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Minutes
of the World History Association Business Meeting
AHA Philadelphia January 6,
2006
Rm 302 Marriott
Meeting commenced at 5:05 pm;
17 people attending.
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Michele Forman opened the meeting as new president of the WHA.
"I find myself equal parts excited and terrified as I open this business
meeting of the WHA. I'm excited because I found a home here and mentors
to aid me develop as a world historian. Terrified because I want to do
a good job and this is such an exciting and awesome responsibility. However,
I know that I am among friends and that you are willing to help me as
we work together to sustain the efforts of the WHA and its membership."
Michele's first public action was to thank the members who were leaving
the executive council: Steve Gosch, Deb Johnston and Bob Bain ø "we all
appreciate your work and commitment;" and welcome the new council members:
Jenn Linden, Adam McKeown, Laura O'Connell and Jonathan Reynolds. |
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President's Report |
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One of the big agenda items passed by the executive council this session
was proposal to offer funding for the WHC or World History Connected. This
support will extend over the next three years, consists of $6,500 for a
course release for one co-editor ($6000) and an annual membership fee for
WHC to join the History Cooperative ($500). In exchange, the WHA will obtain
higher visibility and connection to a larger potential membership and a
chance to work out a written contract to support this effort. Presently,
this is an agreement in principle; we will need to be more attentive to
all the details over the next few months. A written report of these activities
will come to the executive board in June. |
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| The program deadline for the WHA annual conference
at CSU –- Long Beach in Southern California will be flexible as we
put together the final panels. The focus for annual conference in Long Beach
is America in the world, and teaching world history. Thomas Bender will
be one of the keynote speakers and this will continue the conversation begun
at the OAH about America in world history. |
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Report of Executive Director |
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- Accomplishments over the past six months include better communication,
improving the web site, the Moroccan conference and holding the WHA
elections.
- The Conference in Morocco netted $14,500 in revenue. 127 participants
registered, and 86 joined in the conference tours.
- The web site is now under the full control of the WHA; the next step
is to decide how the web site could be more useful to the organization
and to create a new profile. Headquarters will work with a new committee
consisting of Jacky Swansinger and Jonathan Reynolds to develop a plan,
establish a cost structure and obtain proposals.
- Database membership is growing, but we are still working on making
the information in that database more user-friendly.
- Our finances are in good order, but we need to become more transparent
in our reporting to the membership.
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| Areas of Focus: Kristy Ringor resigned in November,
the office needs an administrative assistant and that will be the first
issue upon Robert White's return to Hawaii. Membership remains an area of
need. This past year some good efforts were made to encourage membership
at the AP reading and at conferences, we need to work harder and more efficiently
to repeat this effort in 2006. WHA also needs to be more connected with
the affiliates and develop better communication between the organizations.
Our present membership, December 2005, is 1240; this breaks down into 110
students, 160 new professionals and 1017 members. New professionals are
new to the field of world history, defined as less than 5 years in their
present field. We have 16 life memberships. |
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| Discussion arose regarding the decision to fund
the WHC when the World History Bulletin remains under funded. The editor
of the WHB pointed out that equity did not appear to exist based on this
decision. Response from officers and proponents indicated that the WHC had
90 million searches from 120 countries and 175,000 individuals made eight
or more choices on line. This audience indicated that the WHA could not
deny such a large audience. Marc Gilbert pointed out that the WHB presented
for members who were already in the WHA, while the WHC was for outsiders
who still did not know about the WHA and its work. |
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Report on Conferences |
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The 2006 conference will be at CSU ø Long Beach this June. In 2007, the
WHA will hold its annual conference at University of Wisconsin ø Milwaukee;
the details are in the final stages and the contract should be signed in
February. In 2008, the WHA expects to be in London at Queen Mary's College
for its annual conference. Al Andrea has concluded a great deal of work
with these three sites and the WHA thanks him for his gargantuan efforts.
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Financial Committee |
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There will be a change in the nature of WHA financial reporting. The new
end of year will occur on September 30. This will enable the executive director,
the treasurer and the financial committee to pull together the end of year
reports for sharing at the AHA meeting. There is a need for greater transparency
and consistency in the manner of reporting. This new date should facilitate
that process. Outgoing president David Northrup has formulated some reporting
forms that might be used to ease the reporting process and answer the most
frequently asked questions of members. |
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Fund Raising Committee |
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It has been a little slow, but intends to kick back into high gear beginning
this February. Al Andrea chairs this committee, and members who understand
fund raising have joined him. Three large efforts include the Kresge foundation,
and an outreach initiative to bring in Chinese scholars. Suggestions from
the audience included: Henry Luce Foundation, Center for Global Foundation,
the Gates Foundation, the Chinese Government and the McCormick Foundation.
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Prize Essay |
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There were only three submissions. However due to conversations between
Al Andrea and Charles Cavaliere (senior history editor for Pearson Prentice
Hall) the prize money will be doubled. We need to publicize this prize much
more thoroughly and encourage students to apply. |
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Addendum to President's Report |
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Two proposals were accepted by the executive council yesterday afternoon.
One was a $400 payment to digitize the WHB and enable it to be on the WHA
web site. The second was an agreement to recognize the World History Network
as an affiliate of the WHA. |
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Old Business/New Business |
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Deadline for WHB spring issue is February 1.
The journal of Church History has decided to open its articles to other
churches beyond Christianity. World Historians should look for a call
for papers.
Motion to adjourn. Passed unanimously. 6:00 pm
23 people dismissed at the end of the meeting. |
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