MINUTES

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARKANSAS ACADEMY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

February 7, 2003

The Board met at Johnston Engineering in Russellville, Arkansas on February 7, 2003. Board members present were Larry M. Jones, Lewis W. Hirschy, Lamar Pettus, Hugh A. Pack, Chris Weiser, Michael Hays, Russell Kennedy, and James E. Brain. Committee Chairs Bo Siever, Mike Stewart, Don Johnston, Richard L. Roberts, and Dr. William F. Schmidt were present. Charles D. Batson, Bill Green, and Sam D. Cummings were absent. President Larry M. Jones called the meeting to order and called the roll.

Secretary Lamar Pettus presented the Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting held on October 11, 2002. Upon motion duly made and seconded the Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of October 11, 2002, were approved as amended.

President Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting and had each person share information about themselves.

Dr. William F. Schmidt reported on the activities at the Mechanical Engineering Department and College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Schmidt reported the enrollment in the College of Engineering for the Spring of 2003 was down fifteen percent (15%) from one year ago. The enrollment in the Mechanical Engineering Department is down five percent (5%) from a year ago. Dr. Schmidt reported in the Fall of 2003 the Mechanical Engineering Department will offer a pre-med curriculum as part of its regular program and advised students majoring in Mechanical Engineering will be able to get a minor in Business Administration. Dr. Schmidt reported the search for a new Dean of Engineering had been narrowed to four (4) candidates all from other campuses. All candidates are strong in the area of research. He reported the ME Department plans to hire two (2) new faculty members who will begin work in the Fall of 2003.

Mike Hays provided a financial report as of December 31, 2002. It is noted the Academy received contributions from members of $26,170.00; matching contributions of $4,900.00; and interest income of $5,400.00 which was excellent interest income considering the economy. Mike Hays also reported while the Academy had income of $36,479.01 during the calendar year ending December 31, 2002, the Academy had expenditures of $36,508.88. Mike reported the Academy has $2,464.73 in the Quasi Endowment (spending) fund; $12,195.64 in the UofA Foundation Open Account; and $83,637.10 in the Quasi Endowment (restricted) fund.

Bo Siever reported the Membership Committee had no business to report.

Mike Stewart reported the Nomination Committee had met and would nominate Richard L. Roberts for the President Elect and Jim Bacon and Jim Kimzey to the Board of Directors.

Richard Roberts reported on the Newspaper/Publication Committee and announced the dates of the next publication.

There was no budget report due to the absence of Sam D. Cummings.

President Jones stated Bill Green had reported there has been no action by the Conduct Committee.

Don Johnston reported that career orientation had gone well and generally discussed the Academy members’ participation in the project.

Dr. Schmidt reported there were no new special projects to discuss at this time and the recruitment program was going well.

President Jones then called for old business. The President reported that Bill Green had arranged for the speaker, Dr. John Fagan. Dr. Fagan will speak on automatic augmentation systems using GPS with the addition of wide area augmentation systems and local area augmentation systems. President Jones also reported the publication which contains the membership of the Academy for the first twenty (20) years had been published and mailed and the Academy was seeking a contribution to help offset the cost. The publication was being provided to the Membership without cost.

The President then called for new business. On motion duly made, seconded, and approved, the Board established a Fund Raising Committee, whose Membership would be appointed by the incoming President. The primary purpose of the Fund Raising Committee will be to study ways of raising additional funds especially for scholarships, special projects, allowing the Academy to concentrate on the building of its endowment fund.

There being no other new business the meeting was adjourned.

________________________________

Lamar Pettus, Secretary

MINUTES

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARKANSAS ACADEMY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

October 11, 2002

The Board met at Johnston Engineering in Russellville, Arkansas on October 11, 2002. Board members present were Larry M. Jones, Mike Stewart, Lewis W. Hirschy, Lamar Pettus, Charles D. Batson, Hugh A. Pack, and James E. Brain. Committee Chairs Bo Siever, Don Johnston, Bill Green, Dr. William F. Schmidt, and Sam Cummings were present. Michael Z. Hays and Richard L. Roberts were absent. President Larry M. Jones called the meeting to order and called the roll.

