general member’s meeting, october 27, 2017 · marine mammalogy (smm) would be jointly hosting the...

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General Member’s Meeting, October 27, 2017

• 1.0 President’s Overview (Barlow)– motion to accept agenda

• 2.0 Minutes of 2015 General Members Meeting (posted online)– motion to waive reading– motion to approve

• 3.0 Future conferences– Barcelona joint SMM/ECS 2019 (presentation by Chicote & Gazo)– Planning for 2021 (Pabst & Amy Hirons)– solicit other bids– motion to affirm

• 4.0 Treasurer’s Report (Ragen)• 5.0 MMS Editor’s report (Boness)• 6.0 Committee reports (Membership, Scientific Advisors, Education, Student Affairs, Ethics, Conservation,

Awards & Scholarships, Taxonomy, International Relations, Social Media, Webmaster)– motion to accept committee reports

• 7.0 New Business (Barlow)– 7.1 Proposed changes to governing documents (ballot in May 2018)– 7.2 Candidates for Office (ballot in May 2018) [Nominations and Elections]– current candidates, call for nominations from the floor– 7.3 Membership survey – coming to you in early 2018– 7.4 SMM Conservation Fund (Barlow)– 7.5 New business from the membership

• 8.0 Comments from the President‐elect (Pabst)• 9.0 Halifax Conference Wrap‐up (Wimmer and Moors‐Murphy)

– motion to adjourn

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Society for Marine Mammalogy General Members’ Meeting Minutes, October 27, 2017, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CANADA Presiding: Dr. Jay Barlow, President, SMM Recording Secretary: Tara Cox 1.0 Motion to approve agenda: Paul Nachtigall, seconded by Laura Feyrer 2.0 Motion to waive reading of minutes from 18 Dec 2015 General Member’s Meeting: Katharina Audley, seconded by Sarah Kienle. 3.0 Future Conferences

3.1 Joan Gonzalvo and Mario Acquarone announced that the European Cetacean Society (ECS) and Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) would be jointly hosting the World Marine Mammal Conference in Barcelona in 2019. They also announced that organizations in S. America, Australia, and Africa are collaborating and encouraged other organizations to contact them to make it truly a world conference. Manel Gazo and Carla Chicote, the co‐Chairs of the conference spoke and played a video from Barcelona.

3.2 Amy Hirons introduced a proposal for the 2021 Biennial Conference in Ft. Lauderdale. December 11‐17,

2021. Workshops Dec. 11‐12; meeting 13‐17. Barlow asked whether anyone would like to submit a competing proposal. Liz Slooten asked if any universities had proposals, because the cost would likely be more favorable than a convention center. She also expressed concern about the timing. Ann Pabst explained that Dr. Hirons and her team were the only ones who submitted a proposal, but that SMM will continue to explore options to reduce costs. No proposals for alternative venues were received from the floor. Given that we had only one proposal for the Conference venue in 2021, a formal vote to choose a venue was not relevant. Jay Barlow asked for an informal vote of affirmation in support of the Ft. Lauderdale proposal. A show of hands indicated that the vast majority of Members supported the proposal and there was no opposition.

4.0 Treasurer’s Report Tim Ragen gave report. See report at end. 5.0 Marine Mammal Science (MMS) Editor’s Report Daryl Boness presented. See report at end.

‐ MMS needs reviewers. Please contact if willing to review. ‐ Authors should use SMM taxonomy list when submitting manuscripts to MMS and elsewhere.

6.0 Committee Reports ‐ Membership (Chris Parsons) – see report at end ‐ Scientific Advisors (Doug Wartzok) – see report at end

‐ In 2016 the Board of Governors of the Society approved an increase in the total amount available for the Grants in Aid of Research program from $15,000 to $30,000 and an increase in the maximum individual award from $1,500 to $2,000. ‐ 29 proposals received; 16 awards given

‐ Student Affairs (Sarah Kienle, Laura Feyrer, Courtney Smith) – see report at end. ‐ student travel grants to 100% of students who applied (325 students funded) ‐ Ethics (Paul Nachtigall) – see report at end ‐ Awards and Scholarship (Lindsay Porter) – see report at end ‐ International Relations (L. Porter for G. Di Sciara) – see report at end ‐ 26 PIs from low‐income countries funded to travel to biennial ‐ Webmaster (Katherina Audley) – see report at end

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There was a general call for needing members on all committees. Please contact the chair of the committee you are interested in serving on.

