1. 2018 Business Meeting July 17th, 2018 Montreal, QC, CA
American Society of Plant Biologists Primarily Undergraduate Institutions Section
2018 Business Meeting
July 17th, 2018
Montreal, QC, CA

2. Past-Year Activities
Proposal to ASPB leadership for section recognition
Submitted late August, 2017
• 212 persons supported section status in poll of ASPB membership
Approved by the ASPB Council and Board of Directors. 12/7/2017
Proposal prepared by:
Derek Gingerich, Maryann Herman, Karen Hicks, Bryan Thines, Jonathan Gilkerson
2. Opportunity to join section opens
- January 2018
- 83 members (as of 7/2/2018)
3. Selection of section leadership for probationary period
- Leeann Thornton elected as section representative to
Council and Membership Committee. March 2018
- Leadership structure determined. April-May 2018
- Nominations for positions. 5/30/2018-6/11/2018
- Election for positions. 6/15/2018-7/2/2018
Derek Gingerich, Leeann Thornton, Maryann Herman, Catharina Coenen, Karen Hicks, Jon Monroe
4. Organization of the Plant Biology 2018 PUI Workshop
Leeann Thornton, Grace Miller

3. Section Leadership President (one-year term)
Derek Gingerich, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Vice-President (one-year term, then President)
Maryann Herman, St. John Fisher College
Steering Committee (three-year terms)
Karen Hicks, Kenyon College
Andreas Madlung, University of Puget Sound
Liza Conrad, Eckerd College
Section Representative to Council and Membership Committee (three-year term)
Leeann Thornton, The College of New Jersey
Past-President (one-year term)
Begins 2019
Andreas
Liza

4. Section Probationary Period
“After approval of the petition by the council and the board of directors, the section may organize under probationary status for three years, after which the board of directors will approve or disapprove permanent status, or extend the probationary status for an additional three years. If a section fails to be approved for permanent status after the second probation, it shall be disbanded.”
“Any section which fails to maintain a minimum number of active members of the Society equal to one percent of the voting Society membership shall have its representation on the council terminated.”
Source: ASPB Constitution
ASPB total membership is 3,014

5. Financial Report Leeann Thornton In the past:
We have operated at a zero net with ASPB giving us some money or our getting some money from grants. We had to spend everything at the meeting each year.
Now:
We can carry money forward. We don’t have to “zero-out” at the end of the national meeting
Sections can receive money from ASPB, however this must be applied for.

6. ASPB Council and Membership Committee Report
Leeann Thornton
ASPB staff is looking for shared work and vision between committees and sections.
How can we increase/encourage international awareness?
How do we contribute to the five aspects of the ASPB mission?
•Nurture plant scientists
•Platforms for communicating research
•Promote scientific quality, innovation, and integrity
•Increase awareness of plant science
•Influence public policy

7. Future Activities - Discussion
Development of section constitution and bylaws.
Organization of Plant Biology 2019 PUI Activities.
-NSF funding
-Workshop for current PUI faculty or individuals well along that career track
and a panel discussion for those who want to learn about PUI careers.
- Panel discussion event is kick-off for career mentoring program
- Proposals to ASPB due September 1st.
- Proposal to NSF for funding due in October
- NSF funding for 2019 meeting is precursor for application for a Research
Coordination Networks grant proposal.
- Karen Hicks, Grace Miller

8. Additional activities
3. Other section funding.
- Corporate support for certain activities?
- Gramene NSF funding renewal- engaging PUI faculty/students
in bioinformatics research.
4. Connections between undergraduates at PUIs and R1 labs.
- Liza Conrad
5. Communications/outreach
- Plantae -
- etc.?
6. Career support resources
- Current faculty
- Graduate students/post-docs
7. Database(s) connecting PUI plant scientists
8. Teaching tools and resources (ASPB Education Committee)
9. PUI-themed meetings or get-togethers.

9. 2018 PUI Workshop Survey: PUI section question (39 respondents)
High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
Hold annual workshops at the Plant Biology meeting
89.74%
10.26%
0.00%
Seek external funding to offset travel costs to attend the annual workshop
76.92%
23.08%
Seek external funding to implement special activities associated with the annual workshop (speakers, poster session, etc.)
41.03%
51.28%
7.69%
Build a database of contact information for networking, mentoring, and professional development
66.67%
28.21%
5.13%
Promote interaction between PUI faculty through a members newsletter
46.15%
43.59%
Promote interaction between PUI faculty through regional undergraduate research symposia
53.85%
17.95%
Promote interaction between PUI faculty through an online platform for teaching tools
2.56%
Provide a conduit for information regarding PUI careers through articles on Plantae
15.38%
Provide a conduit for information regarding PUI careers through an online moderated discussion board
26.32%
57.89%
15.79%
Provide a connection between talented undergraduate researchers and R1 institutions for summer research opportunities or graduate education.
50.00%
44.74%
5.26%
Coordinate with other societies and organizations (such as CUR) to provide support and resources for PUI section members.
56.76%
37.84%
5.41%
Work with ASPB and the Membership committee to recruit new members to the Society
34.21%
21.05%

10. To Volunteer Google doc- add your name now (Leeann)
Contact: Derek Gingerich
Maryann Herman