Present: R. Aldred, E. Billington, P. Gibbons, D. Glynn, M. Gupta, H. Gustafson, D. Holton, C. Lindner, C. Little, K. McAvaney, B. McKay, J. Moon, M. Morley, I. Roberts, C. Rodger, J. Seberry, C. Semple, R. Stanton, M. Steele, G. Steinke, A.Street, N. Wormald.

The President requested members take a minute’s silence in memory of Margaret Moreton, who passed away in July 2000.

1. Apologies: L. Batten, P. Bonnington, L. Caccetta, E. Dawson, C. O'Keefe, D. Street.
   Motion 1: Apologies be accepted (D. Holton/H. Gustafson) Motion passed.
2. Confirmation of Minutes of 1999 AGM
   Motion 2: Minutes be accepted (E. Billington/K. McAvaney). Motion passed.

   Business Arising from 1999 AGM
   No business arising.

3. Reports
   • Council
     The President's Report was presented by D. Holton.
   • Treasurer
     The Financial Report (as at 31 May 2000) was presented by the Secretary (H. Gustafson) on behalf of the Treasurer (E. Dawson). Attachments include a Balance Sheet and an Income and Expenditure Statement. Members were made aware that the Society now supports the finances of Australasian Journal of Combinatorics (AJC), yet the finances are managed by representatives at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (Peter Adams and Elizabeth Billington). A brief explanation of the expenditure items was given.

     Motion 3: The Treasurer’s report be accepted. (J. Seberry/I. Roberts). Motion passed.

   • Auditor The auditor for this year’s Financial Report is Howard Bale of Serjeant and Associates, Certified Practising Accountants of 1569 Wynnum Road, Tingalpa, Queensland, Australia. A copy of the Auditor’s Report is attached.
4. Election of Members for CMSA(Inc.) Council 2000/2001
   J. Seberry was appointed Returning Officer and all present Council members stepped down from Office. Nominations were called for Council positions:

   Position	Nominee	Nominator/Seconder
   President:	Derek Holton	E. Billington/H. Gustafson
   Vice President	Nick Wormald	D. Holton/C. Rodger
   Secretary	Helen Gustafson	E. Billington/D. Holton
   Treasurer	Ed Dawson	H. Gustafson/E. Billington

   Council Members: The following members, whose names had been presented at the previous Council meeting, were nominated by D. Holton and seconded by H. Gustafson:
   Elizabeth Billington; Paul Bonnington; Lou Caccetta; Kevin McAvaney; Brendan McKay; Chris Rodger; Ian Roberts; Charles Semple; Lyn Batten.

   Further nominations from the meeting:

   Anne Street

   H. Gustafson /D. Holton

   It was noted that A. Street is no longer ‘Immediate Past President’, since more than one year has passed since she stepped down from Presidency.

   All members were elected unopposed to Council.

5. Appointment of Auditor
   Motion 4: Howard Bale be appointed Auditor for 2000/2001. (H. Gustafson/J. Seberry).
6. Changes to CMSA Rules
   D. Holton explained his proposal for the change of the CMSA Rules for the election of President. For any one person three is a 4-year rotation: Year 1 - Vice President (VP); Years 2 & 3 - President (P₁, P₂); Year 4 – Past President (PP).

   		2000	2001	2002	2003
   P2	PP
   VP	P1	P2	PP
   		VP	P1	P2	PP

   Note that the (Immediate) Past President (PP) replaces the Vice President (VP), so that only one of these positions is filled in any one year.
   No President can run two consecutive terms.

   Motion 5: The CMSA adopt a 4-year cycling plan for Presidency (D. Holton/K. McAvaney).

   Comments Against the Motion:

   • A. Street proposed we form a Nominating Committee of 6 Council members and 2 members outside the Council. This committee to plan Council nominations around 3 – 4 months ahead of the AGM.
   • J. Seberry illustrated a problem if we have an autocratic member filling this role, and how this may cause a disaster – if this position is fixed to 4 years.

   Discussion

   The powers of the nominating committee would be to solicit members to nominate for Council positions. At present any member may nominate for Council positions.

   Under the President's proposed plan: The presidency will become a commitment for 4 years; the Vice President will be elected every second year; recommendation to use the term "Deputy President" to cover Vice President or Past President; decisions could be ratified every year (i.e. "Vice President in Year 1 subject to a confirmation").

   Motion not carried.

   Motion 6: Set up a Nominating Committee, chosen by Council each year, tentatively 6 Council and 2 non-Council members, that is responsible for producing a slab of candidates for each position. The Secretary to produce a list of nominees 3 months before the AGM (A. Street/J. Seberry).

