Section Representative Report
Illinois Section of AAPT
August 3, 2004

David Sykes

The AAPT National Summer Meeting was held July 31-August 4, 2004 at California State University in Sacramento, CA. The Section Representatives Exchange and Meeting were held August 1. The following is a summary of pertinent information shared during these meetings.

During the Section Representatives Exchange attendees were asked to fill out a survey concerning problems with the national meetings (e.g. too many concurrent sessions, length of meetings, timing of meetings, etc.). Group discussion followed with ideas being shared with Steve Iona (Section Representatives Chair) who passes on consensus information to the Committee on National Meetings.

During the Section Representatives meeting the following reports were presented.

• AAPT treasurer Chuck Robertson reported that the National AAPT now has long term savings equivalent to its annual budget.
• There are grants available for up to $1000 for AAPT members to conduct outreach activities for the World Year of Physics (WYP).
• Andy Gavrin of Indiana University/Purdue University reported on the recently adopted (by the National AAPT) contest for the recognition of 2005 students (ages 10-19) worldwide (116 in the U.S.) for their involvement and/or contributions to physics. An elaborate point system is being set up to determine the students chosen and many teachers will be asked to help in judging.

On Monday evening, August 2, the annual summer meeting picnic was held which featured a tour of the Pasco plant and a demo show on the physics of sports.

Future national meetings are scheduled as follows:

Faithfully submitted,

Dave Sykes, Section Representative, ISAAPT
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, IL 62794-9256
(217) 786-2404
dave.sykes@llcc.edu