Present: Mark Estepp (University Division Past President and Board Chair), Steve Brown (CCTI Division President), Lesta Burgess (Student Division President), Niaz Latif (University Division President), Marlow Marchant (Graphic Communications Division President), Hank Martin (Industry Division Past President), Charles Patrick (Research Division President), Fred Walker (Manufacturing Systems Division President), and Alvin Rudisill (Executive Director).

Opening Remarks: The meeting was called to order by Chair Estepp at 1:15 pm. Chair Estepp welcomed everyone to the meeting and commented on the important issues the Board has before it including the Executive Director position and the recent approval of NAIT by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Review and Approval of Minutes: Board members were asked to review the minutes of the October 31, 2001 and the November 3, 2001 Executive Board minutes.

Review and Approval of Agenda: Board members reviewed the meeting agenda. Patrick suggested that ample time be allowed for discussion of the Executive Director position and how the Executive Board will proceed on filling this position. Rudisill indicated the NAIT Executive Board will need to work in cooperation with Diane Dufek, President of UCI, to fill this position since the NAIT Executive Director is actually hired by UCI, with the approval of the NAIT Executive Board.

National Office Reports: Rudisill reviewed all of the National Office reports contained in the Board notebook.

1. Membership: Membership reports included End of Year, Membership by Category, Professional Members by Category, Professional Membership History, Student Membership History, 1995-2001 Membership by Primary Division, 2001 End of Year Special Interest Division Membership, Membership Report – June 30, 2001, and Membership Report – February 28, 2002. Discussion followed with emphasis on the need to continue to place emphasis on membership promotion in each division. Concern was expressed by some Board members about the significant decrease of student members during this past year. Burgess indicated the Executive Committee of the Student Division is working to reverse this trend.
2. Certification: Certification reports included End of Year Certification Totals, 1992-2001 Certification by Division, Certification Report – June 30, 2001, and Certification Report – February 28, 2002. In addition, the Board was asked to review the report submitted by Dr. Dennis Field, Chair of the NAIT Board of Certification. Dr. Field’s report focused on the studies being conducted by Sheila Rowe, a PhD graduate of Iowa State University, and Tim Ross from Eastern Kentucky University. In addition, Dr. Field reported that two sets of undergraduate students at Iowa State University are working on independent study projects developing study guides for the Quality Control and Safety sections of the Certification Exam.

Walker commented on the importance of the Certification Program to NAIT and moved to request a report from the Board of Certification relating to their strategic plans (including a review of major issues and problems) to improve and expand the NAIT Certification Program, seconded by Patrick. The motion passed.

3. Finance: Financial reports included End of Year Financial Balances, Financial Accounts Report, Balance Sheet, Budget Comparison, Outstanding Invoices, NAIT Foundation Pledges, 2001 NAIT Convention Financial Report, 2001 NAIT Convention Attendance Report, IT Insider Reports for Volume 3 – Number 3 & 4 and Volume 4 – Number 1, and 2002 Baccalaureate Program Directory Report. Rudisill indicated the Standards and Accreditation Committee will be recommending to the Board of Accreditation that the annual Accreditation Fee be increased from $1,500 per year to $2,000 per year which will generate an additional $30,000 + per year in revenue.
4. Accreditation: Accreditation reports included Institutions with NAIT Accredited Programs and Programs Accredited November 2001 Through November 2002. A report was also included from Dr. Jerry Parish, Chair of the NAIT Board of Accreditation. Parish’s report covered the action by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to recognize the NAIT accreditation, a review of the accreditation visits currently being conducted, the NAIT/ABET workshop conducted on January 18, 2002 in Orlando by SME, and the SME Accreditation Committee meeting attended by Parish on January 19, 2002 in Orlando, Florida.
5. Conferences: The conference report included a review of the hotel contracts for the convention to be held at the Nashville Marriott in 2003 and for the convention to be held at the Louisville Hyatt in 2004. Copies of both contracts were provided to Board members.
6. Publications: Publication reports included the IT Insider Production Schedule and the Schedule of Articles for the Journal of Industrial Technology.
7. Web Site: Rudisill reported the NAIT web site continues to receive more than 150,000 hits per month and that each year more of the business of the Association, such as Conference Registration and the circulation of information is conducted via the web page.
8. Awards: Rudisill reported on the Awards available through the Association and each division and emphasized the importance of recognizing individuals and groups for outstanding service.
9. Foundation: Rudisill reported that Dr. Dennis Depew, Foundation Board Chair, Dr. John Earshen, Foundation Board member, spent two days in the NAIT National Office in January doing strategic planning for the Foundation. Current plans are to close out the "Charter Institutional Member" program and add 3-5 members to the "Charles Keith Circle" in 2002.
10. General Information: Rudisill reviewed the sequence of events that has occurred relating to filling the Executive Director position and the various options available to the Executive Board in filling the position.

