The first phase of the MAA initiative in strategic planning is now coming to a close with the submission of reports at the January Board of Governors meeting. Phase I topics were AMC, Professional Development, and Revenue. Here is a summary of the reports.

AMC: AMC8 registration is robust but not AMC10/12. A study on participation, including a detailed phone survey of teachers, showed problem areas are: the increase in mandatory testing in the schools, the difficulty of the test (often students’ score is 0), and the test type (some students don’t like the individual competition, especially girls and minority groups). AMC does not collect data on ethnic makeup. Suggestions included collaboration with COMAP on HiMCM, the high school math modeling contest; state liaisons to take the place of former AMC Directors to work with the national office (some states, including Michigan, have them already); and the inclusion of some easier questions at the beginning of the contest exam.

Professional Development: Recommendations included strengthening financial support for professional development, funded by fees and outside sponsors. Lack of support from local institutions and the fluctuations in soft money availability was noted. Programs can be expanded to engage diverse groups, including encouraging SIGMAAs to offer programs and to offer programs jointly with other professional societies. Data should be collected uniformly to support evaluation. Web surveys and focus groups were used to collect information.

Revenue: The report on revenue identified two goals: (1) increasing unrestricted set-aside funds to be at least one half of operating expenses by 2010 and a full year by 2015 (centennial year); and (2) diversifying revenue streams so that no one area be more than 20% of the total revenue. Books and periodicals are strong, and the Carriage House at the headquarters in Washington, D.C. will provide revenue through rentals of the space.

Strategic planning Phase II topics include Governance, Membership, and Students. Information was gathered at breakout discussion groups on Governance in August, 2006 from Governors and Section Officers, and on Students in January, 2007 from Governors, Section Officers, and Student Chapter Advisors. Winners of a vote on Phase III topics were STEM Issues, Sections and Publications.

The new dues structure (reported on previously) has been put into effect. As you will see or have seen, your latest dues statement has an explanation page included.

MAA President Carl Cowen’s trip to ICM-Madrid and a personal trip to Africa emphasized to him the need to reach out globally. There were conferences in Washington, D.C. and China (and elsewhere) on the report “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”. [The difference was that in China, top government officials attended.]

The Carriage House is ready, and meetings scheduled there started in Fall 2006. Opening celebrations will be April 19–27, 2007.

Euler’s 300th birthday is April 15, 2007. There will be national and international festivities (see www.maa.org/euler at MAA Online). The new books from MAA on Euler will be at the Section Meeting book sale.

Former Governor Jerry Grossman received the Certificate of Meritorious Service Award at the Prize Session at the JMM (see citation and photo on pages 10 and 11).

This will be my last report as Governor. It has been an honor to serve the Section. I have learned a lot about the structure of the MAA, and have been privileged to serve with many dedicated folks from around the country.

Ruth Favro, Governor

Back to the Spring 2007 Newsletter

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