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At its 2003 spring board meeting at the Memphis Cook Convention Center the OAH Executive Board took the following actions:
- Approved the minutes of the 8 November 2002 Executive Board meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Authorized the president to appoint a search committee to replace Journal of American History Editor Joanne Meyerowitz who leaves Indiana University and the JAH in fall 2004.
- Approved a proposal for partnering with the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History to promote the creation of history high schools, enhance the OAH Magazine of History, improve the OAH Talking History radio program, and expand the OAH-Gilder Lerhman Travel Fellowships for Teachers.
- Approved the creation of the Friend of History Award which will be bestowed, in those years when the Executive Board deems it appropriate, on an individual who is not a professional historian, or on an institution or organization, in recognition of outstanding support for the pursuit of historical research, for the public presentation of history, or for the work of the Organization of American Historians. The committee suggested that the recipient be chosen by the Executive Board on the nomination of the President and Executive Director.
- Approved a collaborative relationship with the Educational Testing Service's Advanced Placement U.S. History program. OAH and AP U.S. History will work together to disseminate the OAH Magazine of History, find eminent historians to write state-of-the-field historiographies for the AP Central web site, and establish a joint committee to vet essays on teaching the U.S. history survey course. The essays will be published online at AP Central and in the OAH Magazine of History.
- Approved the following amendments to the OAH Constitution which will make possible the use of electronic balloting (in addition to mail balloting). The amendments are included in this issue of the OAH Newsletter on a ballot (see back page) for ratification by two thirds of OAH members voting. (The full constitution and bylaws are available at <http://www.oah.org/about/constitution.html>.)
- 1) Change Article V, Section 1 to "There shall be an annual election by mail or e-mail ballot."
- 2) Change first two sentences of Article V, Section 3 to "Voting. The Executive Director shall prepare and mail by paper and e-mail the official ballot to the membership at least six weeks before the annual meeting. Ballots to be valid, must be cast electronically or returned by regular mail at least two weeks before the annual meeting to the Nominating Board Chair at the address of the OAH Executive Office."
- Authorized the executive director to write on behalf of the OAH to the U.S. Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee in support of a joint commemorative stamp project between Canada Post and the U.S. Postal Service to mark the four hundredth anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's exploration of North America.
- Adopted the AHA-OAH Joint Committee on Part-Time and Adjunct Employment's proposed standards. These will now go to the AHA Council in May for its consideration.
- Approved the editor's nominees for appointment:
- For the Journal's Editorial Board: Mia Bay, Rutgers University; Gordon Chang, Stanford University; and Elaine Tyler May, University of Minnesota.
- For the David Thelen Prize Committee: Rob Kroes, University of Amsterdam.
- For the Louis Pelzer Memorial Award Committee: Andrew Rotter, Colgate University.
- Approved the organization's operating budget for FY2004.
- Adopted the resolution below proposed by the group, Historians Against the War, and referred the matter to the Business Meeting for the consideration of the membership:
- In view of the threat to free speech in the current climate, the Organization of American Historians affirms the centrality of dissent in American history and the necessity of open debate over important issues of public policy, including U.S. foreign policy, for maintaining the health of this democracy.
- Authorized OAH's representative, Jamil Zainaldin, to continue the organization's involvement in discussions concerning a joint collaborative National Endowment for the Humanities project with the AHA, the American Political Science Association, and the American Association of Law Schools that would establish for historians, teachers, students, and members of the public a program of summer institutes, formal courses offered for credit, lectures, fellowships, and publications in the field of Constitutional Studies in the United States.
- Authorized the president to appoint a historian of "significant stature and distinction" to represent OAH on the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
- Authorized the executive director to write on behalf of the organization in support of funding the NHPRC at $10 million.
- Approved the Committee on the Status of Minority Historians and Minority History's proposed name change for itself--i.e., Committee on the Status of African American, Latino/a, Asian American, and Native American (ALANA) Historians and ALANA History--and referred the matter to the Business Meeting for the consideration of the membership.
- Recognized the need for further discussion of the role of the OAH in dealing with issues of professional integrity and authorized the president to appoint a committee to advise the board on the organization's role in dealing with future questions of professional ethics. (See page 3 of this OAH Newsletter.)
- Approved Goals 1-3 of the OAH Strategic Plan (See page 3 for details of the plan.) and agreed to continue refining them based on feedback from OAH service committees and the membership.
- The 2003 spring board meeting concluded with an expression of thanks to Doug Greenberg, Emma Lapsansky, and Gloria Miranda for their three years of service on the board, to David Montgomery for his dedication as past-president and five years of service on the board, and to Ira Berlin for his hard work and leadership as president in 2002-2003. The board gave special thanks to Gale Peterson for his ten years of fiscal stewardship and good counsel as OAH Treasurer.
The following actions were taken by the Membership at the Business Meeting on Sunday, 6 April, during the 2003 Annual Meeting in Memphis:
- Heard the Nominating Board's report on the 2003 election and the slate of candidates for 2004. With 1,040 total ballots cast in the 2003 election, the following individuals were selected: President-elect--James Oliver Horton, The George Washington University; Executive Board members--Martin H. Blatt, Boston National Historical Park; David G. Gutierrez, University of California, San Diego; and Elizabeth A. Kessel, Anne Arundel Community College; Nominating Board members--William J. Cronon, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Donald L. Fixico, University of Kansas; and Margaret T. Harris Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
- Revised and then adopted the following statement endorsed by the executive board:
- In view of the threat to free speech in the current climate, the Organization of American Historians affirms the centrality of dissent in American history, the sanctity of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, and the necessity for open debate of public policy issues, including United States foreign policy, in order to maintain the health of this democracy.
