MINUTES OF THE 1994 USNC/URSI COMMISSION F BUSINESS MEETING

National Radio Science Meeting

University of Colorado at Boulder

Boulder, Colorado

January 5, 1994

1. The meeting was opened at 5:00 p.m. by Chairman Julius Goldhirsh. Ernie Smith moved that the minutes of the January 6, 1993 meeting be approved. The motion was seconded and it was passed unanimously.

2. USNC/URSI Commission F affiliation with IGARSS/AP-S: Julius Goldhirsh reported that International Commission F asked USNC/URSI Commission F to review last years decision of withdrawing our participation in IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (IGARSS) meetings. He outlined a new proposal for supporting IGARSS in the even years starting with 1996:

* Discourage point to point propagation papers

* Encourage remote sensing papers

* Ensure adequate representation on the IGARSS Organizing Committee

In addition to the 1996 IGARSS support, the proposal included support to co-sponsor the 1996 AP-S meeting (Baltimore, MD, 21-26 July: Julius Goldhirsh is the Chairman of the USNC/URSI Steering Committee for this meeting).

This proposal generated considerable discussion from the floor. Ernie Smith asked about financial returns. Ed Westwater pointed out that in previous IGARSS meetings the IGARSS sessions had formal papers while the URSI sessions had only abstracts. Julius Goldhirsh noted that there were no IGARSS representatives attending the USNC meeting. Juergen Richter mentioned that for the 1994 IGARSS there is no separation between URSI and IGARSS sessions and that he considers the meeting a joint enterprise. Richter also suggested that we track the 1994 IGARSS meeting to see how the current relationship works out. Julius Goldhirsh reiterated that URSI could lose its identity in the sense that URSI meetings are an excellent forum for "hot off the press" results whereas the IGARSS meeting tends toward discussions of work completed. Wolf Vogel moved that the proposal be adopted for 1996. Julius Goldhirsh indicated that the proposal was to extend beyond 1996. Juergen Richter made a point that the URSI logo is on the IGARSS Call for Papers that is distributed to about 10,000 people. He moved for approval of the proposal as it stands. Vogel seconded the motion. The proposal was passed with no objections.

3. Membership Committee report: Al Gasiewski reported that the membership committee had received four nominations:

* Dr. James A. Smith, NASA Goddard

* Dr. J. Vivekanandan, NCAR

* Dr. Francis J. Turk, Colorado State University

* Dr. Qing-Huo Liu, Schlumberger-Doll Research

Al Gasiewski reviewed each nominee's qualifications; a motion to accept was put forth and seconded. Each nominee was accepted as a member by unanimous vote.

Thomas Seliga brought up the fact that two other nominations were supposed to be on the agenda. It was agreed that Thomas Seliga could present these nominations. The nominees were:

* Prof. K. Aydin, Pennsylvania State University

* Prof. V. N. Bringi, Colorado State University

A motion to accept each nominee was put forth and seconded. Each nominee was accepted as a member by unanimous vote.

4. Member at large: Julius Goldhirsh requested a nomination to be presented to USNC for consideration as member at large. Ernie Smith nominated Al Gasiewski. Bob Crane seconded the nomination. Gary Brown nominated Louis Wetzel and the nomination was seconded. The members present voted by a show of hands. Al Gasiewski was selected as the nominee. Julius Goldhirsh was directed to present Al Gasiewski to the USNC for consideration as member at large.

5. Questions raised at USNC meeting (4 Jan 1994):

A. Julius Goldhirsh reported that USNC is concerned with the number of "no-shows" at meetings. For example, at the last URSI/AP-S meeting (Ann Arbor) there were 71 no-shows (people who had submitted a paper but who were not there to deliver the paper) and that most of these were affiliated with URSI. Floor discussions considered

* Requiring registration fee with submission of abstract

* Do nothing about no-shows

* Have session chair write a letter to each

presenter reminding them of their obligation

to attend the meeting and present their paper

By unanimous voice vote the members present decided that the session chair should write a letter to each presenter reminding each of their obligations.

