Minutes compiled by: Charles Chester

Note: As of this meeting, the organization is still constituted as the Massachusetts Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology (MassSCB). However, as the name change is imminent, these minutes generally use the name New England Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology (NESCB).

Approval of the last minutes

• Minutes from the last meeting were approved.

Dates set for next two meetings

• Tentative dates for the next two meetings were set on:
  • 15 January 2003, at Tufts University, MA (Charlie)
  • 14 May 2003, in Weston, MA (Lelia Orrell)

Name change

• Lisa updated the Board on the status of the name change. SCB sent out an announcement to the New England SCB membership regarding the name change. As of this meeting, only one person had responded (positively). The name change should be approved and final by next week.
• There was extensive discussion over the appropriate relationship between NESCB and SCB. The principal question debated was over the autonomy of the NESCB from SCB: should conflicts be dealt with proactively or reactively?
• Lisa wanted to know how we should prepare for a meeting with the new SCB Executive Director. Robert suggested that we focus on the fact that this should be a mutually supportive relationship; we would not be structuring ourselves as a chapter if there were no mutual benefits.
• To do: Charlie will inform Marsha that CP should have a disclaimer regarding opinions being solely of the author.

Conservation Science Network

• Charlie updated the group regarding conversations between himself and Jim Levitt, who has extensively studied the relationship between the Internet and conservation. Charlie noted that Jim had questioned the utility of a CSN, asking whether there were ways to “work around” a CSN—say by a Google search.
• The Board discussed this option; no decision was made, although it was agreed that Steven would continue working on software development for the CSN.

Board elections

• Lisa noted that the VP and CFO positions on NESCB’s Board coming up for election.
• To do: Stephen will send out a call for nominations as soon as we officially become NESCB. The announcement will also state that there are three open positions on the Board (legal, media and education). Lelia will then post nominations, and will manage responses to the election.

Financial report

• Becky gave the financial report. She will open an account under the new name. We are currently in the black by approximately $800.
• Charlie discussed potential development with a grantmaker
• To do: Charlie will begin contacts with the grantmaker.

CSN & Membership Coordinator’s report

• Stephen has been working on various lists of membership information into one combined file on FileMaker Pro. He is dividing the information into different categories according to membership. He counted 401 individuals in the database that are SCB members in New England. There is a list of 45 members who have been paid NESCB members in the past. There is nothing more searchable than personal information in the database. He conducted a test run of data inputting into FileMaker Pro successfully.
• Lisa requested Stephen to keep a record of what types of information requests we receive.
• To do: Stephen, Lelia, and Charlie will work together to set this up.

Upcoming events and meetings

• Salem State is planning EarthDay event for 14 April 2003. NESCB might hold Career Day event on that day.
• Lisa was contacted by Environmental Secretary Durand’s office. He is interested in speaking at one of our events. Lisa has followed up with them, but they have not contacted us. There was a discussion regarding topics.
• Climate change event. Robert said Mass Audubon might be interested in cosponsoring this event, which is planned for the same day as the next NESCB Board meeting.
• Lisa noted that a panel of shellfish will be held in late October.
• To do: Becky will contact Durand’s office. Charlie will contact Tom Lovejoy.

Annual Report

• Lisa is working on wrapping up an “all purpose” pamphlet/membership/multi-annual report. It is currently 12 pages long.
• There was discussion over the new proposed stationary, and approval with small changes.

Endorsing legislation

• There was discussion of whether and how NESCB should endorse legislation. No general agreement was come to.

Fundraising

Lelia showed a letter for a fundraiser that could be of use to NESCB.