Mar.1, 2001

Submitted by Ted Goodman
Goodman@columbia.edu
Tel: 212-854-8907
Fax: 212-854-8904

I. Meetings attended
A. 2000 Pittsburgh Pre-Conference Meeting, March 16-17, 2000
B. 2000 Pittsburgh Post-Conference Meeting, March 22, 2000
C. CPAC meeting, Los Angeles, May 24-25, 2000
D. Executive Board Executive Committee Conference Call, July 17, 2000
E. 2000 Mid-Year Board Meeting, Toronto, Sept. 22-23, 2000
F. [Will attend 2001 Pre-Conference Meeting, Los Angeles, March 29, 2001]
G. [Will attend 2001 Post-Conference Meeting, Los Angeles, April 4, 2001]

VIII. DSRT Activities
A. Introduced myself at DSRT meetings in Pittsburgh
B. Mar. 28, 2001- communicated to RT moderators that in Los Angeles we might try meeting in a large ballroom to save on the number of meeting rooms.
C. Communicated in an UPDATE column (Dec. 2000) about the proliferation of splinter groups and suggested those moderators call for candidates in advance of LA to allow time for discussion.
D. Sent identical message as C. above to ARLIS-L in Feb. 2001.
E. Complied responses to the splinter group discussion that appeared on ARLIS-L for further Board action.

VI. St. Louis joint ARLIS/VRA Conference Activities
A. Mar. 2000-Met in Pittsburgh with St. Louis interested people to begin preliminary planning.
B. Apr. 2000-Appointed 1 ARLIS Local Arrangement Chair and 1 ARLIS Program Chair to work with one each from VRA.
C. May-Sept. 2000-email interactions with the St. Louis committee regarding numerous topics including prelim. schedule, possible tours, finances, the “jointness” of the conference and how to achieve it, development possibilities, chairs for exhibits, registration, etc. Also, the role and cost of Elizabeth Clarke & Assoc.
D. Dec. 2000-attended meeting hosted by Trudy Jacoby with Ann Whiteside (Pres., VRA) to discuss finances, etc. of the joint meeting.
E. Mar. 1-4, 2001-Attended VRA conference in Chicago and met with all conference co-chairs, VRA Executive Board, Trudy Jacoby and others to start serious planning.
F. [Will meet in Los Angeles with similar group]

VII. Nominating Committee
A. Actively participated in recruiting efforts for the 2001-2003 Executive Board.
B. [Will participate with the Nominating Committee in recruiting for 2002-2004 Board]

III. Committee Chair and Special appointments
A. Beginning in Feb. 2001 I appointed or reappointed 39 committee chairs and special appointments.
B. 2 Chairs resigned following their appointment, so I had to refill the vacancy.
C. I appointed new Board liaisons for each committee in Feb. 2001.
 

I began the year with the news that Adler Droz Inc. were not renewing their contract and we would be hiring a new management firm, Elizabeth Clarke Associates located in Canada. Naturally, there has been a steep learning curve for them as well as for us but the transition seems to have been effective. I participated in numerous discussions and emails during this transition.

The budget has been of intense interest during this year and I have reviewed Pittsburgh conference budgets, ARLIS/NA operating budgets, and Los Angeles conference budgets. Trudy Jacoby, Treasurer, and I have also begun thinking about the St. Louis conference budget.

Investments have also loomed large this year. Following unhappiness with the performance of our investments in individual stocks, bonds, etc., certain members of the Executive Board attempted to have ARLIS remove Warren Barnett & Co. as our investment advisors. This move was defeated and the investments continue to be of major concern. I was appointed the sole contact with Barnett after his insistence that he would not deal with our appointed liaison, Treasurer Trudy Jacoby. We have continued to lose money. An Executive Board Subcommittee on Finances and Investments consisting of Trudy Jacoby, Leslie Abrams and me will be making recommendations to the Board at the meeting in LA.

Communication with headquarters has also taken up my time this year and will continue to be of crucial importance next year. HQ is inundated with emails and phone calls, which they are not prepared to answer. A major focus of my term next year will be containing the “communications beast.”

I scheduled the upcoming CPAC and Mid-year Board meetings.

I am working with Debbie Kempe and Lou Adrean on the Leadership Breakfast for the LA conference.

I am putting together the agenda for the LA Post-conference Board meeting.

I want to thank Karen McKenzie, President, for including me in the decision-making processes during the year. I have been fortunate to have such a capable President who was willing to explain the reasoning behind decisions, the complexities of societal organization and the thoroughness with which a President must understand each component of the society. Thank you Karen!