1. Call to Order

Judith Stiehm, claiming a “point of personal privilege,” asked for a straw vote of the membership. How many members had faith in the government before 9-11? (11 people raised their hands.) How many members have faith in our government today? (8 raised their hands) How many members have faith in civic action? (50 raised their hands.)

Kirstie McClure, claiming a “point of personal privilege,” asked for a “Sense of the Body” to a public policy statement. President Timothy Kaufman-Osborn, ruled Professor McClure out of order. “The bylaws of the WPSA association, Article 1, Section 3 state that the 'specific and primary purpose of this Association shall be to promote the study and teaching of government and politics, to foster research and to facilitate the discussion of public affairs. It is not the purpose of the Association to commit its membership on issues of public policy.' Thus, endorsement of this statement by the Association could endanger its non-profit status." President Kaufman-Osborn noted that Professor McClure is free to make a petition available for individuals to sign.

2. Awards

An awards presentation ceremony was presided over by President Timothy Kaufman-Osborn

a. The Dissertation Award was presented by Victoria Farrar-Myers to Dr. Randa Carolyn Issa, Graduate Advisor, University of Southern California for her dissertation, “Constituting Popular Sovereignty: Contests Over Institutional Authority in the Early American Republic.”

b. The Pi Sigma Alpha Award was presented by Ana Sampaio to Professor Daniel Engster, University of Texas, San Antonio, for his paper, “Can Care Ethics be Institutionalized? Toward a Caring Theory of Natural Law.”

c. The Betty Nesvold Women & Politics Award was presented by Diane-Michele Prindeville to Professor Ange-Marie Hancock, Pennsylvania State University for her paper, “Intersectionality, Critical Theory and Research Methodology.”

d. The WPSA Blacks and Politics award was presented by Timothy Kaufman-Osborn to Dr. Linda Lopez, Director Professional Programs, APSA and Professor Adrian D. Pantoja, University of Connecticut for their paper, “Beyond Black and White: A Comparative Analysis of Anglo, African American, and Latino Support for Racial Hiring and Promotion Preferences.”

e. The WPSA Chicanos/Chicanos and Politics award was presented by Lisa Garcia-Bedolla to Professor Melissa Michelson, California State University, Fresno for her paper, “Getting Out the Latino Vote: How Door-To-Door Canvassing Influences Voter Turnout in Rural Central California.”

f. The Charles Redd Award for Best Paper on the Politics of the American West was presented by Anne Schneider to Professor Diane-Michele Prindeville, New Mexico State University, for her Paper, “Feminist Nations? A Study of Native American Women in Tribal Politics.”

g. The PRQ Best Article Award was presented by Harold Clarke to Professors Lisa Schur, Rutgers; University Professor Todd Schields, University of Arkansas; Professor Douglas Kruse, Rutgers University; and professor Kay Schriner, University of Arkansas for their article, Enabling Democracy: Disability and Voter Turnout.”

4. Reports

a. Denver Convention
Program Chair Bill Haltom reported that there were 165 panels at the conference, and he thanked his section chairs.

Local Arrangements Chair Dan Smith reported that there were 750 paid registrants and 35 on-site registrants and he thanked all those who assisted him.

b. Political Research Quarterly
Editor Harold Clarke and Ken Godwin reported that PRQ is becoming part of JSTOR. It has a new format (8 1/2” by 11”), which allows longer articles and gives more room for data display and spatial analysis. The editors invited members to the Saturday morning panel about the journal.

c. Executive Director
Executive Director Elizabeth Moulds thanked Dan Smith and the local arrangement volunteers for their efforts in Denver. She thanked Timothy Kaufman-Osborn for his two years of service as WPSA president. She reported that the net assets of the association are $20,000 higher than last year. She reported the membership statistics and noted that the 2004 convention will be held at the Marriott in Portland, March 11-13, Thursday through Saturday. Convention planning for Oakland 2005 is proceeding. The conference will be held in the Southwest region in 2006.

WPSA has offered significant new technological services for the members, notably conference registration via the web.

d. Treasurer
Treasurer Gil St. Clair reported that the association is solvent.

e. Nominating Committee
Chair of the Nominating Committee, Julie Novkov presented the WPSA Nominating Committee Slate for Election.

Vice-President and Program Chair 2004-2005
Ron Schmidt, Sr., California State University, Long Beach

Executive Council 2004-2007

Region A
Shaun Bowler, University of California, Riverside
Edwina Barvosa-Carter, University of California, Santa Barbara

Region B
Sonia Garcia, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio

Region C
Clive Thomas, University of Alaska, Southeast

5. Old Business

There was no old business.

6. New Business

a. Election of Officers

Nominations from the floor were requested but there were none. The slate was approved unanimously.

b. Other

“Point of information” question from the floor: Will the minutes reflect the exchanges at the beginning of the meeting? An affirmative response from the president.

7. Introduction of Incoming WPSA President

Program chair and president-elect Bill Haltom led the house in a cheer for Timothy Kaufman-Osborn for his extraordinary two years of service. Kaufman-Osborn then presented a gavel to Bill Haltom.

Bill Haltom is now WPSA president.

Respectfully submitted,
Peregrine Schwartz-Shea
Recording Secretary