40th Annual General Meeting
Parasitism, Immunity & Environment Section (formerly Parasitology section), Canadian Society of Zoologists
May 16, 2013
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario

Minutes

1.0 Introductory comments (Spencer Greenwood, PIE Chair 2012-13)

Spencer commented on the new name and direction.

2.0 Approval of agenda

The agenda was approved.

3.0   Approval of minutes from the 39th Annual General Meeting (51st CSZ Meeting

Minutes of the May 10, 2012 meeting at Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB were approved.

4.0   Business arising from previous minutes

5.0   Elections for Vice-Chair for 2013-14

Dan Barreda was nominated, agreed to stand and was elected unanimously.

6.0   Reports

6.1   News from CSZ Council meeting (May 13, 2013) & CSZ AGM (May 14, 2013)

There was a discussion about the format of the Montreal meeting. There will be no section symposia, so each section must provide a representative to help organize a common CSZ symposium. Section chairs discussed the organization in a small meeting afterwards and agreed on a committee with one individual representing each section.

6.2   Finances

Al Shostak provided a financial report. There were no major issues and the finances are stable.

6.3   Recognition Committee

Dr. Derek McKay (University of Calgary) was the recipient of the 2013 Wardle Medal Recipient for outstanding contributions in parasitism, immunity and the environment. Dr. McKay’s presentation was entitled “Health lessons from the study of host-parasite interactions”. The Wardle award winner was to be introduced by Fry Medal winner, Dr. Miodrag (Mike) Belosevic, University of Alberta.

Dr MacKay will join the Recognition committee, along with previous winners, Dr. Al Shostak and Dr Dan McLaughlin.

It was reported that the new terms of reference for the Wardle award have been accepted by a majority of the membership in an e-mail vote. The wording of the Wardle scroll has been be updated to reflect the new section name and mandate. 

There was a discussion regarding the eligibility of individuals who could be nominated for the Wardle Award. It was confirmed that the individual nominated should be a member in good standing of the Canadian Society of Zoologists.

6.4   Student awards

Murray Fallis Prize (2013): Judges for the Murray Fallis Prize (best student oral presentation during the AGM in the PIE section) are James Stafford (University of Alberta), Matt Rise (Memorial University of Newfoundland) and Mike Duffy (University of New Brunswick, Fredericton).

7.0   Business

7.1   Symposium 2013

Organized by Dr. Brian Dixon, entitled “Parasitism-Immunity-Environment Interactions: Sweet as Cherry PIE”.

Symposium speakers:

The speakers did a terrific jobs and the session featured free Cherry Pie for all who wanted it at the end.

7.2 Contributed sessions at CSZ 2013

Three contributed sessions are organized, the first chaired by Dr. Lena Measures (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), entitled “Immunology-1” with 5 speakers. The second session chaired by Dr. Mike Duffy (University of New Brunswick) featured 6 talks relating to “Ecology and Parasitism”, while the third session on “Immunology-2” featured 6 papers and was chaired by Dr. Spencer Greenwood (University of Prince Edward Island). This year the students of PIE and CMD have a jointly sponsored  symposium with Dr. Shelly Adamo (Dalhousie University) as the guest speaker presenting a seminar entitled “The strings of the puppetmaster: Parasitic manipulation of host hormones and behaviour”, with students from PIE hosting.     

7.2   Symposium 2014

There will be no PIE symposium in 2014. Dan Barreda will represent PIE on the committee organizing the

7.3   State of the Section

Spencer reported The membership in the PIE Section stands at 71 (33 - PIE only). Further discussions on the membership status in light of the expanded focus of PIE are a major talking point for the PIE-AGM. A new PIE section constitution needs to be developed that allows for flexibility and addresses the changes from the former Parasitology section. A new sub-committee (3 members) will be convened at the PIE-AGM May 16, 2013.

7.4   Constitutional changes

Despite a commitment to examine the by-laws of the section and enact changes, there was no progress in the past year. This will be addressed in the upcoming year.

7.5   Items of new business

8.0   Other Business