7.0 New Business

7.1 Proposed changes to governing documents – there will be a ballot in May 2018 7.2 Candidates for Office – Emer Rogan, chair of Nominations and Elections committee, offered a slate of

candidates for offices: President‐elect: Charles Littnan and Simone Panigada Secretary: Tara Cox Treasurer: Katie Moore, Lori Schwacke Member at Large: Per Berrgren, Cecile Vincent Student Members at Large: Racquel Garcia‐Vernet, Diego Rita Espada In addition, the following nominations were made from the floor: Courtney Smith nominated Eric Ramos for student Member‐at‐Large. Diego Rita Espada nominated Dee Allen for Treasurer 7.3 Membership Survey – there will be a survey going out to all members in early 2018. Please respond. 7.4 SMM Conservation Fund – Jay Barlow announced the initiation of a Conservation Fund. This fund will be an

endowment that will fund research projects that will catalyse conservation efforts for the most endangered marine mammals. He announced that there is currently $628,000 pledged to the fund with a goal of $5 million endowment ($1.5 million is needed to establish the fund). For more information, please see slides at end. Bruce Mate suggested that people consider giving to the fund in their estate planning.

7.5 New Business from floor

Andrew Wright noted that according to the membership presentation, the Society has more work to do to increase diversity. He proposed SMM set up a diversity committee and suggested Asha De Vos could lead the committee. Jay Barlow indicated that the Board had had many discussions regarding diversity and was considering all options, including adding a diversity committee.

Jay Barlow gave thank‐yous to outgoing Board members:

Tim Ragen (Treasurer), Sarah Kienle and Laura Feyrer (Student Members at Large), Lorenzo Rojas‐Bracho (Member at Large)

8.0 Ann Pabst, President‐elect, gave remarks ‐ in memoriam will be amended and posted online once permissions are obtained ‐ thanked those stepping down from Board ‐ reflected on Society and future focusing on community 9.0 Hilary Moors‐Murphy and Tonya Wimmer – Halifax conference wrap‐up

In true Canadian style, Hilary and Tonya gave an entertaining close, including Damian Lidgard and Sofie van Parijs.

Motion to Adjourn meeting: John Wang, seconded by Emer Rogan.

SMM General Members’ Meeting 2017

SMM General Members’ Meeting 2017

• 1.0 President’s Overview (Barlow)

• 2.0 Minutes of 2015 General Members Meeting (posted online)

• 3.0 Future conferences– Barcelona joint SMM/ECS 2019

– Planning for 2021

• 4.0 Treasurer’s Report (Ragen)

• 5.0 MMS Editor’s report (Boness)

• 6.0 Committee reports (Membership, Scientific Advisors, Education, Student Affairs, Ethics, Conservation, Awards & Scholarships, Taxonomy, International Relations, Social Media, Webmaster)

• 7.0 New Business (Barlow)– 7.1 Proposed changes to governing documents (ballot in May 2018)

– 7.2 Candidates for Office (ballot in May 2018) [Nominations and Elections]

– current candidates, call for nominations from the floor

– 7.3 Membership survey – coming to you in early 2018

– 7.4 SMM Conservation Fund (Barlow)

– 7.5 New business from the membership

• 8.0 Comments from the President-elect (Pabst)

• 9.0 Halifax Conference Wrap-up (Wimmer and Moors-Murphy)

Future SMM Conferences

2019 World Marine Mammal Conference: Barcelona

Joint SMM & European Cetacean Society (ECS)

Mario Acquarone (ECS Chair)

Joan Gonzalvo Villegas (ECS vice-Chair)

