MCLR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING

The Inn at University Village Chicago, I l l inois

January 19, 1995

Summary. B rochu re : Kuthv and Downer will make the final changes to the brochure and run the draft by Cuello. D u e s : Gut ierrez and Vil larruel need to follow up with their institutions for the payment of their institutional dues. New Memberships: Carranza will get the information on the Big 8 universities. Villarruel. Carranza and Kuthv will explore the possibility of recruiting Penn State. Cuello will explore leads at the universities of Illinois-Urbana, and at Purdue. Rusty will be asked for possibilities at Minnesota. Roundtable: All of the members of the Board will send a list of the 1996 Roundtable participants as soon as possible to the Secretariat office. Car ranza will invite the University of Nebraska Press to co-sponsor a book signing reception. The University of Nebraska Press will invite Arte Publico to have their books on Latinos in the Midwest at the Roundtable. Carranza will send the invitation to Keynote speaker Renato Rosaldo. Carranza will invite Pat Castillo from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to read a poem to kick-off the Roundtable. Co-sponsorsh ip : Carranza will call Antonio Flores president of HACU. Cuello will contact MALDEF, and Villarruel will contact NCLR and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Kuthy will draft a statement of benefits to potential co-sponsors. Vi l larruel and Kuthv will follow up with the contracts. Villarruel will ask Richardson or Don Warren to participate on behalf of the Kellogg Foundation. Grants: Kuthy will check with Cook to see if she drafted the proposal for the Kellogg Foundation. Otherwise, Kuthy will work on a draft. Next Meeting of the GENERAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Kuthv will ask Marquez if Wisconsin can host the meeting of the general board at Madison, April 19-20, 1996. To be discussed at the next meeting, 1) the implementation of MCLR goals; 2) moving the 1997 Roundtable; 3) sponsoring activities on each campus: brown bag seminars, and seminars for graduate students; 4) funding.

PRESENT: Jose Cuello (Vice-Chair), Miguel Carranza, Francisco Villarruel, and Lourdes Kuthy. Excused Kerr.

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chair-Elect Cuello.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of October 14, 1995, at Wayne State were reviewed. Cuello introduced the motion to approve the minutes with two corrections. Change the names of "Miguel Escalante" and "David Kdamany" to Miguel Carranza and David Adamany. Villarruel seconded the motion. The minutes were unanimously approved.

OLD BUSINESS

FINANCIAL UPDATE: Kuthy presented the budget for the months of January to August 1996. She emphasized the need to look for a steady funding for all the Roundtables. There would be just enough funds to operate the Secretariat for the necessary activities in particular if MCLR finances the Nebraska Scholars' Roundtable.

MEMBERSHIP DUES: The Michigan Universities have not paid their dues. Cuello reported that the dues from Wayne State are secured for this year. Nevertheless, he is following up with administrators at Wayne as to how the cost will be divided between the Academic VP and Cuello's college. The representatives at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan need to follow up with their institutions.

MCLR BROCHURE AND PRESENTATION PACKAGE: Kuthy and Downer will make the final changes to the brochure and run the draft by Cuello so that we can get a quick format version out for some of the activities that MCLR has planned, with a better and larger printing to come later.

UP-TO-DATE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITY: Cuello suggested creating an information package on MCLR to be used for various purposes. The Executive Committee agreed on the need to develop a complementary piece of literature to the MCLR mission statement. This would be a summary report on the state of the MCLR activities- possibly in brochure form- to be updated several times a year. This brochure could be presented to institutional representatives, faculty, and others. Cuello suggested that the letter with the statement of activities that is provided to member institutions yearly, could be the starting basis for the brochure. Kuthy can begin a draft to be circulated to the board for feedback.

NEW BUSINESS

NEW MEMBERSHIPS: The Executive Committee agreed on the need to explore new institutional memberships. Villarruel, Carranza and Kuthy will explore the possibility of recruiting Penn State. Cuello will explore leads at the universities of Illinois-Urbana, and at Purdue. Barcelb will be asked for possibilities at Minnesota. There was concern by the members of the Executive Committee for the leadership at Iowa. Barcelb will be consulted on how to continue Iowa's membership and its representation. Carranza will get the information on the Big 8 universities. Villarruel suggested the development of a recruitment plan. There will be a follow up discussion on the next meeting.

PRACTICAL APPROACH TO MEETINGS: The Executive Committee recognized that MCLR is in transition. Therefore, the board continues to be a "Working" board. The goal is to make the board an "Advisory" board with the office of the executive director carrying out most of the work. Therefore, the Executive Committee decided to concentrate on projects to which the board can make realistic and concrete commitments. Cuello expressed the need to continue to be honest and forthcoming in representing MCLR and its activities to member institutions so they know what they are getting for their money and are satisfied with the progress of MCLR.

