Minutes of SETI League 2005 Annual Membership Meeting

Membership Services Department

Minutes of the Eleventh Annual Membership Meeting
17 April 2005, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ

Call to Order
The meeting was convened at 1004 hours EDT, in Armstrong Hall, The College of New Jersey, Ewing Township NJ, by Executive Director Dr. H. Paul Shuch. Eight SETI League members in good standing present. Our Bylaws requiring one percent of the current membership to be in attendance for the conduct of SETI League business, the above represents a quorum.
Minutes of 2004 Membership Meeting
The Minutes of the 2004 Membership Meeting having been previously posted to The SETI League's World Wide Web site, a motion was passed to accept the minutes as published.
Treasurer's Report
Presented jointy by the Executive Director and Secretary/Treasurer A. Heather Wood, covering the calendar year 2004 (unaudited).
1. Revenues: Dues and Contributions $92,237, Interest Income $52, Other $2,642, Total $94,931.
2. Expenses: Educational/Scientific Programs $116,925, Management/General $5,916, Fundraising $1,365, Total $124,206.
3. Revenues minus Expenses: ($29,275) [a deficit].
4. End of 2004, SETI League account balances equalled $7,166. End of 2003 balance was $36,441.
5. 2005 Budget: Projected Revenues $13,122, Program Expenses $10,000, Management/General Expenses $5,914, Fundraising Expenses $1,365, Projected Deficit $4,157, Projected Ending Balance $3009.
6. The SETI League is undergoing an IRS audit for fiscal year 2003. No determination has yet been received.
7. This report was accepted by those present.
Secretary's Report
Flyers have been mailed to inquirers; hundreds were distributed at conventions, etc.
Executive Director's Report -- 2004 Program Service Accomplisments

(a) Science Programs:
- Coordinated 127 Project Argus radio telescopes in 23 countries, built and operated by volunteers, logging an estimated 100,000 hours of astrophysical observations. Argus stations analyzed and cataloged several candidate signals during 2004.
- Operated W2ETI Moonbounce Beacon for 4 1/2 months, providing 1600 hours of free microwave calibration signals to the world's amateur and professional radio telescopes.
- Provided Committee leadership (as co-chairman) to the SETI Permanent Study Group of the International Academy of Astronautics.
- 246 members contributed an additional 1,000 additional years of processing time to the SETI@home distributed computing experiment.
- Performed laboratory measurements to help refute a claim of extraterrestrial technology on Earth.
(b) Technology Programs:
- Designed and tested an analog power combiner circuit for the Very Small Array radio telescope prototype.
- Provided design consultation and proposal assistance to the Montecorvino SETI Telescope Array (MStar).
- Coordinated and archived four closed technical email lists.
- Inducted five more amateur radio astronomers into the Extra-Terrestrial Century Club.
(c) Public Education Programs:
- Conducted EuroSETI04, The SETI League's first European Technical Symposium, and published Proceedings on CD-ROM.
- Conducted SETICon04, The SETI League's fourth annual Technical Symposium, and published Proceedings on CD-ROM.
- Distributed 15 copies of "Tune In The Universe!", a radio amateur's guide to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
- Distributed 7 print copies of "The SETI League Technical Manual."
- Excecutive Director delivered ten public lectures in four countries, on radio astronomy techniques and related SETI science.
- Published more than a dozen technical articles in the popular and scientific press.
- Published third issue of "Contact In Context," a Web-based peer-reviewed SETI scholarly journal.
- Provided webmastering services to the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers, the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Permanent Study Group, and Invitation to ETI.
(d) Media and Outreach Programs:
- Published four issues of SearchLites, the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc.
- Coordinated and archived two open public email lists.
- Distributed six Press Releases and twelve Editorials to over 700 media outlets worldwide.
- Filed 52 weekly updates to The SETI League's extensive website, bringing its total document count to over 2800 pages.
- 65 volunteer Regional Coordinators in 49 countries conducted a dozen print and broadcast media briefings and interviews.
- Executive Director granted print media and broadcast interviews in the US, Canada, Italy, and Germany.
- Presented the tenth annual Giordano Bruno Memorial Award, the third annual Orville N. Greene Service Award, four Best Ideas Awards, and twelve SETI SuperStar Awards.
Committee Reports
1. Awards Committee
  Report by chairman Dave Ocame.
  During the year, 12 websites have received the SETI Super StarAward.
  Three finalists each were nominated for the Bruno and OG Awards, and one each award presented.
2. Legal Services Committee
  Report presented by Executive Director H. Paul Shuch, on behalf of Chairman Steve Carver (not present).
  Our three trade/service marks were renewed for an additiona five years, at a fee of $300 each. Steve Carver is providing his time and legal services pro bono.
3. Strategic Planning, Membership Services, Finance, Hardware, and Software Committees
  No report.
4. Internet Services Committee
  Report by Richard Factor:
  No major changes.
5. EME Committee
  Report delivered jointly by Richard Factor and chairman Dr. Allen Katz:
  The amplifier, after running for three months without interruption then began to degrade. Allen Katz volunteered an intern to inspect it. After some discussion on repairing the old amp, Richard said he would look for a new amp unless Steve Kostro at Down East Microwave thinks the old one can be fixed. New antennae are a possibility: moving to yagis.
6. Very Small Array Committee
  Report delivered by Dr. Shuch:
  Only small progress due to lack of funds. The preamp has been built Richard found some matached FETs on eBay. There is the possibility of a federal grant through Rob Lodder. A quote has been received for 32 matched LNAs at $150 each. After this, the next phase is the coax.
7. Old Business
  No old business items pending.
8. New Business
  1. The 800 phone number was discussed (800-TAU-SETI). At approximately $30 per month, it was decided to retain it.
  2. A member requested a return to the previous SETICon format, with papers etc. Paul detailed the jobs that such a conference entailed:
    - Conference Chair
    - Facilities Chair
    - Hotel Liaison
    - Program Chair
    - Proceedings Editor
    - Publicity Chair
    - Prize Chair
    - Vendor Liaison
    - Banquet Chair
    - Hospitality Coordinator
    - Registration Chair
    - Marketing Coordinator
    - Green Room Coordinator
    - Awards Chair
    - Audio-Visual Chair
    - GoH Gopher
  3. After some discussion, it was decided that the 2006 AGM will be held on 30 April 2006 at the SETI League offices in Little Ferry. Efforts will be made to return to the full conference format. Heather agreed to be Conference chair.
9. Good and Welfare
  - The Bruno award was presented by Awards Chair David Ocame (via telephone) to James Brown.
10. Adjournment
  The Annual Membership Meeting was adjourned by the Executive Director at 1127 hours EDT on 17 April 2005. The annual Board of Trustees meeting occurred immediately afterward. All members in good standing were invited to attend. The only business conducted at that meeting was Election of Officers, as follows:
  President - Richard Factor
  Secretary/Treasurer - A. Heather Wood
  Executive Director - H. Paul Shuch, serving on a volunteer basis.

Respectfully submitted, A. Heather Wood, Secretary

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