The WSC Foundation

Purpose and History

The purpose of the WSC Foundation (WSCF) is to develop and manage a Fund to help ensure the continuance and high quality of the Winter Simulation Conferences. Management of the Fund consists of (a) providing loans or grants from the Fund to the Winter Simulation Conference (WSC) Board of Directors when the WSC Board makes such requests and the WSCF deems it prudent and wise to do so, (b) allocating the assets of the Fund to balance return, risk, and liquidity, and (c) accepting donations to the Fund and raising money for the Fund as and when it is deemed appropriate. The WSCF operates independently of the WSC Board of Directors, and is also independent of the annual WSC Conference Committees.

The Fund was started in 2003 when the WSC Board of Directors undertook a fund-raising effort that was without precedent in the thirty-six-year history of the conference. At the conclusion of this initial fund-raising effort, the WSC Board of Directors appointed an independent group of five Trustees for the Fund, who organized themselves during 2004 into the WSC Foundation, based on the WSC Foundation By-Laws and WSC Foundation Investment Guidelines, and the Fund was transferred to the control of the WSCF in June of 2004.

Current Trustees

• James R. Wilson (President), jwilson@ncsu.edu, North Carolina State University
• Thomas J. Schriber (Past President), schriber@bus.umich.edu, The University of Michigan
• Stephen D. Roberts (Vice-President/Treasurer), roberts@ncsu.edu, North Carolina State University
• Jane L. Snowdon (Secretary), snowdonj@us.ibm.com, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
• Barry L. Nelson, nelsonb@northwestern.edu, Northwestern University
• David Goldsman (ex officio non-voting trustee representing the WSC Board of Directors), sman@isye.gatech.edu, Georgia Institute of Technology

Patrons of the WSC

Donors to the Fund are designated "Patrons of the WSC," with provision for both anonymous donations and recognition for the following levels of support as specified by each individual contributor: Patron, any amount; Silver Patron, $125 – $249; Gold Patron, $250 – $499; and Sustaining Patron, $500 or more. In the case of multiple donations from the same individual, corporation, or organization, the amounts of the donations are cumulative in terms of determining the category of donation. Individuals, corporations, or organizations making a large donation will receive special recognition unless they desire not to.

• Current List of Patrons of the WSC

Donations to the WSC Foundation Fund

Individuals, corporations, and organizations are invited to become Patrons of the WSC. Donations are tax-deductible. Please print the form linked below and follow the instructions on it (if you have any problems with the form please contact jwilson@ncsu.edu):

• WSCF Patron Donation Form

WSC Foundation Documents

• WSC Foundation By-Laws
• WSC Foundation Investment Guidelines
• WSC Foundation Presentations at WSC Conferences

Winter Simulation Conference Website

Past Presidents

• Robert G. Sargent: June 2004-2005
• W. David Kelton: 2006
• Thomas J. Schriber 2007

Emeritus Trustees

• Richard E. Nance, Voting Trustee, 2004-2005
• Robert G. Sargent, Voting Trustee, 2004-2006
• Bruce W. Schmeiser, Voting Trustee, 2004-2006
• James R. Wilson, Non-Voting Trustee from WSC Board of Directors, 2004
• K. Preston White, Non-Voting Trustee from WSC Board of Directors, 2005
• Barry L. Nelson, Non-Voting Trustee from WSC Board of Directors, 2006

Founding Trustees

• Richard E. Nance, Past President
• Robert G. Sargent, President
• W. David Kelton, Vice-President/Treasurer
• Bruce W. Schmeiser, Secretary
• Thomas J. Schriber, Voting Trustee

Last update January 2, 2008