Minitues of the Division 3 Executive Committee Meeting

Veronica Dark

Division 3, Secretary-Treasurer

Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Boardroom

Toronto, Ontario

Thursday August 6, 2009

5:00 - 6:50 p.m.                

Present: Nelson Cowan (President), Ralph Miller (President-Elect), Veronica Dark (Secretary-Treasurer), Manny Donchin (APA Council Rep), Angela AuBuchon (Graduate Student Representative), Karen Hollis (at-Large), Mark Bouton (at-Large), David Washburn (at-Large), Jeremy Wolfe (at-Large), Mike Young (Fellows Chair), Michael Beran (Awards Chair), Emily Elliott (Program Chair).

Guests: John Wixted (incoming Program Chair), Lisa Savage (incoming Fellows Chair), Nancy Dess (incoming at-Large), Tom Zentall, Sangeeta Panicker (Director, Research Ethics Office), Howard Kurtzman (Deputy Executive Director for Science).

I.   President’s Announcements (Nelson Cowan) 

The meeting was called to order at 5 pm.  Cowan described the view that Division 3's participation in the APA Convention was not so much for the Division 3 membership as it was to have a vibrant program showcasing the central role of  Experimental Psychology in Psychology.  He also mentioned the availability of the Newsletter on the Web as helping to publicize the Division's contributions.  For the first time in recent history, Continuing Education (CE) Credits will be available for some Division sessions.  

Election Results.  A total of 186 ballots were cast in the Division 3 Elections.  Those elected were: President-elect: Jeremy Wolfe; Representative to APA Council: Randy Engle; Members-at-Large:  Bob Cook and Nancy Dess.  Cowan thanked the following people who also were on the ballot:  Mark Bouton, Tom Zentall, Angelo Santi, and Peter Urcuioli.

 

Committee Chairs for 2009-2010: The new Fellows Chair is Lisa Savage; the new Awards Chair is Janet Duchek, and the new Program Chair is John Wixted.

Graduate Student Representative.  Angela AuBuchon, who officially begins her term the day after the convention will act as Graduate Student Representative during the convention.

II.  Secretary-Treasurer’s Report: Membership and Finances (Veronica Dark)

The following written report was distributed.

  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Secretary-Treasurer’s Report

APA Annual Convention

August 2009

1.Membership. The following table summarizes the membership in Division 3 for the past 8 years. Since 2002, the number of dues paying Members has declined.  The number of dues paying Fellows first increased, but then also began to decrease.  The drop in dues paying membership during the last year is larger than in the previous years.

The new Secretary-Treasurer has not fully explored the reasons behind the membership decline nor taken advantage of APA resources to increase membership.  

The number of student affiliate members, based on available annual reports, is shown in the following table. The numbers reported for 2006-2009 only include the student affiliates who joined the Division in the 7 years prior to the reporting year (i.e., 2002 for 2009). It isn’t clear what criteria were used in reporting numbers for the years 2002-2005.  Of the 74 in the data base, only 59 have current email addresses.

Between August 2008 and July 2009, 5 new members and 4 student members were accepted into the Division. 

2.       Finances. Division 3’s income is derived primarily from annual membership dues as well as interest and dividends on investments. The interest for 2009, however, is about 0.6% on long-term investments.  Membership dues for 2009 were $17 for members, fellows and associates. No dues are charged to student affiliates. The dues were raised to $15 at the August 2008 meeting of the Executive Committee, however, because of a mistake at APA, members were charged $17.  When APA made the Division Secretary-Treasurer aware of this mistake, the Executive Committee decided after email discussion to let the error stand and to keep the dues assessment for 2010 at $17.  The following table summarizes the financial data from January 2003 to June 2009. The Division continues to be in good financial health. Overall, the net assets at the end of December increased by about $8574 from 2003 to 2008.

3.        

*to end of June 2009

In 2007, $1000 for travel expenses for a graduate student representative was added to the budget.  In 2008, the budget for APA expenses for the Secretary-Treasurer were increased to $1000.  APA registration has also increased to $275.  The following table shows that the estimated expenses for 2009 are over $8500. This amount is greater than our net income for 2009. However, the actual expenses incurred tend to be lower than the potential total amount because not all eligible expenses are fully claimed. However, we do have three award recipients attending this year's convention, which substantially increases the expenses.  In addition, we have more than the "budgeted" 15 speakers.  If expenses actually exceed income for 2009, action to increase income may be needed.

