American Arachnological Society
Minutes of the 23rd Annual Business Meeting
UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad
1 July 1999

The meeting was called to order by President Ann Rypstra at 08:20.  She thanked everyone for coming and participating and handed out copies of the minutes of the last business meeting.  A motion was made and seconded to waive reading of the minutes and to accept the minutes.  Passed unanimously.  

President Rypstra announced the election results (Pres. Elect - Brent Opell; Director - Paula Cushing; Treasurer - Gail Stratton).  She thanked all the candidates and reported that the President Elect and Treasurer races were extremely close.  She thanked the nominating committee - Don Cameron, David Wise, and Sam Marshal - for coming up with a fine slate of candidates.

President Rypstra said that a membership report had not been received from Membership Secretery Norm Platnick.

President Rypstra called on President-Elect Fred Coyle to report on future meeting sites.  Coyle read the list of future sites from the 1998 meeting minutes.

President Rypstra thanked Coyle for selecting the judges for the student paper awards.  The judges were Paula Cushing (Chair), Bob Suter, and Allen Brady.

President Rypstra reported that the three issues of the JOA published in 1998 totaled 460 pages.  The Proceedings of the XIV International Congress of Arachnology will be published in the first issue of the JOA for 1999, which has been delayed and will appear later this summer.  Issue 2 will be published in September.  To date 94 manuscripts have been submitted to the JOA in 1999.  Jim Berry, Brent Opell, and Matt Greenstone were thanked for their extra efforts to prepare the Proceedings for publication.  The members joined Ann in applauding their effort.  Ann said that AAS and ISA officers are discussing the possibility that future congress proceedings will be published by the JOA.  Charlie Dondale wondered whether that would require an increase in page charges.  Ann replied that page charges would not need to be increased, but that an increase in dues was a possibility.  Gail Stratton suggested that meeting participants could be charged an extra amount to help cover proceedings costs.  Chris Starr voiced his concern that if page charges were increased many Latin American arachnologists might not be able to contribute manuscripts.  

Treasurer Gail Stratton distributed the first quarter 1999 financial report which showed that the Society's total assets as of 20 May 1999 were $98,480.87.  She indicated that the Society is in a very strong financial position.  She noted that in spite of a big outlay for the International Congress, the Society has nearly broken even with respect to Congress finances.  She emphasized that our financial assistance boosted student participation in that event.

President Rypstra reported that four members of the Executive Committee attending the Trinidad meetings met informally to discuss some issues.  The full committee will meet later this year, probably early in the fall in Oxford, Ohio.  She asked the members to let her know about anyone who might be able to build and monitor a web site for the Society.

President Rypstra thanked Chris Starr for hosting this year's meeting, and the assembled members applauded.  Chris announced that there would be a December meeting of South American arachnologists and encouraged any North American arachnologists fluent in Spanish or Portuguese to attend.

A motion to adjourn was made and seconded, and President Rypstra adjourned the participants by saying "Vote with your feet" at 08:38.