AOGS General Election

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The 17th Annual Meeting which was to be have taken place from 28 Jun to 04 Jul, 2020 at Hongcheon, South Korea has to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lock downs continue to be implemented in many countries throughout 2020 and 2021.This results in substantial uncertainty to also the 18th Annual Meeting planned to be held from 01 to 06 Aug, 2021 in Singapore. So in November 2020, the society's leadership polled members for their inputs on issues relating to the 18th Annual Meeting and leadership continuity at AOGS.

By majority support, it was announced on Tue-12 Jan 2021 that:

1. The AOGS2021 Annual Meeting will be delivered virtually
   The in-person meeting will be postponed to be held at SUNTEC Singapore in 2023.
2. There will not be a 2021 General Election. Instead, elected officers for 2020-2022 will serve a further two years till 2024. The next General Election will be in 2023 for 2024 to 2026 office bearers ((president, vice president, secretary general, treasurer, assistant secretary general, assistant treasurer, and all section presidents and vice presidents)

Details on the poll, its results and the webinar are as shown.

POLL, RESULTS & WEBINAR
Town Hall Webinar:	Tue-12 Jan 2021 from 4pm Singapore Standard Time Join Here: https://zoom.us/j/98762412339       Webinar ID: 987 6241 2339
Purpose of Webinar:	To inform poll results and address any concerns, issues raised by members
Poll Opens:	27 Nov 2020; Closes 04 Dec 2020
Responses Received:	252 (out of 13K+ members)

SECTION I

Questions

1. The 2021 AOGS meeting will be all-virtual.
   
   1. Are you willing and able to attend this virtual meeting?
      

      Yes, Agree	83%
      No, Object	9%
      Abstain	8%

   2. When the 2020 AOGS Annual Meeting was cancelled, society revenue was totally cut and the society’s operating budget is put in jeopardy for the next one or two years. In addition to the annual meeting, AOGS funds cover also payments to its journal publisher and fee subsidies for meeting attendees from less wealthy countries. Given the above circumstances, would you be willing to pay an appropriate abstract fee to submit a presentation and an appropriate registration fee to attend the 2021 AOGS Virtual Meeting?

      Yes, Agree	71%
      No, Object	16%
      Abstain	13%

2. To ensure continuity and fairness, the AOGS council considers extending the term of the currently serving elected 2020-2022 AOGS office bearers (president, vice president, secretary general, treasurer, assistant secretary general, assistant treasurer, and all section presidents and vice presidents) by 2 years. Do you agree with this extension of these currently serving elected 2020-2022 AOGS office bearers (except the honorary auditor) by 2 years?

   Yes, Agree	90%
   No, Object	6%
   Abstain	4%

SECTION II

1.	The 2021 AOGS meeting will be all-virtual.
	Question 1a Are you willing and able to attend this virtual meeting? Yes, Agree 83% No, Object 9% Abstain 8%

