President’s Newsletter August 9, 2020

The following was sent to all members, except for two administrators (associate members; can see the mailing here), and one member who does not wish to receive mail (but can also read here).

Dear colleagues,

The August 8 Zoom meeting had 23 participants at its highest point, but usually 22. Secretary Thomas Miller is preparing formal minutes and will have them to you soon. The next general meeting, originally planned for October 10 in Lafayette, will be virtual as well. Christof Stumpf (Prof. Biology, LSU-A) will serve as parliamentarian and timekeeper.

We adopted as a conference the two resolutions already endorsed and recommended by the executive committee: “Protecting lives, promoting education,” on COVID-19 and reopening, and the open letter on higher education funding. We urge you to consider their principles and to keep them in mind, in whole or in part, in your own organizing.

We also adopted the resolution by an ad hoc committee (K. Cope, J. Miranti, D. Sherman, M. Massé) asking the Governor for faculty representation on higher education boards in Louisiana. For reference I have archived the text here: https://aaupla.org/resolution-august-8-2020/. A task remaining for our next meeting, for Outreach and Communication or for the Executive Committee, is the delivery of the resolution and its possible use as an organizing tool.

We discussed implementation of the dues subsidy program, adding to the list of possible applicant categories members who have lost or reduced employment in the COVID-19 situation, but who are still active in AAUP or becoming yet more active. People who have nominees or wish to self-nominate should contact secretary Thomas Miller (Thomas_Miller@subr.edu) by October 10 if possible, although we will still consider applications later; the purpose of the program is to facilitate entry for newer / younger / lower-paid / underrepresented / contingent / faculty for whom dues are a barrier this year. We’ll subsidize 10 memberships at 100% for dues up to $100, and 50% for higher dues rates. If there are more than 10 nominees we will establish a protocol for ranking applications. We hope to encourage membership growth at institutions forming new chapters, and to support members interested in active participation on committees or other AAUP projects.

Other agenda items were deferred to the October 10 meeting. We will take new agenda items ahead of the meeting, and we will take new business, but we must cover all still-pertinent planned items, without disruption, this time. These are as follows, and some are routine:

– Implementation/use of resolution on HE boards (executive committee could also take this up in the meantime / appoint a committee to take up) 5 minutes
– Report on applications for dues subsidy program (Tom Miller) 5 minutes
– Report from COVID-19 committee (Tom Miller, Christof Stumpf, Sudhir Trivedi, Leslie ex officio); consider any new COVID-19 news; note Tulane survey and results here 10 minutes
– Brief report from Summer Institute (Dave Reid, Leslie, perhaps others; all webinars and supplemental materials are available here (current members only – you must log in) 5 minutes
– Creation of network on the status of women (Judith Miranti, Leslie, [Jana Giles]) 10 minutes
– Brief reminder on fall/spring organizing drives, tools and materials for (Leslie) 5 minutes
– Brief report from Committee A (Kevin Cope, Leslie) 5 minutes
– Possible reports from chapters (Tulane, Southern have interesting activities, and others may) 10 minutes
*** BREATHE FOR 5 MINUTES, WE’LL BE COMING UP ON 11 AM ***
– Discussion: the idea of union (Steve Rushing, Kevin Cope) – what are the obstacles to organizing for HE advocacy in Louisiana, and how can they be overcome? 5-10 minutes presentation, 10-15 minutes discussion.
– 11:25 AM: Other agenda items / questions / new business, planning for JANUARY (not December) meeting; in the meantime executive committee, other committees, chapters can meet. 10 minutes
NOTE: new agenda items already include report from Outreach/Communication committee and proposal to create Zoom issues workshops (Kevin Cope, Leslie Bary)
– 11:30 adjournment; if people still want to hang out, converse more informally, socialize, complain, plot revolution, I will hang out until 12 sharp, taking notes and moderating so that no one person dominates the floor.

Many thanks to everyone for your attention and your work.

In solidarity,

LESLIE
Leslie Bary
2020-2022 President
Louisiana Conference AAUP

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