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SCB 2000 BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES: NEWS, UPDATES, AND MEMBER SERVICES

SCB's annual business meeting was held on 11 July 2000 in Missoula, Montana.

Chief Financial Officer Stephen Humphrey reported that SCB's financial situation is strong. This year, we expect to receive $1.1 million in revenue and to have $1 million in expenses. Thus, our revenue will exceed our expenses by approximately $100,000. Our endowment currently stands at about $400,000. However, SCB's new publication, Conservation Biology in Practice, will be a considerable source of expenditures for the next several years (e.g., $180,000 in 2000, $250,000 in 2001). We have successfully raised outside funds to help support the magazine, but even with optimistic subscription projections (7500 by 2005) we do not expect to be in the black until the magazine's fifth year of publication. The magazine's publisher, Blackwell, has agreed to assume our debt for the first five years; we will pay back the debt with profits at the end of the five-year period.

The Nominations Committee reported that five positions on the Board of Governors will be open in the 2001 election. SCB thanks the outgoing Board members whose terms expired in 2000 (Georgina Mace, Rick Knight, Kathy Ralls, and Steve Trombulak) and welcomes incoming Board members Bill Conway, Tom Fleishner, Gustavo Fonseco, and Jane Packard.

Membership dues will not be raised in 2001. On-line journal subscriptions will be 90% of the U.S. costs for paper subscriptions (see page 3). Members who wish to receive both on-line and paper copies of the journal will pay 110% of the U.S. paper-only cost. Note that on-line subscriptions are not archival: only active subscribers will have access to on-line issues of the journal.

The membership unanimously approved a revised version of SCB's Constitution and Bylaws. During the past several years, expansion of SCB missions and activities required piecemeal Bylaw revisions that resulted in an increasingly complex document. Therefore, the Board undertook a thorough revision. Major amendments included clarification of the composition of the Board of Governors, missions of ad hoc and standing committees, and procedures for solicitation and publication of policy statements.

Gary Meffe presented the Conservation Biology Editor's Report. Conservation Forum, a new feature, made its debut in October 2000. There will be three or four special sections in 2000-2001. Both Spanish and English abstracts are now on-line, and the Editorial Board now includes eight citizens of countries other than the United States. Meffe emphasized that he welcomes manuscripts on single species provided they have a larger conservation message and context. He also encourages submission of compelling editorials.

Kathryn Kohm, Editor of Conservation Biology in Practice, announced the launch of SCB's newest publication. The magazine is trying to create a new niche by serving as a trade publication that reaches out to professionals who are short on time but need information. The magazine has five partners (NGOs and U.S. governmental agencies) for the next five years. Two issues of the magazine will be published in 2000 (June and October). In 2001, four issues will be published. Eventually, the magazine staff hopes to publish six issues each year. Kohm welcomes suggestions for potential subscribers (mailing lists, meetings where the publication should be advertised, and so forth). Please subscribe to the magazine and encourage your colleagues to subscribe also!

Webmaster Alan Thornhill reported that as of May 2000, SCB's website received 135,000 connections per month, or approximately 625 people per day. At least 10% of the connections were international, representing about 50 countries. The jobs feature receives the greatest number of connections. A new feature, an experts directory, will be on-line soon. Each member will have the opportunity to place his or her profile in the directory and to determine their level of searchability. Executive Coordinator Alice Blandin reminded members that they can now renew on-line.

President-Elect Mac Hunter reported that active recruitment has resulted in a greater number of SCB committees with increased member participation (see page 20). Policy and education are among the largest committees. Hunter also noted that SCB now is subsidizing memberships for residents of developing countries (see page 3).

Policy Committee Chair Mike O'Connell reported that the committee will begin developing topics for SCB commissioned papers and providing guidance to the Board on current issues of policy in which SCB can engage effectively. The committee also will work with the Board during exploration of options for the Executive Office (see page 2) to ensure that SCB's role in both international and U.S. policy is optimized. The committee welcomes input from SCB members about its business and suggestions on topics for commissioned papers.

Sarah Reichard, Secretary

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