Opening Business

Minutes from the September 28 board meeting and August 15 annual meeting were approved.

News from Campus

Toby reported a wonderful visit to Cornell for Trustee Council Weekend. President Lehman gave an inspiring talk outlying four themes: tying together the humanities, social sciences and sciences, life in the age of the Genome, wisdom in the age of digital information, and sustainability in the age of development. These goals continue his view of Cornell as a Transnational University. Cornell has recently opened a medical school in Qatar and is currently looking at potential partnerships in China.

Several new buildings were recently completed on campus: an addition to Statler, Duffield Hall, which houses the Genomics department, and Alice Cook residential on West Campus. A new capital campaign is on the horizon.

Membership

The 2004-2005 membership drive was praised. Though there were no responses to the recent mailing, the numbers now stand at 96 or 97. Toby and Laurie will compare to verify the number.

Financial Report

The club's current bank balance is $3137.54. The only bills to be paid are reimbursement to Kim Bixler for centerpieces for the annual meeting and reimbursement to Janice for the student gifts she bought for the annual meeting. Toby changed the signing authority and Marty will switch the account to a bank without monthly fees.

Programming Report

Zinck's Night: Around 20 people attended, though a few more had RSVP'd. The email reminder was helpful. The evening was very pleasant.

Book Discussion Group: Set for Sunday, December 5 at 5:30. Postcard reminder will be sent to the membership, with a request to RSVP to Kim by November 24. Kim will coordinate the food.

Laurie, Fran and Kim agreed to meet with Hilda to develop a calendar of events for the upcoming year. Two of the questions to be addressed are a location for the 2005 annual meeting and the possibility of a casual event in February. There was some discussion about a visit to a winery in New York. People were asked to email Hilda or Kim with thoughts.

Scholarship

Fran reported that she spoke with Jackie Wright of the development office. Cornell controls the giving of any scholarships and all giving is needs based. We would need to commit to a scholarship by December. They recommend that we work toward building an endowment. Ideas for building the fund include requesting funds on our renewal form, putting out a box at events and planning events designed to raise money for scholarship funds. We can give gifts to local students from our general fund without going through Cornell. Fran will recheck some understandings with the University and we will continue this discussion at our next meeting.

CAAAN

We should be getting a list of student to interview. Larry talked with the father of a prospective applicant. We are looking for someone to co-chair this committee with Elizabeth Young, since she will be in California during the Spring semester. She will still help out, as much of her work is done by computer, but having a local person involved will be helpful. Toby will ask Elizabeth to discuss a possible co-chairmanship with Tiffany Wilding White.

The next board meeting will be Thursday, January 13 at 7:15 at Toby Levine's house.

Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Erickson
Secretary