Wisconsin Section of the MAA
Executive Committee Meeting
Friday, Sept. 29, 2006
Madison Area Technical College

Present: Mohammad Ahmadi, Ben Collins, Kristen Lampe, Jim Marty, Ken Price, David Scott, Mark Snavely, Jeganathan Sriskandarajah, Steve Szydlik, Irfan Ul-Haq.

1.   The meeting was called to order at 4:10 by Jeganathan Sriskandarajah.  Minutes of Section Business Meeting of April 12, 2006, the Executive Committee Meeting of April 22, 2006, and the Report of the Annual Meeting of April 21-22 were approved after several typographical errors were corrected in the Business Meeting Minutes.

2.  Mark Snavely presented two treasurer's reports:  one as Andy's final report, and the other as Mark's first.  The Section's money is now housed at Fifth Third Bank.  In case of an emergency, Aaron Trautwein's signature is also on the account.  Reports were accepted by the committee.

3.   No governor's report was given, as John Koker was not present.

4.  Kristen Lampe presented the Contest Report.  The MAA-Wisconsin Section contest prizes were awarded to Timothy Black of James Madison Memorial High School and Andrew Bolanowski of Rufus King High School in Milwaukee. 

Lampe reported that she will sign a form stating that the section will cover any losses incurred in running the contests.  In the past, contests have actually turned a profit, and the current budget indicates that this will continue to be the case.

Sriskandarajah suggested that the prize money for the Mathematics Contest prizes should increase.  Discussion ensued.  The consensus was to increase the prize to $600 distributed equally among the winners.

5.   Ben Collins would like all reports for the fall newsletter submitted by October 7.  (Let's make Ben's job easier by getting reports in as soon as possible!)

6.  Mohammad Ahmadi has five speakers committed to speaking at the spring meeting (April 20-21, 2007, at UW-Eau Claire):  Martha Siegel (MAA speaker), Michael Bleicher, Gail Burrill, Norbert J. Kuenzi, and Donald Crowe.  He has also scheduled a panel discussion moderated by Robert Wilson, and Face Off! will be back for an encore competition!

The desirability of 50 minute talks at the spring meeting was discussed.  The consensus was that we will continue to allow the option of 50 minute talks.

Honoraria for speakers was discussed.

7.  Ken Price and Steve Szydlik reported that Face Off! continues to be well received.  The game show will be played at St. Norbert College at the Pi Mu Epsilon Conference, and at the spring meeting in Eau Claire.   The board approved $100 to cover a snacks in a student "retreat room" at the spring meeting.

8.  Irfan Ul-Haq reported for project NExT that there will be 22 participants at the October 5-7 NExT workshop.  The fee has been increased to $35 this year, as fees at previous conferences have not covered expenses. The topic of next year's workshop was proposed to be "Keeping Your Research Alive."  Please send names of potential panelists to Irfan.

9.  Jim Marty reported for the WMC that the Green Lake Conference was a great success last year, and next year's conference will be May 3-4, 2007.  The focus of the conference is Building Connections.

10.  Jeganathan Sriskandarajah led the discussion on the nominee for Chair-Elect.  The board proposed Andy Matchett as the nominee, pending his agreeing to serve.

11.  "Who Wants to be a Sukoku Master?" will be part of part of MATC's Mathematics Awareness Month celebration.

12.  Know Your Wisconsin Mathematician will be coming out in an upcoming newsletter!  Next year's "star" was discussed. 

13.  The 2008 section meeting is proposed to be April 25-26 at MATC.  The actual date will be decided at the spring meeting.

14.  The meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m. Dinner at a local restaurant followed.

Next Meeting: January 19, 2007, or  February 2, 2007, at MATC in Madison; MATC room 239 at 4:00 p.m.  Please e-mail Sri your preference.