J. Valley called the meeting to order at 3:20 PM, Saturday, October 15, 2005, and the roll-call was bypassed as the participants were introduced at the earlier 3^rd Meeting of Council for 2005.

Treasurer Hughes commented that the RiMG volumes would be included as assets going forward, which should make the annual budget appear less imbalanced by showing essentially that the large printing expenses have been moved into a performing asset. That is, an asset (= book stock) that can be sold to recover the printing and editorial expenses of the volumes over time. The Executive Director noted that over a 5 year period that the expenses and revenue of the RiMG volumes were within $5K on total of $750K (i.e., averaging $150K/year) and that we do sell all RiMG volumes that are printed.

R. Rudnick moved to approve the 2006 Budget included in the Treasurer’s report. S = S. Redfern. Motion passed unanimously.

R. Hazen moved to authorize the MSA Treasurer to conduct the financial affairs of the Society and J. Alexander Speer as the Executive Director of the Society to write checks and make other forms of payment and transfers on the Society’s accounts as directed by the Treasurer and Council actions. S = M. Gunter. Motion passed unanimously.

M. Gunter moved to accept the committee members and chair appointments and other appointed posts for the 2006 Council year contained in the report of the Committee on Committees made to the Third 2005 Council meeting and as amended at the Third 2005 Council meeting. S = R. Downs. Motion passed unanimously.

R. Hazen moved to appoint Robert F. Dymek, Bryan C. Chakoumakos, and George A. Lager as editors of the American Mineralogist, Jodi Rosso as editor of the Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry and Monograph series, and Andrea Koziol as the MSA Events Editor of Elements. S = R. Rudnick. Motion passed unanimously.

B. Dutrow moved to authorize the use of mail, telephone, and electronic ballots, whenever necessary and allowed, to conduct the affairs of the Society. S = R. Rudnick. Motion passed unanimously.

Bob Downs asked about how balloting would be handled on the MSA website. A. Speer said that it would be similar to what was done for the 2005 ballots, but following suggestions from members, candidate statements and ballot issues will be available as downloadable files.

No items were raised.

Pres. Valley reviewed his perspectives on the present environment in which MSA exists.

These conditions pose challenges to the Society, which need to be addressed, and finances are a key to action. Valley noted that R. Hazen had made significant strides through the President’s Fund and hopes that this effort will be continued this year. John suggested that the Benefactor’s Committee will be critical to developing new sources of funding for both ongoing activities and new initiatives. The budget provides line items that can be addressed through sponsorships from benefactors, presumably corporations. We must work assiduously to search for appropriate matches and develop the relationships that will both support and endow our activities. R. Angel questioned whether we should be careful about getting corporate support, not everything should be for sale. B. Dutrow said that she needs a selection of targets for her near-term attention given the reality of time and attention she has available. Discussion moved on to how to connect with both commercial firms and the mineral collecting community. J. Valley suggested that an on-line auction of scientifically interesting specimens might work with collectors. G. Harlow said that Tucson might be a place to try to kick this off via promotion at the MSA booth. Bob Hazen picked up on this and said he would work on a proposal for such an endeavor before we all leave Salt Lake City. He also agreed to continue spearheading the fund raising drive for another year.

Bob Downs moved on to the subject of the on-line database and mineral property reports in the Handbook of Mineralogy, which will be made available on-line too, as an important activity by the society. He has private funding for the project but certain activities might be enhanced with additional support. He said that the First Volume of the Handbook is being updated and should be finished in the near future.

B. Dutrow moved that the1^st 2006 Council meeting be adjourned. S = R. Rudnick. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 5:02 PM.