*for each recipient

Respectfully submitted,

Veronica J. Dark

Secretary-Treasurer                                                                              

The continuing decline in membership was discussed.  Among the points raised were that all the science divisions are losing members, that we might do a better job recruiting members among other science divisions, that we consider targeting fellows in other divisions, that we might more actively recruit among Psychonomics members by pointing out that APA is powerful and that Division 3 lobbies APA to keep Science issues in mind when APA lobbies Washington, DC.

III. Approval of Dues Assessment for 2010

The Executive Committee formally approved its email discussion setting dues at $17.

IV. APA Council Representative's report (Manny Donchin)

Cost cutting measures are a main discussion item.  Nothing is considered sacred.  For example, doing away with early career discounts in dues is on the table.  Also on the table is cutting the $60,000 that APA gives to U of Akron to maintain the Archives of Psychology down to $20,000.  Science conferences will not be funded.  APA is creating a strategic plan with a mission statement.  Discussion suggested that the role of the scientific method as the only path to knowledge should be the main focus of such a document.

V. Visit from APA Science Directorate

Sangeeta Panneker and Howard Kurtzman of the Science directorate arrived at 5:30 and the floor was given to them.  Among the issues they discussed were that President Bray had appointed a task force to determine why Psychology sometimes is and sometimes is not included among STEM discipline programs in Washington.  The directorate has established a Committee on Human Research and is seeking nominations.  Because of budget cuts, some people have been laid off and some programs are being cut.  The Task Force Report on Psychology and Global Climate Change emphasizes psychology's role as a basic applied science.  There is an indication that the new NIH chair would like to have a basic behavioral research program.  Cowan noted that Division 3 hoped to use CE credits to disseminate information to other fields but that these credits were not part of the CE advertising and that some of the Science Directorate pamphlets/advertisements limited the number of  Division 3 sessions that could be included.  Kurtzman stated that he will contact both the CE and Convention offices.  The visitors left at 6.

VI. Program Chair’s Report (Emily Elliott)

Elliot noted that attendance at the first day sessions was very good.  Several commented on the strength of the program.  Elliot noted that if the CE credits turn out to be a success, then the Division will need to be more proactive about completing the paperwork to get the credits authorized for its sessions. 

VII. Newsletter Editors’ Report (Kristi Multhaup & Mark Faust)

The written report was distributed.

Newsletter Editors' Report to Division 3 Executive Committee

August 3, 2009

There are 2 issues, each with action items for the Divisions leadership.

 
(1) PROBLEM TRACKING MEMBERS E-MAIL ADDRESSES
This has been an issue ever since Mark and I moved the newsletter to an electronic format in January 2004. At the fall 2008 meeting of Division 3 leadership at Psychonomics, we left with the task of discussing the issue with Steve Breckler in the hopes that the Science Directorate could be helpful.

 

Steve replied that "APA is keenly aware of the need and value in keeping current email addressess for our members, and we share those with Divisions.  The problem is the one facing everyone -- we remind members, we plea with them, and still many either don't provide email addresses or fail to keep them current. One approach that we can certainly use with Div 3 is to provide mailing labels for all Div 3 members, or a subset of them for whom we do not have email addresses, so that an old-fashioned postcard can be sent asking them to update their membership records with APA.  If they do that, then better emails will be available for you.  But please know that our Division Services Office is always happy to share your own members' email addresses with you (as we have them on record)."

 

Steve passed along our concern to Keith Cooke in Division Services who offered the same advice. He will (a) be speaking with Nancy Moore, Executive Director of the Governance Directorate, about strategies for APA to more efficiently collect and update e-mails from APA members, and (b) send Division 3s secretary and newsletter editor updated e-mail lists quarterly at no charge.
 
ACTION ITEMS FOR DIVISION 3 LEADERSHIP ON ISSUE (1):
(a) Do we have the money to send postcards to Division 3 members for whom we do not have an accurate e-mail address? According to Stevie Wilson in printing services, for 200 postcards, it is 12 cents per sheet of 4 cards or $6.00.  Applying labels is 4.5 cents each or $9.00.  And postage is 17 cents each for third class non-profit rate or $34.00.  That's a total of $49.00.  There's no charge for the files or labels now or anytime you'd like them.
(b) Keith Cooke is willing to compare our e-mail distribution list file with what APA has, but it will cost us $18/hour for his time. Roughly 3 or 4 years ago Randy Engle had a couple of his graduate students track down address of Division 3 members by checking web sites and the like. The newsletter editors do not have assistants who could do this work does someone who is part of Division 3 leadership have assistant time available?  In the event we go with APA to do this work, Keith's more detailed response is as follows "I have no idea how to estimate the number of hours it would take.  It seems like it would be pretty tedious and time-consuming.  Can you tell me more about the file you have and what's in it names, addresses, emails?  Does it have APA membership numbers?  That would go a long way toward being able to do it by computer.  Without the numbers, it's not very dependable because of the various forms of names and addresses.  I can check with the computer dept and see if they can do something automated if you want to send the file along.  But I don't feel like we can put those emails in member records here unless members have authorized that.  That is something I would need to take to my boss or others higher up since we are talking about APA member records.  Maybe I could keep another file for you outside of the database for you?"  NOTE that we do NOT have member numbers in our files so this will indeed be time-consuming.

