Organization > Chapters > Greater New York > Minutes/Reports
Greater New York Chapter Business Meeting
28 November 2005
Present: Johanna Baumann (Bard Graduate Center); Sherman Clarke (NYU Libraries); Andy Gessner (Metropolitan Museum); Nancy Harm (Luna Imaging); Joy Kestenbaum (SUNY Purchase); Eileen Krest (Queens College); Carol Lekarew (Metropolitan Museum); Paul Miller (Lafayette College); Lily Moreaux (NYPL); Jenni Rodda (NYU IFA); Barbara Treitel (Jewish Museum); Dustin Wees (ARTstor); Eric Wolf (NYSID); Julie Zeftel (Metropolitan Museum).
Agenda
- Old Business:
Chair’s Report. Response to suggested change in parameters of regional membership.
Treasurer’s Report. Discussion of request from VRA Development Committee for a Chapter donation towards Baltimore conference expenses. 2006 local membership status. - New Business:
Location/program for spring 2006 meeting.
Formation of bylaws review committee.
Formation of nominating committee.
Discussion of regional web site.
Other, as brought by the attenders.
The business meeting was called to order by Jenni Rodda, Chair. Each of those present introduced her- or himself. Eileen Krest passed out a brief survey on departmental support for digital technology. Jenni mentioned the survey from Jennifer Roth (Library Research Center, UIUC) that appeared on the VRA list in early November. They are “conducting a survey to identify what skills and knowledge are necessary for individuals to be successful in managing digital content.” Jenni encouraged everyone to contact Jennifer and participate in the survey.
Jenni reported on the letter that was sent from the chapter officers to the VRA Board about chapter membership, based on the discussion from the June meeting at Princeton (see attached for the text of both the letter and the Board’s response). In a telephone conversation with VRA President Kathe Albrecht, Jenni learned that the Board effectively postponed discussion on the issue until the next required bylaws review (2009). We (locally) wish to be as flexible as possible and reasonable in our membership criteria, and discussion centered on how to define membership with that in mind, perhaps coupling that definition with a revision of our local bylaws. The chapter’s bylaws are past due for review. Johanna Baumann will coordinate our chapter bylaws revision, with the goal of having the revision ready for the Board’s review at its meeting in Baltimore in March. [After the meeting, Sherman Clarke agreed to work with Johanna on the review of the bylaws; Sherman is one of the original authors. JR]
Treasurer Barbara Treitel reported that the balance in our account was about $928, without counting expenses or receipts from this meeting. We have received a request from the VRA Development Committee for a donation to the Baltimore conference. We have usually done either a travel reward or a conference donation (see attached for the text of the request letter and our response, which was based on the votes taken at this meeting). After two or three motions, the chapter approved a $300 travel award, a $175 conference registration award, and a $55 workshop registration award. Jenni and Andy Gessner will be the criteria and selection committee for the awards. The criteria should include recognition of other support (particularly from employer) and the committee will also determine what the winner’s obligations for reporting are.
A discussion of the current status of the chapter’s web site centered on the need to update and post information on a regular basis. Don Beetham has maintained and hosted the site since its inception, but is not currently an active local member. Eric Wolf volunteered to assist with reworking the site. [After the business meeting, Don graciously agreed to continue to host a local members’ directory, scripted in such a way that our individual addresses cannot be harvested. The local directory will link to other resources hosted at NYSID, with a target date of early February for everything to be updated and ready for mounting.]
Andy Gessner volunteered to host the spring meeting at the Metropolitan Museum, date not determined; Eric Wolf suggested the possibility of hosting a meeting at NYSID (if the weather cooperates). New officers will be selected in the spring. The current bylaws call for the vice chair to become the chair, though the instructions for staggered terms seem a bit confusing. Johanna will be sure that the officers and terms do not leave any holes for continued governance of the chapter.
The meeting adjourned and was followed by a demonstration by Jenni, with lively discussion, of the various digital projects underway at IFA and at NYU more generally. This was a preliminary version of a presentation for a workshop in Baltimore.
Minutes by Sherman Clarke, Vice Chair
Exchange of e-mails between VRA President Kathe Albrecht and VRA/NY Chair Jenni Rodda, concerning the proposal to create “guest” memberships for regional chapters:
----- Original Message -----
From: Kathe Albrecht <kalbrec@american.edu>
Date: Monday, October 3, 2005 2:33 pm
Subject: Re: Letter from the Greater New York Chapter
Hi Jenni,
Thanks for your recent email to the VRA Executive Board concerning the idea of "guest" memberships in local chapters. The idea that you and the Greater New York Chapter propose is interesting, although there are some complicating factors that may make it less viable than first appears. The Board will certainly discuss it. As you know, we are always interested in new ideas.