Secretary Lamar Pettus presented the Minutes of the Board of Directors held on June 28, 2002. Upon motion duly made and seconded the Minutes of the Board of Directors and Annual Meeting of June 28, 2002, were approved as amended.

President Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Dr. William F. Schmidt reported on the activities at the Mechanical Engineering Department and Engineering College at the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Schmidt reported the College of Engineering had established a recruitment program and one person will be designated to supervise recruitment. The College of Engineering is also looking at establishing a common first semester regardless of the discipline a student initially elects. Such a common program would give a student a semester to decide which department’s curriculum of study the student wishes to follow. Dr. Schmidt announced the ABET Accreditation visit is scheduled for October 28, 2002. Dr. Schmidt reported normally there is a six (6) year cycle for the visit, but because of the addition of the Fort Smith college into the system, the Department will probably have another visit in approximately two (2) years. There will be an observer from ASME during the visit. Dr. Schmidt went through the summary of curriculum changes. Dr. Schmidt reported one of the motivations for a curriculum change is the decline in enrollment. The new proposed curriculum will require 124 hours for graduation instead of the current requirement of 132 hours. Dr. Schmidt reported the Department is also looking at incorporating other options for students who enter engineering. The Department is considering a pre-med curriculum which would allow the student to take Organic Chemistry I and II and Microbiology thus allow the student to have met all course requirements for admission to medical school and allowing students to qualify for a minor in business by requiring three (3) additional hours which when combined with twelve (12) hours of electives in the area of business qualifies the student for a minor in business. The curriculum changes will be implemented in the fall of 2003 if approved by the Administration and Board of Trustees. Dr. Schmidt reported the Fort Smith Engineering Program has 212 students enrolled. The advisors are predicting of the 212 enrolled, approximately 150 will follow the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum. The Department is studying interactive telecast systems and possibly the internet as vehicles for teaching future classes.

Dr. Schmidt reported the Career Orientation meeting went well and there was good participation.

President Jones called for a treasury report and Sam D. Cummings presented the report at the request of Mike Hays, who was absent. Mr. Cummings presented Mike’s financial report as of September 30, 2002. It is to be noted the Academy has received Member contributions of $19,970.00, matching contributions $4,400.00, and interest income of $4,233.76, for a total income of $28,603.76 through September 30, 2002. Expenses to date are $32,957.02 of which $29,062.14 was for special projects, $3,590.99 was the costs of the annual meeting, and $303.89 was for operations and miscellaneous costs. The Academy has $1,318.61 in the Quasi-Endowment (Spending) fund, $9,018.37 in the open account, and $84,084.00 in the Quasi-Endowment (Restricted) fund. The total assets of the Academy as of September 30, 2002, were $94,420.98. Mr. Cummings noted the value of the funds held through the UofA Foundation fluctuate as the stock market fluctuates which would explain some of the loss of value of the Endowment funds. Sam Cummings reported on the budget. It was noted the Academy is slightly behind on collection of membership contributions this year for this date.

The President called upon Mike Stewart for a report from the Nominating Committee. Mr. Stewart reported the Committee was nominating Richard Roberts as President-Elect and would be nominating for election to the Board at the annual meeting 2003, Jim Bacon and Jim Kimzey.

Bill Green reported for the Conduct Committee and stated the Academy needed to publish the By-Laws and Constitution and suggested publication no later than the date on which the nominees are submitted for the Membership’s approval.

Bo Siever reported for the Membership Committee and stated there were five (5) nominees, Charles Evans, BSME 1964; Charles Ward, BSME 1962; Emami E. Esmaeilpour, BSME 1980; and Charles Wetzler who has an Engineering Science Degree from the State College of Arkansas in 1971; and J.R. Jones, BSME 1982.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Membership report was accepted and the nominees were approved for submission to the Membership for approval.

