[CPN] Publication-Related Issues

Wed Nov 16 10:22:11 EST 2011

[To answer Michel's thoughtful responses, I think that if we have a
quorum, we can use electronic media at least to a certain extent for those
who cannot attend.  I think that we can also settle a good deal of
business in advance.  For example, members can provide short comments and
non-binding (straw poll) "thumbs up or down" on submitted proposals that
could shorten discussion.  As always, advance preparation makes meeting
time more efficient.  It also seems to me from the passages he quotes that
the CPN is the correct authority for these matters.  I am sorry to dump
this issue in our chair's lap!  But I am very interested in everyone's
views on this. -- kp]

> Dear colleagues,
>
>      I agree with many of Kevin's views expressed in his message
> (below), with reservations on a single point, namely the feasibility of
> a CPN meeting. In my case, I would not be able to attend, for financial
> reasons, and I may not be the sole CPN member in that case. I don't
> necessarily think that e-mail discussions won't be effective or
> sufficient to solve these issues. However, I certainly don't wish to
> impede efforts for the rest of the committee to meet. Perhaps we could
> try to set up a videoconference with Skype or something like that for
> overseas members? David Marjanovic would also be concerned.
>
>      Also, on a technical note, I wonder if the *Council* is not the
> appropriate body to hold discussion about a possible enlargement of the
> list of Editors of the CV. Here are relevant extracts from our bylaws,
> with relevant passages in *bold type* (if your e-mail client allows it):
>
> *Section 5. Powers*
> The *Council* is empowered to act on all matters pertaining to the
> Society, except as
> otherwise provided by these Bylaws. In the execution of its duties, the
> Council may: (1) acquire, hold, and dispose of, either directly or
> through a nominee who acts in the name of the Council, any property or
> other assets suited to further the interests of the Society; (2)
> *execute contract*s and solicit and receive grants in support of the
> Society’s activities; (3) make, or cause to be made, all necessary
> arrangement for the meetings of the Society; and (4) exercise such other
> powers as required by these Bylaws and as required or desired for the
> conduct of the Society’s affairs.
>
> *Section 6. Duties*
> The Council shall be responsible for matters of policy and procedure in
> all actions taken
> between Periodic Meetings of the Society. It shall have j*urisdiction
> over* finances and *publications*. It shall approve appointments by the
> President or President-Elect of officers and committee members. The
> Council shall determine the duties of the committees beyond those
> outlined in these Bylaws. It shall receive and act on the annual budget
> prepared by the Treasurer. It shall consider proposals from any member
> of the Society.
> *
> Section 2. Committee on Phylogenetic Nomenclature *
> Prior to implementation of the PhyloCode, the Committee on Phylogenetic
> Nomenclature
> (CPN) shall assume the responsibility, previously held by the PhyloCode
> Advisory Group, for reviewing and *approving changes in the draft
> PhyloCode*. After implementation of the PhyloCode, responsibilities of
> the CPN shall be to: (a) rule on applications for suppression or
> conservation of names; (b) resolve ambiguities in the provisions of the
> PhyloCode; (c) amend the provisions of the PhyloCode; and (d) produce
> future editions of the PhyloCode. The CPN shall also maintain a
> PhyloCode Advisory Group (PAG), whose function shall be to provide non-
> binding advice, generally by means of an Internet listserver. The CPN
> shall consist of twelve voting members, including a Chairperson and
> Secretary. Each member shall serve for three years, taking office on 1
> September. Four members shall be elected each year to provide three
> cohorts serving staggered terms on the CPN. Any vacancy among members
> shall be filled by the normal procedure for electing members in the next
> annual election. Members may be elected for up to three consecutive
> three-year terms and shall not be eligible to serve again on the CPN
> until one year has elapsed since completing the third consecutive term.
> A Chairperson and Secretary shall be elected annually by the membership
> of the CPN for a one-year term and shall take office on 1 September. The
> Chairperson and Secretary may serve for up to three consecutive one-year
> terms, and shall not be eligible to serve again in the same office until
> one year has elapsed since completing the third consecutive term.
>
>      Of course, Kevin and I (among others) are members of both
> committees, but that is not the case of all involved.
>
>      As for a call to the general systematic community for possible
> amendments to the draft PhyloCode, I think that this is a good idea, but
> there is perhaps a small risk that we will be flooded by requests and
> that several will not be well thought-out or even proposed with good
> intentions. But perhaps I over-estimate the potential response of the
> community. But if we end up not having the time to examine seriously
> more than 10% of the suggestions we get, this might backfire.
>
>      Cheers,
>
>      Michel
>
> On 16/11/11 08:05, Kevin Padian wrote:
>> Dear Colleagues,
>>
>> I am concerned about several issues on which I would like your views.
>> We
>> have a proposal on the table about the rank of species, and we are
>> likely
>> to have others.  It seems impractical to try to resolve these things by
>> email.  Also, the editing of the Companion Volume, on which (by statute)
>> the publication of the PhyloCode depends, is proceeding so slowly that
>> by
>> one estimate it will not be completed, even with its present complement
>> of
>> submitted articles, until 2056.
>>
>> 1.  I propose that we convene a meeting of the CPN, not associated with
>> any scholarly society's meeting, sometime during the first six months of
>> 2012.  I would be glad to host this at Berkeley but would be happy if a
>> more central or convenient location for other members were identified.
>>
>> 2.  In the intervening time I would suggest circulating a call for
>> proposals in the systematic community that would suggest any changes in
>> the substance or wording of the PhyloCode, prior to its publication; no
>> further changes would be entertained for a period of "x" (x to be
>> determined) years afterward.  These proposals would have a deadline at
>> least a month before the meeting.  The CPN would consider them at that
>> meeting.
>>
>> 3.  Because the editorial regime of the Companion Volume is not working
>> as
>> it was intended, and as a result many members of the systematic
>> community
>> believe that the PhyloCode is dead, the CPN has to find another
>> solution.
>>
>> I am not the chair of the CPN; I write only as a member of the CPN to
>> ask
>> for a workable approach to these problems.  I feel somewhat obligated,
>> as
>> the incoming head of the ISPN, to suggest that these issues be addressed
>> in timely fashion.  We have to have some mechanism to move forward.  I
>> am
>> really fine with whatever the group decides, but I feel that some
>> decision
>> on how to proceed is important.  Please give me your views on these
>> issues.  Thanks -- kp
>>
>
>
> --
> UMR 7207
> Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle
> Batiment de Géologie
> Case postale 48
> 43 rue Buffon
> F-75231 Paris cedex 05
> FRANCE
> http://tolweb.org/notes/?note_id=3669
>
>

-- 
Kevin Padian
Department of Integrative Biology &
Museum of Paleontology
University of California, Berkeley CA 94720-3140
510-642-7434
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/people/padian/home.php