Coalition of Women in German

29^th Annual Conference

October 21-24, 2004

General Butler State Resort Park

Carrollton, KY

 

2004 Business Meeting Minutes

October 23, 2004

 

Presiding Officers and Steering Committee members were: Jeannine Blackwell (President), Jeannette Clausen (Vice President), Jennifer Hosek (SC), Michelle James (SC), MarÌa Luisa Arroyo (SC), Marjanne GoozÈ (SC), Laura McGee (SC), Katrin Sieg (SC), Vibs Petersen (Treasurer), Brenda Bethman (Newsletter), Lisa Hock (Website).

 

The meeting was called to order by Jennifer Hosek and Michelle James at 11:12. The meeting format was projected onscreen. WIG members in attendance were reminded that no nominations would be accepted from the floor and to be succinct in their comments and presentation of panel suggestions.

 

I. Announcements:

A. Sarah Lennox announced that she is seeking contributions for Orlanda Frauen Verlag, which is having financial difficulties.

B. Michelle and Jennifer reminded members to turn in Conference paper summaries before leaving or ASAP upon returning home.

C. They stressed how we need to think about a conference site for 2006-08. We should think about hosting and institutional support. As soon as possible a basic plan is needed. For information, contact Jeannine Blackwell.

D. Jeannette Clausen, remind us that four years ago we adopted a new governance structure and that Jeannine has been president for 4 years, as well as conference organizer. Her term as president is ending, so she asked us to thank her. Jeannine received a standing ovation, flowers, and a certificate for spa treatments for $150.

 

II. Conference Panel Selection

Michelle James led the selection process for conference panels.

 

A. WIG 2005

 

Poster session: Denise Della Rossa, Barbara Lechleitner, and Lynn Kutch will chair next yearπs session. They stressed that this yearπs posters made good use of technology and how some made posters to accompany papers presented.

People who wish to propose posters should send in a brief and succinct description.

 

Guest

Kerstin Hensel, Jennifer Hosek and Katharina Gerstenberger. Jennifer Hosek spoke about her. Hensel will be happy to attend and do a 10 day trip. The University of Cincinnati will help host her.

Michelle noted that if you want to propose a guest, you must have financial commitment.

 

Unanimous approval was given for inviting Kerstin Hensel.

 

Guest-related Panel

In general this is a panel proposed in relation to the guest.

Kai Herklotz, Liz Mittman: Gen(d)ations: Gender and Generational Conflict in Recent German Writing.

Kai and Liz spoke about this, and the panel was unanimously approved.

Alexandra Marley will also help organize.

 

Thursday evening Panel

Beth Muellner: Motherhood and Academia

Upon suggestions from the floor, the panel was renamed: Parenthood and Academia, and received unanimous approval.

Susanna Rinner and Barbara Drescher will organize with Beth.

 

Pre 20^th-Century Panel

Denise Della Rossa: Mistresses of Mischief: The Bad Girls

Jennifer Askey: Vor dem Erwachen: Early Conceptions of Childhood and Young Womanhood

Michelle James: Jenseits der Mauer: Women Transgressing Boundaries

Rachel Freudenburg suggested combining first and third suggestions, and organizers agreed.

The following two suggestions were voted on. Vote totals given after title:

Mistresses of Mischief, Jenseits der Mauer: 40

Early Conceptions of Childhood: 25

The organizers will be Denise Della Rossa and Michelle James.

 

Pedagogy Panel

Lynn Kutch: Humanities versus Administration: A Numbers Game

Jeannette Clausen: Teaching Online in German (Studies)

Lisa Hock asked whether the topic would be using online technology for face to face teaching or all online. Jill Smith proposed breakout groups. It was decided to have a panel format.

The following are the results of the vote:

Humanities v. Administration: 36

Online Teaching: 32

Lynnπs co-organizers are Helga Kraft and Amy Young.

 

General Panels: Two were chosen.

Anne Leblans: Vice-Versa: Changing Views of Germany in America and of America in Germany

Kristin Thomas-Vander Lugt: Post-Postfeminism?

Maria Stehle and Susan Cocalis: Cultures of FearãFear of ≥Cultures≤?

Sara Lennox, EncarnaciÛn Gutierrez, and Beverly Weber: German Whiteness in a Global Context

Andrea Reimann: Generations in/of (Im)migrant Films and Literature

Jennifer Askey: Conceptions of Childhood and Young Womanhood.

The results of the vote are:

Conceptions: 28

Germany/America: 5

Post Postfeminism:14

Cultures of Fear: 46

Whiteness in a Global Context: 34

Generations of Immigrant Films: 11

 

The session co-organizer for Cultures of Fear is Kristin Thomas. Whiteness in a Global Context already has 3 organizers.

 

B. GSA 2005

Panels are listed along with their respective votes received.

Dara Bryant: The Connection Between Sexuality and the Socialist Subject in the GDR: 21

Katrin Sieg will chair and Dara, who is a grad student, co-organize.

Katrin Pahl: Transcultural Desires: Queer Feminist Trajectories through German-Speaking

            Countries: 9

Kristin Thomas-Vander Lugt: The Gender of Memory: 18

Anne Leblans: Vice Versa: America in Germany: 9

Anna Reimann: Re-Writing Genres (and Traditions) in (Im)migrant Texts:10

 

Marjanne GoozÈ spoke about the GSA rules regarding graduate students not being allowed to officially organize panels and others informed us that a 4-person panel may have 2 graduate students speaking, 1 is allowed on a 3-person panel. Sara Lennox and Michelle James pointed out that you can propose a panel on your own, and Jeannine Blackwell emphasized that you need to put together the whole session.

