Midwinter Minutes, 2002

OHA Midwinter Council Meeting
March 8-10, 2002

March 8, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 8:10PM at the DoubleTree San Diego Mission Valley. 

Present: Mary Marshall Clark, Tom King, Art Hansen, Charles Hardy, Rina Benmayor, Rose Diaz, Linda Wood, Madelyn Campbell.

The agenda and related material were distributed.

It was moved, seconded, and carried to accept the October minutes as submitted. (King, Hardy)

Clark announced the offer from the Veterans History Project of  $50,000.  Council discussed the feasibility of accepting the funds. Council will begin developing a model for regional workshops that respect oral history guidelines and practices.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:35PM.

March 9, 2002

Meeting reconvened at 8:45AM

Campbell reported on the new Annual Meeting and Exhibitor's Databases developed to track presenters, AV requests, and past and potential advertisers and exhibitors. The annual meeting database has centralized the process of tracking and notifying annual meeting participants, relieving much of the administrative burden from program chairs.

Income to the association for 2001 was lower than anticipated due to decreased numbers registered for the St. Louis meeting and the one-time expense for printing Oral History Projects in Your Classroom.  Endowment contributions have diminished over recent years, despite an annual solicitation.  Membership brochures were sent to all non-member attendees at the St. Louis meeting in an effort to increase revenues. Clark suggested the formation of a task force to look at ways to enhance the endowment.

Campbell presented a renewal contract with Dickinson College, similar to the existing contract, which would expire May 15, 2002.  It was agreed that OHA would continue to hire a local tax firm to prepare complete and accurate tax returns.

It was moved, seconded and carried to accept the new 3-year contract with Dickinson College.(King/Benmayor)

It was moved, seconded and carried to accept the Executive Secretary's report. (Hardy/Benmayor)

President's Report

The 2002 budget was presented and discussed.

It was moved, seconded and carried to table the Spanish translation of the Evaluation Guidelines until there is a pressing demand for this translation. (Benmayor/Diaz)

Council discussed the possibility of publishing the pamphlets electronically or advertising on the web.  Council referred this discussion to the Publications Committee.

It was moved, seconded and carried that 1000 copies of the revised Oral History and the Law should be printed, subject to review and approval of Council, and sold for $12/copy.

It was moved, seconded and carried to accept the budget as amended. (Benmayor/King)

Clark suggested that Council review the Annual Meeting Planner's Notebook in light of the Annual Meeting Task Force Report.  Campbell will provide copies to Council.  Clark will work with Council to clarify job descriptions.

Clark continued discussion regarding the Veteran's History Project. Council addressed several concerns regarding the nature of the contract and VHP expectations.

Clark suggested that OHA needs a better long-range plan for fundraising and recommended the creation of a strategic fundraising committee.

Clark suggested OHA attempt to increase their visibility through a more dynamic website.  Council will seek a webmaster to oversee the new website and continue its development.  Benmayor suggested a new standing committee for Technology.

Nominating Committee (Diaz)

Diaz presented the Nominating Committee's report outlining candidates for the 2002 election.

It was moved, seconded and carried to accept the Nominating Committee report placing Kim Rogers in nomination for First Vice President, Horacio Roque Ramírez and Mehmed Ali in nomination for one position on Council. (Clark/Wood)

Diaz will continue working on the slate for 6 candidates for the Nominating Committee.

Publications (King)

It was reported that Shannon Page has resigned as Chair of the committee.  It was a sense of Council that the Publications Committee should meet once each year and that it would be responsible for all publications. King and Clark will appoint some new members to the committee and define its responsibilities.

Council reviewed a report from Marjorie McLellan regarding the new website design. Council will review the site and respond to McLellan regarding the next phase. 

Oral History Review

Andrew Dunar recommends that OHA forge a contract with the History Cooperative and resolve any issues with the University of California Press.

H-Oralhist

Jeff Charnley and Mary Larson report great response to H-Oralhist. It is working well and has become more international.

Council reviewed the report from Cliff Kuhn on electronic publishing and noted his recommendation that OHA join the History Cooperative.

2002 Annual Meeting

Teresa Barnett, Program Chair, reported on status of the meeting.  Concerns about the increasing demand and cost of audiovisual equipment were discussed.  Laura Wendling and Kim Larson, Local Arrangements, reviewed their progress.

University of California Press (Rebecca Darksmith)

Darksmith reported on UCPress activities for OHA. Renewal rate is over 80%.  There is room to expand the institutional membership and council recommended focusing marketing efforts in that area.  UCPress will prepare an updated membership brochure.  Darksmith expressed continuing concerns about the History Cooperative.

