Benjamin Schapiro

MAPOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING AGENDA

MAPOR SPOTLIGHT of the MONTH:
MAPOR Mission Statement
We provide high-quality educational and conference programs to encourage scholarly exchanges across
disciplines and geographies, broaden member access to mentors and resources, and bolster
opportunities for leadership and innovations. We join forces with AAPOR, academic institutions, and
government and industry employers to develop a thriving community that supports all MAPOR
members, including students, scholars, and professionals in every stage of their career.
MAPOR Vision Statement
MAPOR is a leading voice in public opinion, survey, and social science scholarship, methods, and practice
among regional professional associations. We are an inclusive and supportive community that enables
our diverse members to achieve their educational, professional development, and networking goals. 
Agenda:
Attendees: Semilla, Carlye, Benjamin, Beth, David, Leah, Curtiss, Erin, Evgenia, Patrick, Jenny, Lindsey,
Yorkow, Paul, Rebecca, Jerry
I. Approve May Minutes: 05.10.24 MINUTES.docx

  • Approved
    II. 2024 Conference (Jenny)
  • Call for abstracts is sent out and starting to get a few submitted, not many but this is expected
    since we still have a few months
  • Sent out on MAPORnet and AAPORnet, still need to get sent out by email. Ben says this will be
    done in a few hours.
  • Other channels to send out? Other organizations, outreach, etc?
  • Get the list of schools we are doing outreach to from Paul. Leah will confirm with Paul
    that she has the correct list and send around with student competition information.
  • AASRO?
  • Website – need to update to this year’s information, it still shows 2023 information. Ben said to
    reach out to him as we see things like this and that he will fix it.
  • Jenny will work with the conference committee on details about the hotel (cost, catering, coffee,
    drinks, etc.) at the next meeting. Can get jump on this since the call for abstract is out. Will share
    with a wider meeting next month or so.
  • Jenny will work through details and bring to a smaller group about approval and how
    much we want to charge, etc.
  • Leah and Patrick can help with this since they have done it before. Patrick has some
    ideas about lunch (it is more expensive than it has been).

III. Secretary Treasurer’s Report (Lindsey)

a. Financial updates

  • Checking $21,230.26
  • Savings $42,218.98
    b. Membership list updates
  • 407 members, 345 non-students and 62 students
  • Updated for May and June, so has the updated AAPOR conference numbers now
  • To dos is the Illinois tax exempt form. Lindsey will work on it and then send it to Leah to review.
    The key is to emphasize all the education that we do (apparently last year was not enough).
    Might need to reach out to some folks for what is not on CVENT.
  • No one owns the MAPOR exec council google email it seems, so there is no way to update it (add
    or remove people). So people are not getting minutes and old council members are getting
    minutes. Consensus that the best approach is to ditch the old group and plan a new one.
  • The AAPOR chapter meeting wanted to make sure we all got Q1 financial reports, membership
    list, reimbursement for raffle prizes.
  • Have not seen raffle prizes yet but will check.
  • Have received the membership money.
  • Raffle prizes have all gotten their prizes, receipts are submitted.
    IV. Communications/Website (Benjamin)

a. Spring newsletter

  • Not many updates, has been working on emails.
  • Has an email list that is fully deduped and ready to send around. Feels very confident in the list.
    Will send it to Leah to take a look.
  • The winter newsletter did not go out yet, Benjamin will review and then send around.
  • See updates about
    V. Awards, Grants, and Support Committee
  • Have matched all the students that could be matched to folks, and just 1 student is outstanding
    waiting to be connected
  • Paul will send the list of schools/orgs over to Leah and Patrick and Jenny, will piggyback off that
    a bit for the conference outreach.

