Executive Meeting (1990)

Present: Arnd Bohm, Michael Cartwright, Rosena Davison, Christa Fell, Carol Gibson-Wood, Marie Laure Girou Swiderski, Ronald B. Hatch (delegate for Nicholas Hudson), William Kinsley, Janina Koniczacki, Robert Merrett, Henri Mydlarski, David Oakleaf, Paul Wood.

1. No minutes from the 1989 Montreal Executive Meeting were tabled.

2. President's Report: Christa Fell presented her report, focusing on two problems facing the Society in the near future, namely the implementation of the GST and our next application to SSHRCC for the renewal of our operating grant. Cartwright, Mydlarski, Girou Swiderski, Bohm, and Merrett debated the issue of the sexism of the title Man and Nature. It was finally agreed that the Society should at least be prepared to defend the title, and to demonstrate to SSHRCC that we had considered this particular matter. Merrett informed the meeting of the implications of the GST for the administration and production of Man and Nature.

3. Secretary-Treasurer's Report: Paul Wood presented his report. Wood noted that our membership was down slightly from the 1988-89 figure, and that this was worrying in the light of our next application to SSHRCC. Wood also indicated that only 61 out of 124 participants presenting papers at this year's conference were members of CSECS in good standing. Wood moved that "In future only fully paid-up members of CSECS/SCEDS be permitted to give papers at our annual conference". Seconded Arnd Bohm. Carried.

4. Marie Laure Girou Swiderski spoke to the proposal first put forward by David Smith to fund an Eastern European scholar at the Bristol ISECS meeting in 1991. Cartwright, Fell, Mydlarski, Oakleaf, and Wood debated various aspects of the proposal. Wood objected to the fact that Fell and David Smith had agreed to the proposal in his absence, particularly in so far as both Fell and Smith expected him to look after all of the administrative work involved. Wood emphasised that he was not opposed to the scheme, but that he wanted to see proper procedures followed in making the appeal for funds to the membership. He pointed out that David Smith expected that we would go ahead with the scheme without any discussion by the Executive, despite the fact that the appeal was being made in the name of the Society. He also noted the discrepancies between the Girou Swiderski's presentation of the scheme, and the demands made on the Society by David Smith. Konczacki volunteered to look after the administration of the funds. Following considerable discussion, it was moved by David Oakleaf that "The Executive endorse the proposal by David Smith and Marie Laure Girou Swiderski that members of CSECS be asked to contribute to a fund to cover the travel expenses of an Eastern European scholar to the Bristol ISECS meeting in 1991". Seconded by Merrett. Motion carried. Wood volunteered to administer the funds, and the meeting agreed that all cheques should be sent to him no later than 15 November 1990, and should be marked "Eastern European scholar". The meeting also agreed that the membership should be informed of the fund at the plenary sessions and at the AGM.

5. Executive Editor's Report: Robert Merrett reported on the progress of Man and Nature, and proposed that back issues be sold at a discount to members of the Society. The proposal was emended by Oakleaf, so that institutional subscribers would also be able to take advantage of the offer, and it was agreed further that the discount on back issues of Man and Nature should be offered to members of ASECS as well. The meeting left it to Merrett to decide on the duration of the sale. Merrett also indicated that he would need approximately $220 for the administration of the sale. However, the meeting made no decision regarding which Executive (i.e. Queen's or Calgary) was to pay for this. The question of the eligibility of Man and Nature for SSHRCC/CFH funding was discussed, and Christa Fell agreed to write to Mme. Regnier to confirm our eligibility for such grants. Thanks were given by the Executive to Robert Merrett for his hard work on behalf of the Society.

6. Newsletter: General concern was expressed regarding the non-appearance of the Newsletter. This issue raised a host of questions about the nature of the present administrative structure of the Society. Oakleaf and Mydlarski agreed to produce one or two issues of a trial Newsletter from Calgary, on the understanding that a new permanent editor be found during the next year.

