LACS 2005, Atlanta
Executive Meeting

November 3, 2005

Attending:  Richmond Brown, Jurgen Buchenau, Andrew McMichael, Michael Polushin, Theron Corse, Jay Clune, Michael LaRosa. McMichael presided over the meeting.

1. Jay Clune reported on the panels for the 2006 convention in New Orleans. We walked into the meeting with SHA with four panels, and came out with five.

Clune continued - There's one paper on the U.S., and it fits well, We got many good individual papers we could not use. Buchenau noted that the panels were larger than in the past, while McMichael noted that the panels were more thematically coherent than in the past. Clune proposed the slavery panel as the Kim Hanger Memorial panel, and noted we were low on chairs and commentators. Brown discussed the SHA cracking down on people participating in panels in consecutive years, which might give us a chance to recruit new members. Buchenau noted that the European section violates this rule every year. This was followed by a discussion of possible chairs and commentators. McMichael and Buchenau noted the need to avoid having people commentate on papers of their former professors. Clune noted that we weere the only group string on papers focused on Africans and African-Americans.

2. McMichael noted that Virginia Gould was unable to attend and that he would preside over the business meeting in her place.

3. LaRosa reported on the budget and membership. We have $2868 plus another $80. There are presently 58 members, better than last year. We will start a membership drive in the Spring. McMichael noted the importance of recruiting members at the business meeting. La Rosa

4. The committee engaged in a long discussion about the rules concerning membership and eligibility for the book prize, and whether it made sense to require applicants for the prize to become members before they submit their books. There was no resolution.

5. Polushin announced that David Wheat had won  the prize for best gradute student paper at th 2004 conference.

6. McMichael announced that Barbara Ganson had won the book prize for The Guarani Under Spanish Rule in the Rio de la Plata (Stanford, 2003)

7. Polushin noted that it is important that we see proofs of the SHA program before it is printed, as there have been problems in the past. Now that we are voting members, this may be easier. Brown noted the importance of getting all the committees into the program, which the European section has managed to do in the past. Buchenau noted he had sent the information in on time, but it still was not printed.

8. The committee discussed the possibility of naming the book prize after some individual, La Rosa made a motion to name the book prize after Murdo Macleod. Andrew seconded the motion. The motion passed.

9. McMichael suggested a change in bylaws concerning officers. The Presidency, in this proposal, would be a well-known figurehead, luminary who would give a presidential address, instead of us paying people for that. The Secretary and the Treasurer and/or a Vice-President would be responsible for the actual work of the organization. Buchenau noted that the SHA would have to be consulted about such a change. He suggested instead combing the Secretary and Treasured position into one, with that person collaborating with a semi-permanent Executive Committee. Brown suggested presenting McMichael's idea to the business meeting for consideration without a recommendation. McMichael motioned to that effect, seconded by LaRosa. The motion passed.

10. The meeting concluded.

LACS 2005, Atlanta
Business Meeting

November 4, 2005. Andrew McMichael presiding.

1. McMichael presented on the Executive Committee meeting. He noted that the committee is working on the book prize rules. He also presented the proposal about changing the presidency (see Executive Committee notes, point 9), and asked for people to e-mail suggestions.

2. Richmond Brown reported as LACS representative to the SHA. He noted that for the first time we have a full voting position on the Executive Council of the SHA, and that this was an important step. The SHA Executive Committe is happy to be more inclusive and is very happy with our panels. Brown thanked Jurge Buchenau for working to fast-track our gaining full voting status.

3. Michael LaRosa gave the Treasurer's report. Noted that we have 59 members and $2868. He said there would be a membership drive beginning in February.

4. Theron Corse filled in for Jay Clune and gave the Program Committee report. (See Clune's report in the Executive Committee minutes, point 1.)

5. McMichael, substituting for Virginia Gould, gave the President's report. Noted that the panels lean towards the Caribbean and that the H-Caribbean  people have done a good job on that, and he hopes to see other geographic areas expand. McMichael then opened nominations for the Vice-Presidency. Sherry Johnson  (FIU) was the only nomination, and McMichael declared her the winner by acclamation. McMichael also opend the floor for discussion of names for a Program Chair. William Connell agreed to chair the committee. McMichael announced that David Wheat had won the graduate student prize for best paper at the 2004 convention.

6. Sophie Burton gave the book prize committee report. There were more than 20 applicants. She announced that Barbara Ganson had won the book prize for The Guarani Under Spanish Rule in the Rio de la Plata (Stanford, 2003) . Ganson spoke about her book, nited that she had tried to give the Guarani a vioce not present in Wesetren authors. She said the prize was an honor for her and the Guarani.

7. Buchenau prompted the upcoming SECOLAS meeting in Charlotte, NC.

8. Susan Socolow gave the lecture, discussing monuments in Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

9. McMicahel announced that the book prize would be named after Murdo Macleod. Jane Landers discussed how Macleod was an appropriate choice, and that he was a model scholar.

10. McMichael closed the meeting.

 

 

Last Modified 7/1/23