1. Jim Downing called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m.

2. Some discussion was held regarding MAA membership recruitment and retention. Retirees should be encouraged to keep up membership. What should be the role of math education research? Should the National group try to establish a collegiate math special interest group? Faculty involved with that may not be MAA members.

David John reported that our students are somewhat involved. Three of them are presenting papers and one may be published. We are trying to get more members from math educators.

3. John Koelzer said the dates for next year's meeting will be either April 9 and 10 or April 16 and 17 at Rockhurst College.

4. The MAA will offer a meritorious service award to a member of the Missouri Section in 2003. Nominations are due May 1, 2002. Nomination forms are accessible on the Missouri Section web page. The chair of the section in 2002 will appoint a selection committee and the nomination forms will be submitted to the chair of that committee.

David John questioned whether it might become necessary to limit the number of presentations because of the growth. If we have to start screening, it might be more convenient to form a committee at the hosting institution. Or we could go to two full-day forums. We might form a committee to study procedures for screening papers and also the potential problems mentioned by the Rocky Mountain section.

5. Yungchen Cheng distributed the Treasurer's Report. The current balance is $5,603.26. We once again received a $1,000 Exxon Grant. Most of this will be used up for student activities.

6. Vic Gummersheimer reported that the newsletter is the same format as before. The information is also available on the web page. In the spring, he mails out a hard copy to encourage attendance at the meeting. There are no pictures in the newsletter, but those are or will be on the web page. Send any pictures to Curtis Cooper for the web page.

7. Nominations announced by Jim Downing were: Vice Chair, Curtis Cooper (Central Missouri State University); Secretary-Treasurer, Susan Callahan (Cottey College); High School Contests, Shing So (Central Missouri State University); and Jr. High School Contests, Robert Roe (MU-Rolla)

8. Regarding the ad hoc committee, Wayne McDaniel of St. Louis University was the chair and he felt unable to do this job. Anita is on sabbatical, and she felt the same, so we'll have to start over. Members should be encouraged to use email and the web page. We need to have better liaison with those outside of academia. Possibly the vice chair should be given the task of contacting department liaisons.

9. Jim Downing said that Troy Hicks suggested the recipient of the teaching award this year give a 30 to 50 minute talk at next year's meeting - perhaps for the banquet address.

10. Regarding NExT Project, it was suggested that we talk to other section coordinators to see what is being done in their sections.

11. MAA is joining with AMS and NCTM to develop minority participation. MAA will provide consulting with those organizations; the question is whether to merge with other groups.

12. Stickers for name tags were sent from MAA. Follow through for next year for executive committee. Officers, first-timers, student chapter advisors, should be indicated on the application or follow-up on the form.

13. Since our financial state is healthy, we might consider obtaining some good projects from members to utilize these funds.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Yungchen Cheng

Secretary-Treasurer

The business meeting of the MAA Missouri Section was held in Cheek Hall 102 on the campus of Southwest Missouri State University on April 18, 1998. The meeting was called to order by Chair Jim Downing at 11:05 a.m.`

1. Jim Downing reported that there were at least 79 paid registrations, and 10 students presented papers.

2. To recognize those students who made presentations, Jim Downing presented a certificate and offered a one-year MAA student membership to Laurel Berner, George Bodurov, Lisa Crosby, Janita Leggett, Jennifer Moehlmann, Chris Mueller, Nichole Penn, Marty Witt, and Jamie Wolf.

3. The minutes of the Spring 1997 business meeting, as published in the Fall 1997 Newsletter and appearing on the web page, were approved.

4. Al Tinsley, Section Governor, encouraged participation in "Math Fest 98", to be held July 15-18 at Ryerson Polytechnical University in Toronto. Registration will enable you, at no additional cost, to attend the SIAM conference on the University of Toronto campus. Student papers can be submitted as late as June 12, and must be nominated by faculty who are knowledgeable with the students' work. Forms are available on-line. IMO 2001 USA, Inc., a non-profit organization set up for tax advantages, plans and conducts the International Mathematics Olympiad, which will be hosted by the U.S. in 2001. Walter Mientka is resigning as executive director of AMC to become executive director of IMO; there is a national search committee to replace him.