Don Johnston reported Career Orientation went well and it was a good program. There was a suggestion the Academy consider videotaping the comments in the future so the tape would be available for all students to review at any time during the year.

Dr. Schmidt reported on special projects and noted there was currently no major project underway, but the Department will periodically ask the Academy to assist in the funding of certain items. He announced the Department has commissioned a historian to write a book on the history of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The book is to be published in the year 2003. Dr. Schmidt stated the Academy would be asked to participate financially in the cost of the publication. There was much discussion concerning the possibility of publishing sufficient numbers of the book to offer it to graduates of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas and especially to Academy Members and possibly even using the book as a fundraising project for the restricted Endowment.

Richard L. Roberts was absent; however, the President reported for the Newsletter and Publicity Committee. The next newsletter is to be distributed in December, 2002. President Jones then called for old business and reported on the 2002 Annual Meeting. It was reported the current program is more than likely going to consist of a video from “The Four Seasons” and will be limited to thirty (30) minutes. There was also discussions that the 2003 will be the 100^th anniversary of the first flight by the Wright Brothers and some Members are going to make an effort to contact various Air Force personnel to see if it would be possible to have a program presented which relates to the first flight and history of flight.

President Jones then reported the Academy has no definitive program to increase Membership dues or enforce the payment of Membership contributions; however, indicated he would prepare a letter to the Membership encouraging payment and explaining the purpose of the funds.

The Board had asked Don Johnston and Lamar Pettus to review the manner of funding of special projects and scholarships and to attempt to identify some of the material financial needs of the Mechanical Engineering Department and to make recommendations to establish specific financial goals of the Academy and review and present recommendations on activities and programs which might result in increased funding for the general budget or specifically for special projects, scholarships, and endowment funding. The following preliminary report was presented by Don Johnston:

COMMITTEE REPORT

(Interim Draft)

Don Johnston and Lamar Pettus met informally to study the issues assigned by the Board;

The tasks can be combined under two Areas:

Financial Goals and Needs

In the past few years the Academy has contributed $15,000.00 to $20,000 annually to special projects. As the Academy is aware the need of the department are without bounds, since one could fund all kinds of projects and programs.

We recommend the committee meet with Dr. Schmidt and set an annual goal, which the Academy will attempt to meet in providing funding to the department. We recommend the committee recommend long-term goals and prioritize them over a period of 5 to 10 years.

We recommend the Academy establish a target at which the Academy will consider the Restricted Endowment Funds to be fully funded. The goal naturally should be subject to change and maybe we should initially set the goal at $250,000.00. The Academy also should set a time line for reaching that goal. Maybe 10 years.

Raising Additional Money

People must want to give if funds are raised:

Some thoughts are:

Scholarship Funding: Give Academy and non-academy alumni the opportunity to contribute to a scholarship restricted fund as a memorial or an honorarium to friends, family members, students, and faculty members. The solicitation of these funds would be initially directed to all graduates of the department.

General Endowment

Funding: Establish a program to educate graduating seniors of the history of giving by alumni. The program would encourage graduates to begin giving in their first year. Maybe guarantee the new graduates all these fund would be held for 5 years before any principal would be used. Interest would be available for use by the Academy or the Department.

Establish a Fellows Foundation to which membership would be open to all alumni or even to public in general. Establish different levels of participation: Annual sustaining membership fee of $100.00 and maybe Life Time Membership Fee of $2500.00. These funds again would be dedicated to building of the Endowment Restricted Funds or Scholarship Funds.

Project Funding: Same type approach would be used to fund special projects. We would also include solicitations to industrial prospects.

There was some discussion about establishing a sustaining membership dues program and identifying special projects and asking the Membership to commit extra mile funding and contributions for those projects. The Board also voted to add Sam D. Cummings to the committee along with Don Johnston and Lamar Pettus whose purpose is to continue to study funding alternatives, financial goals, and material and financial needs of the Department. Dr. Schmidt did pass around a thank you from Brandy Alpman who had received a $500.00 scholarship which is offered by the Academy.

