2000 Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference
Minutes of the 3/25/00 Business Meeting at the Princess Royale
Hotel
Ocean City, Maryland
Approximately 35 people in attendance
The meeting came to order at 7:15 PM and Pres. Chris Bergman
welcomed the audience and then sought approval for the 1999 Business Meeting
minutes. Roger Moeller so moved, and his motion was seconded by Bernard Means.
The motion was approved by voice vote from the floor.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Treasurer=s
Report: Treasurer Alice Guerrant was absent due to illness,
with Pres. Bergman noting his condolences. He had a FAX copy of
the
treasurer=s report
(see attachment) and noted that Alice has filed MAAC=s
federal income tax returns, which coupled with last year=s
(1999) money-making conference, and similarly this year=s
(2000, about $1-2,000), has produced a balance of approximately $10,000. Prior
to this meeting Alice informed Pres. Bergman that MAAC has another tax return
due from the federal government. Pres. Bergman thanked Alice, MAAC=s
Board, and the membership for their support in MAAC achieving financial
solvency. As to the tax exempt status issue, Pres. Bergman remarked that Alice
has filed a request for that status as of March 24, 2000. Pres. Bergman charged
Ed Otter, President-Elect, to continue pursuit of this status, and then thanked
Alice for all her hard work in improving the economic viability of MAAC. Pres.
Bergman requested a motion for the Treasurer=s
Report to be approved, with Roger Moeller so moving. The motion was seconded by
Dave Mudge. Pres. Bergman asked if they were any questions concerning the
report, and as there were no questions, he then sought approval for the report
by voice vote from the floor, which was given.
Roger Moeller, for the record, requested a statement as to
the grounds for the waiver of tax status. Pres. Bergman, noting that he had not
seen the filed paperwork, stated that he did not know the exact basis or terms
for the grounds for Federal tax-exempt status, but called for President-Elect Ed
Otter to follow up on this question.
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2. Membership Committee: Faye Stocum, Committee chair,
provided the following
information: as of April 7, 1999 there were 205 memberships,
whereas by the end of the last
calendar year (1999), there were 238 members. This total
included: 170 individual memberships,
41 institutional, 13 student, and 14 joint memberships. In
comparison, the 1998 memberships
totaled 250 (thus, down 12 in 1999) and included: 176
individual, 44 institutional, 16 student,
and 14 joint members. For the year 2000, membership included
a total of 55 as of 7/30/99, with
29 individuals, 18 institutional, 5 students, and 3 joint
memberships. Just prior to this meeting,
year 2000 memberships included 149 members, with 101
individuals, 24 institutional, 18
student, and 6 joint memberships, plus 9 more (8 individual,
1 joint) at this meeting for total of
158 to date. For the year 2001 there are 23 memberships so
far, plus 3 at this meeting for total of
26.
Faye noted the general trend of decline for membership as a
whole and in most categories, with the total in 1997 amounting to 270 members.
Faye regarded the above trend as serious trouble for MAAC in the coming year and
urged past members and others to join, especially academic institutions. She
noted which regional colleges and universities do and don=t
belong to MAAC. Pres. Bergman, before opening the floor to discussion, commended
Faye for her report, efforts, and her important statistics. Pres. Bergman
regarded Faye=s comments as serious
ones that deserve attention and a long discussion of membership issues followed.
Carole Nash asked Faye which members are we losing. Who is
not renewing their membership? Faye responded that we=re
losing libraries, academics, and individuals, but getting CRM consultants and
SHPO staff. She urged academics to encourage students to join and for people to
consult her list to see whether they=re
current members or not. Faye remarked on the problem of people not knowing
whether they=re current members or
not, especially since members don=t
receive notification, such as a membership card. Pres. Bergman noted the common
condition wherein people who don=t
know their membership status end up paying at the annual meeting. Dave Mudge
questioned Roger Moeller whether the decrease was due to the divorce between the
dues request and the receipt of MAAC=s
publication, but the audience responded that such is not the case. Howard
MacCord asked for a membership breakdown by state, but Faye responded that such
a listing is not available. MacCord offered to help recruit membership in
Virginia. Pres. Bergman offered to monitor membership at his office and compile
a searchable database, that is, one regarding membership demography. Faye
responded that this is probably not useful, since the membership fluctuates so
much, particularly students.
