**Fellows and Young Investigators Steering Committee Meeting**

**Thursday June 26, 2008**

**Time: 11:00 AM -- 12:00 PM**

Bethesda: Building 31, Room 3A11

Dial in Number: (301) 451-6103 phone: (301) 846-1659

Frederick: Building 549, Conference Room A

Dial in Number: (301) 451-6101 phone: (301) 846-1659

Gaithersburg ATC: 8717 Grovemont Circle, Rm 142

Dial-in Number: (301) 451-6102 phone: (301) 402-0441

[Members in attendance]{.underline}

[Bethesda]{.underline}

Masha Mohebtash

Ewy Mathe

Sharon Glynn

Krista Zanetti

Brid Ryan

Thomas Paul

[Frederick]{.underline}

Tim Chan

Selinda Orr

Stephanie Watkins

George Lountos

Michal Legiewicz

Jordan Irvin

Jill Ford

Neeraj Sharma

Gonzalo DeLa Rosa

Ram Savan

Kristen Jacobsen

Geraldine O'Connor

Poonam Tewary

Ted Wright

Leslie Chinn

Julie Torrvellers Garcia

[Gaithersburg]{.underline}

Jennifer Shen

**[Agenda Items:]{.underline}**

1.  Call to Order

    a.  Welcome to new members and introductions

Leslie Chinn (<chinnl@mail.nih.gov>) Frederick, Sharon Glynn
(<glynnsh@mail.nih.gov>) Bethesda

2.  Excused Absences

    a.  Karen Wylie, Jim Gould, Michaela , Matt Hall, Raed Samara, Rasmi
        Thomas, Liang Huang, Michaela Wenderler

    b.  For future reference, please email Tim and Tom for an excused
        absence to maintain accurate attendance records

3.  Departures

> Veronica Hall is leaving the committee

4.  Approval of May meeting minutes

    a.  The May meeting minutes have been distributed with the
        preliminary agenda for this month's meeting.

Approved without objection

5.  Proposed by-laws Amendment:

    a.  Modifying Rules for excused absences:

        i.  The language concerning excused absences of SC members for
            the purpose of voting is unclear and inconsistent (Section:
            Conduct of Meetings, Part: Attendance subpart B).

        ii. Original: "If a member has one unexcused absence, he or she
            will be notified in writing by the administrative secretary
            that they are no longer in good standing. Two unexcused
            absences will result in immediate dismissal from the
            Steering Committee. After dismissal, a member may not be
            reinstated for at least a period of one year."

        iii. **Proposed**: "If a member has one unexcused absence, he or
             she will be notified in writing by the administrative
             secretary. After a second unexcused absence in a one-year
             period, the member will be placed in probationary status
             and can return to good standing only after four months'
             attendance. A third unexcused absence will result in
             immediate dismissal from the Steering Committee. After
             dismissal, a member may not be reinstated for at least a
             period of one year."

Edited

"If a member has one unexcused absence, he or she will be notified in
writing by the administrative secretary. After a second unexcused
absence in a one-year period, the member will be placed in probationary
status and can return to good standing only after four months'
attendance. A third unexcused absence will result in immediate loss of
voting privileges and ability to run for executive position on the
Steering Committee for at least a period of one year."

This passed all in favor

b.  Modification for election procedure for Vice-chairs in Frederick and
    Bethesda

    i.  Section-Election, Part B

    ii. Original-"All nominees will be ranked as 1 thru n, where n =
        total number of nominees. The nominee with the lowest average
        ranking score will be elected chair, the next lowest ranking
        score will be elected vice chair, and the third lowest ranking
        score will be elected secretary. In case of a tie and in order
        to keep elected positions in both Frederick and Bethesda, the
        current chair and vice chair have authority to announce
        co-electees for a position."

    iii. **Proposed**: "All nominees will be ranked as 1 thru n, where n
         = total number of nominees. The nominee with the lowest average
         ranking score will be elected chair, the next lowest ranking
         score **at both the Bethesda campus and Frederick campus** will
         be elected vice chairs, and the **fourth** lowest ranking score
         will be elected secretary. In case of a tie and in order to
         keep elected positions in both Frederick and Bethesda, the
         current chair and vice chair have authority to announce
         co-electees for a position."

Edited-

"All nominees will be ranked as 1 thru n, where n = total number of
nominees. The nominee with the lowest average ranking score will be
elected chair, the next lowest ranking score **at both the Bethesda
campus and Frederick campus** will be elected vice chairs, and the
**next** lowest ranking score will be elected secretary."

This passed all in favor

6.  Subcommittee Updates

    a.  We need to ensure that everyone is taking part in a subcommittee
        as well as identify who is the chair for that particular
        subcommittee to ensure there is accountability. The officers
        strongly encourage that the members of the particular
        subcommittees also meet amongst themselves.

    b.  **By-Laws/Policy Committee -**updated version is still in the
        works.

Krista and Tom are now on the committee. Tim will send updated bylaws to
Tom

c.  **Scientific Committee** (Christian)

    i.  An analysis of the survey responses have been done and a summary
        will be prepared for the meeting (not available in time for the
        agenda).

