11
SLAS Annual General Meeting
Liverpool
Friday 28 March 2008
1) APOLOGIES
There were no apologies.
2) MINUTES: 13 APRIL 2007
Minutes of the last AGM (13 April 2007, Newcastle) were accepted as an accurate record.
3) PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The President, Dr Peter Lambert, presented the following report:
Membership
Total SLAS membership for 2007 was 519, up slightly from 2006 (512). A significant increase in US LASA-linked membership compensated for a fall in UK based members. The membership rate was increased from £21 to £25, but this will include a free copy of the new BLAR Book Series publication.
SLAS Committee
John Fisher (as Treasurer), Mo Hume, and Diego Sanchez have been co-opted for one year (see the separate heading for Elections below). In addition to the AGM, the past year has seen four very well attended Committee meetings in June (Nottingham Trent), October (Liverpool), January (Liverpool) and April (Liverpool).
SLAS Annual Conference
2007 Conference (Newcastle)
In what was felt to be a very successful conference (in terms of academic quality and attendance), 170 delegates attended from Europe, North America and Latin America. The emphasis on interdisciplinarity produced 34 panels on a diverse range of topics and disciplines. The plenary sessions were given by Dr Carlos Ivan Degregori, one of the twelve commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Peru and by Professor Fiona Wilson on the role of education and citizenship. Both were well attended and insightful and stimulating papers. Special thanks are due to the Newcastle team, coordinated by Keith and Clare Brewster.
2008 Conference (Liverpool)
Early indications from the 2008 Conference (University of Liverpool) show that about 150 people have registered and 24 panels have been organized.
The 2009 Conference will be in Leeds, and the 2010 event in Bristol.
Annual Lecture Series
The fourth Annual Lecture was given by Hugh O’Shaughnessy on ‘Are we Keeping up with Latin America?’, at the University of Liverpool on 12 October 2007. It was an eloquent and stimulating talk which offered a positive interpretation of current trends in Latin America, and was well received by the 50 or so present. The University of Liverpool hosted a reception and dinner as well as the event. The talk is available on the SLAS website.
SLAS Newsletter
Following nearly two years of debate and an extensive survey of members’ views, the decision was finally taken to replace the hard copy of the newsletter with an electronic version. Lucy Taylor volunteered to coordinate the e-letter, and the first version came out in October. The advantages of the e-version now seem clear. Far more information can be included, delivery is instantaneous, monthly publication makes it more directly relevant for many members and the costs involved are far lower than for the hard copy, implying a significant financial saving. Feedback has been very positive, with particular praise for the ease of viewing and the breadth of information (often with links). Our thanks to Lucy who has taken on this challenge with enthusiasm and creativity.
Our profound thanks from the Committee and the Society to Liz Allen, who was editor of the hard copy newsletter for 15 years, making her the longest serving / suffering of the four editors to date.
SLAS Website
In addition, thanks to the resources provided by JISLAC (Joint Initiative for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean), the Society was able to redesign its webpage. Again, Lucy Taylor offered to coordinate the project with the JISLAC web designer Christy Palmer. The result has been the development of a cleaner, more user-friendly, more practical and far more extensive webpage, which contains many innovative and creative features and has a greater emphasis on research. Although some links are still under development we are delighted with the progress and are sure the final result will be of great use to academics, students and all members. Our thanks again to Lucy for her tireless work and enthusiasm and also to Christy Palmer who has impressed us with her high standard of work and her professionalism, her understanding of our needs, and her creativity.
Bulletin of Latin American Research
We are very pleased with the very positive developments concerning the Bulletin. A greater uptake via the consortia sales programme has led to a further increase in the number of libraries offering access to the Bulletin, to a total of 2,814 in 2007 (traditional subscriptions plus consortia access). This represents an increase in institutional circulation of over 33% since 2005. Interestingly, there were 69,029 article downloads in 2007, compared with 40,253 in 2006 – an increase of 71%. This outstrips increases in other Wiley-Blackwell journals, and is important in days of library monitoring of demand and usage for decisions on cancellation.
The most exciting development in BLAR in the publication of the first volume in the Book Series, launched at this conference, but with a planned single book each year in the first instance. The book chosen for publication in 2008 is entitled Informal Empire in Latin America: Culture, Commerce, and Capital (edited by Matthew Brown of the University of Bristol). I understand that next year’s volume has already been chosen.