Ned Heite commented that people buy things that are
attractive, and he thinks we are attractive, so he questioned what=s
wrong with MAAC - and noted the lack of contractors and graduate students at
this meeting. George Tolley suggested we put the membership listing on MAAC=s
webpage, but Faye referred to the problem of MAAC having two web pages and the
need for constant updating. Varna Boyd suggested that we stick with Faye Stocum
and have people directly contact her; as through e-mail, which Faye reinforced.
Mike Barber stated that the same problem exists with the Archeological Society
of Virginia (ASV), but that the ASV does send out membership notices to
reinforce the need for payment. Kurt Carr agreed with Barber, stating that we
need reminders, including the threat to not receive MAAC=s
journal. Liz Crowell commented that reminders can be done by e-mail. Pres.
Bergman agreed with these suggestions and repeated his offer of assistance, but
left the final decision up to Faye. Faye reiterated the problems with keeping
e-mail and other addresses current. MacCord suggested that we want more
membership from West Virginia and North Carolina. The audience responded that
the latter state is not part of MAAC. MacCord offered to put ads for membership
in both states. Ned Heite suggested getting mailing lists from state councils,
such as for CRM firms.
Pres. Bergman asked for proposals for studying MAAC=s
membership, such as tracking membership and its demography. Varna Boyd agreed
with the need for better demographic information and for improved mailings and
assistance for Faye. Faye responded by recommending a larger membership
committee, with which Pres. Bergman agreed, noting the value of more marketing
and assistance for Faye. He urged President-Elect Otter to work in this
direction. Mike Barber encouraged MAAC to send out a general call for membership
to most professional archaeological societies and SHPO offices. Liz Crowell
added that MAAC can obtain the mailing lists for CRM/consulting firms. MacCord
mentioned that he=s proud of MAAC, its
history, and its publications - all of which should be shared with others. Pres.
Bergman agreed and repeated the need for marketing and for assisting Faye.
Dave Mudge summarized the two main problems, retaining old
members and attracting new ones, and commented that these problems require two
different strategies - renewal mailings for the former, for instance. Faye
Stocum reinforced the problem of dealing with over 200 members and that the
above numbers only reflect membership since 1998. Pres. Bergman responded by
stating that we need to pay more attention to the details of membership issues
and consequently, need more database control, such as on a spreadsheet. He
offered to pay for pre-printed cards for membership renewals. June Evans
repeated the need for a better way to target universities and students, with the
latter comprising MAAC=s future. Pres.
Bergman reinforced that MAAC is in good financial shape and consequently, can
afford student benefits, such as discounts, which represent an investment in the
future. Heite agreed, suggesting that membership packets be sent to students at
academic departments for posting. June Evans suggested that MAAC consider
offering money to send students to MAAC. Michael Stewart suggested targeting
anthropology and history students, as well as libraries at colleges and
universities.
Kurt Carr suggested targeting SHPO offices. Faye Stocum
responded that Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania SHPOs are
members, and Pres. Bergman noted the need to have regular mailings to these
offices. Liz Crowell, returning to student issue, encouraged MAAC to sponsor a
student paper symposium at the next meeting.
Mike Barber returned the discussion to the issue of having a
committee on membership and placing the above suggestions into a phased
strategy. Ned Heite offered to help. Pres. Bergman encouraged President-Elect
Otter to follow up on these suggestions. Howard MacCord urged a round of
applause to commend Faye Stocum for her work on membership and the audience
responded accordingly. Faye=s report
was recommended for approval by a motion from the floor, which was seconded, and
then approved with a voice vote from the membership in attendance.
3. Report on MAAC logo: Pres. Bergman
reported that further editing is underway and he apologized for
the lack of progress to date. He plans to have the logo
redrawn and sent to membership for approval,
with a projected completion date of next summer.
