the state legislature if we have a great turn out. Aaron will print them name badges. They should meet at the registration table.

Raffle event – Barb ran this last year with lots of help. She is empowered to tell others to help and delegate the duties. This will occur at 4:00. Rick will read the names of the corporate sponsors before the luncheon.

Clean up - all should hang out until all is cleaned up. There will be a post conference meeting to debrief right after the raffle.

It was asked about having tables reserved in the front for the exhibitors to eat. Rick will ask exhibitors to stand. Mike and all who are on stage should sit at the front. Jeff will reserve tables for the regional directors, officers, etc. Only the front row of tables will be reserved so there are not a lot of empty tables.

Yeager will stay on time for his presentation. Jeff will communicate the amount of time he should speak. All should be there Wednesday at 6:30 for sure. Mike and Jeff will be there all day.

Marcy discussed the fall mailing. There will be a sheet asking all to nominate people to be fellows. Nominees should be members for 5 years or more and should be stellar leaders. Teachers have not been overly represented in the past. Marcy would like there to be more. Anyone can also go to the web site any time for the nomination sheet. A paper nomination will come out in the fall mailing

Mike stated that next year’s regional NSTA meeting will be held  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the exact same time as our ISTS conference. It is in Omaha. Districts are clamping down on professional leave. How will these two facts impact us? Tom has a survey for under the plate. Should we address this overlap on the survey at the luncheon? “NSTA is in Omaha next year. Will you come to ISTS?” We need to state that we need this information to direct our work next year. Our exhibitors may be committed to the  NSTA conference also. Therefore, we should make the survey available to our exhibitors as well. We could ask what date they prefer if they think we should change. Should this survey be part of  the larger survey or on a separate sheet? We need to state that we need to know this information as part of our financial stability. We may be able to segue with the Omaha location. Information from our members will help us decide what to do. Jeff, Tom and Mike will decide what the question will be. It will be used as information gathering. It may be the first question on the survey. Exhibitors are used to using the same calendar year to year. A suggestion: hold ours on Thursday in Council Bluffs,

Mike made the motion and Rick seconded to adjourn the meeting.

An ICN session will be held in January.

The spring meeting may be in a central location.

Respectfully submitted.

Kathy Lockard, secretary