Larry Jones then reported a publication combining the previous twenty (20) years of the books of the Membership of the Academy could be published for the following prices: 150 for $9.11 per book or 200 for $7.72 per book.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board unanimously approved the purchase of 200 books. The books will be offered to the Membership at slightly above the cost of publication.

The President then called for new business.

The Board approved the next Board of Directors meeting to be held on February 7, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. at Johnston Engineering in Russellville, Arkansas, the President and all Members of the Board again thanked Don and Donna Johnston for their generosity in allowing the Board Meetings to occur at their facility and for their hospitality in providing, at their cost, for the noon meal for the Board.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

___________________________

E. Lamar Pettus, Secretary

MINUTES

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARKANSAS ACADEMY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

June 28, 2002

The Board met at Johnston Engineering in Russellville, Arkansas on June 28, 2002. Board members present were Larry M. Jones, Mike Stewart, Lewis W. Hirschy, Lamar Pettus, Michael Z. Hays, Charles D. Batson, Hugh A. Pack, and Chris Weiser. Committee Chairs Bo Siever, Bill Green, Don Johnston, Dr. William F. Schmidt, and Richard Roberts were present. James E. Brain and Russell Kennedy were absent. President Larry M. Jones called the meeting to order and called the roll.

Secretary Lamar Pettus presented the Minutes of the Board of Directors and Annual Meeting held on April 6, 2002. Upon motion duly made and seconded the Minutes of the Board of Directors and Annual Meeting of April 6, 2002, were approved as amended.

President Jones welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Dr. William F. Schmidt reported on the activities at the Mechanical Engineering Department and Engineering College at the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Schmidt reported twenty-two (22) seniors took the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) – Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and twenty-two (22) passed. The Department’s students came in fifth (5^th) overall at the Baja Race. The race was in Utah. The team did fine in all events and the Department was very proud of the representation. Dr. Schmidt also reported student Andrew Lily received a Society of Automotive Engineer’s internship which includes a salary and expenses and an appointment as an aide to a United States Senator. Andrew is in Washington, D.C. learning how government works. Senate aides are given projects on which to work. The selection of Andrew was definitely a good public relations event for the Department. Dr. Schmidt reported on the Self-Study Report in Appendix Number 1 for Mechanical Engineering. He indicated he will make a report and seek comments from the Board at the June meeting each year. Dr. Schmidt reported the starting salary for graduates of the Department average $48,500.00 with the high salary being $55,000.00. He announced all graduates had received job offers.

President Jones made the Membership Committee’s Report indicating one nominee had been identified and encouraged the Board to make contacts and make recommendations for nominations to membership.

President Jones called upon Mike Stewart to give a Nominations Committee Report. Mike announced there would be two (2) vacancies for Board and the President-Elect. During discussion several Board Members encouraged the nomination of out-of-area Board Members and that the Board give consideration to allowing out-of-area Board Members to attend Board Meetings via telephone conference. There was some concern expressed on the cost of telephonic conferences.

There was no report from the Budget Committee. Bill Green reported no action by the Conduct Committee. The President called on Mike Hays to give a Financial Report. Mike reported as of May 31, 2002, the Academy had received $18,370.00 in membership contributions; $1,250.00 in matching contributions; and interest income of $2,823.67; for a total of $22,443.67. Expenses to date were $3,295.06. Mike reported the UofA Foundation Quasi-Endowment (spending) fund had $9,661.96; the open account fund had $24,176.89; and the Quasi-Endowment (restricted) fund had a net asset value of $93,360.66. The total assets of the Academy are $130,199.51.

Don Johnston was called upon and gave a report concerning Career Orientation and encouraged all Board Members to participate and to encourage others to participate. He announced there was going to be a different program for the presentations at the end of the day due to the number of people participating and the time requirements.

Dr. Schmidt was called upon to report on Special Projects and announced the Department was pursuing the establishment of a Recruitment Program. Dr. Schmidt said James Davis is the faculty member who has been put in charge of the recruitment of students program. He also indicated that as a result of the gift from the Walton Foundation for a honors college, that the ME Department had admitted seventy (70) students and the Engineering Department overall had received a substantial number of the special scholarships funded by the Walton Foundation gift.