4. Archive Committee: Varna Boyd reported
that Elizabeth Moore (whose address was sent to Faye Stocum),
who is not a MAAC member, has not been actively
involved in supporting the establishment of a
MAAC archive at the Smithsonian. Based on the last
communication, Elizabeth Moore did indicate
that the Smithsonian had agreed to act as MAAC=s
archive host. Faye commented that she does
not know what format to use for submitting her
MAAC records to such an archive. Varna
repeated the need for the Smithsonian to be re-contacted,
and asked if MAAC had any connections to the
staff there.
Lisa Young commented that a contract exists between the
Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) and the Smithsonian for archival
maintenance, but that problems have occurred with respect to materials being
lost and that the SHA plans to pull their records from the Smithsonian and
deposit them with the National Park Service. Dave Mudge asked how ESAF handles
its archives at the University of Delaware, but that issue has not been
resolved, according to Faye. Dave volunteered to make a phone call on this
issue, especially given the logic of archiving MAAC=s
materials with those of ESAF.
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5. Awards Committee: Varna Boyd reported
that there are no nominations to date for either the research
contributions or lifetime achievement award. She also
noted that the nomination criteria, forms,
and related information were not yet on MAAC=s
website.
Varna commented that she=s
heard people talking about such nominations, but that they haven=t
taken the formal, necessary steps to put any
nominations into action. Kurt Carr suggested that we
provide the necessary information on Roger
Moeller=s MAAC web
listing (via "Siftings@),
and
Roger responded that he is willing to do so
(see other Old Business, below).
6. Program Chair=s
Report: Roger Moeller thanked the conference=s
participants and those who mailed in abstracts, and he
commented that he believes
that mailing out the abstracts was the
key to a successful program, and urged doing this again in
the
future (rather than just posting paper
titles). Pres. Bergman thanked Roger for his admirable
efforts
and the audience responded with a round
of applause.
7. Arrangements Chair=s
Report: Kurt Carr stated that he believed everything
went okay at this year=s
meeting and that we=re
set for next year at Ocean City.
Carole Nash commented that last year=s
minutes indicated that next year=s
(2001) meeting was
supposed to occur in Virginia Beach. Kurt
Carr and Pres. Bergman apologized to Carole and Mike
Barber for the mix-up. Bergman agreed
with moving the meeting to Virginia Beach in 2002 and
urged future diversity in our meeting
location. Mr. Evans commended Kurt Carr for his efforts and
the audience responded with a round of
applause. Pres. Bergman passed on these recommendations
to President-Elect Otter for his
consideration.
8. Journal Editor=s
Report: Roger Moeller commented that he=s
still having problems obtaining manuscripts and that there=s
still room for articles in the current issue.
Roger, in noting the continuing problem of
obtaining manuscripts for the journal, stated that he has
no promises for the next JMAA issue. He still
has space for one article in the current issue, but he
wants it by this summer (before the
excavation season begins). Pres. Bergman stated that he
regards the journal as our organization=s
flagship, being a byproduct of the conference meetings and
the group=s
intellectual efforts and hence, it deserves support. He
commended Roger for his work
and for the journal, and stated that he has
regarded Roger as the organization=s
Aglue@
for many
years and someone who has provided an
admirable effort. The audience responded with a round of
applause.
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Other Old Business:
9. MAAC=s
website: Pres. Bergman returned to the issue of MAAC=s
two websites and asked for discussion. An audience member asked
whether the official site at American
University is being paid for, and received an
affirmative response by Joe Dent, who teaches there
with Dennis Curry, who is responsible for
maintaining the site. Other audience members responded
that the American University website was set up a
couple of years ago and Doug Sanford noted that
payment for it was made in the past. Roger
Moeller reinforced this point by calling attention to this
payment in the Treasurer=s
Report in the 1999 minutes. People questioned whether the fee was
for
set-up or continued updating, but no satisfactory
answer came forth. Pres. Bergman returned
discussion to the broader issue of MAAC having
two websites, in effect an official one at American
University and an unofficial one through Roger
Moeller=s ASiftings@
website. He remarked that this
condition makes him nervous as to its
consequences.