Manel Gazo & Carla Chicote, conference co-chairs

Future SMM Conferences

• 2021 24th Biennial Proposal (Pabst)– Any other proposals

Treasurer’s Report by Tim Ragen

0

400

800

1,200

1,600

2,000

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

1000s of U.S. d

ollars

Year

Total Assets

Investments

Endowments

SMM Fiscal Assets End of 2017


28.9%

58%

13.1%Money MarketMoney Market

Fixed IncomeFixed Income

EquitiesEquities

SMM Fiscal Assets 2017Investment Fund Types

Total ValueIncreasedAbout 6%

~40:60 Low‐moderateRisk Ratio

MorningstarSustainabilityWeightedMean

3.9 out of 5


SMM AnnualBudgets2017‐2018

Expense 2017 2018

Administration $ 3240 $ 3350

Support Contracts $ 14200 $ 12000

Website Mgmt $ 31620 $ 21714

Grants in Aid $ 30000 $ 30000

Audit $ 0 $ 15000

Barcelona Plan $ 0 $ 40000

Board Activities $ 25000 $ 40000

Journal Editing $ 71400 $ 72828

Journal Publication $ 80000 $ 80000

Conference $ 749242 $ 17108

Subtotal $ 1004702 $ 332000

Revenue

Investment interest $ 28000 $ 30910

Membership $ 105000 $ 50000

Wiley Editorial support $ 55369 $ 57030

Wiley Royalties $ 30820 $ 37232

Conference $ 901461 $ 0

Subtotal $ 1120650 $ 175172

Revenue‐expense $ 115948 ‐$ 156828

Carryover previous year $ 38711 $ 154659

Proj. year‐end balance $ 154659 ‐$ 2169

Editor’s Report by Daryl Boness

• Published quarterly – Internet only but for a fee an issue can be printed

• In June 2017 the journal published a special issue

• Board of Editors – Editor and 19 Associate Editors

• Aim for 3 reviewers but will use 2; Associate Editors make recommendation; Editor makes final decision

• Problem getting reviewers in a timely manner

• Be sure to use the SMM Taxonomy List (in all pubs.)

Editor’s Report by Daryl Boness

• 193 papers submitted from 32 countries in last 12 mo

• Time from submission to initial decision averages 71 d

• Of 161 papers with final decision, 50% were accepted

• Journal’s Impact Factor (IF) is 1.660 (1.665 in 2016)

• IF of other Society/Taxa based journals: Int. J. Primat. 1.29, J. Mamm. 1.63, Auk 2.10, J. Herp. 0.91

• MMS’s ranking is in upper 25% for zoology related journals and upper 44% for marine related journals

SMM General Member’s Meeting 2017
















Membership Committee- Chris Parsons

Categories of membership

Associate Emeritus Full

Honorary Lifetime Student


36

36

301

7

44

78

68

6

435

2

25

302

19

2

83

0

11

105

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Associate

Emeritus

Full

Honorary

Lifetime

Student

SMM membership by category & gender

Male Female Undetermined


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Male Female Unidentified

Full + Lifetime Student

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Associate Emeritus Full Honorary Lifetime Student

Membership category by Developed / Developing Country status

Developed Developing

0 200 400 600 800 1000

USA

Canada

UK

Australia

Japan

Brazil

Mexico

Germany

New Zealand

Norway

South Africa

Denmark

Spain

Netherlands

South & Central America

Asia

Europe (& Russia)

Caribbean

Africa & Middle East

S Pacific Islands

Unknown

Membership by country/ region

Committee of Scientific Advisors-Doug Wartzok

*Sherie Coleman (Virginia Wesleyan College, USA) Enrique Alberto Crespo (National Research Council of Argentina, Argentina)Robert Harcourt (Macquarie University, Australia)Vincent Janik (University of St Andrews, Scotland) Mervi Kunnasranta (Finnish Game & Fisheries Research Institute, Finland) Songhai Li (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) Laura May‐Collado (University of Vermont, USA) Doris Oliva (Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile) Colleen Reichmuth (University of California, Santa Cruz, USA) Jorge Urbán R. (Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Mexico) Douglas Wartzok, Chair (Florida International University, USA)

*Student Member

Scientific Advisors- Doug Wartzok

In 2016 the Board of Governors of the Society approved an increase in the total amount available for the Grants in Aid of Research program from $15,000 to $30,000 and an increase in the maximum individual award from $1,500 to $2,000.