- Approved the following bylaw change endorsed by the executive board, with slight modifications:
- Replace Bylaw 7 ("Status of Minority Historians and Minority History. This committee shall have five appointed members. Normally all members except the Executive Board Liaison serve four-year terms. The committee considers all professional problems bearing upon minorities in the historical profession as well as the study of minority history.") with: "Status of African American, Latino/a, Asian American and Native American (ALANA) Historians and ALANA History. This committee shall have five appointed members. Normally all members except the Executive Board Liaison serve four-year terms. The committee considers all professional issues bearing upon ALANA historians in the historical profession as well as the study of ALANA history.
- Approved the appointment of a three-person committee to draft a revision of the OAH Constitution and Bylaws in time for the organization's one hundredth anniversary in 2007. The committee consists of Gale Peterson (chair), Frederick Hoxie, and Linda Shopes.
- Approved the following nine changes to the bylaws endorsed by the executive board prior to the annual meeting. The reason(s) for a bylaw change or a new bylaw regarding these committees and prizes is indicated in brackets.
- The Liberty Legacy Foundation Award. The committee is composed of three members appointed annually by the President. The award is given annually for the best book by a historian on the civil rights struggle from the beginnings of the nation to the present. [New prize created in 2002]
- The OAH Magazine of History Advisory Board. This board shall have five appointed members. Normally all members except the Executive Board Liaison serve four-year terms. The board provides advice to Magazine staff on editorial policies and on selection of Magazine themes and guest editors. Members also work with guest editors as reviewer/referee for one issue of the Magazine per year. [The board has been around for several years but was never formally incorporated into the bylaws.]
- The OAH Newsletter Advisory Board. This board shall have five appointed members. Normally all members except the Executive Board Liaison serve four-year terms. The board advises the Newsletter production team, helps form basic policy for the Newsletter's operation, helps guide content matters, and explores new ideas and directions for the Newsletter. [The board has been around for several years but was never formally incorporated into the bylaws.]
- The Electronic Advisory Committee. This committee shall have a minimum of three and maximum of five appointed members and normally serve four-year terms. The committee advises the executive office and the Journal of American History editorial office on matters relating to the use of electronic technology. [The board has been around for several years but was never formally incorporated into the current bylaws.]
- The Joint OAH/AHA Committee on Part-time and Adjunct Employment. This committee shall consist of six representatives from OAH and six from AHA in addition to each organization's executive director. Two of the OAH representatives are from two-year institutions; two are from four-year and/or research universities; and two are part-time or adjunct professors. Normally all members except the Executive Board Liaison serve four-year terms. The joint committee meets twice a year at the AHA and OAH annual meetings in January and in the spring. It is concerned with the problem of the growing reliance of colleges and universities on low-paid part-time and adjunct faculty to teach history courses. The establishment of this committee was approved by the executive board in 2000, and it met for the first time at the AHA annual meeting in Boston in 2001. [The committee was never incorporated into the bylaws.]
- 6. The Merle Curti Award. The committee is composed of five members appointed annually by the president and representing the entire field of American history. Beginning in 2003, the Merle Curti Award will be given annually for the best book in social, intellectual, and/or cultural history. The committee may decide to present the award to two books, one in social and/or cultural history and one in intellectual and/or cultural history. [Reflects recent changes approved by the executive board.]
- 7. The David Thelen Award for Best Article on American History Published in a Foreign Language. The committee is composed of five or six members, one of whom will be the Editor of the Journal of American History, who will serve as chair of the committee, and will nominate committee members, subject to approval by the executive board. Two of the members must be historians living in the United States, and the others may be historians of the U.S. living abroad. The capacity to read in at least one foreign language is desirable for members. The award is given biennially in even-numbered years for the best article on American history published in a foreign language. [Reflects name change approved in 1999 and changes from an annual to a biennial award approved in 2002.]
- 8. The Willi Paul Adams Award for Best Book on American History Published in a Foreign Language. The committee is composed of five or six members. Two of the committee members must be historians living in the United States, and the others may be historians of the U.S. living abroad. The capacity to read books in at least one foreign language is desirable for members. The award is given biennially in odd-numbered years for the best book on American history published in a foreign language. [New name to honor Adams approved in fall 2002; also a change in the award from annual to biennial award approved in 2000.]
- 9. The name of the Convention Special Events and Publicity Committee shall be changed to Convention Local Resource Committee. The size of the committee is determined by the President in consultation with the person who chairs the committee. The committee is appointed by the President who also names the presiding officer. The function of the committee is to assist the Executive Office in developing tours and special events to enhance the annual meeting and to do whatever is necessary to provide adequate publicity for the convention. [Name change.]
- Welcomed Treasurer Robert Cherny and President Jacquelyn Dowd Hall to their new positions on the executive board.
Subsequent to the meeting in Memphis, the executive board took the following actions:
- Approved a joint membership exchange with the German Association of American Studies.
- Approved Goal 4 of the OAH Strategic Plan (See page 3 for details of the plan.)
- Endorsed the Scholarship and Teaching sections of the AHA Statement on Standards of Professional Conduct.
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