842 
THE WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY • Vol 124. No. 4. December 2012 
and 1 April 2012 in Buffalo, New York. Al (he 
end of 2011, (he Society’s membership stood at 
1579 individuals, including 227 students. In 
addition. 338 libraries and institutions sub¬ 
scribed to The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 
Secretary Smallwood asked those assembled to 
stand in recognition of the following members 
who were recently deceased: Curtis S. Adkisson 
(Blacksburg, Virginia), WOS Past-President 
Mary H. Clench (Gainesville, Florida). WOS 
Past-President Pershing B. Hofslund (Duluth, 
Minnesota), John A. Livingston (Salt Spring 
Island. British Columbia). Ken Morrison (Bub- 
son Park, Florida), Warren M. Pulich (Irving, 
Texas). Fred A. Ryser Jr. (Reno, Nevada), and 
Walter Thiede, (Koln, Germany), 
Secretary Smallwood reported the Society is in 
superb financial shape; our endowment of over 
$2,500,000 continues to increase in value as 
market conditions continue to improve. On 
behalf of Council, the Secretary expressed 
sincere gratitude to the WOS Finance, Audit, 
and Investment Committee, chaired by Allan 
Keith, for its astute management of the Society’s 
assets. 
Secretary Smallwood informed those gathered 
that the Wilson Council generally meets for a full 
day to complete its business. This year Council 
held a second morning session to discuss the 
proposed Society for Ornithology (SFO). The 
mission of the WOS, as stated in our bylaws, is 
to advance the science of ornithology and the 
application ot science to the conservation of 
avian species diversity and bird habitats.” The 
vision of the SFO is for a new. unified society, a 
single voice for professional scientific ornithol¬ 
ogy in the Western Hemisphere. After several 
hours of discussion it was the consensus of 
Council that disbanding the Wilson Ornitholog¬ 
ical Society to support a new society was not in 
the interest of our mission or our members, and 
Council unanimously (with one abstention) 
passed the following resolution; “The Wilson 
Ornithological Society will retain its present 
structure as an independent entity for the 
foreseeable future.” 
Secretary Smallwood gave the floor back to 
President Bcason, who briefly summarized the 
Insurer's re P°« ^ Treasurer Melinda M. 
p .ark', w ho was unable to attend, and the 
Ednor s report for Clait E. Braun, who also 
was unable to attend. The written reports of the 
leasurer and the Editor are included below. 
President Beason also announced that Mary 
Bomberger Brown had been elected as Editor 
of The Wilson Journal of Ornithology to succeed 
retiring Editor Braun beginning with Volume 125. 
2013. President Beason further noted that Editor 
Brown began accepting manuscripts in July 2012. 
and offered the Council’s appreciation for the 
outstanding job Editor Braun hud done during the 
past 6 years. 
Margaret A. Voss, Chair, presented the report 
ol the Nominating Committee, which also 
included Richard C. Banks. Rebecca J. Saffan, 
and Mark E. Hauber: President, Robert C. 
Beason; First Vice-President. Robert L. Curry; 
Second Vice-President. Sara R. Morris; Secre¬ 
tary, John A. Smallwood; Treasurer, Melinda M. 
Clark; member of Council for 2012-2013 (to fill 
a vacancy), Timothy J. O’Connell: and members 
of Council for 2012-2015 (3 nominees for 3 
positions). Todd E. Katzner, Dennis G. Siegfried, 
and Lindsey Wallers. Having asked for addition¬ 
al nominations from the floor and hearing none, 
C hairperson Voss closed the nominations as a 
result ol a motion by Sara R. Morris, seconded by 
E. Dale Kennedy, which was unanimously passed 
by acclamation. Greg H. Farley moved, and was 
seconded by Robert L. Curry, that the Secretary 
cast a single unanimous vote for the slate of 
nominees. And by acclamation, that too came to 
pass. 
President Beason introduced Second Vice- 
President Morris, who updated those assembled 
on the 2013 meeting in Williamsburg. Virginia, 
7-9 March. Daniel A. Cristol. of the College of 
William and Mary, will serve as the Chair of the 
Local Committee. First Vice-President Curry 
informed the members on the plans to hold the 
2014 meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. 29 May 
to I June, on the campus of Salve Regina 
University. Jameson F. Chace will serve as Chair 
of Local Arrangements. 
Having completed the agenda of the Business 
Meeting. President Beason inquired if anyone 
present had further items of business. After a brief 
discussion of Council's decision not to disband 
the WOS to support the creation of the SFO. 
which was prompted by a member's comment 
affirming that decision, E. Dale Kennedy moved 
and Margaret A. Voss seconded that the Business 
Meeting adjourn. What followed was the third 
voice acclamation of this assembly. This occurred 
at 1237 hrs. 