B. Julius Goldhirsh reported that USNC is concerned that so few women are in the commissions. He proposed that USNC/URSI Commission F actively seek qualified professional women for consideration as members. The proposal was so moved and seconded. By unanimous voice vote, the members present approved the proposal.

C. Julius Goldhirsh reported that USNC has a perception that attendance at the annual URSI meeting has been falling off and to remedy the perceived situation USNC has proposed revamping the meeting format. Specifically, USNC has suggested a format of

* 1st Day: Tutorial sessions (all commissions)

* 2nd Day: Expanded plenary sessions

* 3rd Day: Contributed papers

* 4th Day: Contributed papers

Considerable discussion was generated. Members present generally disagreed with USNC perceptions that attendance was falling off. Julius Goldhirsh proposed that the format of the annual URSI meeting be left as is. A motion to vote on the proposal was made and seconded. By unanimous voice vote, the members present approved the proposal to keep the existing annual URSI meeting format.

D. Julius Goldhirsh reported that the USNC would like to have an advisory vote on the question of "are members tired of coming to Boulder for the annual URSI meeting?" Issues of weather, time of year, location, and logistic support were discussed on the floor. A motion to vote on the question was made and seconded. By voice vote, the members present unanimously agreed that they are not tired of coming to Boulder for the annual URSI meeting.

E. Julius Goldhirsh reported that the USNC would like each commission to examine its requirements for maintaining membership status. Julius Goldhirsh reported that the bylaws governing membership status require attendance at a business meeting at least once in three years. Ross Stone observed that the bylaws do not specifically call out the requirement of attendance at a business meeting. Bob Crane pointed out that each commission does not have to follow the bylaws and can set its own requirements for membership status.

Julius Goldhirsh proposed discussion on a "letter of interest." This letter of interest would be sent to each member who has not participated in an USNC/URSI meeting for three years. It would inform the non participating member of the requirement to contribute to USNC/URSI. Further, the letter would inform the member that the member will be placed on an inactive list if the member does not attend a USNC/URSI meeting within the next year. He also proposed discussion on the question of whether authorship or co-authorship on a paper in three years would satisfy membership requirements.

Thomas Seliga requested that consideration be given to procedures for reactivating members; If a member becomes inactive for a period of time there should be an easy mechanism to reactivate the member. He suggested that a member placed on the inactive list submit a letter requesting a change in status from inactive to active. He further suggested that the request for a change in status be acted on at the next business meeting following receipt of the request.

A motion was made to take a vote on maintaining membership status in Commission F in the following manner:

The status of an active member will be examined when the member does not participate in a Commission F meeting for three consecutive years. At the end of the three year period, a letter of interest will be written to the member informing the member of the requirement to contribute to Commission F. If the member does not participate in a Commission F meeting within the next year the member's status will be changed from active member to inactive member. An inactive member will not receive mailings relating to Commission F activities.

The status of an inactive member will be examined when the member writes a letter indicating that the member would like to change status from inactive to active. The request for a change in status will be brought up at the next business meeting following receipt of the letter and reinstatement will occur by majority vote of the members present.

The motion was seconded and a voice vote was taken. The proposed procedure for maintaining active membership in Commission F was unanimously accepted by the members present.

6. Other business.

A. Julius Goldhirsh announced that anyone interested in a "Spectrum Utilization Committee" contact R. Riemer for details.

B. Ross Stone requested help in editing and compiling the next "Review of Radio Science."

C. Ernie Smith requested nominations for Chairman of the URSI Junior Scientist Award Committee. Wolf Vogel nominated Bob Crane, the nomination was seconded and unanimously passed by voice vote.

7. The meeting was adjourned by Julius Goldhirsh at 6:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by,

K.D. Anderson, Secretary

USNC/URSI Commission F

FUTURE COMMISSION F MEETINGS:

ATTENDEES, COMMISSION F BUSINESS MEETING, 5 JANUARY 1994

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