Comments/Views

• This is really so sad. This shows exactly why we must have elections now. There exist options to hold the meeting in a mixed format, safely, right now. China and Singapore already have a green channel. Hong Kong and Singapore are opening one. I am not sure, but likely Singapore will also have options with South Korea, Japan, Macau, Thailand, Australia, New Zeeland, and many others in place soon, if not already. Just because the USA, the EU, and South Asia are not doing as well does not mean we should throw in the towel. It looks to me like way more than half of our members are in areas where travel could happen today, or soon. Perhaps there are local rules that cannot be overcome. In this case, Lets move the meeting to Mainland China, where the rules would permit the meeting, or another place which could as well. I am holding a 150 person meeting this weekend. It is smooth and easy. We have another 50 people in by video, live, into the room. Mixed mode meetings can be successful. As a long term AOGS member, and section organizer I feel really let down. I am certain my annually running session since 2014 will fall apart, as almost no one wants another virtual meeting. I really think we need an election ASAP, so we can change this rule. Otherwise, I worry AOGS will be gone and cease to be as important in the future.
• I am not sure I will have results to present, but I'm more likely to be able to attend a virtual meeting than a face to face meeting anyway.
• I am willing and able at this time, but I cannot guarantee that I will still be able and willing to attend several months from now.
• It would be great if the meeting sessions could consider most time zones.
• I think virtual AOGS is easier to attend and may even have more attendees.
• Virtual is great. A lot of people who can't attend in person because of huge costs involved will get a chance. We can increase our membership this way. Given the possibility, we should continue to have the meetings both in person and virtual in the post covid world.
• This depends of course on the date and time.
• I have no plan to attend the meeting this year, virtual or in-person
• Hi – thank you for taking timely action on shifting to virtual. I concur that any in-person meeting seems unlikely to be possible.
• It depends on the time period when the 2021 AOGS meeting will be held.
• I am not sure at this moment, whether I will be able to attend, but try to do it.
• Will probably not attend since it is not very worthwhile to me, but I agree with the decision to host a virtual-only meeting.
• It'll good to take an initiative to organize the meeting physically at the end of 2021.
• I do not like virtual meetings in general.
• I am able to join the meeting if there is no other urgent meetings that requires my presence.
• It is a good idea to hold the 2021 meeting as an all virtual meeting, and extend the period of the AOGS Officers by one more term of 2 more years. AOGS also needs budget to hold the meeting, a reasonable registration fee for the virtual meeting is also a good idea.
• I suggest that virtual meeting in 3D world using Virbela platform. See below for detail. https://www.virbela.com/ Just showing PDF (or similar) files are really boring. Thus, such kind of "virtual" meeting is not recommended.
• Before I vote here, some small questionnaire has been done. Virtual meeting is OK. As AGU Fall meeting is going now. Some scientists told me the virtual meeting need more time for presenter to prepare the presentation and attendees have more opportunity to scan and choose more presentations.
• I would prefer in-person presentation.

Question 1b

1. When the 2020 AOGS Annual Meeting was cancelled, society revenue was totally cut and the society’s operating budget is put in jeopardy for the next one or two years. In addition to the annual meeting, AOGS funds cover also payments to its journal publisher and fee subsidies for meeting attendees from less wealthy countries. Given the above circumstances, would you be willing to pay an appropriate abstract fee to submit a presentation and an appropriate registration fee to attend the 2021 AOGS Virtual Meeting?
   

