ASOR Board
of Trustees
The Westin Riverwalk Hotel
San Antonio, Texas
November 20,
2004
PRESENT: Lawrence T. Geraty, President, PE. MacAllister, Chairman of the Board, Oded Borowski, Gary Arbino, Elizabeth Bloch-Smith, Mark W. Chavalas, Douglas Clark, Executive Director, Eric H. Cline for CAMP, David Detrich, Jennie Ebeling, Nan Frederick, James Hardin, Tim Harrison, Larry Herr for COP, Martha Sharp Joukowsky, Vice-President, Ann Killebrew, Melody Knowles, Oystein S. LaBianca, Burt MacDonald for CAP, Eric M. Meyers, Beth Alpert Nakhai, Austin Ritterspach, Martha Risser, David Rosenstein, B.W. Ruffner for Finance, Bruce Routledge, Tammi Schneider, Joe D. Seger, Lydie Shufro, James F. Strange, Secretary, Stuart Swiny, Bethany Walker, Randy Younker, Billie Jean Collins, Publications Office, Holly Andrews, Staff, Selma Omerefendic, Staff.
ABSENT: Dick Scheuer, Life Trustee, Sidnie White-Crawford.
VISITORS. Tom Davis, Director of CAARI, Sy Gitin Director of AIAR.
1. 4:00 pm: CTO—P.E. MacAllister
2. Approval of the Minutes of the May 1, 2004 Board of Trustees Meeting, J. Strange.
One Correction: In the original minutes, during a discussion of the Case Statement, the minutes state “it is proposed that ASOR serves as a kind of equal rights organization." The suggested clarification is: in its operations abroad, ASOR should not violate human rights legislation that binds all of us in this country (equal opportunity legislation). UNANIMOUSLY approved as corrected
3. Report from the Chairman—P.E. MacAllister--Waived
4. Report from the President—L. Geraty. (Distributed)
5. Report from the Executive Director (Distributed by mail)—Douglas Clark noted that more than $25k has been contributed to the Annual Meeting. He mentioned that his archaeological team at Tell Umayri was visited by a group of 70 Iraqis who came with Elizabeth Stone and Paul Zimansky.
BE IT RESOLVED that ASOR will co-sponsor, without obligation to pay consortium fees, the Madaba Plains Project—Umayri, of which Doug Clark is a co-director. This is a motion and a second from the Executive Committee. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Doug announced that we need a By-Laws Committee. No action was taken.
The EC recommends to the Board of Trustees that the following change be made to the By-laws text: [Article III, Section 3] ‘These trustees shall take up their responsibilities at the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1.’ to read as follows: ‘These trustees shall take up their responsibilities at the beginning of the next calendar year on January 1.’[Article IV, Section 2] ‘The term of office of each officer of the Corporation shall begin on July 1 immediately following his or her election...’ to read as follows: ‘The term of office of each officer of the Corporation shall begin on January 1 of the next year following his or her election.’
Discussion: Those that were elected at the Members Meeting are official as of Jan 1, 2005. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Executive Committee authorized the President to put together a Membership Committee. Its chair is Joe Seger. Institutional Membership Vice Chair is Martha Joukowsky. Members are Gary Arbino, Oded Borowski, Tim Harrison, Melody Knowles, Tammi Schneider and graduate student Lynda Carroll. Individual Membership Vice Chair is Steve Ortiz. Members are Beth Alpert Nakhai, Teddy Burgh, Jane Grutz, Susan Sheridan, Bethany Walker, and Graduate Student Ben Porter.
The Executive Committee authorized the President to put together a new Unprovenanced Texts Committee co-chaired by Eric Meyers and Patty Gerstenblith, for which the members are Piotr Michalowski, Chris Rollston, Elizabeth Stone, Richard Zettler, Ex-officio Lawrence T. Geraty, Douglas Clark, Eric Cline, Larry Herr, and Burt MacDonald. The Unprovenanced Texts Committee has already consulted with the Director General, Iraqi Museums.
