Tinsley Davis, who many of you know as our superb workshop organizer, has joined the staff of NASW in the new position of associate executive director. This a major step for NASW in our effort to properly manage the complicated day-to-day operations of our increasingly professional and active organization.
Governance
Acting NASW president Lee Hotz called the meeting to order at 8:10 am. He noted that this would have been Laura Van Dam's last meeting as NASW president, had she not died this spring. "It occurred to me last night during the Science Cabaret how much Laura would have appreciated the energy and joy that was circulating." He asked for a moment of silence in her memory.
The NASW membership met at 9 a.m. Sun., Oct. 22, 2005, during the NASW workshop in Pittsburgh, Pa. About 75 people attended, despite the early hour. Could it have been the free breakfast?
An estimated 80 NASW members attended the news-filled annual membership and business meeting on February 16, 2005, in the Cafritz Conference Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The meeting commenced shortly after 5 p.m., at the conclusion of the best-attended NASW workshops ever.
The annual membership/business meeting, on Feb. 14, 2004, was attended by an estimated 150 NASW members packed into a meeting room in the Seattle Convention Center. The topic of the day was the NASW board's decision to separate the NASW national conference from the annual meeting of the American Association of the Advancement of Science, beginning in 2005
At the annual business meeting in Denver on February 15, the NASW board announced plans to dip into the $203,183 we have tucked away in savings, money market accounts, mutual funds, and certificates of deposit. According to the 2003 budget, approved by the board, the organization will draw off approximately $35,000 from its reserves in the coming year.
We are raising dues. That was the decision made at the NASW annual business meeting in Boston on February 16. At the board's recommendation, the members present agreed to raise annual dues for the organization's 2,360 regular members from $60 to $75. Dues for its 250 student members will rise from $15 to $25. There was one dissenting vote.
NASW President Paul Raeburn opened the meeting by presenting certificates of appreciation to Carol Rogers, Dennis Meredith, Earle Holland, Rick Borchelt, and Mary Knudsen for their tireless volunteer work on behalf of the organization. All completed long service on the board of directors.
President Joe Palca opened the meeting by calling on Treasurer Deborah Blum to present some good news. Deborah reported that the organization had a budget surplus of $20,032 in 1999. Total funds, including operating budget, checking account, money market and CDs, totaled $216,792; half of which is now held in cash reserve. This is quite a difference from the days when NASW typically operated at a deficit.
President Joe Palca announced that the new NASW constitution had been approved.