AUGUST 1988 COUNCIL MINUTES AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL 7 AUGUST 1988 The Council met on 7 August 1988 at 5:10 PM in the Bacchante Room of the Omni Biltmore Hotel in Providence on the occasion of the Centennial Celebration of the Society. Members present were S. Armentrout, R. H. Bott, W. Browder, W. W. Comfort, R. G. Douglas, J. P. Gilman, R. K. Guy, R. J. Hughes, R. C. Kirby, I. Kra, H. B. Lawson, A. R. Magid, A. Marden, G. D. Mostow, F. P. Peterson, E. Pitcher, M. B. Pour-El, M. A. Rieffel, B. Simon, L. W. Small, H. M. Stark, J. E. Taylor, W. P. Thurston, K. Uhlenbeck, R. F. Williams, and C. S. Wood. Also present were L. K. Barrett, R. G. Bartle, R. M. Fossum, R. Gangolli, E. H. Heiser, K. M. Hoffman, A. Jackson, W. H. Jaco, J. E. Kister, M. C. Lane, W. J. LeVeque, J. W. Maxwell, J. W. Pelletier, J. A. Voytuk, and W. B. Woolf. President Mostow was in the chair. MINUTES 1.1 Minutes of 23 April 1988. The report of the auditors for the year 1987 was distributed with the minutes. That fact should have been noted. With this addition the minutes of 23 April 1988 were approved. COMMITTEES AND BOARDS 4.1 Progress in Mathematics. At the instigation of President Mostow, the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees proposed that a lecture series be initiated with the formal title Progress in Mathematics: AMS Lecture Series. It would begin with two (unrelated) lectures at Summer Meetings. A lecture could present to a general audience (rather than to specialists) a mathematical topic developed or coming into prominence within the last five years. The lecturer would ordinarily be different from the prime developers of the topic. The lecture in draft would be circulated in advance and the finished product would be published in the Bulletin. Published lectures could be accumulated in book form as well. Expenses of lecturers would be paid. It was proposed to begin this series with two lecturers at the Summer Meeting of 1989. Each lecture would cover an elapsed time of perhaps 80 minutes including a five minute intermission. To make room to schedule this new entry, the number of invited hour addresses would be reduced by two or three. In order to be able to proceed on the proposed schedule, President Mostow assembled the selection committee provisionally, subject to Council approval of the project. It consisted of Armand Borel, chairman, Paul H. Rabinowitz, John T. Tate, and Alan D. Weinstein. [Hugo Rossi was subsequently added.] The Council approved the new lecture series. The Council met briefly in executive session at a later time for the following item. 4.2 Nominations. The Secretary noted that Barry Mazur declined to be a candidate for vice-president and Jean Marie DeKoninck declined to be a candidate for the Committee to Monitor Problems in Communication. The Nominating Committee proposed the following additional candidates: Vice-President Melvin Hochster Member-at-large James H. Curry Michael C. Reed Editorial Committees American Journal David Gieseker Proceedings Palle E.T. Jorgensen Committee to Monitor Paul Nevai Problems in Comm. There was one proposed candidate for member-at-large who had offered petitions bearing at least fifty valid signatures: Melvyn S. Berger The Council made all the proposed nominations. 4.3 Committee on Election Scheduling. The Chairman of the Committee, William P. Thurston, had some comments about the work of the committee. There was no action. Remaining items on the agenda were not considered in the order listed on the agenda in order to fit the discussion with the scheduled dinner. 4.4 Structure of JPBM. The Committee on the proposed structure of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics reported and the report is attached. There is a letter of comment from the Executive Director attached. The Council approved Recommendation A with the proviso that the first elected representative serve for one year (1989) in order to establish the requisite staggering of terms. The Council tabled Recommendation B with the understanding that the Executive Director should continue to be a voting member. The Council endorsed Recommendation C. 4.4 Minority Participation. The Conference Board passed the attached resolution and commended it to its member societies. The Executive Committee recommended that the Council endorse the resolution and the Council did so. OLD BUSINESS 8.1 Bylaws Amendment. The Council of 23 April 1988 recommended amendment of Article VII of the bylaws making possible the establishment of the Editorial Boards Committee. In several places the word elect was used when it was otherwise the wish of the Council that the word be appoint. A copy of the proposed amendment is attached with the occurrences of this editorial change signaled. The Council approved the changes. NEW BUSINESS 9.1 AAAS Fellows. The Council tabled a proposal that the Society proceed to nominate fellows to AAAS more aggressively. A reason offered was that the Society was conducting discussions about programmatic arrangements with Section A of AAAS and arranging representation in other sections. Accordingly relations with AAAS would be clearer in another year. 9.2 Letter from S. Mac Lane. The attached letter from Saunders Mac Lane proposed several areas of possible useful activity by the Society that could be considered and initiated by the Council. The President agreed to refer matters in the letter to the Committee on Science Policy and to the Committee to Review Procedures of the Council in Considering Issues. 