5. Yungchen Cheng, Secretary-Treasurer, distributed the treasurer's report. The current balance is $5,603.26. He mentioned that we received another $1,000 Exxon grant for the fifth year in a row, and this helps pay for student-related activities at meetings.

6. Vic Gummersheimer, Newsletter Editor, commented that the Newsletter goes out in the fall and spring. Next fall's issue will include the minutes of this meeting and the Governor's report, and news from various campuses. Other items included may be a call for papers and call for nominations for teaching awards, upcoming meetings and contests. Also, he would like to conduct a survey about such things as placement and textbooks used on various campuses.

The Spring newsletter was smaller than usual as it was also published, with additional news, on the web page; please let him know if you think this was useful.

7. Rhonda McKee, High School Lecture Coordinator, reported that advertising was put in the MCTM Bulletin and the MAA web page, and responses were received. Eighteen teachers volunteered to give lectures this year; and thirteen high schools requested information about the program. Four people gave six lectures. Kurt Killion gave two at Billings High School; Kim Volmer gave one at Christian High Schools of Springfield; Larry Campbell gave one at West Plains High School, and Rhonda McKee gave two at Savannah High School. Let her know if you give a lecture. Rhonda thanked Al Tinsley and the American High School Mathematics Examination Program for paying part of their expenses. She mentioned that letters go out to all high schools in the state about the high school exam program, and on the back of that letter is one telling about the high school lecture program.

8. Al Tinsley, High School Contest Coordinator, reported that Missouri high schools ranked in top decile in the American High School Mathematics Exam. David Ashere had the highest score in the state, and he will be presented to the Governor. The four highest scoring students will receive a plaque. Seventy high schools participated this year compared to seventy-eight in 1997. The difficulty of tests is cyclic, so teachers react by registering in alternate years. There were 66 honors scores last year and 106 this year. Discussion was held regarding increasing the amount of the cash awards. Currently they are $100, $75, $50, and $25. It was moved and seconded and approved to continue giving those prizes, and in addition to give $10 prizes to the next 10 highest scorers.

9. Leon Hall reported for Robert Roe, the Junior High School Contest Coordinator, who was not present. The junior high school examinations are given in the fall. The junior high student scoring highest in the state will be presented to the Governor on the 20th.

10. Jerry Wilkerson, Public Information Coordinator, commented on Math Awareness Week. Your department liaison received a mailing with ideas. He encouraged everyone to visit the Missouri section web site. The address is inside the front cover of the newsletter.

11. Curtis Cooper, Web Administrator, stated that the web page address is changed; it is current on the MAA home page: www.math-cs.cmsu.edu/maa.html. The e-mail and mailing addresses for Missouri section officers are on the home page, as well as a list of liaisons. There is a list of forms available, including registration, contest registration, abstract, teaching award, and meritorious service award forms. Send him any information you wish to put on the web page.

12. Curtis Cooper, Collegiate Mathematics Competition, gave the results of the latest competition. Twenty-one teams participated this year, a 50% increase over last year. Washington University team B took 1st; their Team A took 2nd, MU-Columbia A Team took 3rd, and MU-Rolla Team B took 4th. Rockhurst College will use the same format schedule as this year. These results are on the web page, including many pictures.

13. The Nominating Committee's slate was presented to the Section: Curtis Cooper of Central MO State University, Warrensburg, for Vice-Chair, Shing So of Central for High School Contest Coordinator, Susan Callahan of Cottey College for Secretary-Treasurer, and Robert Roe of MU-Rolla for Jr. High School Contest Coordinator. There were no further nominations from the floor. The Committee's nominations were accepted. It was moved, seconded, and approved that a letter of appreciation be sent to Al Tinsley for his 23 years as contest coordinator.

14. John Koelzer announced that the regional meeting will be held next year on April 9 and 10, at Rockhurst College, Kansas City. The project NExT is a national program of MAA to help new college teachers. He suggested we explore ways to implement some of those activities at the sectional level. We might use an ad hoc committee to analyze roles and functions of the section, to modify, streamline, eliminate or combine activities. Changes were made where necessary; give input to the liaison's web page.