BE IT RESOLVED that the following policy be adopted:
Policy with Respect to the Publication of Undocumented Textual Material from Iraq
Publication and presentation at ASOR meetings would be allowed if the following two criteria are both met before the study and publication occur:
1. The State Board of Antiquities and Heritage of Iraq [SBAH] gives its consent.
2. Materials to be published are returned to Iraq and are in the ownership and custody of the SBAH.
Note: Because of current conditions in Iraq, “return to Iraq” would include temporary placement of the material on loan with an academic research institution in the United States which is approved by the SBAH, does not acquire undocumented antiquities, and commits in writing to transfer such material to Iraq at any time upon request from the SBAH. Such material will be numbered and photographed and this information shall be transmitted to the SBAH before publication or presentation. Under no circumstances could such material be sold or title transferred to any institution outside of Iraq. The ASOR Baghdad Committee can make a determination as to when conditions in Iraq permit the immediate return of materials to Iraq and this provision for temporary placement in a US institution would then no longer be applicable.
3. In addition, the ASOR-sponsored publication and any future ASOR-sponsored publication of this material must include a reference to the fact that the published texts are unprovenanced. Additional facts that are known concerning the acquisition or appearance of the texts in the United States should also be included.
Eric Meyers added that the Committee needs to consider how to address the situation of marketing of illegal artifacts in Israel and the West Bank. It was added that we need to work with Canadian and U.S. authorities to change existing collection laws. There was a consensus that this committee will make its recommendations to CAP.
BE IT RESOLVED to establish the Implementation and Strategic Planning Committee consisting of Loren Basch, Rachel Hallote, Sten LaBianca, Carol Meyers, Eric Cline, Larry Herr, and Burt MacDonald, a graduate student, and Ex-Officio: Lawrence T. Geraty and Douglas Clark. Tammi Schneider moved, Randall Younker seconded. Tammi suggested that the graduate student come from an institutional membership. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Doug presented as information only a sketch of the Development Director Search Committee: Possible Chair Vivian Bull, members TBA.
A new Development Committee is being appointed to work with the new Development Director. It will be chaired by David Rosenstein and Members are TBA (appointed by Chairman.). Ex-officio members would be Lawrence T. Geraty, Douglas Clark, Eric Cline, Larry Herr, and Burt MacDonald.
Doug reports we have accumulated pledges for about 3/4 of the funds required to support a Director of Development for two years.
BE IT RESOLVED that we begin the search for a Development Director as soon as possible after this meeting. Moved by David Rosenstein, seconded by Martha Joukowsky.
Discussion: Donors tend to donate at the end of the year, so we need someone in place as an interim to take advantage of this. Ballou suggested we not lose momentum. It was suggested that we sign a contract with a new Director of Development for the amount of money on hand and that we review the person after six months. We have one or more candidates in view, and we are identifying the places for our advertisement. Boston is particularly rich for such advertisement. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
BE IT RESOLVED that in the case of major ($5,000 to $25,000) unexpected and unrestricted donations to ASOR, the Finance Committee will decide in a timely manner how best to use the funds. Donations above $25,000 will be referred to the Executive Committee. Moved and Seconded by the Executive Committee. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
BE IT RESOLVED that B.W. Ruffner be given the title "Treasurer." It was clarified that his specific role is not detailed accounting. Moved and seconded by the Executive Committee. It was noted that he has done more than asked. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Other news: The ACLS President plans to visit our Board meeting at the end of April. David Rosenstein donated the iMIS software, which is installed in the Atlanta Office and will soon be installed in the Boston Office. We have a new page on the website for online giving. There will be an ASOR-sponsored NEH institute for high school teachers housed at BU.
6. AIAR. Sy Gitin reports that things are going well with a full academic program. The Jerusalem Virtual Library sponsored unofficially by the Hebrew University and El Quds University has been completed. The new computer program has allowed final computerization of the Albright library catalog. The Leon Levy bequest will be used for library acquisition over the next three years. CAORC will help AIAR create electronic records of the card catalog. The three main Palestinian libraries have accepted the invitation to computerize their card catalogs. Three projects of special interest: (a) funding of two fellowships for Palestinian archaeologists to attend the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia is currently be arranged through ASOR. (b) The new two-year Kress Fellowship offers time at the Albright, then time at another institute the second year, and we hope ACOR and CAARI will be selected. (c) A third program is a director's exchange to lecture at the other sister institutions.
7. ACOR. Sten LaBianca reports that the situation has turned around in Jordan to a very positive picture. Sten met with the Jordanians on the ACOR board, who are enthusiastic and supportive. The announcement in June was that Pierre and Patricia Bikai are retiring, so the Board is now looking for replacements. Construction in the ACOR building is moving forward. Nine field projects dug last summer sponsored by ACOR. Fellows have started their work. Nan Frederick adds that the library has enhanced its collection by $25k donated by a Board member.