Survey Reports: Rudisill and Latif reported on the Salary and Certification Surveys that have been conducted in recent weeks:

1. Salary Survey: Rudisill reported on the preliminary salary survey results that will be published in the current issue of the IT Insider. He indicated the deadline for the return of information has been extended to May 1, 2002, and that the final survey results will be published on the NAIT web site. A number of Board members indicated this information is very valuable to institutions and expressed the hope that this survey will be conducted annually.
2. Certification Benefits Survey: Latif reported on the Certification Benefits Survey conducted by the University Division. Two questions were asked: 1) How does the NAIT Certification help or has helped you professionally? and 2) At your institution, are there any specific benefits of having this Certification? If yes, what are the benefits? Latif indicated that positive responses were being reported in the current issue of the IT Insider and the results would also be used to promote the Certification Program to university faculty members.

1. CCTI Division: Brown reported on several CCTI Division initiatives including the Associate level On-Line Directory, the development of a CCTI Division brochure that can be used at state level meetings, the development of a CCTI Division web site, and the design and production of CCTI Division banners that can be used to promote the division at state level meetings. Brown indicated that students enrolled at the College of Redwoods are involved in some of these design projects.
2. Industry Division: Martin reported on the following activities completed in the Industry Division during this past year: 1) Solicited OIT nominations, reviewed nominations and selected awardees and conducted awards program; 2) Solicited funding for the OIT Awards Program; 3) Worked with Manufacturing Systems Division planning "Lean Manufacturing" workshops; and 4) Filled open positions on the Accreditation and Certification Boards. Current and future activities planned by the Industry Division include: 1) Work with Manufacturing Systems Division to conduct "Supply Chain Workshop" at 2002 Convention; 2) Prepare and implement "Certification for Industry Professionals" idea to build membership; 3) Continue efforts to obtain corporate funding to endow OIT Award Program; 4) Send letters to all previous OIT winners to encourage attendance at 2002 Convention and build round-table discussion around them; and 5) Continue to encourage young members to work in leadership positions and work with other divisions on leadership training activities.
3. Student Division: Burgess reported that the Student Division is planning a new competition for the 2002 Convention titled "Tele-Operated-Robotic-Manipulator" competition. Six to eight student chapters have already committed to involvement in the competition and efforts are underway to promote other student chapters to get involved. John Wright has secured prizes in the form of "Robotics Training" that are worth approximately $2,000. Efforts are continuing to obtain other prizes. Burgess also reported that efforts are underway to update the questions that are used in the "IT/IQ" contest and that changes will be made in the layout of the room so that members of the audience will not be able to prompt participants.
4. University Division: Latif reported on the establishment of email lists by NAIT Region which has improved communications within the Division. He also reported the Division is well along in obtaining nominations for open positions within the Division. He indicated that Department Heads will be asked to encourage faculty members to join NAIT and attend the convention, encourage female faculty members and female students to attend the convention, and to encourage faculty members to become certified by NAIT. A program is being developed to award mini-grants of $250 to assist one or two individuals to attend the annual convention. The University Division will also work with the NAIT National Office to mail Accreditation Handbooks to institutions without NAIT accredited programs as a means to promote NAIT accreditation. The University Division will also work with other divisions in the development of leadership programs and activities at the 2002 convention.
5. Graphic Communications Division: Marchant reported the Graphic Communications Division had a very successful tour at the 2001 conference and hope to follow that up with a tour at the 2002 conference. The Division is working on a brochure that can be used to promote membership and is also developing a web site. A program is being developed to identify an exemplary post-secondary graphic communications teacher and award a free conference registration. The Division is also in the process of reviewing presentation applications for the 2002 convention.
6. Manufacturing Systems Division: Walker reported that the Division now has 166 members making it the largest special interest division. The Division conducted two workshops last year and plan to work with the Industry Division to hold a workshop on "Supply Chain Management" this year. The Division is looking into the possibility of having a social event for division members at the 2002 conference. Plans are to again offer the SME certification examinations for "Technologist" and "Engineer" at the 2002 convention. The Division has filled most officer slots for the current cycle.
7. Research Division: The Division plans to again host graduate student research presentations (2-hour session) and plan to also have poster sessions at the 2002 convention. Plans are to also hold a faculty forum (2-hour session) on establishing and maintaining the research agenda. Dr. Tad Foster, Division President-Elect, is doing membership recruitment through a mailing to all NAIT-related programs. The Division is looking into the options available to get JIT citations listed on various search engines. The Division is continuing to try to develop a "Best Paper of Conference" award.
8. Safety Division: Rudisill reported that through an email mailing to safety professionals that five individuals have been identified who are interested in serving in leadership positions in the Safety Division. Considerable discussion followed relating to the need to expand the membership in the Safety Division to include areas such as ergonomics, environmental, and health.

