Chair Mike Duttweiler called the 2000 annual meeting to order and welcomed the members of the EEE-TIG.  More than forty members attended the annual business meeting.

 Reports

            The Treasurer’s report was presented by Rama Radhakrishna.  As of 10/31/2000, the balance is $522.66.  Rama also indicated that he will transfer the account to the Penn State Credit Union.

             Mike Duttweiler asked Glenn Isreal and Rama Radhakrishna to do the balloting for the election of officers. 

            Michael Newman reported that there are currently 138 members in EEE-TIG.

            Nancy-Ellen reflected on AEA-TIG sessions.  Twelve papers were presented under multi-paper sessions, two panels, one skill building workshop and two demonstrations.  EEE-TIG members were also represented at numerous posters and round tables.

            Rich Poling announced the EEE-TIG Awards for 2000.  Excellence in Program Evaluation Award went to a team of evaluators from Purdue University—Susan Barkman and Krisanna Machtmes (team leaders), Ryan Machtmes, Richard Fox and Craig Personett (team members).  Richard Rohs of University of Georgia received the Excellence in Evaluation Training Award.  Mary Nell Greenwood Extension Evaluation Association Award was presented to Michelle Rodgers of Penn State University.  The Sustained Excellence in Extension Evaluation Award was given to Claude Bennett of USDA-CSREES.

            The election of officers was held with the following outcomes:

            Chair Elect:  Ellen-Taylor Powell

            Representative/North Central Region:  Mary Marczak

            Ellen-Taylor Powell spoke on the issue of evaluation capacity building.  She invited interested members to participate in a discussion to further explore the possibility of working together, sharing resources, skills and expertise to build evaluation capacity of extension professionals. 

            Mike Duttweiler in his remarks on the year in review indicated that he was very pleased with the professional development activities and the new initiatives he had pursued this past year.  He also recognized outgoing and retiring members for their support and help.  He asked members to send their completed papers to Milton Fuji so that it can be published or put on the Web.  Mike recognized and appreciated the efforts of the past chair, Richard L. Poling for his work on the awards this year; the membership chair Michael Newman and USDA-CSREES liaison Claude Bennett.

            Mike Duttweiler also recognized out-going regional representatives Glenn Israel of University of Florida (Southern) and Charlie Clark of University of Illinois (North-Central) and presented them with a certificate of appreciation.

            Claude Bennett raised a concern and potential diversity initiative for the TIG—to enhance the opportunity and capacity of evaluators at other land grant institutions, especially 1890 and 1994 institutions to receive information about the AEA conference and perhaps even financial support to attend AEA.  Members offered an array of ideas which included:

• Identify number of members in the TIG from 1890 and 1994 institutions.

•  Identify faculty in those institutions to participate in EEE—TIG efforts.

• Take leadership position to involve individuals from 1890 and 1994.

• Develop a “Welcome Packet” for new members (Kathaleen Kelsey).

• Share what AEA is all about and what we do in AEA (Susan Barkman).

• Involving 1994 institutions in EEE—TIG is a positive thing (Nancy Grudens-Shuck).

• Both 1890 and 1994 institutions should participate in AEA (Edith Thomas).

            Nancy-Ellen Kiernan said that she is delighted and looking forward to working as EEE—TIG Chair in the coming year.  Because of a some sense of a lack of community and intellectual stimuli within the TIG as a whole between AEA conferences, she proposed a new idea, “Hear It From The Board.”  Board members will share with the TIG over the course of the year, insights, perceptions to the EEE-TIG membership.

             After the adjournment of the business meeting, a program entitled, Evaluation and Accountability Issues at the College and Program Levels was presented by Dr. Ronald Mau, Associate Dean/Associate Director for Cooperative Extension, University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.