8. CAARI. Dick Detrich reports that the CAARI Board has voted to build a library under the garden of CAARI three stories down. The first floor down will be identical to the current library. The second floor will be for archives and other collection. The third floor down will be used for compact shelving. CAARI is ready to raise the money. Tom Davis adds that the research fellows have wide interests, an overflow crowd attended the public lectures, and the Ministry has expanded into underwater archaeology. Since Cyprus is now part of the European Union, it opens the doors for new opportunities in raising money.
9. Nominations Committee. Randall Younker reports that the following were elected to the ASOR Board of Trustees:
Institutional Slate
Individual Slate
Gary Arbino—Class of 2005
Barry Gittlen—Class of 2006
Jennie Ebeling—Class of 2005
Confirmed for CAMP ChairWe have nominations for new Lay Trustees:
Eric Cline
Wilfred Geschke, Oncologist, Portland Oregon
Fred Cornforth, Developer, Caldwell, Idaho
John Anderson, M.D., New York, NY
Nader Rastegar, Businessman, Atlanta, Georgia.
Resumes were distributed for Fred Cornforth and John Anderson. Oded Borowski spoke for the nomination of Nader Rastegar. This comes as a motion and a second from the Nominating Committee. ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY.
10. COP. Larry Herr reports that COP approved the proposed policy of publishing unprovenanced texts with extensive discussion.
BE IT RESOLVED that Elizabeth Carter and Liz Friedman be elected to replace two losses on the Committee. COP moves and seconds. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
BE IT RESOLVED that Jim Weinstein be confirmed as Editor of BASOR for three more years. COP moves and seconds. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Ann Killebrew is to be the COP Development Chair. This chair must cooperate fully with the ASOR Development Chair.
COP has agreed on the short list of authors and editors for its new series on the archaeology of the countries of the Middle East. COP conducted a writing workshop at the Annual Meeting for 60 attendees. Billie Jean Collins added that ASOR has frozen the assets of Academic Services and has asked for a summary judgment to replace a $45k loss. The Series "Archaeological Sources for the History of Palestine" is in play once again. We anticipate publication in time for next year's meeting.
11. CAP--Burton MacDonald reported that he would have another COP tour in June of 2005. COP has received 53 applications for excavation and publication, including three in Cyprus. The affiliated projects will be posted on the web site and appear in the Newsletter. The letters of affiliation will not appear until early in 2005. CAP's discussion of why it exists will be posted on the website.
12. CAMP—Eric Cline (report distributed beforehand) reported that about 550 people were in attendance at the Annual Meeting. The Ethics session will be moved to a stand-alone session in the evening next year. CAMP has updated its structure and its sub committees. Every committee member has a term of three years. CAMP has reconstituted the Honors and Awards Committee: Sten LaBianca, Norma Dever, Nancy Serwint, Jim Strange, Sandra Scham, and Barry Gittlen. Eric has asked Sten to stay on for one year as Chair. Eric read all the names of all CAMP committees to the Board. He has presented the new names to the President. The President asked us to confirm them.
BE IT RESOLVED that these new names be confirmed. This is moved and seconded by CAMP and passed on to the Board. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
13. Investment Committee: Austin Ritterspach reported on investments. B.W. Ruffner reports that the auditors have told us to write off bad debt contributions so that we will not have large write-offs in the future. The results are that we project expenses to be about the same, but income projections are lower for the year.
Sten LaBianca asked that we commend the lay members of the Board who have stepped up to build our finances. The Board commended P.E. MacAllister, B.W. Ruffner, David Rosenstein, Austin Ritterspach, Nan Frederick, Ed Gilbert, and Lydie Shufro by acclamation.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board endorses the "Mission of the Investment Committee of ASOR" which was circulated. It was Moved and Seconded by the Investment Committee as recorded in the document: "The Overall Objective of the ASOR Investment Committee..."
Announcement: The next Board meeting will be 29-30 April 2005 in Boston.
14. Adjournment—P.E. MacAllister
Respectfully Submitted,
James F. Strange, Secretary
Addendum (added on January 10, 2005)
FY05 Budget Vote
Because a vote on the FY05 Budget was inadvertently overlooked at the Board Meeting, an electronic vote was formally taken via email and compiled at the end of December 2004.
Results - 25 Board members responded: 25 in favor / 0 opposed.