Bernard Means stated that he goes to Siftings for MAAC, but
also for the other archaeological groups and activities covered by Siftings.
Pres. Bergman asked for a show of hands from members who do the same, and most
people responded in the affirmative, leading Bergman to repeat the question as
to whether MAAC needs one or both websites, or just one official site. Michael
Stewart said this problem also made him nervous as to how outside people
regarded this situation and that they may or may not get proper and up-to-date
MAAC information. An audience member stated that MAAC=s
website should have regular updates and wondered if there are current
arrangements for such, including updates more often than once a year.
Pres. Bergman posed the question that if Roger=s
Siftings site has so much information, then why shouldn=t
people go there for MAAC as well and hence, perhaps that site should be MAAC=s
only website. Varna Boyd agreed that MAAC needs only one website. As part of
this discussion Lisa Young commented that the last update on the official
(American University) website was August 9, 1999. Pres. Bergman urged that MAAC
have one website and suggested that Dennis Curry and Roger Moeller should
discuss and resolve the issue, which needs closure. Pres. Bergman asked Roger if
he=s willing to continue providing
this service and Roger stated that he is willing to do so, and that he can
generate an address for MAAC within Siftings that will allow people to search
for MAAC from the Internet. Pres. Bergman coupled his above recommendation about
MAAC having one website with the request that President-Elect Ed Otter work on
this issue.
Joe Dent commented that Dennis Curry provides the website
with more attention to MAAC=s history
and nature, but that overall, he=d
like to have the MAAC information off American University=s
server, if MAAC chooses to go with Roger=s
website. He noted that Roger could have access to the American University/MAAC
webpage and update it from his end. Pres. Bergman repeated his recommendation
for having one website and Faye Stocum made a motion that MAAC should have only
one website, pending discussions amongst Dennis Curry, Roger Moeller, Ed Otter,
and Joe Dent. Liz Crowell seconded the motion, which was approved by voice vote.
10. Slide projectors &
Conference Equipment: Mike Barber noted the real
need for a podium with adequate lights. Pres.
Bergman agreed
with this request and stated that
MAAC should do so since the organization has the
necessary
funds. He also stressed the need
for someone to maintain this equipment in the years
to come.
Discussion continued about
whether or not to own an actual podium as compared
to such lights,
with Faye Stocum commenting on
hotels=
reluctance to allow a podium to be carried in on a
regular basis. Pres. Bergman
responded that the organization can accommodate
reading lights
easily.
Pres. Bergman closed this part of the meeting with his thanks
to the membership and the Board members for their support over the last two
years. In his last official act as President he instituted a crab hammer
(mallet) as the gavel of the organization, which was passed on to the new
President, Ed Otter. Former President Bergman received applause for his past
efforts from the audience.
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NEW BUSINESS
1. New Officers: Pres. Otter began the
session by reading the slate of nominated officers for the next two
years: Mike Barber for President-Elect; Carol Ebright for
Treasurer; and Doug Sanford for Recording
Secretary. Pres. Otter asked for any other nominations
from the floor and Dave Mudge moved that the
nominations be closed, a motion seconded by Kurt
Carr. The motion was approved by voice vote from
the floor and the nominated officers were
elected by acclamation, without dissent.
2. Organizational Appointments:
a. Pres. Otter noted Kurt Carr=s
continuation as Arrangements Chair, which was greeted with applause.
b. Dave Mudge was appointed and approved as
Member-at-Large without dissent and as a continuance for two more years.
c. Pres. Otter expressed his desire to reconstitute the
Membership Committee, with Faye Stocum (as chair), Chris Bergman, and Ned Heite
as its members. Pres. Otter requested that the committee work with him on
marketing plans for increasing membership.
d. Pres. Otter requested that Kurt Carr, as
Arrangements Chair, should research the necessary costs for the conference
equipment discussed under Old Business, and after consulting with the
Board, obtain that equipment.
e. Pres. Otter also reconstituted the Archives
Committee and appointed Dave Mudge and Doug Sanford to that committee.
f. Pres. Otter requested that Varna Boyd continue to
serve on the Awards Committee, to which she agreed and added that Liz
Crowell would help her on that committee.