15. Jim Downing reported that there were 16 participants in the 5K Run/Walk. Names were drawn and winners received a walnut, oak, or wild cherry clock crafted by Jim. Winners were Richard Belshoff, Shirley Huffman, Mark Sand, Shirley John, and Jim Ashley. Songlin Tian was the winner of a free book (up to $15 value).

16. The ad hoc committee will continue to work on the NExT project.

17. It was moved, seconded and approved that the secretary write to SMSU to express their appreciation for hosting the convention.

18. Jim Downing informed the members that the Rocky Mountain section wrote that they have been receiving some "crank" papers. The executive committee will make modifications in the future.

The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Yungchen Cheng

Secretary-Treasurer

Rhonda McKee and Songlin Tian were promoted from Associate Professor to Professor.

Rhonda McKee was elected Vice President of the Faculty Senate at CMSU.

Robert Kennedy was given the MAA Distinguished Teaching Award for the Missouri Section.

Curtis Cooper is the new Editor of The Fibonacci Quarterly.

Shing So is the new Missouri Director - American High School Mathematics Examination. So replaced Alvin Tinsley, who had been Missouri Director of the American High School Mathematics Examination for the past 23 years.

Terry Goodman and Rhonda McKee are Project Co-Directors for the Missouri Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement. The most recent MUFE conference, Calculus for the 21st Century, was held at the Inn at Grand Glaize, Osage Beach, Missouri on October 8-9, 1998. (Submitted by Curtis Cooper)

Gary Cochell and Atul Roy taught this past summer at Cornell University.

Atul Roy recently presented on using Excel in elementary statistics at the Kansas City Technology Expo.

Gary Cochell is working on a historical module as part of the NSF and NCTM sponsored Institute on the History of Mathematics.

The Math Club sponsored a campus quiz bowl last spring. (Submitted by Gary G. Cochell)

Our math club sponsor is Charles Allen. The club runs a tutoring service for students at Drury and holds several social events, both on campus and at the homes of the faculty members.

The general education component in mathematics and science at Drury was developed under an NSF grant. That development is now completed, and the courses have received national attention for their innovative approaches. The Mathematics and Inquiry class is a model for a reformed approach to teaching mathematics at the pre-calculus level. Our division recently received an additional NSF grant to integrate the mathematics and science component throughout the general education curriculum. (Submitted by Carol Collins)

Math Club: We have organized and affiliated a chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon as of May, 1998. We also have a math club which meets two or three times a semester for a presentation of a mathematical topic and refreshments. Dr. Podleski is the sponsor. (Submitted by Jack Behle)

This Fall Dr. Timothy Miller accepted a tenure track position in mathematics and Elaine Hauschel accepted a one year position in mathematics.

Bill Houston retired in May after 32 years of teaching mathematics at Missouri Western State College.

Missouri Western St. College is advertising a full time tenure track position in Mathematics. The deadline for submission of application materials is February 1, 1999. (Submitted by Jerry Wilkerson)

The Department was awarded an NSF ILI grant for a computer classroom that will be used for instruction in linear algebra, abstract algebra, informal geometry, and computer science. Professor Christine Stevens is the principal investigator, and Professors Russell Blyth and Mike May, S.J., are co-principal investigators.

As director of Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching), the MAA's national professional development program for new and recent Ph. D's that focuses on the teaching and learning of undergraduate mathematics, Professor Stevens organized a workshop in Toronto, Canada, July 13-15, 1998. Project NExT is supported, in part, by a grant from the Exxon Education Foundation,

Five new faculty joined the Saint Louis University Mathematics and Computer Science Department this fall. They include Anneke Bart with her PhD from the University of California at Santa Barbara in the area of Geometric Topology and Hyperbolic Geometry; Julianne Rainbolt, with her PhD from the University of Illinois (Chicago), in the area of Group Representation Theory, and Kevin Scannell, with his PhD from UCLA in the area of Geometry and Topology. In addition, Drs. David Jackson and Dennis Wacker were re-assigned from another department in the University to the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. They specialize in algebra and statistics, respectively.