Council discussed the feasibility of forging a contract with the History Coorperative and continuing our relationship with UCPress. Clark will send a letter of understanding to UCPress regarding our intent to join the History Cooperative and King will liaison with Dunar and Kuhn to resolve many unanswered questions so that Council can make an informed decision.

It was moved, seconded and carried that OHA would mail the Annual Meeting program only to registered participants and that extra programs would be used for on-site registrants. (Benmayor/Hardy)

It was moved, seconded and carried that OHA mail a formal announcement with a registration form for the annual meeting in lieu of the conference program. (Diaz/Clark)

International Committee (Delivered by Clark for Anne Ritchie)

It was moved, seconded and carried to allocate $2000 from the Endowment and $500 from the operating budget to IOHA in order to support participants from within Africa to the 2002 International Annual Meeting in South Africa. (Hansen/King)

It was moved, seconded and carried to commend Jim Morrison for his term of service as Chair of the International Committee. (Benmayor/Diaz)

Clark will appoint a new chair.

Diversity Committee (Delivered by Benmayor for Nilsa Olivero and Horacio Roque Ramírez)

Olivero requested some support for a Diversity Committee meeting in San Diego. The committee hopes to attract more interested members.  Council recommended that the meeting take the form of a Roundtable discussion to be held after the Newcomer's Breakfast and should be co-sponsored by the Leadership Development Committee.

Education Committee (Delivered by Wood for Troy Reeves)

Council reviewed Reeve's report.  Barry Lanman has proposed an education teleconference sponsored by the History Channel to be held at the annual meeting.  The Committee is pursuing information on education opportunities for credit.

It was moved, seconded and carried that Barry Lanman's Education session be included in the Teacher K-12 workshop. (Hansen/Hardy)

State and Regional Forum (Delivered by Diaz for Geneva Wiskeman and Lois Meyers)

The forum is still interested in providing an opportunity for discussion and requested an official time to meet at the annual meeting.  The Forum will continue to target new members.

2002 Annual Meeting (Hansen)

Hansen submitted a preliminary budget for 2002 Annual Meeting.  It will be further refined when the program is more clearly defined.  Diaz suggested and "in-kind" documentation worksheet to track the true cost of the annual meeting. Registration fees were increase slightly to reflect increasing costs of audiovisual equipment, printing and mailing.

2003 Annual Meeting (Diaz)

Diaz announced the theme would center on "Giving Voice to Community".  Roger Horowitz, OHMAR President, will be Program Chair.  OHMAR will be involved in the planning process.

2004 Annual Meeting (Campbell)

No site has been selected. Campbell will investigate Providence, Portland, Miami and Vancouver.

Meeting adjourned 10:30PM

March 10, 2002

Meeting reconvened at 9:00AM

Scholarship Committee (Clark)

Clark announced the appointment of Linda Wood as Chair. Council discussed the process of allocation.  There will be $1200 available for non-presenters, $1000 for the Diversity Committee and $1000 for the support of international participants.

It was moved, seconded and carried to allocate $1000 from the Endowment to support presenters at the 2002 Annual Meeting in San Diego. (Hansen/Diaz)

Clark directed Wood to review scholarship allocations in the past three years and report back to Council.

Annual Meeting Task Force Report (Clark)

Clark presented several recommendations in response to the report. Council reviewed and made suggestions.

There was continued discussion about audiovisual support, long-range financial planning, regional rotation, digital technology, and consideration of joint meetings.

It was moved, seconded and carried to accept the President's recommendations based on the Annual Meeting Task Force Report as amended and corrected. (Benmayor/Hansen)

It was moved, seconded and carried to create a Committee on Digital Technology and New Media to explore ways that in which the application of technology can enhance and improve the work of oral historians.

New Business

Council reviewed the reprinting of the Membership Directory.  It was the sense of Council that several aspects of the directory could be put on the WEB and this would reduce the printing and mailing expense. It was also the sense of Council that OHA move towards publishing the Membership Directory and Annual Report on the WEB with password protection.

It was moved, seconded and carried that the Project Award be named the Elizabeth B. Mason Project Award. (Hansen/Benmayor)

Veterans History Project

Council continued discussion on ways to provide workshop support to the VHP.  Clark will appoint a Veterans History Task Force to include Don Ritchie, Cliff Kuhn, Kim Rogers, Rose Diaz and Ira Hemberg to look at various models and report back to Council by April 15.

It was moved, seconded and carried that OHA provide free registration to the Annual Meeting in San Diego for all non-OHA member veterans and attempt to conduct interviews with them. (Hansen/Diaz)

It was recommended that all Council members should contribute to the Endowment.

It was moved, seconded and carried to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 AM. (Hansen/Diaz)