1998 Meeting

Association of Women Soil Scientists
Eighth Annual Meeting
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, MD
Monday, October 19, 1998 at 4 p.m.

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AWSS Minutes
1998 ASA/SSSA/CSSA Annual Meeting
Baltimore, Maryland

Introductions: Maria Pautler, Executive Committee Chair started the meeting by discussing the goals of AWSS as listed in the front of the directory. She also introduced the Executive Committee members and submitted last year's AWSS Meeting Minutes from the ASA Meetings in California.

Executive Committee Reports:

Treasurer: Kristin Bloser, Secretary/Treasurer gave a brief report on membership status (160 active members ) and on financial status (total $8042.45 as of Oct 12, 1998). Copies of Secretary/Treasurer report can be obtained by contacting Kristin.

Historian: Margie Faber, AWSS Historian, put together an album of pictures of AWSS members from ASA meetings since 1991. If anyone has pictures to contribute, please send to Margie. Cheryl Simmons suggested that videotapes from SWCS meeting could also be archived with the album.

Women in Agronomy (WIA): Susan Samson-Liebig, Executive Committee Chair-Elect and WIA representative, said symposium on Women in Soils was very good. She also talked about the strategic plan of serving women ASA members better and about the mentoring award efforts between AWSS and WIA.

SWCS: Cheryl Simmons, SWCS Representative, submitted a report about the past year's SWCS meeting held in San Diego (A copy of this report can be obtained by contacting Kristin). She also talked about Dr. Lyle's "Carbon Sequestration Rates of Land Use Covers." Next year's SWCS meeting will be held in Biloxi, Mississippi. Cheryl also gave an estimate on T-shirt sales this year.

** Maxine Levin gave a special presentation on the history of women pioneers in the soil survey. She presented this information at this year's SWCS Meeting and also put the information into packet form. Kristin has some extra packets if members are interested in reading it. Maxine stressed that this is a work in progress and that some people might have been inadvertently left off. The members present at the meeting applauded her efforts.

ASA/SSSA: Annie Engebretson is the new ASA/SSSA representative. She is taking over for Pamm Kasper who is pursuing another college degree. Her information will appear in the December newsletter and she will be working full-time for ASA starting in January.

Private Sector: Myra Peak, Private Sector Representative, did not have a report to give. She did tell the group a little about her company as per Maria's request.

Committee Reports

Membership-Voting Privileges: Question was posed of whether to impose a late fee on memberships received after March 1st. Jeri Berc suggested increasing dues and offering a discount if you pay on time. Another member suggested receiving a price break for paying 2-3 years in advance. The Executive Committee will review these suggestions before making a decision. Maria Pautler suggested that we have an AWSS brochure. Cheryl Simmons said that there was an old brochure around on disk. Margie Faber said that she might have it. Whoever has it will send it to Kristin Bloser.

Directory: Kari Sever, Directory Chair, was not present. New format for the directory publication is 8-1/2 x 11 to put into binder. In a year or two following directory publication we will probably send out updates to the directory with the August newsletter. Maria talked about the new format for this year's newsletter (tri-fold). Anyone interested in being next editor call Maria.

T-Shirt-Logo: We have had the same design for several years. We should change the design in conjunction with a new AWSS logo. Any suggestions for either please call Maria.

GayLynn Kinter, Past Secretary/Treasurer, talked to a person at NACD who said that we could include our T-shirts and sweatshirts to sell in their catalog for a small price per shirt. GayLynn will look further into this.

Web Page: Maria brought up the possibility of AWSS having a Web page. It would have to be password protected if the newsletter and directory would be on there because some people do not want their information viewed publicly. Job opportunities could be addressed in a timely fashion. Someone also suggested having an Internet chat room. Carol Wettstein said that ASA has a Webmaster. Annie said that she would see if Tim could help. Maybe we could have our own page that was linked to the tri-societies and SWCS.

Mentoring Award: Maria has talked with Lee Sommers about a mentoring award. AWSS wants to develop an award for a soils role model who offers helpful advice to students and colleagues. This award would be presented at SSSA and SWCS awards in alternate years. In the future, we will ask AWSS members for nominations. The award is not monetary; the recipient would receive a plaque.

Scholarship: Sheryl H. Kunickis, new Scholarship Chair, will make a little survey to include in December newsletter. How much money should be given each year? Can there be donations from other sources? Maybe we can include a "Contribution for Scholarship" blank on the dues form. Jeri Berc suggested that AWSS make a strategic plan for viable fund raising.