International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA) Board Meeting Minutes
 
April 29th, 2020
 
Conference Call
 
Participants: Ian Yule, President; Nicolas Tremblay, Immediate Past President; Victor Alchanatis,  Secretary; Quentin Rund, Executive Secretary, Jess Lowenberg DeBoer, President Elect; ; John Stafford Past President;Raj Khosla, Founding President

 

Could not participate: Ken Sudduth, Past-President; Terry Griffin, Treasurer;

 

The meeting started at 13:30 UTC-5
 
2020 ICPA preparations
The revised contract from Marriott was circulated. The impossibility clause is missing in the new contract. The hotel room rate is $10 more than the previous rate. 

 

The reservation of the committed number of rooms (which remained the same) will probably be difficult to achieve. We could try to ask to reduce the number of room nights' commitment or lower the attrition rate (Jess). Ian and Raj think that Marriott has acted with good faith and now they suggest that we have to act in good faith. John and Jess proposed to revise the impossibility clause.

 

Ian proposed to accept the revised contract, knowing that there are concerns which might be dealt with at 2022, and start thinking about new ways of communication and conferences.

 

The board has unanimously decided to accept the revised contract, knowing that there are concerns which might be dealt with at 2022. Quentin will return the signed contract to Marriott.

 

The board decided that the conference in 2022 will remain the 15th ICPA.
 
The members, exhibitors and sponsors should ne notified as soon as possible that the conference of 2020 is postponed to June 27th, 2022, to June 29th, 2022. Mention in the same message that a follow up notice will come for the election of officers and science awards. 

 

Raj proposed to institute and offer selected awards this year. Senior and junior scientist award and require them to give a webinar. Even try to get sponsors for the awards and webinar. No nominations for awards till now. Solicit nominations with the message about the postponement of the conference.

 

Travel awards for students will not be awarded this year.

 

Adjust the deadlines for the scientist awards nominations.

 

Quentin will circulate with Jess and Ian on new ways to communicate between members and bring it to the board together with Nicolas's ideas in two weeks.

 

[Terry will find what is the liability of PAQ when there is cancelation of a meeting and report to the next board meeting.] Action item left from last meeting. Not discussed in this meeting as well. Forwarded to following

meetings.

 

Nicolas has proposed to review alternative methods of contacting society members and forms of communication. The board agreed that this is an important topic and will discuss it in one of the next meetings.

 

Topic for the agenda of a next meeting: review alternative methods of contacting society members and forms of communication
 
Elections
Nicolas gave an update to the current situation. 

 

Two possibility were brought up: to conduct the elections as planned or remain with the same board till 2022 ICPA. All think that elections have to take place as planned. Discussion about whether to extend the deadline for nominations. 

 

The elections will take place as planned.

 

June 8th remained the deadline for nominations.

 

Nominations up now:
1. John Fulton, Ohio State
2. Steve Young, Utah State
3. Yiannis Ampatzidis, Florida
4. Athyna Cambouris, AAFC – secretary position

 

Jess proposed that the treasurer should be an American. Quentin noted that this must not necessarily be the case.
 
Next meeting set for May 6th 13:30 CST (UCT-5)
 
Meeting adjourned 15:00 UCT-5.