Dr. John E. Young retired at the end of the Spring semester. He joined the Southeast faculty in 1968.

Craig Roberts, Ph.D. from St. Louis University, Geometry and Mathematics Education

Jerzy Wojdylo, Ph.D. from Iowa State University, Algebra and Combinatorics

Stuart Swope, M.A. from Florida State University, Mathematics Education

Dr. Timothy Ray was granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor.

The Department is conducting a search to fill an additional position in Statistics. Application review begins December 31, 1998.

Dr. Mangho Ahuja received the Service Award from the College of Science and Technology.

(Submitted by Vic Gummersheimer)

New Faculty: David Ashley, Ph.D., Florida State University, Mathematics Education

Tenure: Larry Campbell, Lynda Plymate

Promotion: Lynda Plymate (to Associate Professor)

Award: Larry Campbell and George Mathew (1998 SMSU Excellence in Teaching), Paula Kemp (1998 SMSU Foundation Excellence in Service); Kanghui Guo and Shouchuan Hu (1998 CNAS Excellence in Research); Kishor Shah (1998 CNAS Excellence in Service); Lisa Burger and Mariam Ligon (1998 SMSU KME Merit Award)

Sabbatical: Cameron Wickham (1998-99); Xiang Ming Yu (1999 Spring)

On Leave: Vera Stanojevic (Assistant to the President, 1998-99)

Retiring: Jim Downing, Mel Foster (December 1998)

External Grant: Larry Campbell (DESE Math Attack)

Internal Grant: Larry Campbell, Shelby Kilmer and George Mathew (Funding-For-Results); Yingcai Su (University Grant, Summer Faculty Fellowship); Shouchuan Hu (Summer Faculty Fellowship)

Special Event: SMSU hosted the annual MAA - Missouri meeting in April.

The Mathematics Development Center was merged with the Mathematics Department in Fall 98.

Special Projects: Mediated Learning classes in Intermediate Algebra (using Academic Systems' interactive software) resumed in Fall 98. (Submitted by Jim Downing)

The Math Club at St. Charles County Community College held a very successful Math Contest for high school students in April 1998. Planning is underway for another math contest in Spring 1999. (Submitted by Wanda Long)

Five new faculty joined the ranks at Truman to replace Dr. Joe Flowers and Dr. John Bartling, both of whom retired, and other faculty members who departed for other reasons. The new faces in the Division belong to Don Bindner, Visiting Assistant Professor, ABD, University of Georgia, Operator Theory; Pramod Kanwar, Visiting Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Ohio, Algebra; Jason Miller, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Calculus on Manifolds: Nonlinear Operators; Dana Vazzana, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Algebraic Geometry; Tony Vazzana, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Algebraic Number Theory.

Dr. Joe Flowers took advantage of our early retirement incentive and has moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he has a temporary position at Trinity University. Joe was on the faculty at Truman from 1969 to 1998.

Dr. John Bartling also took early retirement last May, having served on the faculty here since 1967. He and his wife Janie continue to live in Kirksville.

Dr. Kenneth Price, Visiting Assistant Professor, who joined the faculty last year, was named a Project NExT Fellow for the current year. Ken received the Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, specializing in Ring Theory.

Dr. Jay Belanger had a successful tenure review and has been promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Belanger joined the faculty at Truman in 1993 having earned the Ph.D. at Princeton University and taught at Purdue University, University of Michigan at Flint, and Wilkes College. His research interests are in Complex Analysis and Complexity Theory.

Dr. Susan LaGrassa is the project director for the second implementation year of a GOALS 2000 pre-service education grant, Making Advancements in Teacher-training Happen by Encouraging More Active Technology usage, Instructional Techniques, and Collaborative Strategies (MATHEMATICS), funded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The project seeks to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics in K-12 by increasing collaboration among pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and college faculty. For more information on this project, visit the web page at http://www.truman.edu/academics/ed/math/granthome.html.