Twenty‐nine proposals were received. Each proposal was evaluated by three reviewers. The maximum possible score was 60. Eleven proposals with scores between 50 and 59 were awarded the maximum $2,000 or the total requested when it was less than $2,000. Five proposals with scores of 49 were awarded $1,850 or the requested amount when it was less than $1,850.


Home Country Awarded Applied Success Rate

Mexico 7 11 64%

Brazil 4 8 50%

South Africa 2 2 100%

China 1 1 100%

Cuba 1 1 100%

Nepal 1 1 100%

Columbia 0 1 0%

Costa Rica 0 1 0%

Panama 0 1 0%

Serbia 0 1 0%

Venezuela 0 1 0%

Total 16 29 55%

Student Affairs Committee

Student Members At LargeSarah Kienle – 3 yr Term complete at the end of SMM2017Laura Feyrer – 2 yr Term complete at end of June 2018Courtney Smith ‐ 2 yr Term began July 2017

Current Student Affairs Committee membersTilen Genov (Slovenia)Taylor Hersh (Canada)Hansen Johnson (US/Canada)

2017 Student Members at Large: Courtney Smith, Laura Feyrer and Sarah Kienle

Student Networking Night

SMM2017 Student Affairs Committee

325 Students received Travel Awards @ #SMM2017

3,535Total

Members

Student Highlights 2016 -2017

Student Chapters

Active:• Australia/New Zealand• California, USA• Southeast, USA• District of Columbia, USA• Northwest, North America• Alaska, USA• United Kingdom• Latin America

Forming:• New England, USA (reorganized)• Asia (new)• Mediterranean? (new) https://www.marinemammalscience.org/for‐

students/chapters

Ethics Committee- Paul Nachtigall

Ethics Committee: Paul Nachtigall (Chair) Kristen Ampela, Ellen Hines, Kelly Jaakkola,Charles Littnan, Michael Moore, Todd Ohara

Goal – Prevent Harassment at Society Meetings

Code of Conduct (Please see web page)

Harassment‐Free Policy

Board or Society Membership decision on Harassment‐Free PolicyBoard to hire Professional to Report Harassment to?

Awards & Scholarships CommitteeChair: Lindsay Porter

Members: Daryl Boness, Louise Chilvers, Alyson Fleming, Kimberley Bennett, Guido Parra.

This Committee manages most of the Society’s activities with regard to awards and scholarships. This committee is currently seeking members from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. If interested, please email Lindsay for more details ([email protected])


In 2017, the focus of this committees activities have been on conference award management and preparation. All travel grant and bursary winners were announced on the society website.

All conference winners, including those awarded at the 2016 SOLOMAC meeting, will be announced at the Awards Ceremony which follows on directly from this meeting.


In 2018, three calls for proposals will be made, via the SMM Newsletter, website and mailing lists:

• Emily B. Shane (EBS) Award (USD 10,000)• Louis M. Herman Scholarship Fund (USD 5000)• John E. Heyning Award (USD 5000)

Please watch for announcements for the full list of criteria and application process

International Relations Committee Giuseppe Notobartolo di Sciara

Amalia Alberini*, Duke University, GreeceMarthan Bester, University of Pretoria, South AfricaGillian Braulik, Hon. Res. Fellow, University of St. Andrews, UKRobert L. Brownell, NOAA Fisheries, USAEnrique A. Crespo, Centro Nacional Patagonico, ArgentinaAsha de Vos, The Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project, Sri LankaPeter Evans, Bangor University, UKNobuyuki Miyazaki, Ocean Research Institute, JapanGiuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tethys Research Institute, Italy (Committee Chair)Marc Oremus, University of Auckland, New ZealandWilliam Rossiter, Cetacean Society International, USA

International Relations Committee Highlights

Reviewed 50 abstracts from researchers requesting travel grants

SMM Conference travel grants awarded to 26 colleagues from 14 low‐income countries (~$40,000)