   Comments Against the Motion:

   • Reminiscent of the current system in the American Electoral College;
   • Adds an extra layer to make nominations more complex. This committee may become very powerful.
   • This committee is too large – should reduce to four.

   Amendment to Motion 6: To add: "No one member can serve on this Nominating Committee for more than 2 years at a time" (i.e. 2 years on then 2 years off) and "The number of Council members on the committee be reduced to four (4)." (A. Street/J. Seberry).

   Motion passed.

The President deferred Item 7 until after the following discussion:

8. Further Business

   • Australasian Journal of Combinatorics (AJC)
     E. Billington will be the new Editor-in-Chief, and P. Bonnington will be the new Managing Editor from the second issue in 2001. E. Billington stated that papers can still be sent to Queensland or any member of the Editorial Board. The closing balance of the AJC as at the 20-11-2000 is $12,452 – out of this the costs of printing, GST and postage for the September Journal will be approximately $5,000, and then the same amount again for the March issue. There are some cheques to be paid in, and the balance "looks sufficiently healthy".

     E. Billington proposed a vote of thanks to A. Street who has been Editor-in-Chief since inception of the AJC in 1990. A. Street was given a show of acclamation from the members.
     E. Billington also proposed a vote of thanks to N. Williams who has been Managing Director since Volume 6 of the AJC. N. Williams was given a show of acclamation from the members.
     A. Street wished to note that most thanks were deserved by N. Williams.
     A letter of appreciation will be sent to N. Williams from D.Holton.

7. Mathematical Sciences in Australia
   K. McAvaney referred to the FASTS Occasional Paper Series (Number 3, October 2000): "Mathematical Sciences in Australia: Looking For a Future", by Jan Thomas.
   This report speaks of the decline of mathematics in Australia:
   • A declining number of students taking mathematics in Year 12;
   • A decline in the number of qualified mathematics teachers in schools (especially lower school)
   • 25% figure – academics who have left.

   Evidence is clear that mathematics is in decline with academics in Australia. Kevin gave examples:

   • The Department of Mathematics at the University of Queensland is now combined with the Departments of Physics and Earth Sciences in the School of Physical Sciences, and so has lost control of its own budget, since finances are a School concern.;
   • At Deakin University the mathematics budget is under the control of someone who has no empathy with mathematics.

   Discussion:

   • The Federal and State Governments appear little concerned.
   • This is a political and economic problem.
   • It is not sufficient to state that Mathematics is important – we need stronger action.
   • There is no point writing to Minister Kemp or the Prime Minister – this is a waste of time.
   • Members to send ideas to Council, who may decide on some action.
   • People, such as Jan Thomas, need to be encouraged and supported.
   • Australian Government has followed "market trends", and the "market" has young people who are not well-informed.
   • There will be great problems when a Quantum Computer is built as it will need mathematician and physicists, of whom there will be a small number.
   • The funding for mathematics is based on a students to lecturer ratio that is much higher than the average. We need to return to the lower ratio.
   • In a number of Science Faculties the Mathematics Departments make profits while the other departments lose money.
   • Whenever there is an "annual restructuring" - mathematics always "loses out". We need someone to "turn this around". This will take quite a lot of work.
   • Something has to be done.

   A. Street suggested that we should collaborate more with the Australian Mathematics Trust. Peter Taylor annually drags money from Minister Kemp – we should learn more from him.

   Decision that the Secretary place a copy of the article by Jan Thomas in the tea room for the duration of the Conference.

8. Further Business (continued)
   • CMSA Newsletter
     E. Billington asked for information for the next Newsletter by the end of January. In future members will be sent a Summary of Contents and the URL for the whole newsletter, instead of the whole Newsletter over email.

   • Massey Crisis
     C. Little thanked members for the support that the Society had given him and his colleagues in the recent crisis at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

   • Life Membership Fee
     I. Roberts noted that the Conference Registration Fee included $10 for membership, and hence any members applying for Life Membership at this conference need only pay another $110.

     Motion 7: Non-Life Members who wish to apply for Life Membership at this Conference may pay $110 to become a Life Member (I. Roberts/A. Street). Motion carried.

     B. McKay pointed out that Life Members need to be approved by Council. It was agreed that the Council may meet at this Conference to approve such applications.

   • 25ACCMCC
     K. McAvaney redorded a vote of thanks to the organizers of the 25ACCMCC – M. Steele and C. Semple. Thanks were accompanied by acclamation.

9. Close of Meeting
   Meeting closed at 5.43 p.m.

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