7. Discussion of the problem of the Newsletter led to a lengthy exchange about the question of the permanency of the Executive. After considering the matter, the Executive resolved to propose to the Membership that the Executive be restructured in the following manner. The President, Secretary-Treasurer, Managing Editor, Newsletter Editor, Discipline Representatives, and Regional Representatives be elected for three-year terms, and that their terms be renewable for at least one further term. In the first instance, the Secretary-Treasurer should serve a four year term, to ensure continuity between different Executives. The first and second Vice-Presidents will be appointed to one-year terms only.

The President should be responsible for chairing annual meetings, act as a liason with other societies and organisations, and engage in fund raising and the like. The first and second Vice-Presidents will be responsible for the organisation of the annual conference which will be held during their term of office. The Secretary-Treasurer should be responsible for finances and membership, and, in conjunction with the President and other members of the Executive, should prepare applications to SSHRCC. The Managing Editor should be responsible for the production of Man and Nature, while the Newsletter editor should be responsible for the production of the Society newsletter on a regular basis.

The meeting moved to meet the following day at 12:15 and adjourned at 23:05.

The meeting reconvened at 12:15 on 18 October 1990, with Paul Wood in the Chair.

Robert Merrett began the meeting by raising the issue of whether the present Executive could proceed with its planned restructuring of the administrative structure of the Society. Discussion followed about whether our proceedings were constitutional. Wood pointed out that the current President and Secretary-Treasurer did not have a copy of the consitution of the Society, nor did they have any of the Society's records. It was agreed that the present Executive should propose to the membership that the administration of the Society be restructured along the lines agreed upon, and that the relevant passages of the constitution along with the proposed emendations should be mailed out to the membership, and that we should have a postal ballot in order to ratify the planned changes. The meeting agreed that the restructuring of the Executive should take effect in 1992 (i.e. after the Calgary meeting).

8. The meeting next considered the new Executive slate for 1990-91. The meeting agreed to alter the field of the Discipline Representative for Economics to that of History. Wood reminded the Executive that he wanted to stand down from the Executive, and moved that the Executive propose that John Wright be elected as the Discipline Representative for Science and Philosophy. Cartwright was asked to stand again as the CFH Representative, and said that he was willing to do so, if the Society was willing to retain its membership in the CFH. This question was debated, and a vote was taken. Five Executive members supported the motion put by Wood and seconded by Bohm that the Society continue its membership in the CFH; two were opposed, and two abstained.

9. Future meetings. Calgary was confirmed as the location of the next annual meeting in October 1991. No representatives from Memorial were present at the meeting, and Arnd Bohm agreed to explore the possibility of having the 1992 conference at Carleton. Merrett suggested that Regional Representatives should be more active in helping to set up possible conference locations, and Cartwright was asked to consider planning ahead for Quebec. The meeting also resolved that the new Executive should suggest sites for future meetings.

10. Directory. Mydlarski and Oakleaf agreed to send out a Directory of Members as an issue of the Newsletter. Cartwright offered to put membership information on the e-mail system.

11. Student prize. The meeting resolved to establish a Mark Madoff Memorial Prize in memory of Mark Madoff, who had died a few weeks prior to the conference. It was decided that the Madoff Prize should be offered annually beginning in 1991, and that it should be judged by the relevant conference organisers. Only those student members not holding a Ph.D. will be eligible for consideration. The winning essay will be chosen from those written papers already accepted for the relevant conference. The prize will consist of $50 and a book, and it was suggested that we approach publishers about contributing books for this purpose. The Executive will appeal to the membership at the AGM for contributions to a fund to support the prize. The money should be sent to the Secretary-Treasurer for this purpose.

The meeting adjourned at 13:45.

ADDENDUM

Further to item 9, in a letter of 28 January 1991, Michael Cartwright wrote to the Secretary-Treasurer: "I believe that in Kingston there was mention of the offer, made verbally, but I am sure in perfect good faith, by the Rector of Université du Québec à Montréal, Monsieur Claude Corbo, to receive us on a future occasion at his institution. However, the planning of such a meeting would be a matter entirely, and appropriately, for colleagues from UQAM itself, from the Université de Montréal, or from one of the campuses of the Université du Québec, or from Laval".

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