ESA Fall 2024 Governing Board Meeting Minutes Ecological Society of America Morrison House Hotel Alexandria, VA And Zoom Meeting November 14, 2024

Abstract

President Hampton presiding, meeting called to order at 9:00 AM EST.

A. Adopt Agenda

Motion to Adopt Meeting Agenda:

Move to adopt meeting agenda

Motion moved by Kelly Ramirez and seconded by James Rattling Leaf. All Aye

B. Conflicts/Dualities of Interest

Executive Director provided an overview for new GB members of the GB Member Duties and COI Policy. Liz Biggs will be retiring in December and has been honored with Lifetime Membership by the Board.

A. Report from the Secretary (Bruna)

The Secretary has reviewed the election report and validated the results. He met with the Executive Director, Director of Membership, and the electronic election vendor (Survey and Ballots) on November 4 to review the procedure and plan for changes for next year.

Results of the 2024 ESA Election:

Motion to Accept 2024 ESA Election Results:

Move to accept results of the 2024 ESA election

Motion to Accept Proposed Nominations Procedures:

Move to accept proposed new nominations procedures following the changes to the Bylaws in August 2024

Motion moved by Kelly Ramirez and motion seconded by Shahid Naeem. All ayes

Motion to Accept Nominations Committee Members:

Move to accept 2024–2025 Nominations Committee Members

Motion moved by Kelly Ramirez and motion seconded by Stephanie Hampton. All aye

B. Report of the President (Hampton)

President Hampton ended with an overview of ESA Participation in the COP meeting in Cali (16 members were badged as delegates; these ESA delegates paid their own travel). These delegates were engaged and excited, and there were some very interesting discussions among this diverse group. Of particular interest was the Carbon Markets and Biodiversity Accounting; a number of representatives from other groups encouraged the ESA to become involved in the accounting procedures as an independent scientific body engaged in the validation of approaches and procedures.

The GB discussed the outcome of the interactions with other groups and the importance of strategizing based on the experience for future involvement, and the carbon costs of attendance at these meetings vis-a-vis the present and future benefits and outcomes.

C. Report of the Executive Director and Staff (O'Riordan, et al.)

Motion to Use Opportunity Fund:

Move to approve use of the Opportunity Fund to support dependent care grants

Motion to Reappoint Bulletin EiC:

Move to accept the recommendation to reappoint Madhusudan Katti to a second 3-year term as EiC of The Bulletin

Motion moved by Kelly Ramirez and motion seconded by Stephanie Hampton. All ayes

Break

C. Report from Council Speaker (Provete)

Council Speaker Diogo Provete provided a summary report of the August Council meeting and current activities. ESA is in the third year of a new governance model. The Council speaker sits on the board ex-officio but has a role to be the voice of the Council, comprised of 40 sections and chapters. Speaker-elect Provete provided a report on recent Council discussions (the August Council report was reviewed).

The GB members discussed the dues for chapter sections, noting the amount has not changed in decades and when adjusting for inflation reflects a ~40% decrease in value. K Ramirez then provided an update on the Council's feedback regarding DEIJ Committee opportunities and activities.

D. Task Force Charge and Roster (Hampton)

President Stephanie Hampton presented a charge to a new task force: Task Force to Establish a Research Agenda in Actionable Ecological Science. At the August meeting, the Governing Board eliminated the Emerging Ecological Issues (EEI) Committee and proposed the idea of a task force; Diane Pataki then provided the GB with an overview of the origin and challenges of the EEI committee.

In general, there is interest in the committee's objectives, but it was challenging to identify how to fund potential activities (workshops, reports) and the diversity of the committee's membership. There was consensus on the need for a group to do what the EEI Committee was intended to do, that a Task Force might be a good mechanism, and that the President should prepare for GB approval a proposal for a task force that would put forward options for how best to proceed (including identifying funding sources for potential horizon scans, working groups, etc.).

The Task Force's Charge will be: to seek funding to convene relevant experts with the goal of advancing an ecological research agenda designed to address the most pressing socioecological and environmental challenges we face in the coming decade.

Motion to Approve New Task Force:

Move to approve the charge and roster for the Task Force to Establish a Research Agenda in Actionable Ecological Science

Motion moved by Shahid Naeem and motion seconded by Emilio Bruna. All ayes

Motion to Adjourn Meeting:

Move to adjourn the Fall 2024 Governing Board meeting

Motion moved by Kelley Ramirez and motion seconded by Jay Lennon. All ayes