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International Committee
Report from the International Committee 2000
Present: Rosemary Crockett, Brenda Dixon-Gottschild, Robert Lee, Güenter Lenz, Kendal Natvig, Gönül Pultar, Hiroko Sato, and Maureen Montgomery (Chair).
Also in attendance by invitation: Mike Frisch and Heinz Ickstadt
The Chair welcomed the new members, Kendal Natvig, Robert Lee and Rosemary Crockett to the committee.
1. Apologies: Bruce Tucker, Allan Winkler
2. Detroit 2000
a. Pre-convention workshop/USIA funding
Mike Frisch indicated that there were plans for a series of self-funded workshops for any participants, along the lines of the Seattle pre-convention workshop, involving faculty from institutions in the area. This includes community workshops.
It was decided that the IC would approach the USIA (or rather, its replacement at the State Dept) to get funding for perhaps 12 overseas participants. Rosemary kindly agreed to assist with writing a proposal to the USIA with input from Brenda who will be able to provide details about the local arrangements. Maureen will forward TV Reed’s proposal to Rosemary.
b. International reception
It was agreed that we should continue to have this and there was some discussion about whether the reception should take place at a location other than the hotel. On the whole, the committee was of the opinion that it would be better for the reception to be held at the convention hotel but no final decision was made.
c. IC sponsored panel
Günter kindly agreed to organize this.
3. International American Studies Association
Mike Frisch filled the committee in on the contact with Djelal Kadir (Penn State) with regard to the establishment of a new association, the International American Studies Association, and the ASA’s involvement with this. Heinz Ickstadt spoke from the perspective of the EAAS with regards to whether this new organization as a “neutral” organization (i.e. outside existing national AS associations) might be an advantage for international collaboration.
The International Committee has the role of liaising between Kadir, the IASA and the ASA. Maureen has been in contact with Kadir at the President’s request and informed him of the IC’s project for an International Congress.
4. Christchurch 2001
a. Funding
Maureen informed the committee that the New Zealand-United States Educational Foundation (Fulbright) has agreed to sponsor the International Congress with a grant-in-aid towards the administration of the conference and with a grant for 2 speakers, along with assistance in bringing to New Zealand Fulbright scholars in the region for the congress. Other financial support will be sought, but the conference can be largely self-funded through registrations.
b. Planning
Maureen will contact all national presidents to find out if there is support for such a Congress. A local committee will look after arrangements for accommodation, functions, trips, etc.
c. Program
Maureen went through the letter sent to Fulbright in New Zealand (previously circulated) with an outline of the conference. There will basically be three streams: one for Fulbright scholars and issues relating to Fulbright’s role in facilitating international links in the field; one for papers addressing the conference theme; and a third for other papers addressing issues pertinent to internationalization. A program committee will be set up with representatives from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia to ensure international input.
d. Call for papers
Maureen will draft this based on the letter sent to Fulbright and circulate it to members of the IC before publishing it on the Internet and sending it to national associations.
5. Report back from meeting of Task Force for International Women in American Studies
Gönül and Maureen were in attendance at the meeting chaired by Irene Santos. Gönül reported that much of the discussion had again been taken up with the establishment of a database of women scholars. Not many questionnaires had yet been returned and efforts will continue to encourage women from around the world to submit completed questionnaires. The issue of the inclusion of US women scholars was again debated and this time it was agreed to extend the database. Maureen has agreed to take over from Judy Babbitts as moderator of Womenet.
6. Web Page
No progress has been made with this although Maureen had just received the minutes from previous IC meetings from John Stephens and was now in a position to provide a history of the committee and will seek further information from previous Chairs. As time was running short, the matter about the content of the page was deferred for discussion over the net.
7. American Quarterly: no non-US scholar on Advisory Board at present
Maureen had noted that the AQ’s Advisory Board no longer had a non-US scholar and asked Mike Frisch to inquire into the matter at the Board’s meeting.
8. IC Chair 2000-01
Bruce agreed to take on the role in the absence of any other indications of interest.
9. Nominations for new members of IC
Members of the committee were asked to consider nominations for new members and to find out if potential members would be able to meet their obligation to attend the IC meeting at the national meeting and to be a member of the ASA. As three US-based scholars joined the committee this year, the committee was asked to give particular consideration to non-US-based scholars and particularly from regions not already represented. Those submitting nominations should send a full resume and an indication of the nominee’s expertise in international matters to John Stephens and the Executive Committee by 15 April 2000.
10. AOB
As this was the last meeting to be chaired by Maureen, she thanked her fellow committee members for the work they had done and wished them to know that it had been an honor to work with them over the past two and a half years. She wishes Bruce all the best in his chairmanship of the committee.
[Bruce Tucker was unable to assume the duties of chair. Professor Hiroko Sato agreed to chair the International Committee through June 30, 2001.]
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