Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 1996
May 4, 1996
(DRAFT)
University of Northern British Columbia
Prince George, B.C.
Draft – May 7, 1996
1. The meeting was called to order by P. Smith at 12:40 pm
2. The agenda was distributed and participants welcomed. Guests of the BCPSA were introduced, including CPSA President Peter Aucoin.
3. It was MOVED by A. Michalos and SECONDED by M. Hancock that the minutes of the 1995 AGM be approved.
CARRIED
4. The 1996 Program Report was presented by M.L. McAllister. Forty-two individuals had registered and paid for membership, including 4 jt. CPSA/BCPSA members. Four graduate students also registered. Four participants originated out-of-province, including three from Nova Scotia and one from Quebec. Nineteen papers and other presentations appeared on the program.
5. D. Winchester will act as the local organizer for the 1997 BCPSA Conference at Capilano College. The Conference will be held the first Saturday/Sunday in May in conjunction with the provincial articulation meetings.
6. It was MOVED by S. McBride and SECONDED by E. Black that the 1998 AGM be held at Cariboo University-College and the 1999 AGM at the University of British Columbia.
CARRIED
7. P. Smith presented the Membership Report. The details of the new Jt. BCSPA/CPSA membership were outlined and members were reminded that the draft constitution provided for Open (non-academic) Memberships. Following the suggestion of M. Howlett, the Executive plans to bring forward as many as three names to the 1997 AGM as Honorary Lifetime Members. Members were encouraged to nominate individuals for these memberships.
8. E. Black discussed the publication of proceedings from the 1995 SFU AGM. These will be mailed to members and libraries in several weeks.
9. M. Howlett provided the Financial Report. The BCPSA had a balance of $1115.21 in its accounts as of March 31, 1996 and no outstanding liabilities. The Association expects a surplus of approximately $750 on the 1996 AGM and also anticipates royalties from the new K. Carty edited BC Politics text sometime over the next year. It was MOVED by M. Howlett and SECONDED by D. Laycock that the Financial report be accepted.
CARRIED
10. P. Smith delivered the Constitution Report on behalf of J. Wilson. Having had no suggestions for amendments to the 1995 draft Constitution put forward, it was MOVED by D. Cook and SECONDED by P. Whyte that the Draft Constitution now be approved as the Constitution of the British Columbia Political Studies Association and application be made to the provincial government for registration under the Societies Act.
CARRIED
11. P. Smith discussed the proposal put forward by M. Howlett that the Executive Committee develop a system of student awards. The proposal calls for a graduate non-thesis paper award as well as one award for a lower division undergraduate paper and one for an upper division undergraduate paper. The awards would be book prizes. The expectation of the meeting was that a maximum of one nomination in each category be made by each institution; with the graduate award being named the “Pauline Jewett Prize” and the undergraduate awards being named “The BCPSA Undergraduate Award (Lower Division)” and “The BCPSA Undergraduate Award (Upper Division”. It was MOVED by D. Winchester and SECONDED by G. Poelzer that the Executive be instructed to develop the proposal and award the first prizes at the 1997 AGM.
CARRIED
12. Elections for vacant Executive positions were held. P. Smith thanked past executive members currently stepping down, including E. Black, S. Tyakoff, R. Berthiaume, J. Rayner, M. Goldie and C. Hodge. The names of BCPSA members expressing interest in serving on the executive – or suggested by their colleagues – were brought forward as nominees – AND there was a call for further nominations from the floor for each election. This process resulted in the following decisions:
It was MOVED by D. Laycock and SECONDED by E. Black that K. Carty be elected to fill the position of First Vice-President for a two year term.
ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION
It was MOVED by M.L. McAllister and SECONDED by G. Poelzer that H. Smith be elected to the position of Secretary for a two year term.
ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION
It was noted by P. Smith that E. Lavalle now becomes Second Vice President (A) in order to conduct the 1997 AGM. It was MOVED by M. Howlett and SECONDED by P. Smith that D. Cook be elected to the position of Second Vice-President (B) in order to conduct the 1998 AGM.
ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION
It was MOVED by P. Smith and SECONDED by M. Howlett that M.L. McAllister be elected to the position of Northern At-Large Representative for a two year term.
ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION
It was MOVED by P. Smith and SECONDED by M. Howlett that A. Shadrack be elected to the position of Southern At Large Representative for a period of two years and B. McCullough be elected for a one year term. The nomination of R. Siggurdson was declined.
ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION
It was MOVED by P. Smith and SECONDED by M. Howlett that D. Winchester and M. Hancock be nominated for the position of Lower Mainland At-Large Representative for a two-year term. After the nominees left the room,
D. WINCHESTER WAS ELECTED BY SHOW OF HANDS
It was MOVED by P. Smith and SECONDED by M. Howlett that M. Meade and P. Whyte be nominated for the position of Vancouver Island At-Large Representative for a two-year term. After the nominees left the room,
M. MEADE WAS ELECTED BY SHOW OF HANDS
13. P. Smith noted the requests received throughout the year for BCPSA action on a variety of professional and public issues. It was MOVED by S. McBride and SECONDED by D. Cook that the BCPSA form a committee composed of representatives from SFU, UVIC and UBC to work in conjunction with the executive to encourage recognition of Political Science as a Teachable Subject for High School instruction and report back to the 1997 AGM.
CARRIED
P. Smith summarized the contents of a letter received from A. Shadrack asking that the BCPSA support colleagues encountering organizational difficulties in Departmental amalgamations and other changes. It was MOVED by D. Cook and SECONDED by D. Laycock that the BCPSA Executive write to the Ministry of Education to advocate the usefulness of offering citizenship education and particularly Canadian government and other political science courses at every college and post-secondary institution in the province; with a copy to all provincial post-secondary institutes.
CARRIED
14. There was also discussion about the role of the BCPSA on public issues. This included a discussion of a letter to the Association from member Andy Shadrack about access to the media – particularly the Leaders debate – during the BC General Election. There was a range of opinion expressed about the appropriateness of taking positions on public issues vs serving professional support roles. Note was taken of the fact that the articles of the BCPSA constitution ‘allowed’ for a professional advocacy role but not – at present – for public issue positions. A ‘strict constructionist’ vs ‘expansionist’ set of positions came out of this discussion. There was agreement that there was insufficient time to resolve this issue and, as time was limited, the chair suggested that further executive discussion – and some form of consultation with the membership – of the issue should occur. Any possible constitutional amendments brought forward by the membership could also be considered so that the BCPSA could seek to establish a clearer view on this issue in the future.
15. At 2:00 pm it was MOVED by J. Haaland and SECONDED by K. Carty that the meeting be adjourned.
CARRIED