• Calendar
• 2006-05-13

Meeting

Minutes

Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska Board Meeting Minutes May 13, 2006 at Eiseley Branch Library

Present: Peggy Adair, legislative liaison Karen Buckley, AFCON secretary and representing Nebraska Educational Media Association Jim Bunstock, representing Nebraska Writer's Guild Joanne Chapuran, representing the Nebraska High School Press Association Nancy Comer, representing the Nebraska State Reading Association Dick Herman, representing Nebraska Press Association Mel Krutz, representing Nebraska Center for the Book Dave Moshman, AFCON policy coordinator Susan Oles, representing English Language Arts of Omaha

Opening: Due to the absence of Bob Haller and Doug Paterson, past president Moshman presided. The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m.

Minutes: (Buckley) Minutes of the April 8 board meeting were distributed. The minutes were approved, following a motion by Adair and second by Herman.

Treasurer's report: The treasurer's report, submitted by Cathi McMurtry, showed a balance of $1673.01, with 36 individual members and 13 organizational members current with dues. The treasurer's report was amended to show dues payment from the UNO Faculty Senate and approved, upon a motion by Adair and a second by Krutz.

President's report: The president's report was circulated by e-mail, following the meeting. A copy follows the minutes.

Legislative Report/Ad hoc Committee on Student Rights Legislation: (Adair) Adair and Dwayne Ball plan to meet in the near future with Sen. DiAnna Schimek to discuss the Student Rights Legislation. Adair recommended visiting the national Campaign for the Civic Mission of School's website (www.civicmissionofschools.org) for a tutorial on lobbying. Sen. Schimek is a member of the state committee.

Newsletter: The deadline for the next issue of the Sentinel is May 22.

Membership Reports:

• Krutz reported that Sunday, Nov. 5 will be the annual meeting for

the Nebraska Center for the Book. Guest speaker will be John Cole of the Library of Congress. The annual meeting is open to all, at 2 p.m. at the Center for Great Plains Study. Anyone joining the association (dues $15) may also attend the luncheon preceding the meeting.

• She said that former AFCON board member Linda Beckstead was awarded

the Nebraska English Language Arts Council's Freedom Award May 5 at the State Capital Rotunda.

• Moshman noted that the UNL Academic Senate has reverted back to its

original name, UNL Faculty Senate.

Old Business: Adair presented a draft of her proposal to amend AFCON's bylaws to allow a student organization membership level. This proposal follows the minutes.

Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:46 a.m. Subject: President's Report, May 13 from Bob Haller: During the past month, I have done the following: 1. I talked to Jerry Sellentin, Administrator of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. He indicated that the NCSA had not favored the NHSPA proposal that did not pass earlier in the millenium, and that the initial response of the group was likely to be unfavorable. But he appreciated being approached and is open to further discussion. I believe that we can continue to work to secure the support of principals and superintendents, and that we should keep up the contact. He suggested that I talk to Brian Hale of the NE School Boards Assn and Joe Rowson, the P-16 administrator. I have left messages on their answering machines asking for a meeting next week. I have similarly emailed Senator Raikes with a view to meeting with him at his earliest convenience. 2. I emailed Susan Baird outlining the discussion at the April AFCON meeting. I have not heard back from her or from Susan Quint. I will make contact with both of them in the coming week. 3. I have made no further progress in recruitment. I am looking to expand our reach into the school groups, including the Social Studies and Science teachers, geographers and art teachers, the UNK faculty senate. 4. I prepared a yearly report for the AAUP State Conference and the UNL Academic Senate. 5. I attended and applauded the Dwayne Ball speech at his acceptance of the James A. Lake Jr Academic Freedom Award. See the next Sentinel for the text.

6. I have bought tickets LNK-AMS Depart June 9, return June 23. I will not be able to lead the meeting on the 10th of June. But I will be back for the July, September, October, November and December meetings.

Changes to the AFCON by-laws, as proposed by Peggy Adair: Proposed Amendments to AFCON Constitution, May 13, 2006 (To be received by the membership at least 10 days prior to the Membership Meeting and presented for a vote of the membership at the Membership Meeting. Amendments require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those voting at the Membership Meeting.)

ARTICLE II: Membership

A. Membership shall be open to all individuals, and organizations, and student organizations in the State of Nebraska who support the stated purpose and activities set forth in Article I. Membership shall be contingent upon payment of dues or, in special cases approved by the AFCON Board, upon exchange for specific services. Annual dues in the membership categories shall be set by the AFCON Board. The membership and fiscal year shall be from January 1 through December 31.

B. Organizational memberships. Each organization shall receive a subscription to the Sentinel, AFCON's newsletter, reduced conference rates for its members, one seat on the AFCON Board, and one vote in the election of officers and on actions at the Annual Meeting. Its representative shall be eligible to run for office and chair standing committees.

C. Student organizational memberships. Each student organization shall receive a subscription to the Sentinel, AFCON's newsletter, reduced conference rates for its members, one seat on the AFCON Board, and one vote in the election of officers and on actions at the Annual Meeting. Its representative shall be eligible to run for office and chair standing committees.

C. D. Individual memberships. Individual members shall receive the newsletter and reduced rates for AFCON conferences, be eligible to run for office and to chair standing committees, and have one vote in the election of officers and on actions at the Annual Meeting.

D. E. Members need not agree with all of AFCON's specific policies and strategies. AFCON shall not associate the name of any individual or organizational member with any specific policy or activity without the express permission of that individual or organization.

E. F. Members may be expelled from AFCON, with pro rata refund of dues, for actions substantially inconsistent with its purpose or Constitution. Any individual, or organization, or student organization subject to an expulsion vote shall be given at least fifteen (15) days notice and an opportunity to present his, her, or its case to the Executive Committee prior to the vote. Expulsion shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the AFCON Board. Expelled members may be readmitted by majority vote of either an annual Membership Meeting or the AFCON Board.

ARTICLE IV: AFCON Board

A. The five officers (President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer,) shall constitute the Executive Committee of AFCON. The officers, the chair of each standing committee, an official representative of each organizational member, an official representative of each student organizational member, the Policy Coordinator, the Newsletter Editor, the Webmaster, and one to five members-at-large shall comprise the AFCON Board.