VA-SRA
Minutes 12/10/2003
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Sports Medicine Center President Mike Glasgow called the business meeting of the fall conference of the Virginia Chapter of Research Administrators to order at 12:30 pm . In attendance were President Glasgow, President Elect Mike Ludwick, Secretary Lorraine Murphey, Eve D'Angleo standing in for Treasurer Ann McGuigan who was unable to attend, and all attendees of the conference. Old business: Former secretary Mike Ludwick noted that a copy of the minutes of the spring 2003 meeting has been on the VA-SRA web site and a copy is included in the packet for today's meeting, and asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. It was noted by an attendee that the meeting was in the spring, not the fall as the minutes currently read. Another attendee noted that the spring meeting was held at the University of Virginia , not The College of William & Mary. These changes will be incorporated into the minutes of the spring 2003 meeting. Betty Browder moved that the minutes be accepted as amended. Her motion was seconded, and the motion carried. Eve did not have a treasurer's report, but reported verbally that the account had approximately a $4500 balance prior to deposit of any receipts from this conference. She said the treasurer's report would be submitted to President Glasgow, would be up on the VA-SRA web page, and would be submitted to the listserv all in a few days. Eve asked that everyone in attendance who has not yet paid please pay or check with his/her institution to be sure payment will be forthcoming. There being no further old business, President Glasgow continued to new business. New business: Travel fellowships: President Glasgow said we would announce how many fellowships will be awarded after he receives the treasurer's report. The deadline for applying for a travel fellowship to attend the regional meeting in Baton Rouge April 24-27, 2004 is January 31, 2004 . The application form is on the VA-SRA web site. Send the application to President Glasgow marked urgent. Committees: A nominating committee is forming under the chairship of Betty Browder. President Glasgow asked that we send Betty suggestions for nominations. President-Elect Ludwick stated the terms of office for each position (president: 1 year, president-elect: one year; treasurer: two years; secretary: one year) and displayed on the projector screen the duties of each office. These descriptions are on the VA-SRA web site. A bylaws committee has formed consisting of Anne Womack and Pat Buennemeyer to consider changes in our bylaws. Their report will be presented at the spring meeting. A meetings committee is formed under the chairship of President-Elect Ludwick. President-Elect Ludwick discussed the role of NCURA being primarily that of training, and suggested that we use the CRA link on the VA-SRA web page to find a list of sites for training toward taking the CRA exam. He urged everyone to get themselves on the VA-SRA listserv to be sure we are up-to-date on training opportunities and news relating to research administration. President-Elect Ludwick thanked the participants on the panels and facilitators at the roundtables today, and presented each of them with a VCU mug. He asked that all attendees complete the conference evaluation form, and turn in the form at the registration desk upon leaving. He asked that anyone who was willing and interested in helping the organization please indicate that interest on the evaluation form. He announced that parking passes are still available. He asked also that everyone turn in his or her name tag holders at the registration desk upon leaving. President Glasgow asked for an offer of a location for our spring meeting. No offers were forthcoming. A suggestion was made to hold the meeting at a non-university site in the central part of the state, to make the location more convenient to more people and to lessen the burden on any one institution. President Glasgow asked President-Elect Ludwick to put together a group to find a location for our spring meeting and to consider the general format of the meeting. A discussion ensued regarding the benefits of a one-day meeting versus a two-three day meeting, and twice a year versus once a year. Pat Buennemeyer offered some history on the subject: She said that when the group was formed, it consisted of about 25 participants who decided to meet in May or June just after the regional meeting, and in the fall just after the national meeting, so that those who were able to attend the larger meetings could pass on information to everyone else. President Glasgow requested a show of hands of those interested in changing the general format of the meetings, and no one raised a hand. He then requested a show of hands of those interested in maintaining the status quo, and the majority of those present raised their hands. President Glasgow opened a discussion of dues. He said that Commonwealth of Virginia regulations do not allow payment of individual memberships, only institutional memberships. He suggested that we build the cost of dues into the registration fee for each meeting. He suggested that the dues amount not be raised, as the group's revenues have been too high in recent years. He asked for a voice vote as to whether the $15 dues amount was reasonable and received affirmation. He asked the bylaws committee to consider the issues and make their recommendations at the spring meeting. A question was asked by an attendee as to whether the organization had borrowed money in the past, and had the money been paid back. Pat Buennemeyer stated that money had been borrowed, and had been paid back in full. Eve D'Angelo offered that the treasurer could do a study of attendance trends at recent meetings, to see why members choose to attend or not attend. The suggestion was made that budget constraints were a big part of the picture, especially if an overnight stay is involved. The suggestion was made that perhaps we should simply rotate between the two big institutions that are centrally located, the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University . Pat Buennemeyer suggested that when the meeting is held at a larger institution the attendance numbers are up because more of that institution's employees can attend. President Elect Ludwick announced that Pat Buennemeyer of James Madison University has received a national award for her efforts in instructing other research administrators, the Huntford Nicholson Award for Outreach. Pat received an ovation. President Glasgow announced that Chuck Chermside, director of Sponsored Programs Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University , is retiring on November 1, 2004 . Chuck informed the attendees that his replacement would be onsite on January 5, 2004 . President Glasgow entertained those present with a story of his personal memories of Chuck. He said that Chuck is the first to offer advice when it is requested on the listserv, and his departure will leave a big hole in the expertise, knowledge, and camaraderie of research administration. Chuck received a standing ovation. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:05 pm . Respectfully submitted,
Ruby Lorraine Murphey Secretary |