Attendees:

Sarah Evans
Scott Klarner
Jay Czarnecki
Woody Smith
Susan Amiot
Anand Das
Peter Espenshade
Chris Espenshade

The meeting was called to order by President Scott Klarner at about 7:00 PM.

Committee Reports

Schools Committee Report

Jay Czarnecki, co-chair of the Schools Committee, reported on the recent round of early admission interviews and acceptances. Of the 40 candidates in our region who applied early admission in the fall 2002, 8 were admitted, 1 was rejected, and the rest were deferred, for an overall acceptance rate of 20%.

Jay also reported that we now have many new interviewers in the Annapolis area and that we’re covered well enough in the Frederick area, but we could use more interviewers in Howard County. Mention will be made in the next newsletter.

Interviewers should be receiving their cards for spring interviews in early February and will have about one month to complete interviews.

Finally, Jay brought up the subject of participation in college nights and college fairs for discussion by the Board. Should we pay fees to participate in college nights sponsored by individual schools? It was the opinion of our president Scott Klarner (a former longstanding Schools Committee chair) that the fees are relatively inconsequential, but the question of selection becomes difficult. Which do we attend? How do we make the choice? Whom do we send? Others at the table agreed with the general consensus that if there were a particular college night that attracted lots of schools that would not otherwise have Princeton on their radar, then it might be worth doing. A blurb in the next newsletter will suggest that alums interested in representing Princeton at college nights call Jay or Hope. We’ll gauge the level of interest vis-à-vis volunteering at these events before making a decision for going forward.

Treasurer’s Report

Woody Smith, PAAM Treasurer, reported that we have $10,373.32 in our account as of the close of 2002. We are in decent financial shape, but nonetheless we need to think about how to increase membership in order to increase our revenue (not to mention just general participation). A dues solicitation notice sent out in October 2002 generated the following return: 12 new members in November, 20 new members in December, and 4 new members in January, 2003, for a 6% overall return.

• Start a membership database that will show when members need to renew their memberships, and then send out annual dues reminders
• Inform members and prospective members as to the events and commitments that their dues support, so that they develop an interest in supporting PAAM

Nobody had any immediate knowledge about what software to use or steps to pursue to start up a membership database, but Woody was going to look into it. At some point, we’ll need a volunteer from the Board or elsewhere (if not the Treasurer) to maintain the database and oversee the mailing of dues reminders. Meanwhile, a blurb will appear in the next newsletter saying something to the effect that “If you’re a dues-paying member of PAAM, here’s what your money supports…” We brainstormed about what, in fact, the dues DO support, and came up with this list:

• Books and reception for Princeton Book Awards
• Reception for admitted students
• Mailings, etc. for events, schools committee interviews
• Community service/charitable giving
• Annual Dinner
• Summer internship
Before completing the next newsletter, I’ll reconfirm this list with Scott Klarner and add or delete as needed.

Annual Dinner

Anand Das will chair the next Annual Dinner, to be held in early May, 2003. The primary tasks, initially, are to find a venue and line up a speaker. The Board discussed possible speakers; the names “George Will” and “Bob Ehrlich” were floated. Anand will set to work on a speaker and will contact the University. He’ll then follow up with the rest of us about Annual Dinner plans as they develop.

Other Business

Scott Klarner gave brief updates on the Book Awards program and the Summer Internship program. Scott was not sure whether Francis and Tom Smyth and Patrick Cairns were still planning to chair this program, but he’ll get in touch with them to find out and presumably the Book Awards reception will be held again in early-to-mid June, 2003. The Summer Internship program has been in abeyance for a few years but if someone is willing to take the lead on coordinating the program from our end, it could easily be restarted. We’re looking for a volunteer. Update: Susan Amiot sent an e-mail to the Board after our meeting saying that she would be willing to look into reviving the Summer Internship program and knew that the Women’s Law Center, for one, would be interested in having an intern. She is in contact with Scott Klarner on this.

Newsletter

Sarah Evans – that would be me, the writer of these minutes – announced her impending retirement from the Board and, hence, her impending departure as editor of the newsletter. I have enjoyed very much serving on the PAAM Board these past seven years and hope to return to it in the not-so-distant future. Meanwhile, I am looking for my replacement as newsletter editor and had planned to run a notice in the upcoming newsletter. However, I have since been contacted by Chris and Peter Espenshade, who have expressed an interest in taking over my editorial duties. Needless to say, I was delighted. I will publish the Spring 2003 newsletter, then contact Chris re: passing the baton for the Fall 2003 edition.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at about 8:15 p.m.