Thanks again,
Kathe
Kathe Hicks Albrecht
VRA President
Visual Resources Curator, American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
202-885-1675
kalbrec@american.edu
To: kalbrec@american.edu
cc: chilker@uark.edu, macie.hall@jhu.edu, keefej@rpi.edu, bwhitlow@artsci.wustl.edu, thomasa@union.edu, linda.a.reynolds@williams.edu, dw@artstor.org, sherman.clarke@nyu.edu, treitels@aol.com
Subject: Letter from the Greater New York Chapter
29 September 2005
Dear VRA Executive Board members,
At their spring 2005 meeting, held June 17 at Princeton University, the members of the Greater New York Chapter voted to request a review of the Association's chapter-to-parent membership policy. At this time, only members of the parent Association may be members of an approved local Chapter (see by-laws article VII, section 5). It is believed that requiring Association membership before Chapter membership has helped the Association's membership to grow.
The members of the Greater New York Chapter believe, however, that encouraging local membership first is also a way to increase Association membership. We therefore recommend instituting a one-year regional "guest" membership, prior to requiring that a new local member join the Association proper. We firmly believe that this one-year "guest" period would provide an excellent introduction to the Association through the activities of the Chapter, and allow new
colleagues a chance to see all the wonderful services available at the local level. In the long run, "guest" memberships could provide a way to bring in members of other professional organizations at the local level (ARLIS, ASPP, and so on) who might attend open regional events but otherwise not participate in the activities of either the Chapter or the Association. And, as the dues structure for most chapters is well below the cost of joining the overall Association, having "guest" memberships might bring badly needed funds to local Chapters.
We believe that those who wish to participate in and benefit from the Association should have as many avenues as possible to begin their exploration--they should not be restricted only to national
membership. To that end, we recommend that Article VII, Section 5, be amended to read as follows: "Conditions for Chapter membership may be set at the Chapter level, and should be recorded as part of the Chapter's by-laws. Membership in the Association is highly recommended."
Although this recommendation is not made by signed petition, the assembled members of the Greater New York Chapter voted unanimously to present it to the Board. We hope, therefore, that the Board will bring our proposal to the Association membership as part of regular business
at the annual meeting in Baltimore next spring.
We thank you for your consideration. Please let us know if any clarification is required. We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Jenni Rodda, Chair, Greater New York Chapter
Exchange of e-mails between Greater New York Chapter Chair Jenni Rodda and the Co-Chairs of the VRA Development Committee, Liz Edgar Hernandez and Jane Darcovich, concerning the proposed contribution to the Baltimore conference:
8 December 2005
Dear Liz and Jane,
The Development Committee's attached donation request was discussed at some length at the Greater New York Chapter's fall meeting, held November 28th. It was decided by the local membership at that meeting to dedicate what funds we have available for conference support in
2006 to the needs of local members. VRA/NY members voted to award stipends at three levels of support: one award for general travel support, one in support of a local member's workshop registration, and one in support of a local member's overall conference registration. We hope you will agree that this is an appropriate use of our funds.
In the past, VRA/NY has alternated years, making an outright donation to the conference in odd numbered years, and making local conference support awards in even numbered years. We hope to have enough funds available next year to continue this pattern.
With thanks for your hard work, and good wishes for a successful conference,
All best,
Jenni
Jenni Rodda, Chair, Greater New York Chapter
Curator, Visual Resources Collections
Institute of Fine Arts
1 East 78th Street
New York, NY 10021
212/992-5872 voice, 212/992-5807 fax
jmr3@nyu.edu OR jenni.rodda@nyu.edu
----- Original Message -----
From: Liz Edgar Hernandez <lehernandez@cox.net>
Date: Sunday, October 30, 2005 7:10 pm
Subject: VRA Annual Conference/Development Committee request for
Greater New York Chapter
Dear Jenni,
We are writing to you on behalf of the Development Committee. Our upcoming conference in Baltimore promises to be full of excellent sessions, seminars, workshops, tours, and events! We are very excited about the forthcoming conference program and hope you and your chapter members share the enthusiasm.
The Development Committee is asking Chapters to consider making a donation to the conference. The donation can be any size, and can be designated toward something specific, such as the President’s Fund or the Tansey Educational Fund, or can go toward general conference support.
Last year's conference in Miami had tremendous support from the local level and we are hoping that chapters are up to the challenge this year. Please consider a donation of any amount to the Baltimore conference. Feel free to contact us if you have questions, or if you would like to send a
donation.
We look forward to seeing you at the conference!
Thanks so much,
Liz Edgar Hernandez
lehernandez@cox.net
Jane Darcovich
darcovic@uic.edu
Co-Chairs, VRA Development Committee
