Illinois Section
American Association of Physics Teachers

Council Roundtable Discussions are Listed Below.

Minutes of the Fall Council Meeting
Millikin University, LTSC 115
October 19, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 a.m. In attendance were Kelly Roos, Bruce McCart, Ken Mellendorf, Ann Brandon, Debby Lojkutz, Roger Reeves, Duane Ingram, Ray Bugayong, Mark Boley, Dave Renneke, Diana Roth, Kimberly Shaw, Chuck Schulz, Bill Hogan, and Carl Wenning.

Secretary-Treasurer Report: The minutes of the last meeting and the treasurer's reports were reviewed and approved. The current balance in the treasury is $3,129.26.

Section Representative Report: Bill Hogan noted that Curt Hieggelke would not be present to deliver the Section Representative Report as he had recently undergone triple-bypass surgery two days earlier (prognosis good). Nonetheless, Curt had prepared and delivered his report in writing. The following three points were made: 1) it was requested that the Executive Board meeting highlights be sent out to Representatives before the Council meeting, 2) the Executive Office has initiated discussion with the Acoustical Society to meet jointly in Rhode Island in the middle of June 2006, and 3) it was suggested that AAPT send notices to section members for whom they have e-mail addresses. A question was also raised about how the mission statement document has been used to plan new initiatives and evaluate old ones. They commented that the document is a regular part of Board discussions and that many agenda items are categorized based on the Strategic Plan items.

Representative to the AAPT High School Committee Report: Ann Brandon reported that the PTRA Rural Institutes is going well. Publications of the AAPT "red, green, and blue" booklets dealing with teacher preparation will soon be available, and that they had been delayed due to multiple changes of editorship. She noted that there will be teacher workshops before the winter AAPT Austin meeting on January 11-12. She noted that we might let Curt Hieggelke know of any preferences for summer meeting dates - June or August. She also noted that summer meeting would be held in Wisconsin.

Publicity Chair, Section Editor, and Webmaster Report: Dave Renneke noted that he had been able to secure the domain name "isaapt.org" for five years for only $75 total. The committee members commended his effort, and noted how welcome the new domain name was.

Newsletter Report: Roger Reeves, editor of Illinois Physics Teacher, noted that the publication continues to be produced at a cost of less than $100 per edition, both to print and disseminate, thank in part of support by his school district.

Outstanding High School Physics Teacher Award: Diana Roth exhibited the new online forms to be used to solicit nominations and applications for this annual award. Members review the forms and Charles Schulz suggested that an entry be included in the nomination form in which the relationship between the nominator and nominee would be listed (e.g, principal, teaching colleague, former student, etc.) Diana thanked Michael Persson and Dave Renneke for the execution of the online efforts, and Carl Wenning for assisting with seven questions to be used in the application. Diana noted that, in compliance with rules for the award, current nominees will be asked to resubmit following the new format that restricts answers to 250 words each. (According to Dave, copying and pasting should be encouraged to minimize the effort.) Because the process is slightly behind schedule due to the new procedures, Diana asked that Council members consider nominating candidates. The nomination form is available at www.isaapt.org. Dave Renneke will send Diana the approximately 160 e-mail addresses he current has in the ISAAPT data base. Diana will also send out electronic correspondence to the regional superintendents and principals.

Committee for the Distinguished Service Citation Report: Carl Wenning and Roger Reeves suggested that they alone would serve as the committee for the Citation as Ralph Miller, current recipient, is too elderly (90) to be actively involved in the process. The Council agreed.

Dues Assessment ad hoc Committee Report: Carl Wenning reported that he had sent out 470 post cards to high school physics teachers telling them about the ISAAPT, its meetings, and Web page, and would do so again just prior to the spring meeting. Carl noted that this mailing was/will be "piggy backed" on a mailing promoting his summer workshops for high school teachers. Carl noted that this does not address the concern about the lack of members paying dues (only those attending meetings tend to do so), but that the treasury is healthy. Thus, it was generally agreed that nothing needs to be done at the present time to solicit dues payments from those not regularly attending meetings.

Report on Supplemental Meeting: Kelly Roos then summarized results from a Council discussion held a day earlier at noon dealing with the "Philadelphia List." He noted three things: (1) the Committee agreed that it should meet periodically to reassess the goals of the Association, (2) the meetings would be held on Saturday afternoons following autumn meetings during odd-numbered years, and (3) when new goals are established, efforts will be made at that time to implement them through official actions of the Council. These meetings will be open to the membership, and they will be encouraged to attend. It was the general consensus of the Council that more time and effort needs to be expended on helping high school physics teachers satisfy certification needs.

Nominations Report: Past President Charles Schulz noted that he was able to secure the consent and nominated the following persons for positions on the Council: Mark Boley (Western Illinois University), President-Elect; Troy Gobble (Riverside-Brookfield HS), High School Rep.; Curtis Shoaf (Parkland), 2-Year College Rep.; and Ben Brown (Principia), 4-Year College Rep. Following a call for addition nominations (there were none), it was moved, seconded, and approved that these nominees be accepted as the official slate of candidates at the Association business meeting. (They were all subsequently and unanimously elected by acclamation.)

