ASA President Bob Rodriguez conducted his first meeting as board chair, leading board members through an agenda guided by the ASA’s strategic plan. The board met March 30–31 at the ASA office in Alexandria, Virginia. Here are the highlights:

The board approved editorial appointments for several of its journals (JASA, JBES, JCGS, JNPS, SADM, and Technometrics). New editors will officially assume their roles in 2013, though the actual transition begins later this year.

Funding proposals received through the ASA’s Member Initiative Program were reviewed; several were selected to receive funds.

The board heard the report of the exploratory committee it appointed last fall to consider whether to establish a prestigious international prize for statistics. The executive director and the Development Committee will now investigate the feasibility of raising funds for such a prize. The ASA is collaborating with several international societies in considering this effort.

As always, the board heard reports from the Council of Sections Governing Board and Council of Chapters Governing Board. The COSGB reported on the allocation of invited sessions to sections for JSM 2013 and 2014. The COCGB is working on ways to interact with chapter representatives outside of JSM.

The board had the honor of hosting Jim Crowley, executive director of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Crowley informed the board about SIAM and its activities. The ASA works with SIAM on a book series and new journal and interacts with SIAM through the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics.

The 2011 audit report was received by the board. Once again, the ASA received a clean audit. The board thanked staff, especially Associate Executive Director and Director of Operations Steve Porzio, for another successful audit.

Treasurer Keith Ord presented his regular report on the status of the ASA’s finances and investment portfolio. The organization has a healthy balance sheet, and investments have continued to recover value.

President-elect Marie Davidian introduced her strategic initiatives ideas for 2013. She is planning efforts to encourage students to study statistics (education component of the strategic plan), increase the visibility of statistics in the science community (visibility and impact component), and address issues related to the number of concurrent sessions at JSM (meetings component). The board provided feedback to shape and sharpen Davidian’s initiatives.

The board received reports from the 2012 strategic workgroups:

—Jeri Mulrow reported on the activities of the “In-Reach” Workgroup, which is developing materials to improve communication with members about the ASA’s activities. Preliminary materials were pilot tested using board members as presenters and audience.
—Christy Chuang-Stein reported on the work of the 175th Anniversary Steering Committee. She asked for feedback about three major initiatives the committee is considering as part of the 175th anniversary activities. The feedback she received will guide future planning.
—Bob Starbuck informed the board about plans being developed by the Career Success Factors Workgroup. Four factors have been identified: presentation skills, influence skills, personality training and team building, and career planning. Starbuck said the value proposition for the ASA and its members includes developing skills that increase impact and career potential of statisticians through coursework specifically designed for them. “Train the trainer” sessions are planned for JSM.
—John Bailer updated the board on the activities of the Education Workgroup, which is developing a set of learning outcomes for terminal master’s programs leading to employment in business and government.

The board received the annual reports of the Membership Council. David Morganstein updated the board on the activities of the committees within the council. The annual reports of the councils provide a key mechanism for the board and the many ASA committees to stay in touch with each other.

In other committee-related activities, the board approved the creation of an ASA-AMATYC joint committee (to replace the Committee on Statistics in Two-Year Colleges), the dissolution of the Committee on Outreach Education, and the reorganization of committees related to the Conference on Statistical Practice.

David Banks, ASA publications representative to the board, reported on discussions of a subcommittee of the Committee on Publications on the future of publishing. At the suggestion of the subcommittee, the board will form a panel to consider these matters in detail.

Ron Wasserstein updated the board on the activities under way for the International Year of Statistics, a collective effort of the International Biometric Society, Institute of Mathematical Statistics, International Statistical Institute, Royal Statistical Society, and ASA. He said hundreds of societies, universities, schools, government agencies, and businesses have already expressed their interest in participating. He noted that the steering committee for Statistics 2013 is working vigorously on activities to kick off and wrap up the International Year of Statistics.

The board continued its discussion of the ASA as the “big tent for statistics,” regarding the development of a better understanding of the diversity of statisticians in the ASA and how to meet their needs. This discussion started at JSM and has continued since. During this meeting, the board:

—Approved a statement on the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) and the role of the ASA in providing it. The statement will appear on the ASA website soon and in a future Amstat News issue.
—Created, in conjunction with the statement, an ad hoc group to more fully explore the ASA’s role and activities in CPD.
—Reviewed the purpose and function of the SPAIG Committee and discussed how to better formulate statistical partnerships among academe, industry, and government.
—Heard remarks about “big data” and the roles statisticians and our association should play in the big data era. Sallie Keller, Stephanie Shipp, Sastry Pantula, and Bob Rodriguez offered various perspectives.
—Steve Pierson, ASA director of science policy, updated the board on activities related to science and statistical agency budgets, climate change, forensic science, statistics for congressional staff, and more.

The board next meets on June 22 in Alexandria for its annual budget meeting.