MINUTES: The meeting was called to order by President Michael Taaffe, who welcomed the capacity crowd of members and guests. The meeting went "high-tech" with the use of power point slides for the agenda and several of the reports.
REPORTS: Mike Taaffe referred those in attendance to the minutes of the INFORMS/CS Business Meetings from INFORMS-Seattle and INFORMS-Montreal, which are available from the INFORMS/CS web pages. He also announced the fall election results for the ICS officers: President, Michael Taaffe (University of Minnesota), Vice-President/President-Elect, John Charnes (University of Kansas), and Secretary/Treasurer, Susan Sanchez (University of Missouri-St. Louis).
David Goldsman reported on the new Lifetime Professional Achievement Award, won by Julian Reitman. Julian shared some reminiscences about the early days of simulation with the attendees. Tom Schriber reported on the Distinguished Service Award, won by David Kelton. Sheldon Jacobson reported on the Outstanding Publication Award, which was won by Michael Fu and Jian-Qiang Hu. All award winners were roundly applauded for their contributions to the profession. Details of their accomplishments are found elsewhere in this newsletter.
Harriet Black Nembhard recognized this year's faculty and student winners of Sponsorship Awards from the Committee on Women and Underrepresented Minorities. Several of the awardees were present at the business meeting.
John Charnes summarized the INFORMS/CS clusters at the upcoming INFORMS conferences. INFORMS/CS has a relatively small presence at these conferences, and all those interested in presenting papers or chairing sessions are strongly encouraged to contact him as soon as possible. There is still room for talks in the Simulation track at the INFORMS Fall 1999 meeting in Philadelphia.
Susan Sanchez gave the Treasurer's report. An updated version is available in this newsletter. The INFORMS/CS remains solvent with a healthy balance in both the account held at INFORMS and in the INFORMS/CS checking account.
Jim Wilson recognized the INFORMS/CS Web Team: the Web Editor Felisa J. Vasquez-Abad, Consulting Web Editors David Goldsman and James R. Wilson, and Webmaster Peter Welch.
John Carson reported that WSC'98 was a success, with a record number of attendees. Marvin Nakayama reported that the Ph.D. colloquium continues to be a vibrant part of the program. A warm round of applause was given for all those volunteers who worked so hard to make the conference run smoothly, particularly those on the program committee, arrangements committee, and the proceedings editors. Dave Sturrock gave a call for papers/participation for WSC '99, which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona.
Bruce Schmeiser reported that things were moving along slowly but smoothly toward changing the College on Simulation into an INFORMS Society rather than an INFORMS Section.
The Simulation History and Archive projects at North Carolina State University were described. Dick Nance and Bob Sargent are co-chairs of the History Project, and Jim Wilson has been instrumental in getting space within the NCSU library for housing the archives. Of interest are letters, memoranda, publications, and memorabilia of all kinds that are relevant to the history of the field of computer simulation, including the history of related professional societies.
The issue of the WSC's timing arose, in context of the changing format of the INFORMS general meetings toward one annual meeting in late fall instead of two meetings in late fall and late spring. Some expressed a preference for the WSC conference to be held in January, rather than December, but representatives from the WSC board stated that it was highly unlikely that the conference time would be changed. Several other societies represented on the WSC Board find this a convenient time, and it is also more financially viable.
Jim Wilson reported on the format of the WSC Proceedings. This year, the proceedings were published in two softcover volumes and on a CD-ROM. The cost of producing these two formats is becoming prohibitive, particularly if the proceedings editors must make sure that the two formats are identical in terms of page numbering, etc., for referential purposes. A WSC list-serv has been established for the purpose of discussing this and other issues affecting the WSC community. You can join this list from the INFORMS/CS web page.
New members of INFORMS/CS were welcomed, and the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by Susan M. Sanchez, Secretary/Treasurer.