The President, Klaus Fischer, called the meeting to order on Tuesday, August 13 at 3:40 p.m. He started with a report on the Executive Committee meeting, including the Pergamon Medal and Prize, and life membership awards to Tom Mabry and Ragai Ibrahim, followed by a short report on the present meeting. It would cost the Society about $2600, as a result of a decline in attendance from 120 to 90, probably due in part to conflicts with several other meetings. A discussion ensued about changing the time to June, but since such a time would also encounter conflicts, this was not viewed favorably. It was suggested that after next year's joint meeting in April, the last week of August might be considered as an alternative. As sponsorship has become such an important issue, Jim Saunders' suggestion that a list of sponsors should appear in the Newsletter after each meeting was approved.
The Editor-in-Chief of Recent Advances in Phytochemistry, John Romeo, discussed the benefits of continuing relations with the present publisher, Plenum, in spite of continuing problems. The cover starting with Vol. 29 is in color, and this volume is selling well. In Vol. 30 one chapter will be withdrawn and two added, and this volume should be ready for the meeting next April.
The Treasurer, Susan McCormick, distributed copies of her report, and mentioned that the PSNA will cover the net cost of $2600 resulting from the smaller number of participants than usual, the higher cost of refreshments, and a higher-than-expected cost of invited speakers. She emphasized that the minisymposium cost the Society nothing, because prominent members (Arnason, Saunders, Seigler and Towers) who were already in attendance had agreed to present lectures. A question was raised about the possibility of investing our money in higher-yielding instruments, but it was pointed out that higher yield entails higher risk, and that the Society, as a nonprofit organization, is required to invest only in conservative paper. The matter will be studied by the Treasurer.
Information about our future meetings was given by John Romeo, starting with the 1997 meeting in The Netherlands (details included in this issue), adding that it will be in tulip season in April. The 1998 meeting will be in Pullman, Washington, the 1999 meeting will be in Montreal, and the 2000 meeting probably in Cancun as a joint meeting with the American Society of Pharmacognosy.
The report of the Secretary, Alicja Zobel, which had appeared in the Newsletter, was accepted. She stated that more reports from the research laboratories of members would always be welcome, and especially encouraged younger members to submit them. She asked for members to provide information on upcoming meetings which they plan to attend and which would be of interest to other members, for inclusion in the Upcoming Meetings section of the Newsletter. As the Society has passed the milestone of its 30th anniversary we intend to compile a photograph album covering its history, and donations of pictures are welcome, accompanied by relevant information. A few have already been gratefully received.
A motion of thanks was put forward to the organizers of this meeting,
Helga Fischer and the students from LSU and their boss, Klaus Fischer,
for their fine efforts. The new President, Rachel Mata, then assumed
the chair, thanked members for their support, and called for adjournment,
which was shortly before five o'clock.
