ESA Council Meeting Minutes Sunday, 5 August 2018

The members of the ESA council went around the room and introduced ourselves. Vice President for Finance Evan DeLucia presented information on the accounts held by ESA, their purpose, goals, and limitations, and on the current budget. The revenue model for ESA changed dramatically for the better after the agreement was reached with Wiley as the Publisher of ESA journals. All ESA journals are now online‐only except for Frontiers. The details of last year's budget, actuals, and the proposed budget for 2018/2019, as well as expenses for these periods, were presented onscreen. David Moore motioned and Sara Anderson seconded acceptance of the 2018/2019 budget, all Aye. President Pouyat reviewed some of the things that have occurred this year. Catherine O'Riordan has been brought on as the new Executive Director of ESA after the retirement of long‐term ED Katherine McCarter. The Extending the Tent Task Force has actively been engaged in initiatives to broaden the membership base of ESA to be more inclusive, more engaged with the public and policy makers, as well as other related goals. The Task Force was co‐chaired by Laura Huenneke, ESA President‐Elect. The Sections and Chapters are critical for the success of this initiative. The Certification program is being redesigned and rethought to be more relevant and updated; these efforts fit well with the Extending the Tent initiative. President‐Elect Huenneke thanked the members of the Task Force. She explained that this initiative is framed on the foundation of ESA as a membership organization, and on how to best serve our members and those who might become members. Goals include improving membership services, membership outreach, membership diversity, and membership retention. Four overlapping groups were identified: academic ecologists, the oldest and largest core group; non‐academic ecologists; ecologists in career or educational transition; and ecologists of diverse personal backgrounds and identities (demographic, gender, disciplinary, geographic, ethnic, etc.). All of these should experience ESA as a welcoming home for their professional identities and for support. Suggestions have been developed for initiatives for the annual meeting; through sections and chapters; through communities and volunteer activities; through awards and other recognition; through certification activities; and through other activities such as the website and advocating for ecology and ecologists. Huenneke solicited ideas and suggestions for furthering this initiative from the members of the Council, members in general, and a