Election Committee Report: Rudisill and Latif reported on a proposed procedure for conducting the upcoming elections. The proposal involved a postcard mailer that contained a "mail-back" post card and also allowed for voting via the NAIT web site. The bio information will be posted on the web site to save printing and postage costs. Rudisill pointed out that all information and materials related to elections must be in the NAIT office no later than August 15, 2002, and the elections will be conducted and Division Executive Committees will be notified of the results no later than October 15, 2002.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.

Present: Mark Estepp (University Division Past President and Board Chair), Steve Brown (CCTI Division President), Lesta Burgess (Student Division President), Niaz Latif (University Division President), Marlow Marchant (Graphic Communications Division President), Charles Patrick (Research Division President), Fred Walker (Manufacturing Systems Division President), and Alvin Rudisill (Executive Director).

Opening Remarks: The meeting was called to order by Chair Estepp at 8:10 am. Chair Estepp reviewed the topics that needed to be covered in the meeting.

Bylaw Committee Report: Patrick reported on behalf of the Bylaw Committee (Marchant, Walker, Connor, Patrick-Chair). A great deal of discussion followed related to the pros and cons of having two representatives on the Executive Board from the Special Interest Divisions. The primary advantage seems to be the leadership opportunities provided by having both the Special Interest Division President and Past President serve on the NAIT Executive Board. The primary disadvantage seems to be the imbalance created since, at the present time, most of the leadership in the Special Interest Divisions are from universities.

1. OIT Award Funding: The Industry Division requested funding in addition to the $1,000 Division budget to support the OIT program during the current fiscal year.

Patrick moved to allocate an additional $1,000 to the Industry Division during the current fiscal year to support the OIT program, seconded by Marchant. The motion passed.

2. Selection of Future Convention Sites: Discussion was held regarding the site for the 2005 NAIT convention and the request by Steve Yoder of the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan to attend and speak to the Board at their November meeting.

Marchant moved that the 2005 convention site issue be discussed by the Board at the November 2002 meeting and that Yoder be invited to make a brief presentation to the Board at that meeting, seconded by Brown. The motion passed.

3. Review of Conference Structure: Rudisill reviewed the structure for the 2002 convention. Considerable discussion was held regarding the number of break-out sessions that are being held at any given time and the problem of poor attendance at many of the breakout sessions.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that the Wednesday Division Executive Committee meetings should be scheduled from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm rather than from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Further that the Joint Officers Session should then be scheduled from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

The CCTI Division requested that a Division meeting be scheduled on Thursday from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm with no objection from other Board members.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that the breadth of break-out sessions should not be expanded any more than in the past and that where possible the number being held an any given time be limited. Rudisill indicated he would revise the structure to accommodate this where feasible while still giving Special Interest Divisions and Focus Groups the responsibility and authority to schedule within their tracks.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that food at the reception prior to the Friday night Awards Banquet be limited to inexpensive items such as chips and pretzels.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that the Board Chair should write a letter of apology to the individual who complained about the "questionable" comments made by an MC at the 2001 conference.

4. Strategic Plans: Each Division was requested to give the Division President Elect the responsibility of updating Strategic Plans for the 2002-2003 year.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that the categories of Membership, Certification, Accreditation, Improvement of Financial Base, Convention Participation by Industry and Community College Personnel, and Recruitment and Development of Future Association Leaders should continue to be the focus areas.

Rudisill indicated that Strategic Planning Forms would be mailed to all Division Presidents and President Elects in the next few weeks from the NAIT National Office.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that Fred Walker should ask Ron Meier if he would be willing to set up and operate an "Industrial Technology" listserv on behalf of the Association.

5. Appointments to Open Committee and Board Positions: The Board Chair requested that each Division President review personnel rosters and fill any slots in the next few weeks. This is extremely important for positions on the Accreditation, Certification, and Foundation Boards.
6. Awards: Award categories were reviewed and the need to recognize significant contributions to the Association was discussed.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that the "Charles Keith Circle" selection committee (current Board Chair and immediate past two Board Chairs) should consider John Reese for membership in the Charles Keith Circle.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that the Board Chair should recognize Dave Monforton in some fashion for his outstanding service to NAIT over the past two years.

There was general consensus on the part of Board members that Diane Dufek should be notified that the Board has full confidence in the NAIT/UCI relationship and looks forward to working with her to fill the Executive Director position.

7. Executive Director Position: Considerable discussion was held relating to filling the NAIT Executive Director position as a result of the pending retirement of Al Rudisill. Rudisill reviewed with the Board the possibility that Rick Coscarelli may be interested in the position but could not make a decision until after an April meeting of the stockholders of the company where he is employed. Several possible approaches were discussed regarding the procedures to be followed in filling the position.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 am.