October 1, 1965

Executive Committee of the American Institute of Physics

Minutes of Meeting

Members Present: Ralph A. Sawyer – Chairman, W. W. Havens, Jr., R. B. Lindsay, Vincent E. Parker, Mary E. Warga

Absent: S. A. Goudsmit, S. L. Quimby

AIP Staff Present: Van Zandt Williams, Wallace Waterfall, G. F. Gilbert, Mary M. Johnson

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.

1. Minutes

Upon motion made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote, the minutes of the 10 June 1965 Executive Committee meeting were approved with the following correction: Page 6, Item 7, Line 5, change “19 April 1965” to “26 April 1965.”

2. Financial Matters

1. Corporate Resolution on Safe Deposit Box

   The Secretary reported that the Institute had accepted custody from William F. Meggers of his coin and stamp collection of which we will receive as a gift from Mr. Meggers a portion of the collection not to exceed $6,000 each year. An appraisal is being made and we should have the report soon. The collection is being kept in a vault at Bankers Trust Company and we are required by the bank to furnish a resolution authorizing the rental of the vault. The following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:

   MOVED that the form of resolution required by Bankers Trust Company for the rental of a safe deposit vault be approved.

2. Bankers Trust Savings Account

   The Treasurer distributed copies of a memorandum (copy attached to official minutes) outlining details of a loan made on 25 August 1965. The Institute borrowed $200,000 from Bankers Trust Company at 4 ½% interest to keep intact for the full quarter our savings account which is earning 4%. Interest on the $200,000 in our savings account will be $2,000 for the quarter. The loan can be paid on 1 October and the interest will be $925, giving us a net gain of $1,075.00.

   There is a balance of $941,977 in our savings account and the staff recommends that $300,000 be transferred to the Investment Advisory Account. This would leave $441,977 after payment of the loan, and it is believed this would be an adequate reserve for current operations in view of increasing receipts during the balance of the year. The following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:

   MOVED that the staff be authorized to proceed with the financial transactions proposed above.

3. Salary of Treasurer and Controller

   The Treasurer absented himself from the meeting and the Secretary reported that Mr. Gilbert had not been granted an increase in salary at the time he was appointed Treasurer and Controller last April, with the understanding that his salary would be reviewed in October. The Director and the Secretary recommended that the Treasurer’s compensation be increased starting 1 October 1965 and, after brief discussion, the following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:

   MOVED that the salary of the Treasurer and Controller be increased to $18,000 per year, effective 1 October 1965.

   (MOTION on official minutes only.)

3. Election of Corporate Associates

The Secretary reported that the following organizations had requested to become Corporate Associates of the Institute and, upon motion made and passed they were so elected:

The Director commented that the number of Corporate Associates for 1965 is 161, compared with 166 last year.

4. Approval of Increases in AIP Journal Page Budgets

The Secretary reported that increased pages in some of our journals are anticipated for this year, as follows:

The increased page budgets were shown in the projection to the end of the year in the quarterly financial statement for the period ending 30 June 1965 on the assumption they would be approved by the Executive Committee.

Upon motion made, seconded and passed, the above increases were approved.

5. Appointments

Upon motion made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote, the following appointments were approved:

1. Van Zandt Williams was appointed AIP representative to the Scientific Manpower Commission for a 3-year term beginning 1 January 1966 to replace W. C. Kelly whose term will expire on 31 December 1965.

2. Mary E. Warga was reappointed as one of our two representatives to the AAAS Council for a 2-year term beginning 15 January 1966.

The Secretary stated that additional appointments which should be made before the end of this year are as follows:

3. Five members of the Magnetics Conference Advisory Committee for 3-year terms.

4. Members of the Advisory Panel on Project to Assist Science Writers in Following Advances Reported in AIP Journals for 1-year terms.

5. Editorial and Advisory Boards for AIP Journals for 3-year terms.

The Secretary said that candidates are being sought and, upon motion made and passed, the Chairman and Director were authorized to make the necessary appointments when suitable nominees have been found.

6. Request to Support Publication of Handbook on “Radiation Protection for Teaching Institutions”

Lauriston Taylor, President of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, had approached Mr. Quimby about AIP financial support for publishing the handbook but, because both Messrs. Quimby and Taylor have been out of the country, the Secretary said he had had difficulty getting details. He had reached Mr. Taylor by telephone on the morning of this meeting and Mr. Taylor had suggested that no action be taken on his request at this time. Further information will be supplied when it is available.

7. Publication of “Soviet Physics – CRYSTALLOGRAPHY” Volume I

AIP started its publication of “Soviet Physics – CRYSTALLOGRAPHY” with Volume II of the Russian journal. We have been informed that Volume I contains valuable material and a survey has indicated that we should be able to sell at least 400 copies. It is an expensive volume to publish because of color plates but we should break even selling 400 copies at $50 each.

The following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:

MOVED that the Institute be authorized to undertake the translation and publication in English of Volume I of “Soviet Physics – CRYSTALLOGRAPHY.”

8. Subsidy for Current Papers in Physics

The Secretary reported that the Institution of Electrical Engineers in London is planning to start a new semi-monthly current awareness publication for physicists, “Current Papers in Physics.” It will contain the titles and names of authors of current journal articles in physics. Details have not yet been worked out but it appears that IEE must get about $8.50 per subscription based on 5,000 member subscriptions, including 3,000 from the United States. If the total number of subscriptions is greater, the price can be less.

Our Physics Abstracts Committee has recommended that AIP enter into an agreement similar to that which we now have on PHYSICS ABSTRACTS, whereby we would offer member subscriptions at $5.00 with the Institute absorbing the difference. The estimated subsidy required from us would be between $7,500 and $10,000 for a year.

The $10 abstract charge which we now collect on journal articles is being used to subsidize member subscriptions to PHYSICS ABSTRACTS but it appears that there will be $15,000 to $20,000 which will not be used for PA subsidies this year and could be used to subsidize CPiP. The Director said a suggestion to request a grant from NSF was rejected on the grounds that the amount involved is small enough that it can be borne by AIP.

After brief discussion, the following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:

MOVED that up to $10,000 be appropriated for the purpose of subsidizing member subscriptions to “Current Papers in Physics” in the manner indicated, with the understanding that this program is limited to one year and will be re-examined at the end of that time.

9. Future Meetings

Dates for future meetings of the Executive Committee were set as follows:

• Saturday, 11 December 1965
• Friday, 28 January 1966 (breakfast meeting at New York Hilton)
• Friday, 25 March 1966 (preceding Governing Board meeting 26 March 1966)
• Friday, 10 June 1966

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.