Michigan Chapter Society for Neuroscience
Business Meeting
Wayne State University
May 19, 2003

President's Report

Keith Lookingland welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting. He expressed special thanks to the meeting organizers at Wayne State University and to the vendors and sponsors for financial support of the meeting.

Lookingland then reflected on the past two years of his term as president and highlighted some of the important events and changes.

The web site was revised and updated, thanks to the work of President Lookingland's wife, Kathy Lookingland. She has agreed to continue maintaining the chapter website for us.

The Michigan Chapter has made significant impact in community outreach by participating in Brain Awareness Week activities. President Looklingland thanked the membership and encouraged further participation in such activities.

Two travel awards were introduced by the national SfN last year (the SfN Chapters Postdoctoral Trainee Travel Award and the Chapters/Eli Lilly Graduate Student Travel Award). Lookingland thanked the chapter concilors for their quick responsiveness in reviewing the applicants last June to nominate individuals to the national SfN for these awards. Jennifer J. Vannest was nominated for the postdoctoral award and Yang Hae Park was nominated for the graduate student travel award. Yang Hae Park received the award from the national SfN. The next application deadline to be considered for a nomination for these awards is June 2, 2003.

Secretary's Report

Lisa Baker thanked the meeting organizers and the vendors, and encouraged all attending to personally thanks the vendors for their continued support of the Michigan Chapter SfN.

Baker reviewed the minutes of the last council meeting and noted that they are posted on the chapter web site for all to read. She informed the membership of an action item that was addressed at the last council meeting. The council voted to not allow repeat winners of paper and poster awards at the annual meeting.

Baker thanked the membership for participating in Brain Awareness Week activities this year. She noted that posters and PowerPoint slide presentations highlighting these activities were on display upstairs during the poster session.  

Treasurer's Report

Art Weber reported on the financial status of the chapter. We are in very good standing at the present time.

Election of Council Members

Elections were held for 8 positions. The results of the elections were as follows.

Treasurer: Art Weber

Secretary: John Spitsbergen (WMU)

Awards Chair: Greg Kapatos (WSU)

CMU councilor: Vern Hulce

MSU councilor: Mark Breedlove

UM councilor: Scott Turner

Pfizer councilor: Roy Schwarz

Student councilor: Danielle Paris-Larson

Special Guest Speaker

Marty Saggese, the Society for Neuroscience Executive Director, addressed the MI chapter membership regarding the role of regional chapters in the SfN strategic plan. He encouraged us read the strategic plan, which is posted on the SfN website. He reported that responses to the membership survey conducted last summer were read and carefully considered.

Saggese elaborated on the four main goals of the strategic plan, which include science, professional development, public advocacy and public education.

Saggese also discussed a new program for the support of the SfN chapters. A Chapters Committee was formed and will soon be inviting proposals for small grants for chapter activities that support the mission of the strategic plan. He commented that proposals that could present matching funds would be favorably viewed.