> Survey results will be ready for the next meeting

ii. PASS Update (Tom, Ewy, Brid)

    1.  This past month we featured two PASS seminars. The first seminar
        was attended by roughly 25 people as we seem to have built up an
        interest from Scott Morgan's talk. Our second seminar only drew
        about 6 people and suffered from our difficulties in sending out
        a reminder email on CCR-postdocs listserv.

    2.  We are trying to explore options to recruit more people to
        attend these sessions.

        a.  Our first issue seems to be publicizing the mission of this
            seminar series to the fellows. We need to stress that this
            is for all fellows and will benefit them by giving them
            input into giving talks as well as a venue to network with
            other CCR fellows. We welcome input into how we can improve
            this.

        b.  We need to build up a solid audience of people who come
            weekly, so that we can be guaranteed that we have a
            sufficient audience to make this worthwhile for the
            speakers. We really need Bethesda steering committee members
            to step up here and help out with this aspect.

        c.  Generally, all our speakers have been really pleased with
            the input they received from their sessions, so I hope we
            can continue this series in the future

> Suggestion to involve PI's in the series to promote attendance from
> their fellows
>
> Mary could include hand-out of publicity poster in orientation packets

d.  **Community Life Committee**

    i.  Website Update (Ewy)

        1.  The goal is to get the changes to the website online by the
            end of the month.  I plan on making monthly updates so any
            changes that want to be made to the website should be
            addressed before or at the time of the monthly meetings and
            I will implement the changes several days later.  Thanks for
            everyone's input on the website

> Ewy will update website once a month. All changes and updates should
> be sent directly to her.

ii. Felcom Report (Jennifer Shen)

    1.  FelCom has formed an ad hoc subcommittee to investigate the
        possibility for fellows to receive retirement benefit.

    2.  New intramural scholarship to support diversity.  Up to six
        competitive fellowship awards offered by the office of the
        Director to fund fellows from federally designated disadvantaged
        backgrounds.  Interested parties should contact Dr. Sharon
        Milgram (301.594.2053 <milgrams@mail.nih.gov>) from OITE for
        details.

> Available to anyone with a background deemed disadvantage by the
> committee.

3.  Workshop: How to Give an Effective Job Talk (Sponsored by the FelCom
    Career Development Subcommittee.) Speaker: Sharon Milgram, Director
    of the Office of Training & EducationDate/Time/Location: June 30,
    2008 (Monday), 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Building 10, Lipsett
    Amphitheater. Please register in advance. (You can view this event
    in real time. After the event, a recording be available.)

4.  The first annual NIH Graduate and Professional School Fair will be
    held on July 10, 2008, in Natcher Auditorium. This event is for NIH
    postbacs and summer interns, especially those in college. 
    <http://www.training.nih.gov/grad-fair/>  Please distribute this
    information to your summer students!

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iii. Social Event

     1.  June 18^th^ Social Gathering-Brewer's Alley, Frederick

         a.  All who attended had a fabulous time interacting with each
             other.

     2.  Discussion for the next social event (Julie Garcia)

         a.  inclusion for all of NCI trainees, activity, date and
             location

> Suggested to alternate between Frederick and Bethesda for future
> events.

iv. Newsletter (Tim)

    1.  Latest issue was distributed via the postdocs, secretaries and
        PI listservs. We plan to have the newsletter out every 3-4
        months.

> Next issue out on August or September. Send ideas for articles to Tim.

v.  Frederick Orientation (Kristen)

    1.  A welcome brown-bag lunch was held on June 4^th^ with recent new
        hires and SC in attendance. Stephanie Watkins has agreed to take
        over the orientation session from Kristen.

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e.  **Retreat Committee**

    i.  After rescheduling, the initial meeting for the retreat
        committee is planned for June 26 at 7PM at the Green Turtle in
        Germantown.

Ted Wright was elected chair of the retreat planning committee.

7.  2008 NIH Research Festival (October 14-17;
    [[http://researchfestival.nih.gov]{.underline}](http://researchfestival.nih.gov/))

    a.  Last year, we wanted to try to get a table at the NIH Research
        Festival to advertise the FYI. Last year, Jennifer tried to get
        one at the Job Fair, but it was decided by OITE that this was
        not appropriate and was too late to obtain a Research Festival
        table

    b.  If the committee wants to participate in this, we need to
        register soon to get a table.

> Discussion to limit table to one day on the first day of the festival

8.  Discussion on the cost-of living adjustment to our salaries (Tom &
    Krista)

> NCI was only one of two institutes to give fellows a cost living
> adjustment this year. Mary felt it was a good idea to send a thank you
> letter the NCI scientific directors to let them know we appreciate
> their support for NCI fellows and young investigators. This letter
> will be drafted by Krista and Tom and sent to Tim and Jonathan for
> editing and approval. Tim will send final version to Wiltrout and
> others??

9.  Discussion on formation of a Postbac Subcommittee/Liason position
    (Krista)

> Kristin is updating list on NCI postbacs.

10. New Business

11. Adjournment: Next meeting is July 31, 2008 at 11 AM.