Richard L. Roberts reported on the Newspaper/Publicity Committee and indicated the next newsletter would be published in August.

There being no further committee reports, the President opened the floor for old business.

President Jones again took up the means and efforts to increase the percentage of paying members. It was suggested the President send a letter to the Membership encouraging participation.

The Board then considered a report by Don R. Johnston concerning the funding of special projects/scholarships through some means other than the operating budget. The general consensus is the membership dues should be used to grow the restricted endowment fund and that an effort should be made to solicit additional funding for special projects. In the discussion, the Board suggested the need for a long-range plan for the Board concerning the material as well financial needs of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Larry Jones appointed a Committee consisting of Don Johnston and Lamar Pettus to study the issues and report any progress made at the next Board Meeting. President Jones announced the next Board meeting would be October 11, 2002, at Johnston Engineering in Russellville, Arkansas, to commence at 11:00 a.m.

President Jones asked for suggestions concerning the speaker for the 2003 Annual Meeting. There was the suggestion the Board order the VCR entitled “Four Seasons of Arkansas” and that the program be limited to thirty (30) minutes.

The President then called for new business. President Jones reported he had investigated the possibility of having the programs for the first twenty (20) years of the Academy published as one (1) combined book. The Board encouraged him to pursue the project and to report back to the Committee on the costs.

A motion was made and the Board approved the payment for the FE Exam registration fee of $25.00 for each senior. There was also discussion as to lack of representation of a Mechanical Engineering on the Board for the State of Arkansas. Suggestions were made members contact political leaders to encourage the appointment of a Mechanical Engineer.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

There being no additional new business the meeting was adjourned.

___________________________

E. Lamar Pettus, Secretary

MINUTES

AAME BOARD MEETING

July 21, 2001

The Board met in Memphis, Tennessee in the Gayosa Room, second floor, Raddison Hotel, 185 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. The Members present were: Board Members: Mike Stewart, Foye Penn, Larry Jones, Lamar Pettus, Mike Hays, Charles Batson, Lewis Hirschy, Richard L. Roberts, Ray Weathersby, and Jim Brain. Also in attendance were Committee Chairs, Bill Green, Bo Seiver, Don Johnston, and Dr. William F. Schmidt. President Stewart called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and gave opening comments about the activities available for the Board the Friday evening preceding the meeting as well as certain activities which could be attended by the families of Board Members during the meeting on Saturday morning.

The Minutes of the Annual Meeting dated March 31, 2001, were read and approved.

