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
April 12

Executive Board Meeting
March 4

Called to order by Traci Maxted 10:07 a.m.

Introductions

Members present: Jeanne Rogis, Morgan Masters, Traci Maxted, De Anna Tibben, Marcy Seavey, Cherin Lee

Guests: Toni Heiting, Yvette McCulley

Agenda:

Secretary's report

Kathy in MN so not able to be here. Minutes from last meeting online. Corrections may or may not be corrected. De Anna is taking notes today.

Treasurer's report

Assurances from Toni for time periods. We do have a carry over $23,000. On-going so payments made?? Handout from Jeanne. Up to from last conference? UNCLEAR. Morgan suggested putting date for Fall Conference. Marcy said if on memo line won’t show up. She said we should request codes identifying the different years. CD is part of the $23,000 total. CD had been cashed, someone upset, and new one purchased. Cherin reminded that when she was treasurer there were two. As non-profit should we be drawing interest? Traci – we should spend it. Marcy- or create an endowment.

Budget for next year

(Traci followed with budget)

Handout presented to IAS business meeting Wed 4/9 and it was approved. Used July ’07-March ’08 statement and previous expenses from DM to create proposed budget. Newsletter discussion came from budget talk and diverged to use of newsletter. Marcy said there may be ways to contribute newsletter items to new website; options for teacher signup when announcements made/changed; possibly even adding tags; coming, but not within the next 1 ½ years. Further questions about how to get info out – cell phone alerts, etc.

Travel/Mtg/Phone – one or two drive-to meetings and 1-2 phone meetings. ICN are expensive and not always effective with time breaks. $ for telephone much cheaper than drive expenses or ICN expenses. Possibly more people are able to participate since time and ease of phone.

Supplies/Printing/Postage – bumped because would like to send out more postcards. IAS-ISTS not conference (that’s in conference).

Traci would like to propose ISTS pay IAS registration for all three chairs (past/present/incoming). Marcy said our section is paying for itself (and making money) so $ should be used to increase the functioning of the section.

Scholarship $ - not voted on, but put into budget so folks would remember.

**** items on handout are items that need to be double checked.
Conference related expenses: Craig has looked over the contract for Convention Center. Traci could not print it today. Jeanne asked about costs for flowers included – Traci said as an average (2 yrs plus last time in DM). Printing $ needs to be bumped to $3,000 not at the $1,200 listed on handout. Marcy volunteers to work on the postcards this year; make the theme/cover to match and two-sided. Discussion of having the postcard reflect more the nature of the conference; something that says “come” rather than just and advertisement. After discussion $ now bumped up to $3,500. Technology had big variances, so averaged. Des Moines School media expenses; $ may need to ask individuals to bring projectors, etc. We really need to encourage presenters to bring their own equipment; problem with scheduling to be able to present one tearing down the other setting up. Radios advantage to hear all conversations, but not always work. Maybe use cell phones? $ Change Media to $1,000. Marcy said media included screens, projectors, etc. Traci needs to check with Allison to see if contract with DM Convention Center includes the president reception. Marcy said the Hotel Fort DM will give “free” meeting room if # of rooms checked out. Traci shared conference cover details and speaker with guests. Morgan brought up the benefits of having the two conferences; we were able to get speakers for Fall; teachers want to hear about the content and are interested in the science, not just the lesson designs. Marcy continued about the benefits of sharing the posters by IJAS.

Traci will adjust fees.

Report from IAS board meeting

Traci was graciously invited to the IAS meeting. It was very beneficial and hopes it will continue. Marcy suggested sending changes of budget to Craig.

I Wonder program is going to be a true benefit for the organizations; as will the Wildlife audio program. www.scienceiniowa.org will be the website and will be available May 31st. The I Wonder will be at a later time. Eventually the Science in Iowa website will become the IAS website.

Need for additional active members and regional directors Morgan’s request to Marcy for publicity. Traci’s idea to make committees actually meet as recommended at IAS Board Meeting 4/9

Status of the guidelines

90% done; once done, it will need to be approved by IAS Board of Directors. Benefit will be that we will have continuity and will know what things need to happen. Not that we can’t change the expectations, but that we have an idea of what is needed to be done. “Know what I need to do.” Also need to get it out to the membership, too.

Needs contract job descriptions before it can be completed. Fall Conference also needs to be profiled and described (model from Aaron Spurr).

Regional Directors guidelines were revised 1 year ago.
Other business?

Conference committee will meet in the afternoon at Traci’s

ISTS Team Meeting (Phone Conference)

March 4, 2008

Introductions

Reports – Kathy – Secretary’s Report – Phone meeting notes from September 25, 2007. No changes to the minutes.

Jeanne – Treasurer’s report – Total income $7766.92 July 1, 2007- March 3, 2008. We have something over $20,000 in our account. Probably should do something with this money. Suggestions: Conference is one thing. (Great speaker – last year’s speaker did cost but got a grant for about half of the expense – about $3000 + $800 for expenses.) More awards to be given. Possible donation to the junior academy.