We have the following clubs at Truman:

MAA Student Chapter sponsored by Dr. Ronald Knight

Kappa Mu Epsilon sponsored by Dr. Mary Sue Beersman and Dr. Jay Belanger

Mathematics and Science Secondary Education Club sponsored by Dr. Susan LaGrassa

Actuarial Science Club Sponsored by Dr. James Guffey

Association for Computing Machinery sponsored by Dr. Wayne P. Bailey

Faculty searches are under way for a sabbatical replacement in mathematics for the spring 1999 semester and for tenure-track positions, also beginning in January, 1999, in Statistics and Computer Science. (Submitted by Lanny Morley)

New Faculty Members:
Martin Bohner (University of Ulm, Germany); Research areas: Ordinary differential equations, difference equations, Hamiltonian systems, variational analysis, boundary value problems, control theory, oscillation.
Kevin Pilgrim (University of California at Berkeley); Research areas: Complex analysis, dynamical systems, hyperbolic geometry.
Bernd Straub (University of Tubingen, Germany); Research areas: functional analysis, functional calculus, semigroup theory.

Leadership Appointments:
New Chair: Leon Hall. Former Chair Tom Ingram will resume regular faculty duties and is on leave the Fall semester.
V.A. Samaranayake is the new Director of Graduate Studies.
Retirements: Two long-time members of the department retired.
Troy Hicks, who has served the department since 1967. Prof. Hicks plans to continue doing mathematics and already has a 1999 paper out, additional plans include some travel, and of course fishing.
Caslav Stanojevic, who has served the department since 1968. Prof. Stanojevic is continuing half-time for a while organizing a research seminar and finishing two or three Ph.D. students.

Math Club:
Student Chapter of the MAA: Faculty advisors: Rob Roe and Leon Hall. Officers: President: Chris Maloney; Vice President: Carl Pawling; Secretary: Robbie Beene.
Kappa Mu Epsilon: Faculty advisor: Ilene Morgan. Officers: President: Andrew VanBrunt; Vice President: Maria Bumanglag; Recording Secretary: Kari Wojtkowski; Treasurer: Keri Vencato; Historian: Gretchen Schmeling; Social: Tanya Peters & Joe Morton

Department Projects:
Co-sponsor of the Show Me Seminar in Mathematics. This seminar is sponsored jointly by the National Science Foundation and the math departments at Washington University and the University of Missouri campuses in St. Louis, Columbia, and Rolla. (For more info, http://www.umr.edu/~randolph/showme/ )
The International Workshop in Analysis and its Applications, a consortium of mathematicians whose focus is to provide a workshop environment for groups of mathematicians working in Analysis. Contact: Caslav Stanojevic at iwaa@umr.edu
MathPro Online: an electronically searchable database of journal and contest math problems compiled by MathPro Press (founded by Stanley Rabinowitz in 1989) and located in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UMR. The database currently references 20781 math problems from 38 journals and 21 contests.
Professor Mike Hilgers, Albert Goodman and Kevin Pilgrim are all working on continuing NSF grants.

Other:
Mike Hilgers and Ilene Morgan received Outstanding Teaching Awards for 97-98.
V.A. Samaranayake received an Outstanding Student Advisor Award from the Alumni Association.

New Faculty Member: Chris Peterson, PhD (Duke), Chauvenet Assistant Professor, algebraic geometry

Victor Wickerhauser, PhD (Yale) has been promoted to the rank of Professor. His interests are in wavelets and other applications of harmonic analysis.

Professor Robert McDowell retired in June 1998 after 38 years of service. Prof. McDowell chaired the department from 1974-1990.

Position Searches: Openings for a Chauvenet Assistant Professor (3 year non-tenure track), and a tenure track position (all ranks) are awaiting administrative approval.

Professor Brian Blank continues to be the sponsor of the WU Chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon. Its primary activity continues to be the hosting of the WU Math Contest for high school students each spring.

Professors Richard Rochberg and Vladimir Masek (along with Carl Bender in Physics) continue as coaches for the Putnam Team and individual contestants.

WU recently received a $1.6 million grant from the Howard Hughes Foundation to assist in improvement of faculty teaching. A small part of this grant will be used by the Mathematics Department to provide computer supplementation for a Calculus with Statistics course for bio majors and pre-meds, and a geometry course designed for preservice and in-service high school math teachers.