Minutes of the ISBA Board Meeting - May 28, 2000PresentPhilip DawidAlicia Carriquiry John Geweke Valen Johnson Michael Evans Deborah Ashby Petros Dellaportas Alan Gelfand Edward George (as observer) Jay Kadane Luis Pericchi Sylvia Richardson Mark Steel
1. ApologiesMark BerlinerDani Gamerman Rob Kass Dalene Stangl 2. Report from the Executive Committee (Dawid)The Executive Committee met in the morning and discussed the items on the agenda for the Board Meeting.3. Reports from Officers and Committees3.1. Treasurer (Johnson)An account statement was provided indicating that ISBA had a surplusof $31K as of May 19, 2000.The Treasurer also indicated that it was his intention to improve the rate of return on these funds by placing about two-thirds of this in longer-term instruments. 3.2. Reports on ISBA2000Local Organizing Committee (Kokolakis)The Board received an oral report on the current position.Finance Committee for ISBA 2000 (Carriquiry)A partial report was provided on expenses and revenues. The meeting was well within budget and there would be a surplus to go into the ISBA Treasury. It was noted that 50 young people were provided with travel support money. This money came from NSF, Eurostat and ISBA funds. A final report will be available shortly.Programme Council Report (George)There were three committees involved with planning and organising ISBA2000. It was noted that there was no single individual with overall responsibility and this at times caused some problems. It was recommended that there be such an individual for future meetings.The next world meeting for ISBA will be in 2004. The Programme Council will be active in soliciting bids for location of the meeting. Discussion of Report from Scientific Committee for ISBA 2000The Board expressed strong satisfaction with the organisation and quality of the meeting. The Board thanked Mike West for his extensive work. It was also suggested that the deadline date for the next meeting be a bit later in the year for the convenience of potential presenters.3.3. Report from the Publications Committee (Geweke)The Board thanked the Newsletter Editor Fabrizio Ruggeri for producing an excellent series of Newsletters. It was agreed that he would be asked to continue his term until December 2001. It was also recommended that the process of looking for his successor be initiated.It was also decided that the term of the Webmaster be regularised, as with the newsletter, but no specific term was decided on. An essay, or essays, on Bayesian inference, suitable for a general audience, will be sought for publication on the Website. Further, ISBA members would be encouraged to submit links to sites containing material that would prove useful to the ISBA community. It was decided that the ad hoc Publications Committee will be disbanded as of December 2000. This will be replaced by a standing Publications Committee. There was some discussion concerning publication venues for papers presented that ISBA 2000. These can be published in a volume produced by the ASA's Section on Bayesian Statistical Science. Also these can be published in a volume of papers for this conference alone which will be produced by Eurostat. This volume will be edited and refereed. A copy will be sent to all conference participants. 3.4. Constitution and By-laws Committee (Kadane)This was discussed under item 5.3.5. Executive Committee (Evans)The following motion was passed:"To investigate the possibility of implementing online voting for ISBA elections." 3.6. Past President (Geweke)It was suggested that there be annual meetings of the Executive Committee. The following motion was passed:"Members' expenses for the annual meetings of Executive Committee be covered by ISBA subject to Board approval." 3.7. President's Report (Dawid)The issue of Chapter activities was discussed. Currently these are not following the rules. The high level of activity of the Chilean Chapter was noted and discussed. Annual reports from the Chapters will be requested.4. Matters Arising, Not on the AgendaNone.5. Constitutional IssuesThe ISBA is now incorporated in Iowa, at the cost of $250. Liability for officers is now limited. Jay Kadane noted that since the incorporation there is a requirement that the old constitution be passed by the Board so that it once again has legal force in governing the activities of ISBA. The following motion was passed:"The Constitution of the International Society for Bayesian Analysis forms the basis for the operations of the incorporated International Society for Bayesian Analysis." The following motion was passed: "The Board of Directors can vote via e-mail on motions put to the Board." An election was held amongst the suggested names for membership of the Nominating Committee for the next ISBA general election. The President would approach those elected concerning their willingness to serve. The current Constitution and By-laws Committee is involved in drawing up a set of suitable by-laws and will report shortly. This ad hoc committee will be reconstituted as a standing committee in September. 6. Programme and Meeting IssuesIt was recommended that the Programme Chair be renamed the Programme Council Chair. This was agreed to. It was also suggested that ISBA provide support to various meetings as an endorsement only. This was agreed to. Further it was agreed that ISBA needs a logo. A competition will be announced at this meeting with a prize for submission of the winning logo.7. Savage FundThe following motion was passed:"The ISBA is willing to take over the administration of the Savage Fund." The Constitution and By-laws Committee will determine how this will work. 8. Publication IssuesIt was suggested that the Newsletter be renamed. Several candidate names were discussed. This issue will be taken up with the current editor. Alicia Carriquiry has been talking with Rob Kass who has enquired as to whether or not ISBA would like to take over the publication of the Invited Case Studies series as part of a more general ISBA Journal. General discussion ensued concerning the character of such a publication. The following motion was passed:"A committee will be constituted to consider the publication of an ISBA Journal" 9. General MeetingThere was some discussion concerning what items would be raised at the General Meeting.10. Any Other BusinessIt was noted that the Mitchell Award will be announced at the banquet.The issue of renewal of membership was discussed. The Treasurer indicated that he will undertake action to try and ensure a more regular renewal procedure. Alan Gelfand indicated the willingness of the SBSS to co-operate with the ISBA in joint ventures. |