2004 AOC Annual Report

Annual report of Association Operations Committee

Norman Yoffee (outgoing chair) 12.17.03

I. Not submitted in this report but on file at the AAA office. May I ask staff to add these to my report? (Thank you!).

1. Amended charges to the Finance Committee and Long-Range Planning Committee.
2. Amended charge of the AOC
3. Documents submitted by Dennis Wiedman on the practicing and professional services initiative.
4. Minutes of the May and November meetings.
5. Charge for a permanent Anthropology Education Committee

The following is a report of activities of the committee in 2003:

II. 5-year reviews
a. Finance Committee
Long-Range Planning Committee

The AOC recommended that these two committees coordinate some of their activities. Since the two committees are both concerned with long-range activities and their financial implications, the finance committee was urged to consider the budget of long-range activities as proposed by the LRPC. We recommended changes to the charges of both committees. After passing unanimously these recommended changes, the AOC unanimously accepted the reports of the two committees. I am pleased to note that for the November meeting, the two committees prepared statements on the budget implications of the long-range plan. (Several comments at the November AOC meeting noted the useful cooperation between the two committees. These statements do not appear in the minutes of the Nov meeting).

b. The AOC was also due for a 5-year review. Discussion of the charge to the AOC ensued and changes were recommended to the charge in the Leadership Handbook. This was forwarded to the executive board for consideration.

c. Letters were sent to committees that will be reviewed in 2004: Committee on the Status of Women in Anthropology, Resource Development Committee, AAA Awards Committee.

III. Initiatives considered by the AOC

a. Members of the AOC attended the meeting of the Society for Anthropological Sciences at the November, 2002 annual meeting. Members emphasized that the AAA wanted association members to remain in the AAA. Formation of an interest group would afford organizational meeting space and an invited session. The SAS did so apply, and the AOC (in May, 2003) voted unanimously to fast-track this application.

b. The AOC spent considerable time on initiatives brought before it by the Dennis Wiedman on behalf of practicing and professional anthropologists. The AOC voted (in May) to implement changes in the web site, and Richard Thomas, working with Dennis Wiedman, created changes to allow practicing and professional jobs to be advertised speedily as well as posting other information. The AOC complimented Richard Thomas for this work in November. Space was provided at the annual meeting for a practicing and professional anthropology information area. After further discussion on the initiative in November, the AOC voted unanimously to recommend that the president create an advisory group to work with staff to develop further aspects of the practicing and professional services initiative.

c. In May the AOC recommended to the executive board that minutes of meetings be distributed within 30 days after the meeting. This would allow members to consider matters and forward agenda items to the chair and staff liaison for the next meeting. This was passed by the executive board, and the staff liaison, Larry Rzepka, expeditiously sent the minutes and subsequently the agenda to members well in advance of the meeting. Several members added agenda items.

d. In May the AOC began discussion of a departmental services/best practices initiative. Among useful services the AAA could supply departments are materials that would help them prepare internal reviews and assemble information for external reviewers. Further discussion ensued in November and Kathleen Terry-Sharp, director of academic relations, attended. The AOC voted to recommend that the president appoint an advisory working group to implement the materials for this initiative.

e. After discussion led by president-elect Elizabeth Brumfiel, the AOC voted unanimously to adopt the charge for a permanent Anthropology Education Committee. Currently there is an existing commission on anthropology and education.

f. In November the AOC discussed the history of the appointments of liaisons from SOLGA to the AAA ethics committee. These appointments were initiated by the executive board in the November, 1999 meeting. After discussion the AOC voted to continue the liaisons from SOLGA for two more years to fulfill the intent of the initiative. As need may arise, liaisons from SOLGA and/or from other units in the AAA may be appointed. The AOC urges that members of SOLGA and other groups encourage their members to be nominated for a seat on the ethics committee.

IV. Forthcoming matters before the AOC

a. 5-year committee reviews as noted above
b. report of advisory working group on practicing and professional anthropology service initiative.
c. report of advisory working group on departmental services initiative
d. report on possible spring section assembly initiative. Kim Baker discussed some options for this in November, 2003.

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