AFS Fisheries Information and Technology Section

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

 July 14, 2021

Attendees:

• President-elect election (Tiffany)
  • Only one candidate so has agreed to run so far.
  • President-elect cannot run unopposed, according to FITS bylaws.
  • Please contact Tiffany (Tiffany.Hopper@tpwd.texas.gov) if you know of anyone interested or if you would like to self-nominate.
• Leadership transition (Paul)
  • Transition of leadership is supposed to happen on August 12^th in conjunction with the governing board meeting, according to AFS constitution rules and bylaws.
  • Officially we will transition on August 12^th but we will perform ceremony at the FITS annual business meeting.
• History webpage collaboration with the History Section (Paul)
  • Going to delegate this to a volunteer, preferably someone who is in both History and FIT Sections.
  • Action Item: Paul will write and post a call for a volunteer.
• AFS Baltimore
  • “COVID Effects” Symposium (Tiffany)
    • We still have a few weeks before abstract deadline and we are still inviting persons of interest to present.
    • No updates about symposia from AFS leadership.
  • Data Management workshop (Paul)
    • Keith is planning on traveling in person.
    • Action Item: Kayla will get with Keith on travel reimbursement.
  • Registration lottery and Student/Early Career membership drive (Paul)
    • We have a final list of participants for the registration lottery.
    • Action Item: Paul will randomize and draw the names of winners.
    • Next step is retention. What can we do to retain members and keep them engaged?
• Partnership travel award (Rebecca)
  • • Rebecca revised the travel partnership award information on the website.
    • https://units.fisheries.org/fits/awards-and-recognition/partnership-travel-award/
    • Application form is online and will remain open year-round. We will pull applications that coincide with deadline dates listed. Current period is open until August 31 with a decision by September 30 for meetings held between November 1 and April 30, 2022.
    • Rebecca posted a news update about the partnership travel award and that will go out in the newsletter email list. https://units.fisheries.org/fits/2021/07/14/partnership-travel-award-open-for-applications/

• By-law change (Paul)
  • We are waiting for an update from Management Committee.
• Other business
  • Center for Fisheries Technology and Collaboration news? (Rebecca)
    • Currently reaching out to more vendors
    • Rebecca will attend next meeting and provide update.
  • Citizen Science Task Force (Paul)
    • Action Item: This action item is moving along – Paul needs to send some emails.

Next Meeting August 11^thvvv