Attendees:
Executive Committee: Greg Campbell (RAB Chair), Marie Davidian (President-Elect), Tim Gregoire (President), Kathy Hoskins (Executive Director), Ralph Kodell (Treasurer), Sharon-Lise Normand (Secretary), Carol Redmond (Past-President)
Others: Karen Bandeen-Roche, Lynne Billard, Mary Foulkes, Beth Gladden, Peter Imrey, Lisa LaVange, Walter Piegorsch, Alicia Toledano, Linda Young

1. Introduction (Tim Gregoire)

   Tim opened the Business Meeting at 5:35pm, giving a brief verbal agenda. The Business Meeting minutes from the 2003 Spring Meeting in Tampa were distributed. Tim introduced ENAR Treasurer Ralph Kodell.

2. Treasurer's Report (Ralph Kodell)

   Ralph summarized ENAR's financial status (Appendix B), indicating we were generally in good shape when comparing revenues and expenses. He noted we incurred an extra expense due to acceptance of American Express and, because we have already overspent website maintenance (projected $3000), the Executive Committee voted to increase the amount to $5000. Ralph reported a respectful net revenue from the 2003 Tampa meeting, specifically noting the record-high revenues from exhibits and sponsorships. Lastly, Ralph indicated that although membership is dropping, ENAR is fiscally healthy. Mary Foulkes inquired whether the budget anticipated a drop-off in membership and Ralph indicated that indeed the budget accounted for a decline in membership as well as a dues increase. Ralph indicated attendance at meetings is not dropping although membership has been dropping. Tim noted that this was the end of Ralph's term and thanked him.

3. Upcoming Meetings (Tim Gregoire)

   Tim updated the members regarding the 2004 Spring Meeting to be held in Pittsburgh, PA, indicating everything is on target (the invited and educational programs). Tim reminded the members that the deadline for contributed talks is November 15. The 2005 Spring meeting will be held in Texas, the 2006 meeting in New Orleans, and possibly Miami in 2007. Tim asked Greg Campbell if he wanted to add anything from RAB. Greg had nothing to report from RAB that had not already been covered.

4. IBS News (Tim Gregoire)

   Tim updated the members regarding the changes in IBS leadership: Geert Molenberghs will become President of IBS in January 2004. Tim reported that Louise Ryan updated RAB/RECOM regarding the 2004 IBC that will be held in Australia. He noted that the 2006 IBC will be held in Montreal, Canada, at the McGill university campus.

5. COPSS (Carol Redmond)

   Carol reported by December 31, 2003, Linda Young will assume Chair of this Committee and Karen Bandeen-Roche will assume the position of Secretary/Treasurer) in 2004. Three ENAR representatives need to be named to populate three award committees by October 1 (Fisher, Snedecor, and Scott award). Descriptions of the awards may be found on the COPSS website. Carol also reported on a proposal to rename the COPSS 'president award' to the 'Tukey award'. However, the decision was made to have a new award and ENAR will be asked to provide a candidate for that committee. Tim indicated that virtually all societies (except IMS whose membership is 3500) have observed a decrease in membership yet no decrease in attendance at meetings. Linda Young wondered whether the IMS membership increase is due to students. Tim reported that ENAR will gather more demographic information so we can track who is and is not attending. Greg Campbell suggested that IBS might increase student membership using a plan like IMS - give student members the journal Statistical Science for $6.00. It was conjectured by one member that IMS may be capturing international people. Lisa LaVange indicated we should think of what we offer our membership. Younger people may believe that most journals are available electronically; hence, the societies need to think about this. Lyne Billiard suggested that the workshop and tutorials are the main draw to members.

6. JSM Contract (Tim Gregoire)

   Tim reported that he, Jane Pendergast, and Marie Davidian attended a meeting regarding the renewal. Tim next reported on the main points of the current draft contract. First, the five current partners will remain official partners although some new partners may be asked to join. Note that official partners get some share of revenue. Second, if the contract is ratified, it is in place for 6 years and every 3 years renewed automatically. Third, a 5-year advance notice must be given if a partner drops-out. Fourth, the ASA is the managing partner and, hence, responsible for managing the meeting. There will be a committee on meetings that will be advisory to the ASA Board. Fifth, ENAR and WNAR are jointly allotted 15 invited sessions. There is no penalty if these sessions are not filled. Sixth, ENAR will get a fixed amount of revenue [average of previous 7 JSMs - $11,200 for ENAR for each of the next three years. The JSM partners will review the amounts the partners receive every three years, and if a partner requests, the amounts will be renegotiated. Tim concluded by saying that all of ENAR's concerns were addressed and he would ratify the contract. Walter Piegorsch urged ENAR to view the fifteen invited sessions as a total, rather than half for ENAR and half for WNAR. This will strengthen the relationship between the two groups. Allotment of sessions with WNAR will take effect in 2005. Linda Young questioned whether there should be more people involved in the JSM invited program , such as an advisory committee to the ENAR JSM. She noted that the ENAR spring meeting has 30 invited sessions and a huge program committee.

7. Other Business
   1. Increase in Registration Fee (Tim Gregoire)
      The Spring Meeting fee will increase from $170 to $180 for regular members; there will be an increase of 10$ for non-members; and there will be no increase for students.

   2. Michigan Initiative (Tim Gregoire)
      Tim described a proposal received by ENAR from Jeremy Tayler. The proposal requests funding from ENAR to cover the cost of travel and Midwest conference registration for a faculty member from the University of Michigan Department of Biostatistics so that the faculty member can recruit math majors into biostatistics. Because of the regional emphasis of ENAR, we declined the request but indicated that ENAR was willing to receive a broader proposal.

   3. Federal Advisory Committees (Tim Gregoire).
      Tim summarized the need of statisticians voiced by Mary Foulkes. The Federal Advisory Committees are very large and active, and that statisticians are mostly involved in FDA or NIH. Mary requested that ENAR respond to the federal register notices for nominations. ENAR should have a mechanism that permits rapid responses to such notices. Tim indicated that ENAR is sympathetic and referred the matter to RAB.

   4. American Association for the Advancement of Science (Karen Bandeen-Roche)
      Karen informed the attendees that a session on the hormone replacement therapy controversy has been accepted as a symposium. The 2005 AAAS meeting will be in Washington, DC, and people should submit proposals. Karen alerted the attendees that there is an effort to nominate fellows to AAAS. There is a quota for fellowship nominations and, given statistician membership is small, the statistics fellows quota is also small.

   5. Other Business (Lynne Billard)
      Lynne announced she has received funding for the 2004 IBC in the amount of $23,000. The money is targeted to young investigators. She raised a concern about a lack of integration with ENAR and suggested ENAR have a representative involved.