Minutes of the 2021 SETI Virtual Membership Meeting Conducted online on 18 April 2021
Call to Order
The 2021 Membership Meeting was convened virtually (via the Zoom platform) at 13:07 hours EDT.
Quorum Call
Trustees and Officers present: A. Heather Wood, Richard Factor, H. Paul Shuch
Trustees and Officers absent: Martin Schreiber
Additional Members present: Muriel Hykes
A quorum is present.
Minutes of 2020 Board Meeting
The Minutes of the 2020 Board of Trustees Meeting having been previously posted to The SETI League's World Wide Web site, a motion was passed to accept the minutes as submitted.
Treasurer's Report
Developed jointly by Dr. Shuch and Secretary/Treasurer Heather Wood, covering the calendar year 2020 (as e-filed).
Revenues: Dues and Contributions, $8,014; Interest Income $2; Total $8,016.
Expenses: Educational/Scientific Programs $11,766; Management/General $750; Fundraising $1,792; Total $14,308.
Revenues minus Expenses: ($6,293).
End of 2020, SETI League account balances equalled $13,341. 2020 beginning net assets $19,634.
Executive Director's Report
During 2020, the Executive Director:
published four issues of SearchLites, the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc.
gave no SETI public lectures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
performed 52 weekly updates of The SETI League website
posted roughly 20 photos, plus numerous links and comments, to The SETI League Facebook page
issued one press release
continued to serve as an Emeritus member of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Committee
responded to about a dozen email and telephone inquiries from members and prospective members.
Committee Reports
Membership
Ms. Wood reports that six new members joined The SETI League during 2020, and we have two new members so far this year.
OSETI Committee
Mr. Factor held a Zoom meeting with SETI Institute scientists Seth Shostak and Eliott Gillum, regarding their OSETI equipment. He still has plans to install an Optical SETI observatory at his Sedona AZ location. Factor has sent photos of his location to SETI Institute colleagues for analysis, and will follow up with them.
Awards Committee
Absent an Awards Committee Chair, no websites received the SETI SuperStar award during the year 2020. There were no Giordano Bruno Awards or Orville N. Greene Awards presented for contributions during 2020. Nominations from members for all awards will be solicited in an upcoming issue of SearchLites.
Old Business
Annual Report
Annual financial updates have been posted to the Website, and published in SearchLites.
Web Server
Mr. Factor reports no difficulties or concerns.
Interstellar Beacon
The project was terminated in 2020, and upon dissolution of the Interstellar Beacon nonprofit corporation, its remaining assets were donated to The SETI League.
Press List
Ms. Wood reports that, lacking an email Press List, The SETI League website and Facebook page remain our only two means of disseminating press releases.
Telecommunications
Ms. Wood continues to retrieve voicemail messages occasionally via cellphone. She reports that the vast majority are spam calls, and that the vast majority of emails received via setileague.org are similarly spam.
New Business
Election of Officers
The following slate of officers was retained for an additional one-year term:
President - Richard Factor, serving without compensation
Secretary/Treasurer - A. Heather Wood
Executive Director Emeritus - H. Paul Shuch, serving on a volunteer basis
Registered Agent - Anthony Agnello
Annual Budget
The draft 2021 Budget is adopted by the Board.
Tax Return Filing
The Secretary/Treasurer reports that she was successful in eFiling our 2020 organizational tax return using the electronic Form 990N postcard, and having it timely accepted by the IRS.
Mid-Year Renewal Letter
Ms. Wood reports that a letter will be sent to all lapsed members in May, offering them discounted dues for renewal. Due to the lack of services having been provided to members during the pandemic, all dues-paying members will also be informed in May that their 2022 renewal will be complimentary (although donations will still be gratefully accepted).
New Jersey Charities Registration
Ms. Wood has submitted our annual New Jersey Charities registration forms and fees, which have been accepted.
Next Meeting
Pending confirmation of the dates of other technical meetings, the next Annual Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sunday 24 April 2022. The date has been verified as not in conflict with Easter or Passover. The meeting will once again be held virtually via Zoom. 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.
Advisory Board
The Executive Director Emeritus will generate a letter of thanks to members of our Advisory Board for more than two and one-half decades of service. The letter will be distributed by Ms. Wood.
Good and Welfare
The SETI League's Facebook page www.facebook.com/setileague has (as of this morning) attracted 1,473 "likes" (up 57 since last year), 1506 "follows" (up 62 from last year),numerous member posts, and considerable discussion among members.
Adjournment
The 2021 SETI League Annual Meeting was adjourned by the Executive Director Emeritus at 13:45 hours EDT on 18 April 2021. The required annual Board of Trustees Meeting followed immediately.
Board of Trustees actions
The Board of Trustees Meeting was called to order by the Executive Director Emeritus.
The Board members present accepted all reports presented at the Annual Membership Meeting, and adopted the proposed 2021 Budget.
Personnel matters
The Executive Director Emeritus reviewed with the Board of Trustees the previously adopted terms for cost-sharing of his health insurance premiums, as a program expense, which will continue at last year's percentage, pending availability of funds and subject to periodic review.
Executive Session
The Board of Trustees convened an Executive Session to discuss longterm planning for The SETI League, Inc.
The Meeting was adjourned at 13:58 hours EDT.
Respectfully submitted by Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emmeritus
