The U.S. Federation for Culture Collections

Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Board

May 21, 1995, Washington, D.C.

The 1995 Meeting of the Executive Board of the United States Federation for Culture Collections was called to order at 1:05 pm by Stephen W. Peterson, President. Present were Carolyn Babcock, David Boone (Secretary), Bobby Brandon, Jennie Hunter-Cevera, George Garrity, Jay Grimes, Marianna Jackson, Shung-Chang Jong, Gina Koenig, Micah Krichevsky, Karen Kealy, Sally Meyer, Frank Simione, and Ellen Simon.
 

Minute 1. Approval of Minutes. The minutes of the 1994 Executive Board Meeting were approved unanimously. Micah Krichevsky wondered to which database the minutes referred as his, and stated that if this refers to the culture collections database, it is very old.

Minute 2. Treasurer's Report. Bobbie Brandon presented the Treasurer's report. We currently have a Merrill Lynch money market account whose value fluctuates with the market. Bobbie requested the establishment of an investment committee for advice. Jennie Hunter-Cevera moved formation of a finance committee, which was unanimously approved. The possibility of increasing the amount of the cash prize for the Porter Award was discussed, but the Board agreed unanimously that it should be kept at $1,000 for now. Jay Grimes moved the acceptance of the financial report, which was unanimously approved.

The methods used for bulk mailing were discussed. The Board agreed unanimously that we should use zip-code-sorted bulk mailing, but that it is not worthwhile to pursue non-profit status.

Minute 3. Approval of the 1995 Budget. The following budget for 1995 was discussed, and Sally Meyer offered a motion to accept the budget, which was approved unanimously:

• $2,000 Porter Award expenses, including a $1,000 prize and travel expenses for the recipient
• $5,000 Newsletter expenses (the current issue cost approximately $1,000 for 12 pages)
• $400 Arrangements for the Executive Board Meeting
• $400 Affiliation dues and other costs
• $100 Treasurer's office expenses
• $300 Secretary's office expenses
• $1,500 Expenses of the Program committee
• $500 Expenses in support of endangered collections
• $250 Membership solicitations
• $100 Publicity

Minute 4. Survey of the Future of Culture Collections. The NRC Commission on Life Sciences will do a survey of the future of culture collections. The Board was in agreement that the USFCC should play a part in this, and Steve Peterson agreed to contact that group.

Minute 5. Report of the Shipping and Regulations Committee. Frank Simione, the past chair, can no longer serve as chair of the Shipping and Regulations Committee. He is willing to recommend a new chair and facilitate the development of this committee. Jennie Hunter-Cevera proposed that this committee should be formed and that it should prepare a report to USFCC. The motion was approved unanimously.

Minute 6. Database Management Committee. The Database Management Committee has collected information on collections in the US. Micah Krichevsky described other projects he has proposed that include preparing a database of culture collections of newly independent states (in the former Soviet Union) and another to study microbial ecology of several southern hemisphere sites. The information on culture collections in the US would be useful for integration into these projects.

Minute 7. Report of the Representative to AIBS. Frank Simione reported that AIBS is developing a strategic plan to assist universities in ensuring continued studies in biodiversity.

Minute 8. Program Committee. Marianna Jackson reported on the following plans made by the Program Committee. A Roundtable is scheduled for the next general meetings of the Society for Industrial Microbiology (Tuesday, April 8, in San JosJ, the Roundtable topic is Describing Microbes for Patents). In 1996, she would like to have session at the ASM on Maintenance of Culture Collections. Perhaps the topic should include the issue of ownership of the cultures. For instance, if federal funds are used to develop a collection, who owns and who can sell the collection? The possibility of a weekend meeting next spring (possibly in Northern California) was discussed.

Minute 9. Nominating Committee. Jennie Hunter-Cevera reported on the activities of the Nominating Committee. Nominations for two new board members will be sent to the Secretary by June 10.

Minute 10. Editorial Committee. Alma Dietz reported her wish to retire from her committee. Jennie Hunter-Cevera proposed that Steve Peterson should contact the Society for Industrial Microbiology about sharing their publication resources for our publication of the Newsletter. We should establish an editorial board for the Newsletter, one that includes an internet-comfortable person. David Boone was asked to establish a home page and internet address.

Minute 11. Membership Committee. The Membership Committee has not been very active. Marianna Jackson volunteered to help get things going again. The Board agreed that the Membership Committee needs to be reinvigorated, hopefully with a Canadian co-chair.

Minute 12. Porter Award Nomination Committee. USFCC nomination committee has not been informed of all of the nominations, some of which go directly to ASM. We should be informed of these nominations in order to assure that there are appropriate candidates each year. Grimes proposes that the Nominating committee be dissolved and its functions incorporated into the Porter Award Selection Committee.

Minute 13. Porter Award Selection Committee. Ellen Simon reported on the selection of this year=s Porter Award, and suggested that next year the Porter Award Committees should be converted to standing committees.

Minute 14. Publicity Committee. Gina Koenig reported that she is preparing mailing lists and adverstising instructions. Biotechniques will advertise membership in USFCC for free.

Minute 15. Changes in By-Laws. David Boone reported on recommendations for changes in the By-Laws to allow the separation of the Treasurer and Secretary offices, and also to convert some of the language of the By-Laws to gender-neutral. Sally Ann Meyer moved to adopt the changes, which were unanimously approved.

Minute 16. Membership List. David Boone reported that he was nearing completion of corrections in the Membership List. The list should be published or included in the Newsletter.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:27pm.