Minutes of the CSAM AGM – Tuesday August 24, 2004


Present: Jon Warland, Elizabeth Pattey, Dave Spittlehouse, Ian Strachan, Philippe Rochette, Nathalie Mathieu, Laura Wittebol, Sean McGinn, Ralf Staebler, Gord Drewitt, Elyn Humphreys, Terry Gillespie, Paul Bartlett, Brian Amiro, Gord Druit, Kai Morgenstern, Ivan Lee, Trevor Coates, Andy Black, Claudia Wagner-Riddle, Monique Leclerc

  1. Meeting called to order at 17:45

  2. Minutes (2003): PR discussed in detail.

    1. Follow up if Bob Sweetman has had a letter of appreciation written

    2. Minutes adopted. Moved: Dave S. Seconded: Claudia W.

  3. PR thanked Dave Spittlehouse and Jon Warland for organizing the meeting with AMS

  4. Campbell Sci Prize. Prize will be awarded after the meeting and publication will be made via website and e-mail. Approx 10 Canadian and 30 International students are presenting.

  5. Reorg. of AIC. PR pointed to summary in 2003 minutes. AIC will offer services to Societies for a fee (member lists, financial etc). Not appropriate for CSAM. AIC annual meetings will no longer be held. Possibly more focused meetings like Edmonton this year. Opinion is that we will continue our link as promised this year and next but re-evaluate after this with likelihood of discontinuing. Terry G. asked if joint meetings are no longer to be held. PR replied that CSSS was typical of desire to hold meetings not in concert with the agricultural societies. Dave S. suggested CMOS for us as per last year. PR also suggested ASA A3 division. Dave S. suggested ASA is a way of highlighting the CSAM name. PR: CSSS is holding sessions in the ASA and seems to work well. Dave S.: A3 wants to strengthen ties to AMS-AFM groups. B. Amiro and Claudia: AIC meetings had attendance declining and has been several years since all societies have met together

  6. Society Name Change. PR: two weeks notice has been made. Proposition to change name made by PR. Elizabeth asked if a French version of the proposition existed PR: replied yes and it was included in the motion. Brian A.: logo will need to be changed. PR: asked Jon to look after this. Jon: simply make changes to existing logo.

    1. PR: called for the vote. Passed unanimously by those present.

  7. President’s report:

    1. Most important activity of CSAFM is the annual meetings. Stated that he is impressed with the current meeting’s sessions.

    2. Constitution is now on the webpage.

    3. Students encouraged to become members – faculty should promote this. Try to get forest community to become members.

    4. Need to recall that plant ecophysiologists can contribute to the society and that the focus should not be entirely on Meteorology. Offer opportunities for everyone.

  8. Treasurer’s report: (read by Jon)

    1. withdrawls are from AIC dues – this will end with commitment to AIC

    2. deposits are from membership fees

    3. Rob G. suggested better investment. Brian A asked what is the reason for CSAFM to save Jon: without AIC, things may change and we may need savings. PR: save until there is an approved project. Dave S.: suggest ways to spend some of the surplus. Elyn H.: ING savings account 2.75%. Brian A: are there website costs? Jon: Guelph supplies this. Claudia: decision tied to where Annual meeting may be held in future PR: could be used to invite a keynote speaker. Brian A.: suggests making plans to spend down – this is an operating account not investment. Elizabeth P.: eventually raise dues to provide more income Paul B.: cautions that in future will not be able to provide student travel if surplus is gone PR: implement the suggested $7500 GIC and decide to spend $2500.

MOTION: Dave S.: “new executive make financial plan to address how to best use current resources and assess future needs and report back next year when a decision will be implemented” Seconded: Claudia Passed unan.

  1. Web editor:

    1. Jon: After Bob Sweetman retires, Jon will take on task of maintaining website.

    2. changes to name will be implemented

    3. Will URL change? Jon will check into this at Guelph.

  2. CJSS Associate Editor:

    1. Monique Leclerc: In 2003, she reviewed 4 m/s with 2 rejected; In 2004 it is approx the same. Would like to see higher impact factor, greater half life, greater Citation index. Difficult to get top reviewers if some of the submissions are sub-standard. Wants to get stats on journal perception. Suggests setting-up a sub-committee to address these issues. Decrease turn-around time; on-line submission; PDF summaries for each issue; Monique welcomes suggestions. Special issues; short communications; distinguished lectures; invited submissions. Dave S: does Soil Science in title cause lack of recognition? Monique: Two things in title. “Canada” = compare to Swedish journal Tellus – international recognition. What is the incentive to submit from foreigners? “Soil” = Agrees with Dave S.; Suggestion. FluxNet special issue on soil atmosphere exchange on CO2 – why not in CJSS?

    2. PR: after 8 years, not enough submissions. MYL is proactive in making more attractive. We as a group need to submit m/s. Do we feel that CJSS is not a good journal? Elizabeth: Soil is a drawback for Met persons. Brian: CJFR is known internationally. Canadian is not a problem. CMOS: Atmosphere-Ocean has a good name but is not widely used. PR: CJSS has been good to CSAM and have allowed 2 AE’s for AgMet.

    3. MYL: dilution of few met papers. Ian: suggested one issue per year that has AgMet exclusively. Issue a call for papers in advance. Brian: small community so not likely to have more than one issue. Terri: do we need such a Journal? since we already have avenues for dissemination. Brian: unless there is a good link to soil sci.

    4. Monique: ad hoc committee formed to evaluate and make suggestions. Solicit suggestions from the community. Claudia: likes idea of special issue – good fit; focus on a specific topic. ELizabeth: should we limit to CJSS or rather select an appropriate journal each year based on topic? don’t lock into CJSS

    5. PR: Sean, Monique, Elizabeth and Andy Black will form an ad hoc committee to address this; chaired by Monique – report back by year’s end

    6. NCGAVS special issues will be coming out next year

  3. Awards:

    1. Claudia read the nomination for Terry G. and PR presented the award

  4. Better promotion of student travel grant

    1. PR: use listserve to remind faculty; Elyn: make link on webpage; Ivan Lee had applied but never received an answer – decision to award post-conference

    2. Exec will be responsible to look after this

  5. Nominations for Executive 2004:

    1. PR read list of nominations

    2. PR agrees to do newsletter for a year

    3. Nominations passed unanimously

  6. Venue for 2005:

    1. CMOS is in Vancouver

    2. AMS Fire and Forest Met is in Banff in Sept. 05; probably need individ. sessions

    3. CSSS venue is unknown

    4. Plant Sci society?

    5. CGU possibility (Spring)

    6. Decision by mid-November made by Exec in concert with Brian Amiro

  7. PR passed the radiometer. Jon thanked PR for his service and Jon adjurned the meeting at 19:20