VI. Sponsorship (Justine)
VII. Online Learning Committee (Rebecca)

a. October Webinar Idea on AI

  • Will reach out to Trent to get an idea about who can help do the webinar that would help
    become a good lead in to the plenary, i.e., and intro to generative AI and you will get the rest at
    the conference. See if he either has an idea about what to discuss, or an idea about who can lead
    it. Also starting to compile a list of other potential folks.
  • A focus on generative AI 101, the real basics so that people have a foundation. Still taking it
    slow, but will pick up speed in August/September.

VIII. Other business

a. Updates to MAPOR Roles and Policies (Leah)
i. Conduct policy
ii. Budget Approval Policy
b. List of organizations and universities for additional outreach

Conduct Policy

  • The conduct policy is a carbon copy of the AAPOR policy. The only difference is how MAPOR
    handles complaints and formal reporting since we are a smaller group. Formal reporting will be
    done via direct email to the Past President (closest we have to internal review). More details
    about the policy are in the link above.
  • No questions about the content.
  • Used to be assumed that AAPOR had liability/would internally litigate anything that happened at
    chapter events, but legally they have no responsibility. So need something in place to protect
    MAPOR.
  • Eventually will need to be on the website.
  • Policy has to be approved by membership. Next steps – take policy to members for a vote in July.
    Send out a policy link, provide Yae/Nay online vote, and take online voting as approval. Then will
    add an approved date to the policy and it will be part of the bylaws.
  • Proof read review before we send it around (before July 1). Evgenia volunteered.
  • “At least 10% of total membership have to vote, and has to pass by ⅔ majority”
  • Lean plans to call out we need XX number of respondents for this to get passed in the
    email contact. Offer a channel for folks to reach out to if they have comments or
    concerns. Maybe send out scheduled reminders. Mention that we didn’t use to have it,
    but need to have it now (some background).
  • Don’t necessarily want to wait until the conference in case something comes up.

Budget Policy

  • This does not need to be approved by membership since it is just an internal policy. Soft
    guardrails around how we spend our money and what we spend it on. Idea is that we are mostly
    already doing this, but want to put it in writing.
  • Regular make MAPOR run stuff = ~$2,000 deficit on average
  • Webinars = ~$500 income on average
  • Conference = ~$15,000 deficit on average
  • Sponsorship = ~$18,000 income on average (this basically subsidizes the conference)
  • Create a budget proposal at the end of the year/after the conference is all paid for that council
    can discuss. No real teeth to it this year, more to see how it works and can use it moving
    forward.
  • David mentioned that this could help with sponsorship if we could tie it back to a specific thing
    i.e., a travel grant or support grant.
  • Lindsey will email to the group.
    Leah called a motion to approve the Budget Policy. Seconded by Patrick. All in favor, none opposed.
    Budget policy approved.
    Council members

President – Leah Dean
Vice President / President Elect – Patrick Hsieh
Past President – Justine Bulgar-Medina
Conference Chair – Jenny Marlar
Associate Conference Chair – Beth Fisher
Secretary-Treasurer – Lindsey Witt-Swanson
Associate Secretary-Treasurer – Semilla Stripp
Sponsorship Coordinator –Justine Bulgar-Medina
Student Liaison – Curtiss Engstrom
Communications & Website Chair – Benjamin Schapiro
Members at Large – Erin Heiden, Rebecca Powell, Jerry Timbrook, Paul DiPerna, Carlye Arcas, Yorkow
Oppon-Acquah, Caroline Smith
Proposed Committees
Conference Committee – Jenny, Beth, Justine
Online Learning Committee – Rebecca Powell (Chair), Erin Heiden, Jerry Timbrook, Yorkow
Oppon-Acquah
Awards, Grants, and Support Committee – Paul DiPerna, Curtiss Engstrom, Carlye Arcas
Secretary Treasurer Support – Lindsey Witt-Swanson, Semilla Stripp
Communications Support – Benjamin Schapiro, Evgenia Kapousouz, Leah Dean,
50th Anniversary Committee – Leah (chair), Beth, additional fellows, Caroline Smith, David
Sterrett