   Yes, Agree	71%
   No, Object	16%
   Abstain	13%

Comments/Views

• An abstract processing fee is reasonable. A meeting fee is not. I feel I gained very little from AGU and EGU online, as well as the same for smaller meetings.
• I agree in principle to pay an appropriate fee for registration, but it also depends on the amount of the fee. In the past, we had difficulty attending the in-person conferences given that the fee was quite high compared to the subsidy provided by our university to attend conferences held in the Asian region. With regards for the abstract submission fee, other conferences are able to keep abstract submission free, which invites more potential participation from students and researchers from developing countries.
• This really depends on what you mean as appropriate!? For example. ESWS2020 certainly had an appropriate registration fee, however, AGU and COSPAR are clearly in for a money grab and this is not at all acceptable. I would suggest a S$30 abstract fee would be acceptable, and then no more than S$120 for the online registration fee. If the fees are more than this, then the above decision would be "NO, I Object"!
• I understand that the abstract fee is eligible for refund as in the statement. But it would be nice to take into account (at least partially) the abstract fee submitted early this year.
• Less than USD 7-10 for students and USD15-20 for those employed. Otherwise, for many interested scientists and students from nations such as India, it may be difficult.
• I think the total for abstract and conference registration should not exceed £200.
• Abstract fees are fine but as far as I remember, AOGS has a good profit margin. Given the times, we will not get approval for funds to attend virtual meetings. All funds have been redirected and travel fund accounts are zero for most of us.
• It has to be very nominal and logical.
• Yes, willing to pay an abstract fee (and o.k. with a sliding scale for developed/developing country/early career status).
• Need approval by NASA JPL for the fees.
• Depends on the appropriate registration fee amount
• I understand the situation. I expect the registration fee will be lower than the regular meeting as a virtual meeting does not require a conference centre. I would appreciate if you could show us the breakdown of the necessary registration fee.
• I can only pay the appropriate fee to submit an abstract.
• It’s difficult in present covid scenario to pay money appropriately. So may be considered.
• Should be less than the physical meeting. And registration should be waved for those from low and low middle income countries to encourage participation.
• I agree to pay to pay an abstract fee to submit a presentation. I’m ready to pay a registration fee to attend the 2021 AOGS Virtual Meeting, but the value of the registration fee needs to be reduced comparing to normal rate. It seems that 100-200 SGD will be acceptable for most participants.
• Depends on its amount.
• Payment of an abstract fee and of a reasonable registration fee (at the level of ~50% of the normal registration fee) is acceptable.
• We may look for virtual advertisements from science, technology, and innovation companies.
• Though it might depend on the amount of an "appropriate" registration fee.
• What about the registration payment that I paid for 2020. Will, it transferred to 2021?
• I can pay an appropriate abstract fee to submit a presentation and very reduced registration fee.
• with modest fee
• I am willing to pay the fees if it is small amount and affordable. Otherwise, I have to request some fund from my department.
• depend on abstract fee
• I am assuming things will be at cost?
• The society should show revenue and budget distribution first. The numbers have never been explained/clarified.
• Abstract fee yes. Registration fee, not sure. Would need to find out if my university fund registration for virtual conferences. They might not. Have to check. They might not yet even have a policy about this.
• Before I can vote here, some investigation has been done. For example, the fee support from financial department of our institutions. While not all of the attendees agree with total payment. Less than Half-pay is accepted. Some of the potential attendees incline to no pay.
• This is dependent on how "appropriate" the fee is.
• Whatever is necessary to maintain this wonderful institution that is the AOGS.
• However, taking the examples from AGU or COSPAR, these virtual conference meeting fees are not reasonable in my opinion.
• I highly appreciate you and AOGS Council people for tremendous efforts serving us to keep AOGS. In this difficult situation of COVID-19 pandemic, I totally agree and support your decision that the next AOGS meeting in virtual. With regards to the following questions, I would like to say "Yes" to all of the questions and agree with your decision. I hope that we can manage this difficult situation and the next AOGS will be successful.
• I think participants should pay reduce registration fee.
• Before asking about future, please explain what happened with the abstract fees I paid for the 2020 conference. The conference was totally cancelled. Have you refunded the fees to me? If not, why you have not done it?
• Will my abstract submitted to the last AOGS annual meeting (supposed to happen in 2020) still be active and I don't need to re-pay the abstract submission fee? I recall my last abstract submission fee was not refunded.

Question 2
To ensure continuity and fairness, the AOGS council considers extending the term of the currently serving elected 2020-2021 AOGS office bearers (president, vice president, secretary general, treasurer, assistant secretary general, assistant treasurer, and all section presidents and vice presidents) by 2 years.

Do you agree with this extension of these currently serving elected 2020-2021 AOGS office bearers (except the honorary auditor) by 2 years?

Comments/Views

• The current leaders cancelled last year too late. There was plenty of warning in late January. If you cancel, cancel early. I registered, and because the meeting never happened, I never could reimburse the fees. So doing it earlier is nice. The issue is that this year, it is not at all needed. This lack of good leadership on this issues necessitates a new election, whereby I would recommend all current office holders stand down and allow a fresh new slate, or older and proven leadership to take the lead.
• Absolutely. The present council should continue. They are well aware of the functioning of the council and know each other well to continue communication through these tough times.
• Yes, I agree to the extension.
• A new AOGS leadership should be elected. An election process is in general not affected by the COVID-19 disaster. Many regional and international organizations (e.g., AGU, EGU, IUGS) elect their new leadership using electronic voting.
• We should give an opportunity to the present committee to perform in a new normal situation.
• Although such an election can be done through electronic means as well. So maybe extend with 1 year to enable set up of proper electronic voting?
• It is a good idea to extend the term of current office bearers given the current condition of the coronavirus pandemic that limits our travel between countries.
• As long as they are willing. Else, I suggest presidents appoint emergency officers for those who cannot extend their terms.
• I agree in principle, but it would be great to know their names, and to have some information about them, as if it was a proper election or election campaign. Thank you.
• I think it's OK. If there is some special issues for current office bearers, they can ask assistance from Section secretary.