Minutes

Western Political Science Association
Executive Council Meeting

Friday, September 2, 2005
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington D.C.
Room:  Washington 5
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Members Present:  President Ron Schmidt, Sr.; Vice President Valerie Martinez-Ebers; Treasurer Gilbert St. Clair,; Executive Council Members David Camacho, Shaun Bowler, Edwina Barvosa-Carter, Clive Thomas, Noelle Norton, Lori Cox Han, and Todd Donovan.

Ex-Officio Members Present: Executive Director Elizabeth Moulds, Associate Director Elsa Favila; PRQ Editors Harold Clarke and Ken Godwin; PRQ Managing Editor Ron Hrebenar; and Past President Barbara Norrander

Members Absent:  Recording Secretary Barbara Morris, and Executive Council Members Susan Burgess, Howard Gillman, Joel Kassiola, Howard Gillman, Sonia Garcia, and Gary Segura.

Guest Present:  Richard Clucas, Manny Avalos, Luis Fraga, Lynda Roberts, and Don Gerth.

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Ron Schmidt at 5:30 p.m.

I.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the Thursday, March 17, 2005 Executive Council meeting in Oakland California were approved.

II.  REPORTS

            A. Executive Directors’ Report:  Elizabeth Moulds

Elizabeth Moulds reported on the search for the PRQ editors and noted that Luis Fraga was present to give a report on the search later in the meeting.

Betty reported that the “wrap-up” on the Oakland conference was complete.

Betty was pleased to report that she is working hard on the Albuquerque 2006 conference and the Las Vegas 2007 conference.  She noted that the new Local Arrangements Chair for the Albuquerque conference is Tem Krebs and that Michele Kuenzi will be handling local arrangements for Las Vegas until Ted Jelen’s return from leave.

Betty announced that the contract with the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego had been signed for the 2008 conference.  She is exploring the options for 2009 and 2010.

The two policy issues she continues to work on are the investment policy and the child care provision policy.

Betty noted that her Fall semester would be spent on the following items:  the Albuquerque conference; investment policy; and routine work for the Association.

            B. Program Chair Report:  Valerie Martinez-Ebers

Val Martinez-Ebers, Albuquerque Program Committee Chair, reported that she is looking forward to the conference and expects high attendance in Albuquerque.  She thanked the Program Committee, noting that she has received lots of help from all of them.

Val also noted that there are plans to have a big party on Wednesday night in Albuquerque and that the Presidents reception would be a “Presidents Reception and Dance. All were encouraged to attend.

            C.  Local Arrangements Final Report:  Elizabeth Moulds

Betty reported that the net income from the 2005 Oakland conference was $23,113.58.  The net income would have been higher, except that Cal State East Bay would not buy Local Arrangements Chair, Dvora Yanow, out of a course and the WPSA bought out her course.

            D.  Local Arrangements Albuquerque:  Elizabeth Moulds

Betty reminded the Council that the Convention is scheduled for March 16 – 18, 2005.  The Preconvention workshops are scheduled for March 15th.

Betty noted that the Albuquerque hotel, the Hyatt Regency, is a much better hotel than the one we stayed in for the last WPSA hosted in Albuquerque.  The Hyatt is centrally located in an exciting party of town.  Rates for a single or double room will be $128.00

            E.  Nominating Committee Report:  Manny Avalos

Manny Avalos presented the committee nominations as follows:
Vice President and Program Chair, 2007-2008 – Andrea Simpson, University of Richmond
Executive Council 2006-2009
Region A: Lisa Garcia Bedolla (UC Irvine); Charles Turner (Cal State Chico)
Region B: John Bretting (University of Texas, El Paso)
Region C:  Ange-Marie Hancock (Yale)

III.  OLD BUSINESS

            A. PRQ Editor:  Recommendation of the Search Committee. Luis Fraga.
Luis Fraga reported on the national search for a PRQ editor or editorial team.  Six competitive applications were received, including four teams and 2 individuals.  All application materials were reviewed and conference calls were held.  Two teams were selected for an interview on Wednesday, August 31 in Washington D.C..  