Jean Grugel has replaced Nikki Miller as Coordinating Editor of the Bulletin; the other editors are now Tony Kapcia (Nottingham), David Howard (Edinburgh), and Geoffrey Kantaris (Cambridge). Thanks go to Gemma, Rita and Rhiannon at Wiley-Blackwell for their continued service and support; also to the Editorial Assistant, Ken Lestrange, for his efficiency and hard work.
PILAS (Postgraduates in Latin American Studies)
Disappointingly, we have no news of PILAS activities this year. Whilst we recognize the difficulties inherent in organizing a postgraduate organization, the committee will be looking at ways of stimulating activity.
UK Council of Area Studies Associations (UKCASA)
At present some 20 societies are represented in UKCASA and there is every indication that the organisation is seeking to grow and become more relevant to the defence and furtherance of area studies. In response to plans for the new Research Excellence Framework, and the resulting consultation by HEFCE, UKCASA formed a small working party, on which James Dunkerley represented SLAS, to produce a response from the perspective of area studies. This stressed concern felt regarding the bibliometric-oriented approach and how this would capture a range of issues including the different forms of publication, quality of research, use of citation, and publication in lesser-known non-Anglophone publications.
British Academy Panel on Latin America and the Caribbean
SLAS continued to be well represented in the growth and development of this British Academy Panel, formally through the presence of the President but informally through other SLAS members. The breadth of activities of the Panel continues to grow and included allocation of grants and funding, especially in the form of postdoctoral visiting fellowships, conference organization, funding links with Latin America and publications. It has commissioned a report on the current state of Latin American and Caribbean studies in the UK for next year. SLAS is well represented on the steering committee.
Standing Conference for Centres of Latin American Studies
SLAS is well represented on this committee, which is a forum for debate for the major university centres of Latin American studies. This year applications from the Universities of Bristol and Stirling were successful, and they will join the Conference this year.
Joint Initiative for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean (JISLAC)
JISLAC was the eventual outcome of the successful collaborative bid (mentioned in the 2006 AGM) shared between SLAS, the Society for Caribbean Studies (SCS), and the Standing Conference for Latin American Centres, to the British Academy’s Learned Societies Programme. The funding to the three ‘societies’ is worth approximately £20,000 per annum each for five years (with the possibility of renewal if the experiment is deemed successful by the Academy).
This includes 1) The appointment of Christy Palmer as part-time Information Officer, who has played a central role in the development and improvement of the SLAS website (as well as the websites of JISLAC and SCS) and has provided guidance for the electronic version of the SLAS Newsletter. 2) The regional seminar programme which has funded seminars in Portsmouth, Durham, Manchester, Birmingham, St Andrews, Belfast, Edinburgh and Bristol. Reports and personal feedback indicate that these were very successful, diverse and productive. Similar events are to be organized in 2008-9 in Newcastle, York, Warwick, Manchester, Liverpool, Aberystwyth, Glasgow and Essex. The 2009-10 programme is still being developed, but it is hoped that this round will include an event in the Netherlands. 3) JISLAC travel grant and essay prize schemes, which are currently being considered.
SLAS continues to be represented on the JISLAC committee by Tony Kapcia
David Fox
I wish to remember David Fox who passed away in August 2007. David was a founder member of SLAS, its Treasurer until recently and someone who cared deeply about the society and contributed much to its success. He was a great supporter of the conference and almost permanent fixture at the event. He was a very kind and modest man, who we miss greatly
Acknowledgements
As I complete my first year as President, I would like to take this opportunity to extend special thanks to three people, who have made my own task considerably easier: the Treasurer, John Fisher, who is both an efficient Treasurer and a valued colleague in terms of knowledge of SLAS; ex-President Tony Kapcia, who has advised discretely and helpfully throughout the year; and the Secretary Adrian Pearce – who actually runs the Society very efficiently all the year round.
Questions
Andrew Canessa asked why there has been such a marked increase in downloads from BLAR. PL did not know; though Rory Miller noted that the same phenomenon has been observed with downloads from the Journal of Latin American Studies.
A SLAS member asked whether book proposals may be submitted for the BLAR book series on individual countries. She made enquiries, and was told that they could not. PL responded that this is not strictly the case; there are criteria on which the selection rests, but volumes on single countries are not excluded in principle.
4) TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer, Professor John Fisher, presented the following report:
Income
1) Income totalled £42,117, of which £34,021 (81%) came from Blackwell: of this sum, £30,073 represented the royalty payment due for sales of BLAR in 2006, and £3,948 a contribution towards the cost of employing the Journal’s Editorial Assistant. Expenditure on BLAR totalled £11,380, thereby leaving a surplus from this source of £22,641 for the Society’s general activities.
2) As noted in the circulated statement, the Annual Conference, held in Newcastle, generated a net profit for the Society of £3,672, although the Society itself spent £1,650 on postgraduate students’ bursaries, and £2,700 to facilitate the participation of four scholars from Latin America.
3) Bank interest increased by £540 to £2,576.
4) The other principal items of income were a grant of £500 from the British Academy resulting from the JISLAC initiative; £250 from the University of Liverpool as a contribution towards the costs of the very successful PILAS Conference, held in February 2007; and “members’ donations” totalling £1,098.
Expenditure
1) On the expenditure side, there were some small residual expenses (£83) for the Newsletter. In future, following the switch to an electronic version, this item of expenditure will cease to feature.
2) The maintenance cost of the website (£300) has increased as expected, but continues to be incredibly cheap. Thanks are due to Christy Palmer and Lucy Taylor for their diligent and innovative care of this.
3) Expenditure (£997) on the 2007 SLAS lecture, delivered on 12 October by Hugh O’Shaugnessy, was within budget, notwithstanding the sumptuous hospitality enjoyed by a large and appreciative audience.
4) Four postgraduate members of the Society received awards (£500 each) to assist them with the costs of giving papers at overseas conferences (a fifth award which had been made was refunded when the recipient decided not to attend the LASA Conference). A further eight postgraduates received awards of, in all but one case, £600 each (total £4,685) towards the costs of fieldwork in Latin America.
5) Five grants totalling £3,281 were made to universities organising conferences (De Montfort, the Institute for the Study of the Americas in London, Liverpool, Manchester, and St. Andrews), normally as contributions towards the costs of inviting named Latin American scholars.
6) Committee expenses – primarily travel costs – were a little higher (by £141) than in 2006, in part because of the diligence of members in attending the three meetings held at the universities of Liverpool, Newcastle, and Nottingham Trent (as well as two meetings held at Newcastle during the Annual Conference, which did not incur any expense for the Society).
7) The Independent Examiner, Dr. Paul Henderson (University of Wolverhampton), having audited the accounts, has signed the necessary certificate for the Charity Commission, confirming that they accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 1993. I thank him for his work.
SLAS Accounts 2007Income / 2007 / 2006 / Expenditure / 2007 / 2006
Blackwell / 34,021 / 33,138 / MEMBERS SERVICES
Interest Received / 2,576 / 2,036 / Bulletin of Latin American Research / 11,380 / 11,588
Annual Conference / 3,672 / Newsletter / 83 / 2,326
Members' Donations / 1,098 / 1,220 / Website / 300 / 92
JISLAC / 500 / Annual Lecture / 997 / 689
U. of Liverpool (PILAS) / 250 / CONFERENCES
Other / 185 / Annual Conference / 4,400 / 4,380
PILAS conference 2006 / 1,218 / 592
GRANTS & PRIZES
Postgrad travel/conf / 6,685 / 6,300
Grants to conferences / 3,281 / 3,100
Latin America Bureau / 1,500
Blakemore Prize / 400 / 400
Committee Expenses / 2,239 / 2,098
Postage / 73 / 18
Refunds / 500 / 96
Subscriptions / 225 / 100
Other / 50
TOTAL / 42,117.00 / 36,579.00 / TOTAL / 31,831 / 33,683
NET MOVEMENT / 10,286 / 2,896
IN FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
2007 / 2006
Balance at 1 January / 72,322 / 69,364
Net movement of funds during year / 10,286
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS / 82,608
Represented by Natwest / 6,284
Represented by Abbey / 51,883
Represented by Triodos / 25,000
Notes to accounts
A declining number of individuals continues to make donations by uncancelled standing orders. Income from this source of £1,095 in 2007 increased the implicit net liability for the Society to £10,270.
Liabilities in the form of uncashed cheques issued in 2007 total £139.
Questions