Hosted a welcoming party for grantees

Seeks member from Africa

Webmaster- Katherina Audley

Information and Technology Manager on contract to the SMM

New and improved resources: Species fact sheets, member directory, award and grant opportunities, featured journal articles, job submission board

2018 Goal: Use our communication tools and resources to strengthen and support the membership in serving the Society’s mission

Katherina Audley, Society Webmaster ‐ [email protected]

















New Business

• 7.1 Proposed changes to governing documents (ballot in May 2018)

• 7.2 Nominations for SMM Elected Officers (secret ballot in May 2018)

• 7.3 Membership survey – coming to you in early 2018

• 7.4 SMM Conservation Fund (Barlow)

• 7.5 New business from the membership

7.2 Nominations and Elections

Committee members: T. Akamatsu, D. Costa, K. Parsons,

H. Koopman, J. Teilmann, C. Loch Santos da Silva, E. Rogan (Chair)

Nominations:• President elect: Charles Littnan, Simone Panigada,

• Secretary: Tara Cox

• Treasurer: Katie Moore, Lorelei Schwacke

• Member at Large: Per Berggren, Cecile Vincent

• Student Member at Large: R. Garcia Vernet, Diego Rita Espada

7.2 Call for Nominations

SMM Elected OfficersPresident Elect* (2+2 years)Treasurer* (2 years)Secretary* (2 years)Member at Large* (4 years)2X Student Members at Large** (2 years)

Eligibility: * must be full members** must be full or student members and

enrolled as a graduate student

New Business

• 7.1 Proposed changes to governing documents (ballot in May 2018)

• 7.2 Nominations for SMM Elected Officers (secret ballot in May 2018)

• 7.3 Membership survey – coming to you in early 2018

• 7.4 SMM Conservation Fund (Barlow)

• 7.5 New business from the membership

7.5 SMM Conservation Fund

Theme: preventing the next extinction.

Goal: fund the research and education projects that have the highest chance of catalyzing real action; $300‐500K per two‐year grant cycle ($10‐100K per grant).

Strategy: fund‐raise to establish a self‐perpetuating endowment (US $5,000,000).

Management: fund managed by Treasurer separately from SMM general funds; proposals solicited biennially and reviewed by the Committee of Scientific Advisors & the Conservation Committee.

Progress: Management proposal written.5 Example projects described.Brochure drafted.Pledges of $628K from SMM members.

Need Help:Need $1.5 million to establish the fund (+$872K).Need contact information for generous donors.Need help raising large funds.Need you!

How Can YOU Help? Well, you can’t take it with you

Give now, and avoid the sticker‐shock of dying.

We Need to Do More, Earlier

• We cannot afford to wait until the next marine mammal species drops be below 30 individuals.

• People in this room have the resources and connections to make this happen.

• Let’s do it!

7.5 New Business- (YOU!)

















Community1. a feeling of fellowship, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals

2. characterized by sense of joint ownership

Merriam‐Webster

Drag from fishing gear entangling right whales: a major extinction risk factor

Julie van der Hoop

Peter Corkeron, John Kenney, Scott Landry, David Morin, Jamison Smith, Allison Henry, Amy Knowlton, Clay George, Doug Nowacek, Michael Triantafyllou, Michael Moore

@jvanderhoop | @BioacousticsAU | marinebioacoustics.com

UNCW under NOAA permit METR under NOAA permit

Duke University under NOAA GA

Community

Dr. Kenneth S. Norris, First President of the Society for Marine Mammalogy

Our community is strengthened by its diversity and we will become stronger as we continue to dedicate ourselves to enhancing the inclusivity of our Society.

Our community is strengthened by supporting the work of our members across the globe, and we will become stronger as we continue to enhance these

critical efforts.

Community

Working with fishers and communities in East Africa to mitigate marine mammal bycatch

marine MEGAfauna lab: [email protected]

To promote the global advancement of marine mammal science and contribute to its relevance and

impact in education, conservation and management.

Our Mission

Community

Your Conference Committee Chairs:Tonya Wimmer & Hilary Moors-Murphy

The End

Motion to Close?

general member’s meeting, october 27, 2017 · marine mammalogy (smm) would be jointly hosting the...

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