Minutes of Minority Committee Conference Call

May 23, 2002

Participating:  Gladys Reynolds,  John Lastre,  Jackie Hughes-Oliver,  Olga Cordero-Brana, Donald Martin,  Ramon A. Durazo-Arvizu, Chris Stanard, Debby Swayne, Robert Santos

Committee chair: Gladys started by reminding us that we still don't have a chair, and asking us if we had suggestions.  John volunteered to serve.  Gladys will submit his name to the ASA president.

Amstat News article: Gladys plans to write an article for the Amstat News, principally a reworking of the end-of-year report.  Debby can add information on the committee web site.  Jackie suggested that we submit several small pieces rather than a single long one.

Program for JSM 2003:
Session proposals have to be in by June 17.

Conferences:
Location for mini statfest: Possibilities include Nashville (Meharry Medical College), New Orleans, Rapid City SD, or perhaps the southwest, in order to attract both Hispanic and Native American students.  We have talked in the past about hosting a statfest at NC State, but Jackie says their current budget crisis renders that impossible for now.  No decision was made.
Funding for mini statfest and other conferences:  The ASA wouldn't provide all the money requested under the new initiatives program; would they consider including statfests in their regular budget, or would they help write grants to fund them?  If not, we need to seek funding from industry; John will talk to a fundraiser in his family.

Survey of Departments:  The ASA turned down our request for funding for a survey of statistics departments.  Their reasons included our lack of co-sponsoring sections and committees, and the fact that "The proposal does not acknowledge that many states are under court order not to recruit based on race."  We can address the first objection by seeking co-sponsors:  Gladys and Rob will talk to the Section on Social Statististics and the Committee on  Careers.  The second objection makes no sense to us.  Gladys will seek clarification when she responds to their rejection.

Minutes recorded by Debby Swayne

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