Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The inaugural meeting of SCC 83, which was held just prior to the Tri-Society (Agronomy, Crops, and Soils) International Meeting at Long Beach, California, occurred on 31 October. The meeting began at 9 AM with introductions by attendees. Eric Young discussed briefly the different NIMSS project types with a focus on coordinating committees vs. research projects, since a charge by the chair was for the group to decide whether to continue functioning as a coordinating committee or to evolve into a multistate research project group. There was strong agreement by attendees that SCC 83 should continue functioning as a coordinating committee because of the broadness in scope and disciplines reflected in committee objectives; several attendees foresaw multistate research projects forming out of the networking and interaction between members and shared mutual interests of smaller groups within the committee. Members saw SCC 83 as the means to ensure coordination of various research projects and activities among committee members. The location and time of the 2011 meeting of SCC 83 was discussed. Committee members agreed that there are advantages to holding the annual meeting in conjunction with another meeting at the same location  such as the Agronomy/Crops/Soils Tri-Society meeting, the American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS) annual meeting, the All Things Organic annual meeting, or several other meeting choices. Since there was interest expressed by horticultural researchers to participate in SCC 83, but who do not attend the Tri-Society meeting, it was agreed to coordinate the 2011 SCC 83 meeting with the 2011 ASHS annual meeting. The 2011 ASHS meeting is during 25-28 September in Hawaii; the SCC 83 meeting will take place either immediately before or immediately after the ASHS annual meeting. Efforts will be made to arrange for remote electronic attendance by SCC 83 members at the annual meeting who will not be able to attend in person by Pat Carr and Bill Evans, who will work together in arranging the 2011 SCC 83 annual meeting. There was some discussion about the 2013 meeting being held in conjunction with the Tri-Society meeting in Cleveland, as well as other group meetings not typically attended by agricultural scientists (e.g., meetings attended by food quality scientists). Time and place for the 2012 annual meeting will be decided at the 2011 annual meeting. Discussion of future meetings led to discussion of a planning grant proposal so that SCC 83 members with restricted travel funds, as well as those who might not otherwise interact directly with committee members initially, could attend. Jennifer Reeve indicated a willingness to take the lead at developing a planning grant proposal in 2012. Deb Stinner agreed to assist Jennifer in this effort. Other committee members are expected to help, as needed. Discussion of chair, vice-chair, and secretary positions occurred. Pat Carr agreed to serve out his 1-yr term as chair in 2011; Bill Evans will serve as vice-chair in 2011 and as chair in 2012. Jennifer Reeves will serve as secretary in 2011, with Deb Stinner agreeing to serve as alternate secretary if Jennifer is unable to attend the annual meeting in person. A new vice chair and secretary will be elected at the 2011 annual meeting among those in attendance. It was agreed that the title of the group needed to be modified to better reflect the objectives of SCC 83 and the inclusiveness of the committee. The new title is: Quantifying the Linkages Among Soil Health, Organic Farming, and Food. Non-prioritized short-term goals for the committee were established and include: Submission by each committee member of a non-technical description of their active research program in organic farming, and collaborative opportunities tht exist; establishment of a non-public site within eOrganic where SCC 83 members can communicate and interact electronically; develop visuals to be used in conjunction with a booth that SCC 83 members will maintain at the Trade Show during the 2011 ASHS annual meeting, and; oral or paper presentation at the 2011 ASHS providing exposure of SCC 83 activities and soliciting participation by non committee members.