3. 2001 Conference Meeting Site: Pres. Otter asked Mike
Barber to report on his search for arrangements in Virginia Beach, VA for 2002
meeting (see earlier discussion wherein this meeting place had been considered
for the 2001 meeting). Barber reported on discussions with the Cavalier Hotel,
an historic structure and National Register property, where rooms will cost $69
per night. He did note the potential problem of paying for the meeting rooms if
MAAC doesn=t have 75 rooms reserved,
although it wasn=t clear if this
figure was a meeting total or a nightly amount. Barber expressed concern that
many people like the Ocean City location and may not travel as far south as
Virginia Beach. Pres. Otter and Barber discussed the need to make reservations
well in advance to insure a competitive room rate. Carole Nash added that both
the Council of Virginia Archaeologists (COVA) and the Archeological Society of
Virginia will help sponsor the Virginia Beach meeting.
Varna Boyd stated she liked having MAAC=s
meeting move around since that would improve our visibility and should help with
the membership problem. Mike Barber agreed with Varna and thinks this movement
will encourage more diversity in membership and conference papers for MAAC. Nash
added that field trips are another possibility. Pres. Otter thanked Barber and
Nash for their offer and work to date, but noted the previous agreement to have
the 2001 meeting in Ocean City. He then requested that a motion be made to have
the 2002 MAAC meeting in Virginia Beach. Howard MacCord so moved, with Varna
Boyd seconding this motion, which was approved by voice vote from the floor.
Pres. Otter confirmed that Barber and Nash will continue working on the
arrangements and conference dates.
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4. 2001 Program: Pres. Otter asked for ideas
for paper sessions. Carole Nash, based on reading a text about women
in Southeastern archaeology, suggested a session on
biographies of women in early Middle Atlantic
archaeology. Liz Crowell agreed to help with this
session. Carole already had some names in mind,
including Betty Meagers, Marion White, Dorothy
Cross, Alice Ferguson, Betty Broyles, Katherine
McCann, and Mary Butler Lewis (spellings not
checked). Mike Barber commented that his son,
Fang Barber, would be willing to organize a
session on adaptive re-use.
MacCord, based on observation of this afternoon=s
discussion by Jay Custer and a Native American regarding artifact
interpretation, encouraged a session on minority population input at the
conference. Ned Heite responded that MAAC already had such input two to four
years ago from a Awhole roomful of
Indians @ in a session he chaired.
Heite, while claiming that he would not say Athat
the only good Indian is a dead Indian,@
stated that inviting more Indians would cause MAAC to digress from its purpose.
MacCord responded that we should perhaps hear from other groups as well, such as
blacks, Latinos, or Jewish immigrants that might have input. Heite responded
that he was serious about his previous comment about a good Indian being a dead
Indian, and that such participation would be a waste of time. Mike Barber voiced
his disagreement with Heite and stated that MAAC should go on record as to Heite=s
opinion not being MAAC=s viewpoint, a
motion seconded by Liz Crowell. Damion Gessner suggested having a session or
workshop in which Native Americans can provide their own interpretations of
artifacts, an idea supported by Carol Ebright. Heite responded that this is too
open-ended and could be extended to all kinds of artifact interpretations.
Further discussion centered on having workshops rather than paper sessions.
Heite saw this afternoon=s discussion
with a Native American as non-productive, but audience members disagreed.
Michael Stewart suggested that like other conferences (as in
Pennsylvania), MAAC should consider starting its meeting with a symposium by the
hosting state=s archaeological society
and/or its professional society. Liz Crowell reiterated her support for a
student paper symposium, and Pres. Otter reiterated MAAC=s
offer of a discount for first-time student presenters. MacCord proposed a
session on site destruction, including natural and cultural threats.
5. 2001 Program Chair: Liz Crowell
volunteered to be the Program Chair for the upcoming meeting,
with Carole Nash as her co-chair.
6. Other New Business: No other issues
were raised, so the meeting was adjourned by voice vote at 8:50
PM.
Respectively submitted,
Douglas W. Sanford
Recording Secretary
(generated 3/01)
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