Report of the Board of Regents 



The Board of Regents exercised its governance of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution in fiscal year 2000 through three plenary 

 meetings, meetings of its vatious committees, and commu- 

 nications among members and with the Secretary and his 

 staff. The board welcomed Alan Spoon as a new member, 

 congratulated Manuel Ibanez on his reappointment to the 

 board, and named retiring members Frank A. Shrontz and 

 Daniel Patrick Moynihan as Regents Emeritus. The board 

 elected Howard H. Baker Jr. as chairman of its Executive 

 Committee and thanked Barber B. Conable Jr. for his service 

 in that position since 1995. The boatd also revised its bylaws 

 to establish a new Finance and Investment Committee to en- 

 hance its ovetsight of financial affairs and maintain standards 

 of investment strategies. 



Shortly after Lawrence M. Small's installation on January 

 24, 2000, as the nth Secretary, the board was pleased to af- 

 firm support for his vision of the Smithsonian's future and 

 the optimum organizational structute to effect that vision. 

 In subsequent meetings with the Regents, Sectetaty Small 

 discussed his 10-year plan, as well as his semiannual and 

 annual reports, which presented evidence of significant 

 achievements toward his goals. On May 1 1 , 2000, the Re- 

 gents received reports from National Air and Space Museum 

 Director John R. Dailey and National Museum of the Ameri- 

 can Indian Director W. Richard West on the compelling 

 significance of their capital plans. At the Regents' September 

 1 1 , 2000 meeting, members of the Secretary's management 

 team reported on progress in their areas of responsibility. 



Moved by Kenneth E. Behring's record-breaking contri- 

 bution to the Smithsonian for the revitalization of the 

 National Museum of American History, the Regents author- 

 ized the designation "Behring Center" on the building and 

 on printed materials, beneath the names Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution and National Museum of American History. The 

 Regents also named two galleries in the museum in honor of 

 the donor and his family. 



In recognition of Steven F. Udvat-Hazy's extraordinary- 

 contribution for the National Air and Space Museum's cen- 

 ter at Washington Dulles International Airport, the Regents 

 voted to name that facility the Steven F. Udvat-Hazy Center 

 and to induct him into the prestigious Order of James 

 Smithson. 



The Regents also established the Paul Peck Fund for 

 Presidential Studies and named a gallery in the National 

 Portrait Gallery in honor of Mr. Peck out of gratitude for 

 his generosity. 



The Regents named the Fujifilm Giant Panda Conserva- 

 tion Habitat and proposed a bill to Congress to change the 

 name of the National Museum of American Art to the sim- 

 pler, more forceful, and more instantly tecognized name 

 Smithsonian American Art Museum. 



Among its other actions, the board agreed to seek con- 

 gressional authorization for construction of a scientific base 

 facility at Hilo, Hawaii, in support of the Smithsonian 

 Astrophysical Observatory; authorized the Friends of the 

 National Zoo to raise funds for and construct a new educa- 

 tion building at the Zoo; and authorized construction of the 

 National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center 



The board also voted to appoint Secretary Emeritus I. 

 Michael Heyman as an honorary life member of the Smith- 

 sonian National Boatd, and throughout the year, the Regents 

 appointed many dedicated volunteers as members of the In- 

 stitution's advisory boards and commissions. 



Staff Milestones 



At a special dinner in honor of the 10th Secretary and Mrs. 

 Heyman on December 12, 1999, the Regents presented the 

 Smithsonian's highest distinction, the James Smithson 

 Medal, to Secretary Heyman in grateful recognition of his 