Spring Meeting: Charles Schulz, host of the spring 2003 ISAAPT meeting at Knox College, noted that he has the keynote speaker arranged, Bob Austin of Princeton University. Other speakers will be include industry experts and teacher workshops. Carl Wenning will offer an "inquiry" workshop for teachers, and additional workshops will be arranged if possible. 

Future Meetings: Carl Wenning, host of the autumn 2003 ISAAPT meeting at Illinois State University, noted that the theme of the meeting will be "Recruitment and Retention of the Physics Major." He indicated that there would be an open forum dealing with the subject, and experts from the field of nursing might also be invited to speak or otherwise participate. Carl noted that there were be several teacher workshops.

IASSPT-ICCB Working Group: Duane Ingram noted that the ISAAPT had, at the end of the Joliet meeting, worked out a basic transfer agreement to be used as part of the State's Illinois Articulation Initiative, but that the Illinois Community College Board had formed another working group of university and community college administrators to carry out this work independent of the work of the ISAAPT subcommittee. The status of the transfer agreement is now uncertain. 

At this point (7:55 a.m.) the Council meeting effectively ended. Because the morning sessions of the fall meeting were not to begin until 9:00 a.m., it was decided that following a 10-minute break that the roundtable discussion from Friday would be continued. Details are provided separately.

Council Roundtable Discussions of the "Philly List"
Millikin University, LTSC 115
Friday/Saturday, October 18/19, 2002

In attendance at the Friday meeting were: Kelly Roos, Dave Renneke, Kim Shaw, Carl Wenning, Charles Schulz, Duane Ingram, Dave Cornell, Ken Mellendorf, Ray Bugayong, Gary Gladding, Ann Brandon, Debby Lojkutz, and John Askill.

In attendence at the Saturday meeting were: Kelly Roos, Bruce McCart, Ken Mellendorf, Ann Brandon, Debby Lojkutz, Roger Reeves, Duane Ingram, Ray Bugayong, Mark Boley, Dave Renneke, Diana Roth, Kimberly Shaw, Chuck Schulz, Bill Hogan, and Carl Wenning

Friday, 12:08 - 1:03 p.m.: Kelly Roos called the meeting to order stating that he'd like to review the "Philly List". His only agenda was to determine the desirability of a periodic "planning/vision meeting," how, when, and where such a meeting should be held; and brain storm ideas for improving services. He was quick to point out that there isn't anything wrong, but there probably are ways of improving the offerings of the Association. The following general consensus was established:

  • Planning/vision meetings are needed and should take place following fall meetings during odd-numbered years. The first such meeting will be held at ISU in 2003. The new president-elect will chair the meeting.

  • The entire membership will be invited and encouraged to attend these meetings.

  • Emphasis should be placed on providing services for high school physics teachers who have a growing need for CPDU's for ongoing teacher certification.

  • Some emphasis should be placed on creating local physics alliances.

  • A listserv for teachers is a possibility, but there is not a strong belief that it will be utilized; there is a greater probability that "care packages" sent to in-service teachers on a mailing list might be more useful, especially for novice teachers.

  • There is a possible need for an "information clearinghouse" that would provide a roadmap to helpful teaching resources. Dave Renneke will attempt to establish such links on the ISAAPT web page, but information would have to be sent to him.

Saturday, 8:10 - 8:55 a.m.: Discussion then moved on to what the ISAAPT might do to help high school physics teachers. Ken Mellendorf suggested that more attention be paid to establishing and maintaining local physics alliances, especially for those physics teachers who might not be able to get away for Association meetings. He suggested structured teacher workshops at Association meetings, not unlike what the AAPT PTRA's present. Ann Brandon and Debby Lojkutz noted that the ISBE now demands that 20% of all certification work be in some way related to working with special education (learning difficulties, physical disabilities, etc.) Duane Ingram noted how he had been able to hold similar meetings in the past, and that he was able to provide small teacher stipends through the MAPA program. Kimberly Shaw noted that SIUE has available math and science hands-on kits. Kelly Roos then noted how it might be helpful if someone would give a talk at one of the upcoming meetings to explain to those not involved in teacher certification what the new teacher certification process is all about. Dave Renneke suggested a panel discussion on the topic at Knox College. Charles Schulz agreed that a panel dealing with Physics Alliances and Physics Outreach would be a good way to start a wider conversation about needs. Bill Hogan then drew attention to the fact that he often sees Illinois teachers at national AAPT meetings, but not at meetings of the Illinois Section. He felt that the ISAAPT needs to better promote itself, and suggested that all Illinois AAPT members be contacted through e-mail. Ann Brandon suggested using state membership information on the AAPT web page. Dave Renneke will pursue this resource. Kelly Roos noted the value of ongoing discussion, and encouraged the use of the ISAAPT listserv to continue discussion. He will periodically "prime the pump" to keep the discussion going.

Carl J. Wenning
Secretary-Treasurer

Last edited:  November 5, 2002

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