S-USIH Minutes February 2018
Executive Committee Meeting
27 February 2018, Noon EST
Attending
Kevin Schultz, Leah Gordon, Ray Haberski, Richard Candida Smith, Natalia Petrzela, Tim Lacy, Ben Alpers, Rebecca Brenner
Agenda
President’s Report
Publications Chair’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Secretary’s Report
Conference Chairs’ Reports
President’s Report
Kevin Schultz:
Richard moves past agenda, Leah seconds, all approved, and it will appear on website
Election coming because Kevin and Leah are stepping down most likely
Call for nominations coming soon
Natalia: Two year terms are perfect
Institutional memory, easy transition and recruitment, and basics of job
Leah: Treasurer should have one central package for the next person
Need more central structure
Passwords everywhere
Publications Chair’s Report
Richard Candida Smith:
Blog updated the comments policy, and a succinct explanation is available on website
Generally more people are commenting
Sometimes flamed wars, which is off-putting
New policy modeled on Junto thanks to Sara G
Can block users if unanimous among bloggers
Supermajority of bloggers can overrule a blogger moderating decisions
Increased visits to blog
Transition to new blog editor
Ben has been blog editor for 8 years
Thank you Ben
Comparable to journal editors
Richard: What if blog editor is also pub comm chair?
Discussion about whether editor will be from bloggers
Ben: Blog is responsibility of the pub comm chair
Richard: Articulate Society’s priorities for the blog
Ray: Bloggers should be more connected to executive committee
Leah: That all sounds great
Rebecca: Convinced that we can make someone from outside a blogger before they become editor to circumvent that rule if necessary
Natalia: Agrees
Richard: Wants discussion about expectations for the blog
Richard: Book reviews – Send book reviewer recommendations to him – looking for book reviewers
Resolution for the Procedures of Appointing a New Blog Editor
Everyone in favor: no abstentions:
- The SUSIH blog editor serves three-year terms, renewable, starting when the transition from Ben Alpers, the current editor, to the new editor is complete.
- The SUSIH executive committee invites the blog collective to nominate a new editor from among the regular contributors to the blog. The executive committee reviews the nomination and has sole authority to decide who ultimately receive the appointment and on what terms.
- After consultation with the blog collective and other members of the society, SUSIH executive committee shall draft written expectations for the position, articulating SUSIH priorities for the blog during the appointment’s three-year term.
- The transition period from Ben Alpers to the new editor will last six months. At the end of that period, the new editor’s three-year term begins and Ben Alpers service as editor concludes. During the transition, Ben Alpers will continue as blog editor and the new editor will be blog editor-elect.
- At the end of the second year of a blog editor’s term, the blog collective will submit to the executive committee a written evaluation of the preceding two years, making recommendations for future goals, operating procedures, and the status of the editor position. Upon receipt of this report, the executive committee will make its own evaluation and recommendations. At the conclusion of the review process, the editor is renewed for another three-year term or the process of appointing a new editor begins.
Treasurer’s Report
Leah Gordon:
Wild Appricot monthly or yearly fee increased
We are where we were last year at this time, even though we paid for the website
Starting balance in 2016 was $31,000
Now we are at $29,000
Secretary’s Report
Rebecca Brenner:
518 members total
186 active members
Only email this month asked where to find discussion about conference panels, so I directed him
Sara Georgini is setting up SUSIH Twitter account with a projected March launch date
Need Sara and Leah’s photos and bios for the website
2018 Conference
Tim Lacy:
Stable, no big news
Answering emails about submissions and helping the plenaries cement their plans
Next step is to think about catering
2019 Conference
Natalia Petrzela:
Template from Sara G is enormously helpful and reassuring
Discussions of volunteer details
Claire Potter gave verbal commitment to program committee
Looking to secure a place
Adjourned: 1:50pm EST