AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS

EMERITUS ASSEMBLY

CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE

(minutes of meeting on 11/14/2006)

Members of the American Association of University Professors, Emeritus

Assembly, Connecticut Conference met on November 14, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.  The meeting

took place at the University of Connecticut Whetten Library. (The Roper

Center is located on Mansfield Road, in Storrs.)

Prof. Mark Abramson, director of the Roper Center, gave a brief introduction

to the Center.  The Roper Center is the largest public opinion data archives

in the world.  It was started in 1947 by Elmo Roper, pioneer in polls.  The

Center was originally located at Williams College, then became a consortium of

UConn, Williams and Yale.  The Center at present, wholly a UConn activity,

contains thousands of data sets from about 70 nations around the world.  Polling

magazines and polling operations in the U.S. and abroad. The Roper Center picks

data is routinely sent here from all networks (CBS, NBC, etc. ) , newspapers,

particular studies for its archives (which are mostly digital).

Prof. Abramson commented that post election polls for the most part this year

did a good job.

Next, Lois Timms-Ferrara, associate director, continued to report on the

Center.  It is the largest collection of public information in existence.  Its

poll databank, dating from 1935, at present contains half a million questions.

There are 17,000 data set files.

The Center also provides teaching tools through courses dealing with data

collection and data analysis.  A brief question period was followed by

adjournment at 11:50 a.m.  Members re-assembled for lunch at a restaurant on Route 44 .

BUSINESS MEETING.  At 1:00 p.m. President Welchman called for a brief

business meeting.  The secretary's report (minutes of the last meeting) was accepted.

The treasurer, John Kolega, reported a checking account balance of $1797.99

($476 due for lunch).  There are 56 paid members.  The treasurer's report was

accepted.

The President thanked member Killeen for his help with arrangements for

today's meeting.  the second spring meeting will be held June 21st at Elizabeth

Park, West Hartford.  This will be a guided tour of the rose gardens.  Lunch

shall be reserved at the park's cafe.  Fred Cazel was appointed to make all

arrangements.

Next, President Welchman made several suggestions for the first spring

meeting:    --- a Sunday matinee with the Hartford Symphony;

--- ";Murderers"; by Thatcher at Theatre Works on Pearl Street in Hartford;

--- Mardi Gras Jazz Orchestra;

---Woodwind Trio, Renaissance Music.

";Murderers"; was selected.  Arrangements shall be made by Nick Welchman.

May Giger made a few comments about the progress of our web site.  She

thanked all who have helped with the internet project.

The meeting adjourned at 1:16 p.m.

Respectfully  Submitted,

Cecilia Welna,

Secretary/