(2) TRANSFER OF NEWSLETTER EDITOR AND WEB SITE MANAGER DUTIES
 When we started as Division 3 newsletter editors, our charge was to transition the newsletter to an electronic format. The September 2009 newsletter will complete 6 years of our digital editing work (2004-2009), and Marks service as Webmaster and in maintaining the List-serv is almost as long. As the Division 3 Board discussed in November 2008, the likely next steps for Division 3 to reach out to younger members will be the newest communication formats (e.g., Facebook, Twitter). Establishing a presence there was placed on our long-term to-do list, but upon reflection we believe the better strategy is to seize this as a great opportunity to recruit energetic young members who have expertise in these new communication formats. Moreover, this could be used as an opportunity to recruit numerous young people to be active in Division 3 (e.g., different people could work on the newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, and maintaining the list-serv).

We have enjoyed interacting with the Division leadership over the past 6 years. We have admired your scholarship; now we also admire your passion for promoting the science of psychology and your creative ideas to address difficult problems. Indeed, we will miss our regular interactions with the leaders of our science, but it is time for us to step down and transfer the editorial, web, and list-serv responsibilities to new people.
 
ACTION ITEM FOR DIVISION 3 LEADERSHIP ON ISSUE (2):
Identify newsletter editor(s) and web master(s) who will take over those responsibilities, and identify point-persons for new electronic communication formats (e.g., Facebook, Twitter). We, of course, will complete the September 2009 newsletter. We are willing to complete the March 2010 and even the September 2010 newsletters if recruitment is problematic, but in many ways sooner transition is better than later (Kristi has a spring 2010 sabbatical).
 
Respectfully submitted,
Kristi Multhaup & Mark Faust, Division 3 newsletter editors (Mark is also the Division web-master & maintains the list-serv)

 

The board expressed much appreciation for the service of the current Editors.  Miller will write a piece for the September newsletter asking for nominations for replacements.

VIII.. Graduate Student Representative’s Report (Angela AuBuchon)

A Division 3 Facebook Page has been created.  Everyone is invited to join.  AuBuchon noted that there are a number of mentoring events for students at APA but that much of the programming is geared toward professional issues.  She noted that students often are hesitant to approach faculty and presenters at conference and she encouraged all members of the Executive Committee to talk to students when they see them. 

IX. Fellows Chair's Report (Mike Young)

Division 3 forwarded six names to APA Council, who will decide on Sunday.

X.  Awards Chair Report (Michael Beran)

The Awards Chair Report was inadvertently skipped.  The award winners were approved by the Executive Committee in March and notified by the Awards Chair.  The Awards will be presented at the Business Meeting on Saturday.

XI.  Other Business

Support for CARE mentoring (Nancy Dess).  Dess urged continued Division support for the CARE mentoring programs.  There was general agreement.  No specific action was taken.

Electronic Voting (Veronica Dark).  APA has introduced electronic voting for the presidential elections and will allow Divisions to have electronic voting in the future.  Dark passed out proposed changes to the by-laws to allow Division 3 voting on the APA website.  The Executive Committee approved the changes.  Mail ballots regarding the changes will be sent out to the membership for approval.

Recognizing 50 Years. (Nelson Cowan) The Executive Committee authorized a donation of $100 to Psychonomic Society to help fund its  50^th anniversary celebration.

APA Speaker's List. (Manny Donchin) The Executive Committee authorized posting of the list on the Division website.  Fellows of the Division may want to be added to the list.

Good of the Order.  Hollis noted that Bruce Overmeier's invited address at 10 on Friday was not on the Division 3 & 6 program summary.  Given Bruce's contributions to the Division, she encouraged attendance.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50.

Respectfully submitted,

Veronica J. Dark

Secretary-Treasurer, Division 3