9.3 Letter from S. Lang. The attached letter from Serge Lang was both addressed to the Council and offered as a Letter to the Editor of the Notices. The Editorial Committee of the Notices was in the process of considering whether to publish it at the time of the Council meeting. The chairman of the Committee sought the reaction of the Council. The following points were noted: 1. So far as is known, the statement under discussion did not appear in the McGraw Hill Newsletter but in Science News. 2. Ken Hoffman is identified in the article as a professor at MIT and as a member of AMS, not as an AMS employee. 3. Hoffman denied that he made the statement that the reporter has attributed to him. The Council passed a motion to deny the request of Lang for action but encouraged the Editors of the Notices to publish the letter. A Letter to the Editor, offered in case the letter from Lang is published, is attached. INFORMATION AND RECORD 2.1 ECBT Minutes. The minutes of the meeting of 12-14 May 1988 are attached. 2.2 AAAS. Affiliation of the Society with Sections B (Physics), L (History and Philosophy of Science), Q (Education), and T (Information, Computing, and Communication) is being sought in accord with the general authorization from the Council of 23 April 1988. [In fact the affiliation with Sections L and Q has been completed.] 2.3 Information from the Committee on Science Policy. Dean Ronald G. Douglas, Chair of the Committee on Science Policy, offered two recent articles on science policy for Council information. They are attached. He also presented an oral report of which a summary is attached. 2.4 Eugene Gilbo. A letter from Professor Gilbo to President Mostow was presented to the Council. 2.5 Science Fair. Carol Wood reported to the Council on the participation of the Society in the judging and the award of prizes at the 39th International Science and Engineering Fair in May 1988. This was the first participation by the Society in what is planned as an annual event. The Council had recessed at 6:15 in order to allow for the taking of group pictures of the Council in recognition of the Centennial. When the Council went to dinner at 6:30, President Elect William Browder sought the indulgence of the President and the Council to call the meeting to order. 9.4 Resolution of Appreciation of Ruth Hahn. Robert Fossum offered the following resolution. The Council of the American Mathematical Society expresses its appreciation to Ruth Hahn for her eighteen years of service to the Society and in particular to the Council of the Society as secretary to the Secretary and wishes her well in her retirement at the end of the year. It was passed by acclamation. 9.5 Resolution of Thanks to G. D. Mostow. Robert Fossum offered the following resolution. The Council of the American Mathematical Society notes that this is the last meeting during which its President, G. D. Mostow, will be its presiding officer. Recognizing that he will continue to be a member of the Council, it nevertheless takes this opportunity to thank Professor Mostow for serving the Council and the Society as President for these last two years. It was passed by acclamation. 9.6 Resolution of Thanks to Frank T. Birtel. Robert Fossum offered the following resolution. The Council of the American Mathematical Society notes that Professor Frank Birtel will step down at the end of this calendar year after serving the Council for twelve years as Associate Secretary. With this resolution the Council expresses its gratitude for his devoted service to the Council and the Society. It was passed by acclamation. 9.7 Resolution of Thanks to William J. LeVeque. Robert Fossum offered the following resolution. Dr. William LeVeque is retiring after serving for eleven years as Executive Director of the Society. The Council of the American Mathematical Society records, with this resolution, its thanks and deep appreciation to Dr. LeVeque for his many years of service to the Council and send its best wishes for a happy and successful future. It was passed by acclamation. 9.8 Resolution of Thanks to Everett Pitcher. Robert Fossum offered the following resolution. The Council of the American Mathematical Society notes that Professor A. Everett Pitcher will step down at the end of this calendar year after serving the Council for twenty two years as Secretary and many more years in other capacities. With this resolution the Council expresses its gratitude and deep appreciation to Professor Pitcher for his devoted service to the Council and the Society. It was passed by acclamation. At this point the Council again recessed for dinner. The Council adjourned at 9:59 PM. Everett Pitcher Secretary | |
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