PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Dear Members,
T
hank you for electing me as the 104th pres- energy to the specific topics—form the basis of each
ident of the American Statistical Association. workgroup. The ASA membership and board also
The three-year president-elect, president, have representation on each workgroup. I have asked
and past president cycle offers a training year to the workgroups to be visionary, but also practical, in
learn about the many aspects of the ASA. their recommendations—with specific action items to
Throughout 2008, I was particularly impressed by be considered—and to use previous task force reports
the passion and generosity of the many members and other ASA documents as primary building blocks
who participate in a multitude of ways to promote for their work. As these initiatives move forward, we
and support the association’s vision “to be the world will share their progress with all members.
leader in promoting statistical practice, applica- My election platform also identified another
tions, and research; publishing statistical journals; dimension of the strategic plan as a planned focus in
improving statistical education; and advancing the 2009: visibility and impact in policymaking. The asso-
statistics profession.” The ASA depends entirely on ciation has taken important steps toward this dimen-
the good efforts of volunteers and the dedication and sion and gathered momentum over the past several
skill of its staff. I am grateful for the many and varied years due to the leadership and contributions of many.
contributions made by you on behalf of the statisti- Individual actions include, but are not limited to,
cal community. Please do not hesitate to contact me hiring ASA Science Policy Director Steve Pierson in
sally C. Morton
at
morton@rti.org with your ideas and suggestions. 2008, forming the Science Policy Task Force in 2007–
In my president-elect year, I focused on several 2008, increasing the number of ASA statements,
activities: learning more about the association and visiting government agencies, collaborating with the
reaching out to its members, organizational entities, Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, and working
and sister societies; appointing approximately 150 closely with the ASA committees that focus wholly or
committee members; and planning the 2009 presi- partially on policy. As physics teaches us, momentum
dential initiatives. With respect to this last task, I am is conserved, and the association is poised to have an
fortunate to be the first president since the launching even more meaningful impact in the coming years.
of the new strategic plan (see
www.amstat.org/about/ I encourage you to register for the Joint Statistical
index.cfm?fuseaction=strategicplan). This plan is our Meetings, the largest gathering of statisticians in the
association’s road map, albeit an evolving and dynam- world, to be held this August 1–6 in Washington,
ic one, for the coming years. We will assess objectives DC. The theme for this year’s conference is “Statistics:
via its paradigm, evaluate activities through its lens, From Evidence to Policy,” underscoring our discipline
and schedule tasks based on its planning cycle. In an and association’s contributions to policymaking, as
upcoming column, I will report on the state of the well as the conference location. Program Chair Wendy
strategic plan, including its use, review, and updating. Martinez and her able program committee have assem-
In considering initiatives for 2009, I synthesized bled an exciting invited program. Contributed abstract
my election platform objectives with the planks of the submission opened December 1, and abstracts are due
strategic plan. We have formed workgroups to focus by February 2. I encourage you to submit an abstract
on the following challenges: and share your ideas with fellow conference attend-
—Financial status
ees. I look forward to seeing you in Washington.
I will keep you updated via this column and
—Meetings other communication venues as 2009 progresses,
and I welcome your ideas and questions at any
—Organizational efficiency
time. I close with my best wishes for the New Year,
I have benefited from the help and guidance of as well as my thanks again for the great honor of
numerous ASA members, the board, and the staff serving as ASA president.
in defining these initiatives. In addition to requir-
ing that the initiatives be motivated by the strategic
plan, my premise in forming initiative workgroups
was that the relevant ASA committees—which
bring particular expertise, historical knowledge, and
JANUARy 2009 AMsTAT NeWs 3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80