Organization > Chapters > Mid-Atlantic > Minutes and Reports
VRA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Meeting
VRA 23rd Annual Conference
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Miami Beach, FL
Attendees:
Kathe Albrecht, American University
J. J. Bauer, University of North Carolina
Ann Burns, University of Virginia (Secretary/Treasurer)
Sarah Falls, University of Richmond
Meghan Gross, Johns Hopkins University
Elizabeth Gushee, University of Virginia
Virginia M. G. Hall, Johns Hopkins University
Pamela Hawkes, College of William and Mary
Mollie Hutton Marder, Chrysler Museum
Florence Thorp, Maryland Institute College of Art
James Van Rensselaer, Johns Hopkins University
David S. Vess, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts)
Robert Willis, Catholic University
Ann Woodward, Johns Hopkins University (Chair)
Business Meeting
Business Meeting
1. Ann Woodward welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted that there were a number of new members attending.
2. Ann Burns, Secretary/Treasurer, reported that our bank balance as of 3/10/2005 was $375.13. She reminded everyone that dues for chapter membership are $15.00 per year, and should be paid as soon as possible.
3. Planning for Spring Meeting: the Spring Chapter meeting will be held on May 20 at the University of Richmond, with Sarah Falls hosting. Suggestions for the agenda included an abbreviated CCO Bootcamp, concentrating on one chapter, and a session on how to use Library of Congress indexes taught by Sam Byrd from the Library of Virginia. Sarah will try to arrange lunch in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Members’ dining room, and suggestions for afternoon activities included a tour of Monument Avenue or a visit to Maymont house. Sarah will research local reasonably-priced hotels for those who might wish to stay overnight.
4. Meghan Gross reported on the VRA Conference Chapter Chairs meeting. That meeting included discussion of matching funds for conference attendance from the commercial sector, how to handle notification to the national organization of changes in chapter leadership, and suggestions on how to welcome potential members to our chapter areas.
5. Planning for the Baltimore conference: in April, the committee for local arrangements will meet in Baltimore. This committee will consist primarily of the VRA members in the Baltimore area.
- Florence Thorp of the Maryland Institute College of Art volunteered to work on a logo, although the “Slide Crab” was a popular choice.
- Macie Hall volunteered to investigate setting up a conference listserv for the convenience of the conference planners and local arrangements committee.
- It was observed that Registration Desk staffing is usually handled by a local person, who canvasses for volunteers, trains them, and coordinates them with the VRA secretary Linda Reynolds. This person also arrives at the conference a couple of days early to put together packets and assist with local vendors who might wish to set up booths. Ann Woodward volunteered her house as a place where pre-conference deliveries of conference materials could be made.
- The Baltimore Conference website will be started much sooner than the previous one was, though the current conference website will continue to be up for a time.
- The suggestion was made that a survey be taken on the VRA-L listserv for interest in making day trips to Washington DC during the Baltimore Conference.
- There was discussion of instituting a Hospitality Desk, staffed by Mid-Atlantic Chapter members, during the Baltimore Conference. This desk would be responsible for making suggestions on where to go for dinner or for tourist attractions, and could be a clearing house for dinner or tourist partners. It was felt that this desk would not have to be staffed at all times during the conference, but primarily during coffee breaks and the afternoon and early evening hours.
6. The members were reminded that the Fall Chapter meeting will be a joint one with ARLIS DC/MD/VA at the Library of Congress. (Update: tentatively planned for Friday, October 7.)
Ann Burns, Secretary/Treasurer
March 25, 2005
