Minutes of SETI League 2010 Annual Membership Meeting

Membership Services Department

Minutes of the Sixteenth Annual Membership Meeting
18 April 2010, SETI League Headquarters, Little Ferry, NJ

Call to Order
The meeting was convened at 13:02 hours EDT, in the Library at SETI League Headquarters, Little Ferry NJ, by Executive Director Emeritus Dr. H. Paul Shuch (attending via telepresence). Three SETI League members in good standing present, either in person or electronically. 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 2009 Membership Meeting
The Minutes of the 2009 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 jointly by the Executive Director and the Secretary/Treasurer, covering the calendar year 2009 (as e-filed).
1. Revenues: Dues and Contributions $26,269, Interest Income $4, Total $26,273.
2. Expenses: Educational/Scientific Programs $17,196, Management/General $4,441, Fundraising $1,400, Total $23,038.
3. Revenues minus Expenses: $3,235.
4. End of 2009, SETI League account balances equalled $8,178. 2008 beginning net assets $4,943.
5. 2010 Budget: Projected Revenues $20,025, Program Expenses $17,000, Management/General Expenses $4,600, Fundraising Expenses $1,400, Projected deficit ($1,975), Projected Ending Balance $6,203.
6. This report was accepted by those present.
Executive Director's Report
The Executive Director's annual report of Program Service Accomplishments having been previously posted to The SETI League's World Wide Web site, a motion was passed to accept the report as published.
Committee Reports
EME Committee
Report by station trustee Richard Factor. A contractor was finally located to assess damage to the moonbounce antennas, which were destroyed by high winds last year. They are scheduled to do a site survey next week to determine whether any of the antenna hardware is salvageable, and to recommend possible replacement. Beacon remains off the air indefinitely.
Awards Committee
Awards Committee chairman David Ocame being absent, executive director H. Paul Shuch announced that the 2010 Giordano Bruno Memorial Award was presented in February, 2010 to SETI@home chief scientist Dan Werthimer. The presentation was made by Dr. Shuch at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meetings in San Diego. There was no Orville Greene Service Award made for 2010. Nominations of worthy candidates are solicited for next year.
Old Business
1. Very Small Array
  Executive Director Emeritus H. Paul Shuch reports that no further work was accomplished on this technical initiative in the past year, due to lack of funding.
2. Ostrich Farm Facility
  President Richard Factor reports that this initiative too is on hold due to the current financial situation.
3. Mid-Year Renewal Letter
  Secretary/Treasurer Heather Wood reported that a mid-year letter was sent in 2009 to expired members dating back to 2003. Several long-expired members re-joined. It was decided that The SETI League will issue such mid-year appeals annually.
4. Annual Report
  The SETI League's 2009 Annual Report is available to members via the website, in Portable Document Format (PDF).
5. Volunteer Appreciation
  Gratis renewal for a period of one year was offered again last year to our lapsed Committee Chairs and Regional Coordinators, conditioned upon their continued volunteer service. Very few members availed themselves of this opportunity. The Volunteer Appreciation program is hereby suspended for 2010. It will be reconsidered at the 2011 Annual Membership Meeting.
6. SARA Proceedings
  For the past four years, in lieu of sponsoring a SETICon technical meeting, The SETI League assisted the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA), a SETI League affiliated society, in conducting its annual technical conference at NRAO Green Bank WV. The Executive Director Emeritus served as SARA Vice President, SARA Conference Chairman, and Proceedings Editor during those four years. His SARA term of office being concluded, The SETI League will no longer be publishing SARA Proceedings or co-chairing the SARA Conference, though SETI League members are encouraged to participate.
New Business
1. Web Server
  President Richard Factor reports that a new web server has been secured. Interconnect will be by a cable line which is faster, and less costly, than the T1 connection presently in use. Files have been duplicated on the new server, and a changeover will occur in the near future. Security issues regarding the Members-Only section of the website are still being addressed.
2. Next Meeting
  The next Annual Meeting will be held at the same venue. The date of Sunday 24 April 2011 has been approved. The meeting will be at 1300 hours EDT, to be followed immediately by the Board of Trustees meeting. The date and time will be announced to the membership via the website and newsletter.
Good and Welfare
- SETI League officers brought each other up to date on their various medical challenges. All report now being in good health.
Adjournment
The Annual Membership Meeting was adjourned by the Executive Director Emeritus at 13:26 hours EDT on 18 April 2010. A Regular Board of Trustees meeting followed.
Business Transacted by Board of Trustees:
1. Quorum Call
  Trustees and Officers present: A. Heather Wood, Richard Factor, H. Paul Shuch (the latter two attending via telepresence)
  Trustees and Officers absent: Martin Schreiber
  A quorum is present.
2. Election of Officers
  The following slate of officers was retained for a one-year term:
  President - Richard Factor
  Secretary/Treasurer - A. Heather Wood
  Executive Director Emeritus - H. Paul Shuch, serving on a volunteer basis.
3. Registered Agent
  The New Jersey Division of Revenue requires that we designate a Registered Agent to execute certain state documents. Richard Factor was previously appointed to this post, and has agreed to continue serving in this capacity for an additional year.
4. Personnel matters
  In executive session, the Board of Trustees voted to continue cost-sharing of Executive Director Emeritus' health insurance premiums, as an administrative expense, pending availability of funds and subject to periodic review. Dr. Shuch abstaining.
5. Advisory Board
  Establishment of a secure email alias, to permit the Executive Director Emeritus to communicate with Advisory Board members on an occasional basis, was authorized last year. This action is on hold, pending activation of the new Web server.
6. Bank Fees
  Fees charged for our various bank accounts were discussed. The Secretary/Treasurer will contact our financial institutions, in a further effort to have those fees reduced.

Respectfully submitted, A. Heather Wood, Secretary

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