Israel Plasma Science and Technology Association
Executive Committee Meeting #1 - Protocol 27 October 1998

    1. The 1st meeting of the executive committee of the Israel Plasma Science and Technology Society was held at 1300 on 27 October 1998 at Tel Aviv University. Present were Reuven Boxman, chairman (presiding), Enrique Gruenbaum, treasurer, Miki Mond, plasma physics representative, Rudi Avni, plasma chemistry representative, Shlomo Wald, plasma technology representative, and Shemuel Goldsmith, representative of the constitution subcommittee (invitied).

    2. Rudi announced that the plan to hold the next European thermal plasma conference in Israel was cancelled, due to financial losses of the last conference held in St. Petersburg. The conference has been taken under the wing of E-MRS and will be held in Strausborg.

    3. The sole entry to the IPSTA logo content posted on the internet site was discussed. Reuven will check with Yuri if there were any further entries. The logo consists of seven electrical current vectors forming a menorah, with several magnetic field lines surrounding the current lines. If this was the sole entry, it will be adopted as the association logo, with the addition of a "plasma cloud".

    4. If was decided to hold a 2nd Plasma Science and Technology Conference, following the same format as last years. Miki volunteered to serve as local organizing committee chairman and host the conference in Beer Sheva. He will choose a date between the semesters (Feb. 1997) and notify the committee by 3/11. Rudi and Shemuel volunteered to head a program committee. They will prepare a call for papers which will be issued via e-mail and internet by 8/11/98. Yuri will be asked to publicize the conference both in Israel and abroad via internet. Enrique will send information re. potential company exhibitors to Miki.

    5. Enrique reported on contacts with the Israel Vacuum Society by which IPSTA would become a daughter organization to the IVS. Reuven reported on his conversation with the IVS president, Sidney Cohen (WIS). The affiliation of IPSTA with IVS would have the following features:

            1. IPSTA would maintain its operational independence, elect its own officers, run its own affairs, etc.

            2. IPSTA will allocate NIS 40 of the dues collected from any of its members who are not already IVS members to the IVS.

            3. Any further revenues (dues in excess of NIS 40, proceeds from conferences or exhibitions, etc.) will be held by the IPSTA treasurer in a separate bank account. IPSTA will use these funds to further its objectives as it sees fit.

            4. The IVS and IPSTA treasurers, together with the IVS accountant, will work out the technical details on accounting, etc., in order to satisfy requirements relating to Amuta regulations.

            5. IPSTA will receive secretarial services from the IVS.

            6. IPSTA will be eligible to receive conference support and other benefits on the same basis as the other daughter societies.

            7. IPSTA will designate a delegate to sit on the IVS committee.

The committee confirmed the above agreement, and authorized Reuven to prepare a letter to the IVS to formalize the above arrangement. Furthermore, the committee designated Reuven as its delegate to the IVS committee, and Enrique as his substitute.

6. Reuven reported that the IVS's next seminar will be aimed at vacuum technicians. Shlomo will investigate the possibility of IPSTA contributing a lecture on plasma processing techniques aimed at technicians. In addition, Shlomo will set up a committee to organize a plasma processing workshop, on or about 27 May 1999, aimed at processing engineers in industry. The emphasis will be on 'nuts and bolts' (as distinguished from the February seminar which will have a more scientific and research orientation).

7. The issue of lobbying granting agencies was discussed. It was decided that: (1) Miki will check the call for proposals from ISF, BSF, and GIF to see how they relate to plasma, (2) Reuven will prepare a letter to the above agencies plus the Ministry of Science which presents plasma and the Association, presses for inclusion of plasma as a topic, and for a representative of the plasma community of allocation committees, (3) a draft will be circulated to the committee for comment, (4) Shemuel will edit and translate, and (5) Rudi will assist in follow-up visits to the various agencies.

8. Enrique presented a financial report from the Feb. 1998 conference. There were approximately 63 participants, an income of NIS 2600, from which there was a profit of approximately NIS 1200, which he has in a bank account.

9. Topics for the next meeting: operating plan and budget, completing the takanon.

Respectfully submitted

 

Reuven Boxman