Luis was happy to report that Cornell Clayton and Amy Mazur of Washington State University were selected as the next PRQ editorial team.  This team was given strong support by their dean, including course release-time, research assistants, and phone, computer and office support.  Luis relayed this team’s desire to build on the excellence of the PRQ, but noted that they would also solicit more comparative, IR and diversity articles.

A motion to approve the decision of the PRQ committee was moved, seconded and unanimously supported by the Executive Council.

Luis Fraga and the PRQ Editor Selection Committee were commended for their hard work.

            B.  Graduate Student Socialization. Ron Schmidt

Ron Schmidt opened the discussion of graduate student socialization with a suggestion by Mark Petraca.  Mark suggested that WPSA award a WPSA membership and PRQ subscription to one outstanding doctoral student at each PhD granting university in the region.

After some discussion, the Council asked the Membership Committee to review this option and make a report at the next meeting.

IV.  NEW BUSINESS

            A.  Executive Director Appointment Renewal.  Ron Schmidt

The contract renewal for the Executive Director was discussed. Ron Schmidt noted that Betty planned to stay with the WPSA for three more years, but that she was in phased retirement at Cal State Sacramento and would step down in 2008. 

The Council voted unanimously to extend Betty’s contract another three years.

            B.  Appointment of an Investment Policy Committee. Ron Schmidt

Ron Schmidt announced that he appointed an ad hoc investment committee to recommend a draft policy for WPSA investments.  Gil St. Clair has agreed to chair the committee.  Two former University (and WPSA) Presidents, with investment experience, will also sit on the Committee:  Chris Garcia, University of New Mexico and Dale Rogers Marshall, Wheaton College.

Betty reported on an APSA officers meeting she attended about investment strategies.

            C. Child Care Options for WPSA Conventions. Elizabeth Moulds

Betty Moulds reported on her exploration of child care options for the WPSA.  A set of recommendations were discussed by the Executive Council.

• Increase the WPSA subsidy from a matching amount of $75.00 to $150.00 per participant.
• Provide information regarding childcare to participants with their WPSA acceptance letter.
• Post information regarding childcare on the WPSA website at least three months prior to the meeting.
• Obtain information on local childcare centers.  Local Arrangements chairs will be asked to communicate information regarding local centers to parents requesting child care at least three months prior to the meeting.
• Ask conference participants requesting childcare to complete a childcare form which included the option for these parents to share information with other participants requesting childcare.
• Delete the childcare request box from the preregistration form and request that a separate form be used.

A motion to accept all of the recommendations noted above was moved, seconded, and unanimously supported by the Executive Council.

            D.  Site Selection for 2009 and 2010. Elizabeth Moulds.

Betty Moulds reported on her investigation of sites for the 2009 and 2010 annual meetings.  The council discussed the following site options:  Vancouver, British Columbia, San Francisco, and San Antonio. 

Betty noted that the Hyatt will provide us with a deal on room rates if we contract with them for three conferences in a row.  Currently, we have Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and San Diego contracted with Hyatt.

The council discussed the possibility that passports may be required to enter Canada by 2009 and that we might not have a Local Arrangements Chair in that location.  

After some discussion, the Executive Council expressed interest in pursuing Vancouver in 2009 and San Antonio in 2010.  A motion to have Betty explore the concerns about Vancouver and the hotel options in both locations was moved, seconded, and supported unanimously by the Executive Council.  The Council authorized Betty and Elsa to sign contracts with the proposed hotels in these two cities if they determine that the arrangements are good ones for WPSA.

            E.  Mid-Year budget report. Gil St. Clair

Gil St. Clair reported that everything was going very well with the budget.  He noted that the WPSA was over budget in one area only – Entertainment.

Acceptance of the Mid-Year Budget Report was moved, seconded, and unanimously supported by the Executive Council.

It was moved that the meeting be adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Noelle Norton, Acting Recording Secretary