Minutes of the 2024 SETI Virtual Membership Meeting Conducted online on 21 April 2024
Call to Order
The 2024 Membership Meeting was called to order by Executive Director Emeritus H. Paul Shuch, virtually (via the Zoom platform) at 13:00 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: Scott Carter, Mike Lukaske, Riuji Kimura
A quorum is present.
Minutes of 2023 Annual Membership Meeting
The Minutes of the 2023 Annual Meeting 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 2023 (as e-filed).
Revenues: Dues and Contributions, $6,946; Interest Income $0; Total $6,946.
Expenses: Educational/Scientific Programs $9,482; Management/General $2,058; Fundraising $508; Total $11,510.
Excess or (Deficit): ($4,564).
End of 2023, SETI League account balances equalled $17,936. 2024 beginning net assets $12,294.
This report was accepted by those attending virtually
Executive Director's Report
During 2023, the Executive Director:
published four issues of SearchLites, the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc.
attended the Second Penn State SETI Symposium
performed 52 weekly updates of The SETI League website
posted numerous photos, 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 a small number of email and telephone inquiries from members and prospective members
Committee Reports
Membership
Ms. Wood reports that four new members joined The SETI League since our last Annual Membership Meeting, and we have roughly 150 Members in Good Standing at the time of this meeting.
OSETI Committee
Mr. Factor is continuing to collaborate with SETI Instutute personnel toward his goal of installing a laser detector on the roof of his Arizona home. He is currently awaiting availability of hardware from the SETI Institute.
Awards Committee
Absent an Awards Committee Chair, no websites received the SETI SuperStar award during the year 2023. There were no Giordano Bruno Awards or Orville N. Greene Awards presented for contributions during 2023. Nominations from members for all awards are solicited.
Old Business
Annual Report
Periodic financial updates have been posted to the Website, and published in SearchLites.
Web Server
Mr. Factor reports that the current website server continues to function flawlessly. He has acquired a separate server for email distribution and listserv uses, but currently lacks the programming resources to activate same.
Telecommunications
SETI League headquarters remains unstaffed, with volunteers all working from home. Ms. Wood continues to receive calls occasionally via cellphone. She reports that the organization's primary means of contact are now email and the Facebook page.
New Business
Special Projects
Coordinator Scott Carter, who chairs this recently established committee, reports some recent Regional Coordinator changes; the establishment of a new SETI League Canada website; and the reactivation of our Hardware and Software Committees. He updated us on the status of Project Argus, as well as three new initiatives: Project Locus, a targeted SETI search; Project Capellan, a Radio SETI SDR plug-in; and Project Talos, the pending development of a SETI League Optical SETI software suite.
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 2024 Budget was presented to the Board for consideration.
Tax Return Filing
The Secretary/Treasurer reports that she was successful in eFiling our 2023 organizational tax return using the electronic Form 990N postcard, and having it timely accepted by the IRS.
Mid-Year Renewal Letter
Given elevation to Life Member status of several of our most active long-term members, no annual renewal letter was sent. One will be sent out during 2024, but we should thus expect a decline in the number of dues-paying members.
New Jersey Charities Registration
Ms. Wood has submitted our annual New Jersey Charities registration forms and fees, which have been accepted.
Outreach
Special Projects Coordinator Scott Carter last year proposed the SETI League develop a short documentary video for online dissemination, summarizing our mission and accomplishments. This item remains on our to-do list.
Next Meeting
Pending confirmation by Mr. Factor of the dates of other technical meetings, the next Annual Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sunday 20 April 2025. Ms. Wood notes that this date coincides with Easter, and those present confirmed that this would not be an issue for them. The meeting will once again be held virtually via Zoom. at 13:00 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
The SETI League's Facebook page www.facebook.com/setileague has attracted roughly 1600 "likes" and a similar number of "followers", numerous member posts, and considerable discussion among members and nonmembers alike. Mr. Carter reports having recently established a SETI League discussion channel on the Discord server.
The Executive Director welcomed two new members in attendance, and invited them to introduce themselves.
Adjournment
The 2024 SETI League Annual Meeting was adjourned by the Executive Director Emeritus at 13:41 hours EDT on 21 April 2024. 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. at 13:45 hours EDT.
The Board members present accepted all reports presented at the Annual Membership Meeting, and adopted the proposed 2024 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.
Dr. Shuch reports that in view of his plans to relocate and significantly downsize, he has chosen to donate his microwave circuits laboratory and ham radio equipment to the American Radio Relay League. ARRL is planning to activate a microwave EME (moonbounce) beacon similar to the one previously operated by The SETI League, which will incorporate some of his equipment. Mr. Factor has offered the ARRL the use of components from the former SETI League beacon.
The Meeting was adjourned at 13:53 hours EDT.
Members in attendance were invited to remain online to continue informal discussions on the Zoom platform, which continued until 14:15 hours EDT.
Respectfully submitted by Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus
