Dear HSF-SIG members:

Attached please find a scan of the final bank statement from the account of the Health, Sport & Fitness special interest group of ABAI.  Overlaying the statement is a copy of the cashier's check for the account total.  This amount represents our total dues accumulation since June 2002 (following our annual meeting in May at the ABAI conference), minus the single $100 cash award for student research given in Atlanta in May 2006.  This bank account is now closed, and the pictured check is enroute to Marianne Jackson in Fresno for administration on behalf of the SIG.

Since I was elected to the chair in May 2002, our purpose in requesting dues was to support a student research award.  Although we have observed several projects at ABAI each year that would have been eligible for our award, only one student ever applied. Naturally, the membership may decide on a different direction, but this was its history.

We have historically discussed whether dues should be mandatory or voluntary.  Previously, we decided to keep them voluntary on the grounds that some of us (gainfully employed, tenured or tenurable, for example) are in a position to contribute generously while others (especially students) may be discouraged from participating because of financial challenges should dues be a pre-condition for involvement.  In the past, we have placed networking and socially-supporting HSF endeavors above other objectives, so we've wanted to encourage the broadest participation possible.

We once had a quarterly newsletter, written mainly by Ralph Pampino.  This was distributed electronically (for free) in lieu of paper copy (which would have required printing and mailing fees as well as labor). Ralph did a great job before his time and attention were required elsewhere.

The fee schedule below allotted different privileges to different levels of membership; enforcement was lax.  However, we did allow the lion's share of the decision making about the research award (the one time it happened) to be made by the highest dues-paying members, in keeping with the idea that those giving the most should have a greater say in how it is spent.  The structure was as follows:

_a_  Senior Sustaining Member       $150.00/yr    $270.00/2 yr   $380.00/3 yr
_b_  Sustaining Member                   $75.00/yr    $135.00/2 yr    $190.00/ 3 yr
_c_  Senior Supporting Member       $50.00/yr    $90.00/2 yr      $128.00/3 yr
_d_  Supporting Member                  $25.00/yr    $45.00/2 yr       $64.00/3 yr
_e_  Student Member                       $10.00/yr    $18.00/2 yr       $25,00/3 yr
_f_  Affiliate    no charge      
_g_  Old scheme, $10/year or $20/2 years

Maintaining a separate account for the SIG as a business-type "general fund" was a nuisance, as reporting requirements after September 11, 2001 mandated assignment of a tax identification number and designation of a signatory officer whose status was determined in a process independent of opening the account (I had to prepare a letter authorizing myself to sign paperwork on behalf of the SIG, and technically anyone who took over the treasurery should have such a letter from the chair.  Further, there should be a board overseeing the transfer of the authority, etc.).  Basically, it was much ado about nothing. 

Bob Stein allowed me to take over the treasury early on in my tenure as chair, as I was gung-ho to raise the public profile of the SIG and invest time and energy in ensuring accountability.  I hoped that a sound organizational structure with a well defined purpose (student research awards) and a transparent process would encourage membership, dues payments, and active involvement.  It appears, however, that the determining factors for participation lie elsewhere.  I would not recommend continuing this level of organization, though periodically reporting publicly the contents of the treasury (even if it is subsumed into a member's checking account and kept separate only on paper) is probably still an important system check to keep us honest.  It is surprisingly easy to forget how much money has been contributed in dues, especially when membership changes frequently and payment may be made at any time.

Thank you all for your time and involvement over these past few years.  My term as "outgoing chair/treasurer" (unofficial, but good practice to ensure continuity) comes to an end now that the annual SIG meeting at ABAI is completed.  Please support Marianne and her leadership team in reinvigorating the HSF-SIG and keeping it alive.

Sincerely,

Michael

-- Michael A. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Wheeling Jesuit University
316 Washington Avenue
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: 304.243.4429
E-mail: mkirkpatrick@...
Web: http://www.wju.edu/academics/psy/faculty/kirkpatrick.asp

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