 

C. MLA 2005: 2 Panels chosen:

Lynn Kutch: Cross-Listing, Successes and Failures. Co-organizer Folke-Christine Mueller-Saaling

Katrin Sieg: The Gender of War: Jelinek. Brenda Bethman with co-organize.

We accepted both panels, as we are allowed two.

 

D. AATG 2006

The results of the vote are given following the session title.

Kristen Thomas-Vander Lugt: The Oedipal Classroom: 24

Anne Leblans: German-European Studies: 16

Jennifer Askey: Conceptions of Childhood and Young Womanhood: 28

Jennifer will co-organize with Stephanie Ohnesorg.

 

E. Panel-related discussion:

The next question addressed was which WIG panel next year will have the papers available online and thereby have more time for discussion. Denise Della Rossa suggested the guest related panel, and Marjanne GoozÈ seconded it, because it will encourage reading the papers before the conference. Liz Mittman noted that the deadlines are earlier for online papers. No one opposed this suggestion.

Jennifer Hosek asked organizers to please make sure that all calls for papers (COPs) have a prominent place for gender in them.

 

III. Steering Committee Election

Each candidate briefly spoke about how she/he would serve WIG if elected. We voted for 2 people and put each name on a separate ballot. The vote totals are listed following the name.

Katharina Altpeter-Jones: 41

Jennifer Askey: 28

Denise Della Rossa: 19

Richard Langston: 28

Amy Young: 22

 

There was a run-off between Askey and Langston:

Askey: 38

Langston: 28

 

The new members are Katja Altpeter-Jones and Jennifer Askey.

 

IV. Reports

 

A. Newsletter:

Brenda Bethman reported that there will be no more paper newletters, just a card mailed indicating where on the web to find conference registration materials. Brenda Bethman and Lisa Roetzel are stepping down. The new editors will be Rachel Freudenburg and Maria Stehle.

Katja Altpeter-Jones asked about the Newsletter password. Brenda noted:

username member

password: christa

She asked everyone to try and have the password memorized. She remarked that there are 2 different passwords; the directory password is on an icon.

 

B. Website:

Lisa Hock noted that Yvonne Huoy is stepping down. The new person needs some experience, but a willingness to learn and institutional support are most important. She also reminded us to update our email addresses with the webmistresses and with Vibs, the Treasurer.

 

C. WIG governance structure: Michelle James and Laura McGee are the SC members who will have the task of reviewing the new WIG governing structure that includes the offices of the president and vice-president, inquiring if we want to continue or modify it. They will form a committee to contact WIG members and review the experiences of the last years, so we can discuss the structure at the next conference. Laura and Michelle need 2 others to work with them.

Jennifer Hosek said that we on the SC wanted not to do this alone, because we have a vested interest. We need to find out what is working and what is not.

Berit Norman volunteered and we will call people to fill the other committee slot.

 

D. Treasurerπs report:

1.Vibs Peterson presented her report and discussed the finances of WIG.

2. Jeannine Blackwell reported on the Zantop Challenge fund and how we will combine the Zantop Challenge fund and Zantop Travel Award to be called the Zantop Travel Award. The Memorial Research Award remains.

3. Jeannette Clausen proposed a new research award for the best article published, and we are inviting people to work with Jeannette on drafting criteria for it. It will exist alongside the dissertation prize.

4. Vibs reported on membership: 337 members are paid through 2004; 120 through 2003, and all other unpaid members have been dropped from the list. When asked by members, how one knows if one is paid up, Vibs noted that when your dues become due, you get a dues notice twice that year.

 

E. Yearbook Report:

1.Marjorie Gelus reported that Ruth-Ellen Joeres cannot continue as editor, so Helga Kraft will be joining her as Yearbook editor.

2.Volume 20 was finished on Sept. 1 and the significance of achieving Volume 20 was noted by including 2 essays in the volume: Jeannine Blackwell and Jeannette Clausen co-authored a piece to open it, and Marjorie Gelus and Ruth-Ellen Joeres wrote an essay to close it.

3.Volume 19 was delayed, because it got warehoused and lost, but then found and sent out late.

4. The Yearbook also saw a large numbers of the editorial board rotating off and they were replaced by 7 new board members from the U.S. and Germany.

5. Jeannette Clausen is forming a taskforce on WIG Yearbook to address questions of taking the journal online or of publishing more than one issue per year

6. The proofs for Volume 20 can be looked at on the table in the center room.

 

V. Announcement of New Members of Steering Committee

Jennifer Hosek announced the winners of the election: Katja Altpeter-Jones and Jennifer Askey. She told them to pick up their instructions for SC members and provide current email addresses before leaving.

 

VI. Windhoek resolution

This was brought to the attention of the Officers and the Steering Committee by Sarah Lennox, who attended a conference in Namibia. The SC took into consideration what WIGπs position is in taking political stands and towards this resolution. The SC decidedto take a stand speaking only for the SC.

Jennifer Hosek read the SC statement taking a stand and supporting the resolution. Others, who might be interested, are encouraged to join Sarah Lennox at her table at lunch. The following is the text of the statement:

≥The Steering Committee has decided that the Steering Committee will take a stand on issues that are important enough to merit the attention of the Committee and that are relevant to the WIG mission.≤

Regarding the Windhoek resolution: ≥The Steering Committee has decided that the Steering committee will support the Windhoek resolution.≤

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:50.