Minutes:
SOLGA Business Meeting
1998 • Philadelphia
Begin
Copy of agenda distributed
Co-Chair Lisa Rofel welcomed new members and invited others to join. "We need new blood!"
Lisa Rofel announced that she would be stepping down.
Proposal to switch items 5 and 6 on the agenda; proposal seconded and passed unanimously.
1) Approval of the Agenda
Approval of revised agenda passed unanimously.
2) Approval of the minutes
Minutes posted and approved unanimously.
3) Treasurer's Report
Todd White reported numbers [see annual budget to be published in a separate report]. Announced that as of Oct. 31, SOLGA had 106 members. We need 250 to make this budged and meet AAA requirements.
Todd apologized for the $250 mistakenly paid to Benedict prize winners last year (1998 winners). Announced that half of that money was going to be returned and put back into the Payne Prize fund.
Payne Prize has been resurrected. Currently $3,000 protected in the fund. Records from Stephen O. Murray suggest that this figure should be closer to $3,800. Todd is going to wait until all 1998 AAA expenses are paid to transfer the rest over. Todd announced that in 1999 he would attempt to reconstruct the entire history of the prize.
4) Report of Board's decision to fund travel to the annual meetings for members of the board.
Lisa Rofel announced that travel assistance would be provided to those officers who where without institutional support. Todd White, being the sole eligible officer, will be paid $100 travel reimbursement.
5A) Report on SOLGA's current section status
Lisa announced the SOLGA became an official section last Jan. Brief discussion of the AA [American Anthropologist] -- it was noted that the ultimate reason that new sections were assessed this $25 per-member subscription fee was to prevent the proliferation of new sections. This policy should be halted as our membership has "plummeted": we are down 50 members and it is difficult to recruit.
Louise Lamphere is to address this situation.
Roll-over Policy discussed whereby new sessions are not allowed to roll one year's budgetary accesses into the next year's budget. Goal again to prohibit the proliferation of sections. Todd White reassured that this issue was currently being taken up with the AAA.
Louise Lamphere addresses the assembly:
Dr. Lamphere begins by introducing herself. She was founder of Foundation of Feminist Anthropologists. History within AAA goes back 6-10 years.
Problem when the AAA was found to be making too much money. Jeopardized the nonprofit status. So AAA reorganized into sections, mid 1980s. Originally there were 12–15 sessions. American Anthropology joined the AAA, but some groups such as American Archeological Society remained separate. Since then more and more sections formed, and now there are 32 sections. Five new have been added in the past few years. Problem with this proliferation: about seven years ago, Jack Hornman, executive director, wanted a long-range plan. Idea for unity = require subscription to American Anthropologist for every member. This proposal meant an increase of dues by $20.
Problem: if there are too many sections with journals as it is, why force people to get the American Anthropologist? The idea to require all AAA members to subscribe was dropped, except for new sections who are required to subscribe.
This policy is currently being rethought. Will be taken up in the Feb. meeting. In last September's meeting, suggestion to let members pick which journal they want. This will increase competition. For instance, the General Anthropology Division might loose members (as they produce the American Anthropologist). Also, some sections have journals, and some don't: proposal to get coalition to think about these issues, and a proposal to drop the requirement.
In the years of the increased proliferation of sections, 1986–1990, some sections stored up huge fund balances. Dues were collected but not spent. Long-term planning among sections was to raise money for special projects, but then why should AAA provide funding if 1/3 of their assets were sitting idle? Perhaps this accumulation of assets was NOT a good idea. Most sections were jealous of those with a financial build up. Many sections are now spending down their surplus. It may be hard to get rid of this clause. (Louise reminds us at this point that she has been chair of the Finance Committee).
Questions:
Deborah Elliston complains that the American Anthropologist requirement is not fair to us as a new section.
Louise Lamphere replies that the original intent was to have the American Anthropologist required for the general association of members at large. As it is, 1/2 of AAA are basic subscribers plus hold membership in one section. 1/3 belong to two session, only a few "crazies like myself" belong to three, four, or five sections.
Dawn Atkins asks why there is not an exception to journal requirement for students? [Todd White proposed this idea to Dr. Lamphere during a meeting earlier this day, and she thought it was a good idea.]
Dr. Lamphere agrees that this is a possible arrangement to be consider.
[Unknown] asks why proliferation is a problem?
Louise Lamphere replies that it is an organizational issue. She thinks more little groups increase factions. With lots of little groups, it is hard to get things done. Groups tend not to communicate well with each other. What is needed is a balance between AAA solidarity and section autonomy.
5B) Lisa Rofel announces that there are two open position on the Executive Board, and one of the open positions is for a minority member; SOLGA members qualify for this minority position.
Louise Lamphere adds that minority sections are eligible to nominate every year there is a position open.
Lisa Rofel adds that it is important that we not compete with other sections. We can hold many other positions as well. What we need to do is coordinate with other sections in nominating people for this position.