President Stewart called upon Dr. William F. Schmidt to report on the current status of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Schmidt reported the Room 217 upgrade was just about complete, the carpet had been removed and new carpet installed and the classroom tables with cantilever chairs had been delivered. It is anticipated the room will be complete and ready for Fall use. The cost will be as budgeted. Dr. Schmidt reported the Department had employed an instructor with the money available through the Giffel’s Endowment, which was given to the University of Arkansas for use by the Mechanical Engineering Department by Erma Giffel. Dr. Schmidt noted the purpose of the gift was to chair a position at the Mechanical Engineering Department and it is the best endowed chair on campus having been endowed with the principal sum of $3,000,000.00. Professor of Mechanical Engineer Deepak Bhat will serve primarily as a researcher and will lead the Department’s research in the materials manufacturing area. Dr. Schmidt reported the Mechanical Engineering Department is able to attract top notch students. In the scholarship award year 2000, the Department attracted nine (9) first year students, eight (8) second year students, and eighteen (18) third year students who had been awarded Chancellor’s Scholarships. The Chancellor’s Scholarship basically pays for the full cost of attending the University of Arkansas for those students awarded the scholarship. Of the thirty-five (35) scholars enrolled in Mechanical Engineering in the award year 2000, thirty-one (31) remain. Mechanical Engineering lost four (4) third year students, one (1) each to the Geology, Physics, English, and Business Administration. ACT scores are up. For the year 2000, the average freshman ACT score was 26.625. Freshmen enrollment is down with sixty-three (63) having enrolled in the freshman year 2000. The average salary for a graduating senior is $44,400.00. Everything looks good for the future of engineering at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Schmidt reported as part of the accreditation process a quality of education assessment had been submitted to seniors enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering Department for the Spring of 2001. Most of the students who responded to the survey rated the Mechanical Engineering Department and Engineering in general above average; however, Dr. Schmidt emphasized when asked the question “Would you recommend a relative/friend attend UofA to pursue BSME?” and “Do you feel you have accomplished your educational goals in the ME Department?” all students surveyed responded “Yes”. Dr. Schmidt noted the faculty in the Engineering Department received excellent ratings from the students. The only concern was the rating for the “Engineering facilities and lab equipment”. Only one out of eight (1:8) gave the rating “above average”, half gave the rating “average”, and about twenty percent (20%) gave the rating “below average” for the facilities and lab equipment. Dr. Schmidt stated students sometimes have an unrealistic expectation of equipment and if the equipment does not immediately perform the student has a tendency to go to the next piece of equipment as opposed to trying to determine what is wrong and in many cases make minor adjustments. Dr. Schmidt reported great improvement in the facilities and the lab equipment during his tenure at the Department and emphasized the staffs’ and students’ appreciation for the monetary support, unselfishly provided by Members of the Academy of Mechanical Engineering.

Dr. Schmidt was then called upon to make a report for the Special Projects Committee. Dr. Schmidt stated he had nothing to report but would have recommendations at the next Board meeting.

President Stewart called upon Mike Hays to give a Treasury Report. Mike reported for the year 2001, the Academy had received $18,620.00 in Member contributions and $2,700.00 in matching contributions. The only expenditures to date totaled $3,636.29, with the bulk of the expenditure being the annual meeting. The Academy has in its Quasi Endowment Spending Fund $4,204.20, and the open account $26,626.86, with Restricted Quasi Endowment Funds of $107,709.85. Mike pointed out the open account is higher than normal; however, it is due to the expectation the Department any day will receive the bill for the renovation of Room 217. As of June 30, 2001, the total of cash equivalent assets of the Academy is $138,540.91.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved and accepted the Treasurer’s Report.

President Stewart called upon Bill Green, Chairman of the Membership Committee, who reported he had received four (4) completed applications and was following up on several others. To date, Bill has been provided the names of twelve (12) potential nominees. Bill encouraged the Members, when they contact engineers about joining the Arkansas Academy of Mechanical Engineering, to emphasize membership does have some monetary obligation attached and that one of the Academy’s goals is to provide a better environment in which to educate young people desiring to pursue Mechanical Engineering as a career.

President Stewart called upon Foye Penn to report on the Nominations Committee. Foye indicated he had no final report and asked Board Members to suggest people as potential future Board Members and also to make recommendations concerning the President Elect.

There was no Budget Report.

President Stewart called upon Bo Seiver, Chairman of the Conduct (By-Laws and Constitution) Committee to report. Bo reported at the Annual Meeting there was considerable discussion about inactive/non-participating Members, but there is no consensus. As a result of the annual meeting, Bo proposed the following amendment to the By-Laws of the Academy:

“Any Member of the Academy who has not attended an Annual Meeting or has not paid their annual dues in five (5) years will be removed from Membership.”

Bo reported, having conducted an informal survey of some of the Membership, it was his Committee’s recommendation the Board place emphasis on encouraging Academy Members to become active in the Association and contribute by their attendance and by their financial support. Bo noted Dr. Schmidt had pointed out the area in which the Mechanical Engineering Department received the lowest rating was the condition of its equipment and lab facilities. Bo emphasized when a significant number of Academy Members do not make the voluntary contribution on an annual basis, it does have an impact on our Department and the quality of education for the Mechanical Engineering students. The Board basically agreed Members of the Arkansas Academy should be reminded of the importance of the monetary contributions and be encouraged to fulfill that commitment, but the approach should be professional and respectful. No action was taken on Bo Seiver’s report; however, the Board requested the issue remain on the agenda and be considered an item which requires significant discussion and thought.

