Attention: All OPSF Members

["Daniel Lozier" <lozier@nist.gov>]

Now is the time to help build a stronger and more effective SIAM
Activity Group on Orthogonal Polynomials and Special Functions!

We need nominees for the four elected offices (chair, vice-chair,
secretary, program chair) and volunteers for appointed positions
(printed and electronic newsletter editors, Webmaster).

For details, see message below which will appear in the next printed
newsletter.  The nominating committee is meeting very soon, so please
don't wait: send nominations now to lozier@nist.gov.

Message from the Chair (June 1, 2001)
-------------------------------------
During my term of office as chair, I have been impressed with the
enthusiasm of our activity group members.  They have supported the
elected and appointed officers in all our various programs:
minisymposia, summer schools, printed newsletter, electronic newsletter,
Web site, and email discussion group.  Probably I have left something
out of this list, but if so it was an unintended omission.  The time is
approaching for changes in the activity group leadership, specifically
the election and appointment of officers.  I ask every activity group
member to consider offering service in one of these capacities.  There
are personal rewards, for example the opportunity to work with and get
to know others in your field of research, and to promote the
understanding and use of orthogonal polynomials and special functions in
all fields of science.

1. Annual Meeting of the Activity Group

I have conducted an annual meeting of the activity group officers each
year during my term as chair.  This year the meeting will be held at the
OPSFA meeting in Rome.  I would like to extend an invitation to all
members present in Rome to attend the meeting.  Since the exact time and
place are not yet known, please send me email stating your interest and
I will make sure you are informed in advance of the meeting.

2. Election of Officers

The term of office for the elected officers (chair, vice chair, program
director, and secretary) is three years.  The current term ends in
December of this year.  According to SIAM procedure, a nominating
committee is formed consisting of the current officers plus two members
of the activity group appointed by SIAM.  This committee is required to
give a slate of candidates to SIAM in August.  Then SIAM prepares the
ballot and mails it to the activity group members.

The nominating committee will meet immediately after the annual meeting
at the OPSFA meeting in Rome.  Subsequent deliberations of the
nominating committee will take place by email.  Please send me names of
possible nominees, or (better) offer your own name as a nominee.

I have not received the names of the appointed members from SIAM, so if
you are interested in being on the nominating committee please send me
email.  I will inform Tom Manteuffel, the SIAM president, of your
interest.  Alternatively, you can send email directly to
tmanteuf@colorado.edu with a copy to me.

3. Appointment of Officers

Currently we have 4 appointed officers in charge of the printed
newsletter, electronic newsletter, and Web site.  They work together to
collect, organize and disseminate information of interest to the
activity group in a variety of formats.  This sharing of effort reduces
the burden that otherwise would fall on a single individual.  I am
grateful to all them for their diligent service to the activity group.

Three of the appointed officers (the printed newsletter co-editors and
the electronic newsletter editor) will end their service this year.
Therefore, it is extremely important to start the process of locating
replacements.  Please consider serving the activity group in one of
these capacities and send me email stating your interest.

Dan Lozier
OPSF Chair
lozier@nist.gov