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, S. L. Quimby, Mary E. Warga
Absent: S. A. Goudsmit
AIP Staff Present: Wallace Waterfall, G. F. Gilbert, Mary M. Johnson
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 2:28 p.m.
1. Minutes
Upon motion made and passed, the minutes of the meeting of June 10, 1966, were approved as distributed.
2. Appointments
The Secretary recalled the discussion which had taken place at the Governing Board meeting and reiterated his statement that a committee to study the problem is needed. He said the suggestion of two locations – one of fixed size in the city and one which could be enlarged outside the city – appeared to be the most attractive solution, although Mr. Lindsay expressed the hope that the Institute staff could be kept intact. The Secretary answered several questions and stated that the aforementioned committee can be appointed by the Chairman under the authority granted him by the Governing Board last March to make additional appointments as needed.
4. AAAS Cooperative Committee on the Teaching of Science and Mathematics
The Secretary stated that Lewis Slack, our representative to the subject committee, had furnished us with a report on the spring activities of the Cooperative Committee. The report will be sent to Arnold Strassenburg, Director of Education and Manpower, for his information.
5. Journals to Corporate Associates
The Chairman reported that up to the present time Corporate Associates have been offered, free of charge, one subscription to each of the journals published by the Institute (both AIP-owned and Society) with the exception of the translation journals. All journals are credited at the full non-member rates and, because of increased subscription prices, the balance remaining from Corporate Associate contributions for support of Institute programs has been dwindling. A questionnaire proposing different solutions was sent to members of the Advisory Committee on Corporate Associates and the returns indicated a majority favored limiting free subscriptions to the seven AIP-owned journals. It was felt by the Advisory Committee as well as by the staff that such limitation will not result in the loss of any Corporate Associates.
Mr. Quimby said if the plan were adopted it would probably mean a loss of $7,000 or $8,000 which had been credited to THE PHYSICAL REVIEW but he was agreeable to the change if it will benefit AIP. The following motion was then made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:
MOVED that, starting with 1967, the offer of free journal subscriptions to Corporate Associates be limited to the seven AIP-owned non-translation journals.
6. New Soviet Journal – SOVIET PHYSICS-Semiconductors
The Secretary reported that the Institute intends to publish the translation of a new Soviet journal, to be called SOVIET PHYSICS-Semiconductors, which is a split-off from SOVIET PHYSICS-Solid State. Consultants Bureau had announced plans to publish the translation but we persuaded them to withdraw. We estimate our deficit on this journal will amount to about $14,000 in the first year, but our over-all translation program is going so well that we feel the investment is justifiable. We expect approximately 1,920 Russian pages the first year and we plan to price the subscription at $70.00. There were no objections.
7. Gracing of Member Journal Subscriptions
The Treasurer recalled that Mr. Uszak, Fulfillment Manager, had discussed this subject at the Assembly of Society Officers and Board Members on October 5. The staff is proposing a reduction in the grace period on journals to members who have not renewed from the present two months to one month starting the end of this year. This means that those who have not paid their 1967 dues and/or subscriptions by December 1, 1966, will be cut off after the January issues of the AIP journals to which they had subscribed in 1966. The two-months grace period had been instituted for our own convenience before installation of our present processing equipment but faster processing now makes this unnecessary. Next year we will suggest cutting off delinquents after the December issue.
THE PHYSICAL REVIEW will not be graced this year because of the split into five sections starting with January 1967. The Secretary said we hope the other Member Societies will take this up with their councils so that, if they approve, we can achieve a uniform policy for all journals published by the Institute.
8. Business Travel Accident Insurance
The Secretary stated that we now have a considerable number of people traveling on Institute business. In addition to our own staff there are Governing Board and various committee members, consultants, visiting scientists, etc. While we are protected in the event of legal action through our liability insurance, the staff feels it would be advantageous for the Institute to subscribe to a Business Travel Accident Policy. This would automatically compensate victims of business travel accidents, and the cost is reasonable. We estimate that approximately 352 people will travel a total of 940 days on AIP business this year and have been given a cost of approximately $1,200 per year (3-year basis) for a policy to cover them.
After brief discussion, the following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:
MOVED that the Institute be authorized to purchase Business Travel Accident Insurance at a cost not to exceed $3,600 for three years, to cover all staff members and others while traveling on Institute business.
9. Annual Physical Examinations for Major Employees
The Secretary said the staff has been investigating the possibility and desirability of prescribing annual physical examinations for all major staff members. For the past several years the Institute has been providing flu shots for employees and the doctor who has administered them will undertake the proposed physical examinations on a group basis for $100 per person. At the present time, we have about fifteen employees who would qualify. If adopted, this program would include a physical examination of prospective employees at this level and on each anniversary.
The following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:
MOVED that the Institute initiate and pay for the proposed program of annual physical examinations of employees in executive and managerial positions.
10. Proposal for Joint AIP-Harvard Newsletter
The Secretary reported that the Executive Committee, at its meeting on June 10, had tabled the proposal of Gerald Holton for a joint AIP-Harvard Newsletter for high school students. After brief discussion, the following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:
MOVED that the Institute decline the invitation of Harvard University to produce a joint newsletter.
11. Additional Personnel for Center for History and Philosophy of Physics
The Secretary stated that Charles Weiner, Director of the Center for History and Philosophy of Physics, has contended for some time that he needs an assistant to assume some of the administrative responsibilities of his Division if he is to engage in the professional research activity necessary to maintain his standing in the profession urged by the Advisory Committee. He estimates it would cost $10,000 to $12,000 per year for the kind of person he would like to hire and there is enough money in the present grants to take care of the first half of 1967. Our budget for 1967 will not be approved until December but Mr. Weiner would like to start looking for an assistant immediately with the understanding that there will be provision for him in next year’s budget.
In the discussion which following Executive Committee members agreed that Mr. Weiner’s request was justified, and the following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:
MOVED that the Executive Committee agree that it will approve a 1967 budget for the Center for the History and Philosophy of Physics equal to the 1966 budget, plus 5%, plus an additional $5,000 to $6,000 to cover one-half year’s salary for an assistant to the director.
Mr. Havens agreed this much expansion at AIP expense was acceptable but pointed out that long-range financing of the program has not yet been solved and we should have some specific recommendation from the Advisory Committee by the time of the March Board meeting next year.
12. Acknowledgement of AIP Contribution to V. Z. Williams Fund at Brown University
The Secretary reported that our contribution of $1,000 to the subject Fund had been acknowledged by the University and by Mrs. Williams. In answer to a question, Mr. Lindsay said he believed the Fund had reached about $5,000.00.
13. Fourth Karl T. Compton Award
The Secretary stated it is appropriate at this time to begin consideration of a fourth Compton Award. He recited the criteria for and history of the Award, and the following motion was made, seconded and passed without dissenting vote:
MOVED that the Chairman be empowered to appoint a committee to select candidates for the fourth Karl T. Compton Award, the membership to be reported at the December meeting with the expectation that the Award will be conferred at the fall 1967 Assembly.
The Secretary reported that Mr. Lindsay will make the presentation of the second John T. Tate Award to W. H. Thompson on December 2 in England.
14. Future Meetings
The following dates were approved for future meetings through June 1967:
- Executive Committee – Saturday, December 10, 1966
- Executive Committee – Thursday, February 2, 1967 (breakfast-New York Hilton)
- Annual Meeting – Friday, February 17, 1967
- Executive Committee – Friday, March 17, 1967
- Governing Board – Saturday, March 18, 1967
The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.