Those who are interested in the nomination for the AAA executive board should watch the SOLGAN
Lisa adds that the list-serve will be posting more information. Need to work for ourselves and other sections to set out an appeal for volunteers -- "Lets build coalitions with other sections."
5C) Procedure for election of officers questioned. Should we convert to a nomination/public election procedure like other sections, or should we continue to "stay in-house" and hold private elections at the annual meeting? Pro: visibility. Con: visibility.
Comments:
• [Unknown: Lisa Rofel?] We should do it like the others as winner will be a public figure anyway.
• If we do it now, problem with Quorum? Frank Prochan replies no because our bylaws have been approved by AAA.
• Are we the only section not to participate in public elections? Louise Lamphere says yes.
• [Brief discussion ensues… Todd could not keep up with details]
6) Call for volunteers for positions next year [postponed]
7) Amendment of bylaws
Proposal to participate in AAA Election procedures beginning this year. Proposal seconded, unanimously approved. Change in bylaws moved, seconded, passed with no opposition.
Amended bylaws to expand board of directors of SOLGA.
Section C, co-chairs serve for two years. Want to extend to a third. [See bylaws at end of these minutes]
8) Report from the AAA Commission on LGBT Issues in Anthropology
Bill Leap reports on the commission. The commission is five years old and next month is going to report on experiences and discriminations of gays in the discipline. Call for volunteers in the next year.
Going to present the Executive Board with a summary of the findings. Will discuss findings and propose a concrete call for action and a three hour session to discuss.
Another mentoring session next year would be useful for drawing in more faculty. Not sure yet how to proceed… would be open for advice and need project volunteers to work on the curriculum.
Lisa Rofel takes us back to items 5 and 6:
• Thanks to Janet Casida for a fantastic job as SOLGAN editor (applause)
• Thanks to Sarah Dicky, ex-program chair (applause)
• Thanks to Deb Amory (not present) for her job as Newsletter editor (applause)
• Thanks to previous committee chairs Frank Proschan and Jennifer Robertson
• Thanks to Elizabeth Stassino for manning the volunteer table
• WE NEED a publicity recruiter!!!
Passed around volunteer sheet.
9) Bill Leap: Proposal of Publication project
Proposed that publication project be undertaken to publish findings of Commission on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual /Transgendered Issues in Anthropology and the syllabi/curriculum ideas that they have gathered. Want to publish esp. syllabi of existing courses on transgendered or HIV issues. Should SOLGA do this? Comments?
Lisa Rofel: Sounds great but up to how much funds we have?
10) Proposed resolution on AAA nondiscrimination efforts (Frank Proschan)
Frank Proschan speaks regarding how sodomy laws and equitable benefits packages effect LGBT scholars and researchers. Calls the amount of legal prejudice and persistent lack of benefits packages offered to LGBT scholars "a damning indictment." Proposes that we ask the board to include questions in their annual department survey regarding:
Does the department or university offer benefits to LGBT persons comparable to those offered to spouses?
Does the organization have policies specifically protecting and including L/G/B/T persons?
Ellen Lewin noted that there can really be no equitable treatment because of the underlying income tax laws. Suggests that we need to be more specific: vague terms such as "comparable" may not be appropriate.
11A) Nomination of Treasurer
C. Todd White nominated. Nominations closed with Todd White sole nominee in the upcoming AAA elections.
11B) Nomination of co-Chair
Sandra Faiman-Silva nominated, of Bridgewater College in MA
Karen Nakamora nominated (by Frank Proschan)
Elizabeth Povinelli nominated (by Deb Elliston).
[Subsequently, Elizabeth Povinelli decided to withdraw.]
12) Presentation of the Benedict and Payne Prizes
Martin and Deb Elliston present prizes
Broad selection of papers for the Payne Prize. Ten papers were submitted. Winner: Constance R. Sullivan-Blum
Ruth Benedict Prize to Jennifer Robertson. Honorable Mention to Don Kulick.
13) Announcements
1) Need volunteer lists back
2) Lawrence Cohen says we need to work more with archaeologists on interpreting queer issues.
3) Cristy Kraven discusses Mentors. Calls for volunteers to become a mentor. Form distributed to sign up.
4) Ellen Lewin: Portland OR conf. On rethinking nature/culture. Deadline for submission of paper = Sept. 15
5) G. Clark: Meeting in April of 2000 re: gender and economics
6) Bill Leap announces invitation to participate in 7th annual Lavender Languages and Linguistics Conference and distributes flyer. Asks to post them prominently. This year's conference will focus on gay issues and Spanish.
Original Proposed Amendments to the By-laws:
IV. Officers
C. The co-Chairs shall serve for two years and then remain a third year on the board, one of the co-Chairs being elected at each annual business meeting.
F. Board of Directors: The above four Officers of the society, the Awards Committee Chairs, two former Co-Chairs, Program Chair, AAA Newsletter's SOLGA column editor, and one student shall act as its Board of Directors, all eleven Officers having an equal vote.
V. Committee Structure
B. The Awards Committees, each composed of a chair and two committee members, shall award prizes for the best professional and student works on gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered topics.
