Minutes / Procè-verbal

AGENDA

M/S/C: To adopt the agenda as presented.

M/S/C: To adopt the Minutes of the last meeting as presented in Labour/Le Travail, 54 (Fall/Automne 2004), 363–367.

BUSINESS ARISING

None.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

Joan Sangster announced that she would forego the usual Presidential remarks in order to allow for a discussion of a series of matters that she would introduce as agenda items. She thanked Irene Whitfield and Josephine Thompson for their work in the office, and all members of the Executive for their efforts on behalf of the Committee.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Greg Kealey presented the financial report. The report was accepted by members present.

EDITOR'S REPORT

Bryan Palmer thanked the office staff, interns, and board members, as well as all of those who contributed and subscribed to the journal, for sustaining L/LT. He urged all to send manuscripts to the journal and to promote the journal at international conferences and other appropriate venues. With respect to relations between the journal and Memorial University of Newfoundland [MUN], where pressures had in the past been placed on the journal to pay for services long provided gratis by MUN and, even, to perhaps find itself a new home, he indicated that nothing had changed for the worse since his last report. Indeed, it was possible, with the discussed establishment of a University Press at MUN, that L/LT would remain at the university as an important component of its publications program. As editor he would continue to try to stabilize relations with MUN, and preserve the status quo.

EUGENE FORSEY PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Joan Sangster informed the Committee about ongoing work associated with the Forsey Prize, including discussions with the donor. She announced that the winners for last year's competition were Esyllt Jones (University of Manitoba) for the Graduate Award and Scott McMahon (Trent University) for the Undergraduate Award. Copies of citations for both awards were distributed to the membership.

CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION

Joan Sangster reported for the Executive on discussions it had undertaken with respect to the wording of the CCLH Constitution. Specifically addressed was wording associated with the election of the Executive and terms of office. The Executive suggested the following new wording: "Executive members of the CCLH are generally elected for a two-year term by the Annual General Meeting [AGM]. After two years they may be re-elected for another one or two-year term, unless there are unusual circumstances, and the extended term is approved by the AGM of the CCLH." Discussion followed in which it was agreed that ideally there will be a staggered election of such officers, so that each annual Executive contains personnel with at least one year of experience. The possibility of serving for one year was discussed. The consensus was that the new wording proposed by the Executive was flexible enough that it would prove, over the long run, adaptable to the CCLH's needs.

     M/S/C: That the wording proposed by the Executive be adopted and that it be incorporated into the Constitution.

CCLH AND LAWCHA THESIS PRIZE ISSUE

Joan Sangster reported that LAWCHA was considering establishing a thesis prize to be awarded to a PhD produced in labour history, and that this prize would be linked to a publisher committed to publishing the thesis as a book. LAWCHA proposed that the prize be awarded to any such thesis in the area of North American labour history. Some at the LAWCHA meeting (Betsy Jameson) urged LAWCHA to consult the CCLH, as there was concern about a number of issues. One prominent concern, which generated considerable discussion in the CCLH, related to language. As LAWCHA proposes to consider only works written in English there was an obvious issue of theses written in French (be they on Quebec, English Canada, or other regions of North America) being excluded. Discussion also turned on Canadian theses being submitted to a United States prize, with publication by a US press. The CCLH of course saw value in US scholars reading Canadian submissions, but remains concerned about a range of issues. Joan Sangster was instructed to convey the concerns of the CCLH to LAWCHA through correspondence with James Green and Alice Kessler-Harris, current and incoming Presidents of LAWCHA.

REPORTS ON WORKING-CLASS HISTORY INITIATIVES

Joan Sangster called on specific individuals to report on important new initiatives relating to working-class history. David Frank reported on the SSHRC-funded Community-University Research Alliance labour history project based at the University of New Brunswick, where historians and trade unionists are working together; Jeff Taylor discussed the "Work and Society in Historical Perspective" SSHRC-funded Research Cluster initiative that is moving forward into the second round of grant consideration; and Franca Iacovetta and Bettina Bradbury spoke on the forthcoming Labouring Feminism Conference at the University of Toronto, scheduled to begin 29 September 2005. With respect to the latter, an appeal was made to the CCLH to sponsor a graduate student's involvement.

     M/S/C: That the CCLH provide a bursary of $100 to offset the costs of a graduate student participating in the conference. Applications for such a bursary to be forwarded to the President of the CCLH, with the Executive to make the decision relating to the award.

CCLH WORKSHOP AT THE YORK UNIVERSITY LEARNED SOCIETIES MEETINGS, 2006

Craig Heron and Jennifer Stephen volunteered to consult on this, approach others, and undertake the development of a workshop.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

OTHER BUSINESS

Michael Piva expressed concerns about the Canadian Labour Congress's [CLC] commitment to the Labour College, as an important venue of labour education. It is possible that the College's offerings and traditional length of instruction will be altered. Members concerned about this are urged to consult with Michael and convey their views to the CLC.

ADJOURNMENT

Members present adjourned at 1:25 p.m.

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