President Stewart called upon Don Johnston to report on the Career Orientation Committee. Don stated Career Orientation is scheduled to be conducted on Thursday, October 4, 2001. He encourages Board Members to spread the word among the Academy Members and encourage them to attend and participate in this very special activity.

President Stewart called upon Richard L. Roberts to report on the Newsletter/Publicity Committee. Richard announced they were looking for articles but were considering a “State of the Department Report”, “President’s Letter”, a special section on professors, special interviews with students, Academy Member’s accomplishments, and they are investigating putting the newsletter on the website.

There being no further committee reports, the President called for old business. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board instructed the Secretary to schedule the Annual Meeting to be conducted at the Clarion Inn in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Annual Meeting will held on April 5 and 6, 2002. The President also reported he is seeking recommendations concerning a keynote speaker and would appreciate any input from Members of the Board. There being no other old business, the President called for new business.

The President called on Bo Seiver who basically reiterated his committee report. The general consensus of the Board is the Membership needs to know the Board is really struggling with the action the Board should take concerning those members who do not pay the voluntary contribution which Academy Members assess themselves. The annual contribution is $250.00 a year. It was noted since the Academy was organized the Department, through the Annual Meeting for 2001, had been awarded grants in excess of $300,000.00 for equipment and facility improvements and in round numbers $65,000.00 in student scholarships, while maintaining cash assets of $138,000.00 in an endowment fund. Bo emphasized how much more could have been done had one hundred percent (100%) of the Members made the voluntary contribution.

The President then called upon Lamar Pettus, who stated that he was concerned the dates assigned for receipt of nominations from active Members, submission to Membership Committee, forwarding the recommendation to the Board and to the Membership for a vote was not in compliance with Articles II and III of the By-Laws. Bill Green pointed out not only had we not complied with the By-Law timeline, we also did not follow the procedure. The Board instructed Secretary Pettus to redraft Articles II and III of the By-Laws in reference the nomination evaluation and election process to comply with the current, established custom and practice and to tie the “events” of the process to the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Academy. The Amendment is to be submitted for consideration at the next meeting.

Under other old business, President Stewart addressed a Member’s concern about Minutes of the Board not being available for every Member at the Annual Meeting, the Board directed Dr. Schmidt to make arrangements to put Minutes of each Board Meeting and the Annual Meeting on the website. Secretary Pettus indicated it was his oversight that Minutes of each Board Meeting had not been available at the last Annual Meeting. He noted he was unable to attend the 2001 Annual Meeting. In the past all Minutes had been available for people in attendance. Pettus indicated that he could transmit the Minutes in an electronic form and the Department could put the Minutes on the website and make it available for all Members with internet access. President Stewart noted another concern of the Member was the non-compliance of the Board with the By-Laws concerning nominations and elections of people to Membership. President Stewart noted the issue was a concern of the Board and the Board would be taking action to correct that deficiency. Two (2) other issues raised by the inquiring Member were the availability of a list of attendees at the Annual Meetings and secondly the status of the Distinguished Past Members List. Distinguished Past Members are Members who have died. Secretary Pettus indicated the list of attendees could be prepared from the reservation forms if the Board wishes to make it available for Academy Members and there has been discussions and efforts are underway to update the Distinguished Past Members list.

President Stewart then discussed with the Board the possibility of the Academy hiring a student recruiter whose main responsibility would be to travel about the State of Arkansas and pitch the benefits of Mechanical Engineering to high school students. President Stewart has seen the program work for other academies. The general consensus of the Board was to place the issue on the agenda of the next Board Meeting and in the meantime, President Stewart was asked to provide more information on how other academies operated the student recruiter program.

There being no further new business, the Board Members thanked the President for his hospitality in Memphis, Tennessee, and promptly adjourned.

__________________________

E. Lamar Pettus, Secretary