Budget needs to be established before the annual meeting in April. Traci will take the budget from last year and see if any changes – convention center for example. She will just use the numbers from last year and adjust. Jeanne reported that  it is showing a $2000 loss on the bookstore from the last conference. There are a lot of books packed away that did not sell. Jeanne will email the list of expenses for the conference to Traci.
 
IAS annual meeting – April 11th & 12th
What are our obligations? We are responsible for one session and two poster presentations. They need judges for this – usually on Friday. No classroom teachers attend this conference. The Academy of Science office wants us to get more involved. ISTS folks coming to the meeting need to register. A suggestion was made that the organization pay for Morgan and Traci to attend. Morgan will pay his own registration. Traci moved that the ISTS organization pay for two members of the ISTS leadership team (registration only) to attend the IAS conference. Second Rick. Each would pay for their own food and travel. Motion carried.

ISTS meeting on Saturday morning, April 12th.
Suggestion: meet someplace else so members don’t have to pay. Traci will have the meeting at her house. She will write directions and email them. 

Ballot & elections– Morgan – Ballots were mailed this week. We should have them by the end of the week.

Membership – Do we have a membership committee? No one knew. It is obviously not very active if we have one. We need members but we also need to encourage activity. The under the plate surveys had several who said they might want to get more involved. Morgan had sent personal emails to 20 people and called 10 for the two elected positions but none wanted to become more involved. Maybe start smaller with them. They could be asked to be: regional directors,  candidates for office,  help at conference, etc.  There are many other opportunities to be involved.

Guidelines Updates – Marcie has been typing and Gale has been editing. Traci will send us an outline of the fall conference to review. They are almost done with them.

IST Journal Update– Mike Clough - Most recent issue came out on line. They have a number of submissions in now. They just need to get them reviewed and back in. They hope to be caught up by the end of summer. Mike has talked to some people about applying for his position. He is letting them know what the job entails.  The board will look at the applications and make the decision. His job as editor is not a paid position. The managing editor is a paid position.

NSTA Leadership meeting – web seminar on March 19. Traci will send out the email of how to connect. The 2008 NSTA National Congress is in July in Indianapolis. It is designed to teach participants how to be a president and how to be a secretary.

Conference: October 23, 2008 in Des Moines - Iowa Events Center. Allison is working to finalize everything. The Polk County Convention Center is one of the facilities of the Iowa Events Center. There will be Wednesday evening activities again. Deanna has lots of ideas of what to do. We need to weigh the idea of having the exhibits hall open then. It was mentioned that exhibitors don’t like this. We would have to pay an extra ½ day of rent.  It was decided not to do this.

Who is doing what?  Hopefully you are all doing jobs you enjoy and want to continue!

Publicity – Morgan did this last year. Getting info out about the conference. Email info as well as perhaps a pre-conference newsletter and/or card so they have something in hand. Article in newsletter. Work with Marci.

Sponsorship

Exhibitions – Barb Jacobson

Registration- Aaron Spurr

Facilities & Meal – Allison Donaldson

Decorations – Barb Jacobson goes through the event decorators to do this. Traci will decide the colors and let Barb know.

Corporate sponsors – Rick – Sponsors gave close to $4000 last year. He will try to make that mark again this year. He will try to contact Pella. If anyone has suggestions for corporate sponsors, let him know. They sometimes pay off.

Breakfasts – SaraColeman haschemistry speaker

  – DeAnnaTibben has Earth Science breakfast speaker

Wednesday activities– DeAnnaTibben

Awards – Tom Ervin - ISTS Potential Awardees

•FOS Individual – Jeff Weld’s Upward Bound lady

Cheryl Schiller, flowers and table decorations at Fall conf, for at least 12 years…more

•FOS Corporate (both long time donors) – AEGON (Life Investors)

IDT DNA Technology

•Distinguished Service Award – Barb Jacobson, Exhibits 4-5 years

Nadine Weirather, ISTS Newsletter since 2003

Mike Clough,  Pres. Elect, Pres., Past Pres. Conf. Chair,

ISTS Journal resurrection

Program- Traci with delegation. Traci will talk with her daughter about designing logos to use for the program. They will be our own to use.

Photographs – Tom Ervin

Book store – Jeanne – It was suggested that she get helpers ahead of time. She could contact those who volunteered on the under the plate surveys. She could ask them to work for an hour. This willhelp them get involved.

Speakers – Luncheon – Darwin – Brian Ellis will be this year’s luncheon speaker (celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday). He will want a booksigning space.

Traci is contacting featured speakers.

IPTV is interested in filming some of the presentations and putting them on IPTV. She’ll pick a track and film them.

We still have two regional directors’ positions open. Traci will seek these from the names on the under the plate surveys. These folks will also be asked for publicity, etc.

Motion to adjourn by Morgan.