INSTITUTIONALIZING ORIENTATION AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARD REPRESENTATIVES: Cuello suggested that the MCLR board needs to change the situation in which faculty are assigned to represent their institutions on the board without having prior or substantive contact with MCLR, and without knowing what the position entails. The home institution through their existing representatives, or continuing Latino departments and centers, need to make sure that service in MCLR is voluntary and not reluctant. New members in the future need to be given an orientation by MCLR. If new representatives feel they need a deeper orientation than what they have acquired outside of the formal process the board is willing to provide this orientation.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE REPRESENTATIVES: The Executive Committee determined a minimum set of responsibilities which potential board members should know about. These include: 1) participating in a minimum of two meetings; 2) actively taking part in board business and projects; 3) building a consciousness on campuses about MCLR and ideally, in collaboration with other Latino faculty, organizing a Latino faculty group (if there is not one in existence); 4) represent MCLR on campuses with upper administrators; and 5) involvement in the planning of the annual Roundtable.

TRAVEL COSTS: Cuello suggested that travel costs associated with attendance to board meetings should be discussed so that MCLR can find a means to have its board members participate in the meetings. This will be a topic at the next meeting.

FACULTY INVOLVEMENT ON MEMBER INSTITUTIONS: The Executive Committee is interested in bringing Latino faculty together in member institutions. Cuello, Villarruel and Carranza suggested sponsoring activities on each campus like brown bag seminars, and seminars for graduate students. In addition, the committee expressed the need of the members of the board to be available for presentations about MCLR.

Cuello suggested that organized Latino faculty on the various campuses could build sufficient awareness about MCLR to propose their own representatives to the Board. Individual faculty could be given membership in MCLR- with a card- through the membership of their universities. The group could then sponsor colloquiums, seminars, and support groups and networking. MCLR could play an important role in helping organize these groups through its representatives.

FUNDRAISING: MCLR needs to increase its revenues to be able to complete its development process from dependency on the individual and group commitments of its board members to one with sufficient resources to carry out its business. The Executive Committee unanimously agreed to explore additional sources of revenue and fundraising activities for additional support.

ACTIVITIES BOARD: Cuello suggested the creation of an activities board at the office of the executive director to prioritize the activities of MCLR. The board should include time lines to accomplish those activities, as well as the members of the Board or of the staff who would carry out these activities. Kuthy will implement the recommendation. Paper copies of the activities board will be distributed to the board members.

CONTINUOUS BUSINESS

1996 SCHOLARS' ROUNDTABLE-NEBRASKA:

PROGRAM: Carranza presented a tentative schedule of events for the 1996 Scholars' Roundtable. The Executive Committee unanimously agreed to have the following sessions:

AUGUST 16 Welcome and introduction Kick off event: a poem read by Pat Castillo from Nebraska. Carranza will invite her.

Opening Session 1: "The Value of Scholarly Research to Public Policy: The Perspective of National Latino Organizations.M Panel of Representatives of national Latino organizations (NCLR, MALDEF, HACU, U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce). This panel might include two foundations as well (The Kellogg Foundation and the Social Science Research Council). Villarruel will ask Richardson or Don Warren to participate on behalf of the Kellogg Foundation.

Session 2: "Out From Under the Bushel Basket; The Excellence of Midwestern Latino Scholarship: Poster Session." Posters will be set between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. to be displayed around 5:30 p.m. Villarruel suggested a form be sent with the invitation to the Roundtable to recruit participants for the poster session.

Reception/Book Signing: "MEET THE AUTHORS". Carranza will contact the University of Nebraska Press. Participants and invitees to the Roundtable will be invited to bring their books for the signing event.

*

AUGUST 17,1996 Session 3: "From Survival to Success; The Role of Latino Scholarship: Publishing and Activist Scholarship." For this session, the following people were suggested as possible panel presenters: George Sanchez, Norma Cantu, Pat Mora, and a graduate student. Moderator: Dan Ross, Director of the University of Nebraska Press.

Session 4: Break-out session

Lunch: Keynote speaker: Carranza will invite Renato Rosaldo as the keynote speaker. There will be a response by a non-Latino. Other possible speakers in the event that Rosaldo is not able to attend are Burt Corona or John Alderete. .

Session 5: "Transformational Leadership: The Real Life Experiences of Activist Scholars". For this panel the following individuals were suggested as possible presenters: Juan Marinez (MSU), Dennis Vald6z, a representative from Penn State, and a graduate student like Brenda Cardenas or Jeffrey Rangel (U of M). Villarruel will contact a person at Penn State.

Session 6: Break-out session

Dinner/Cultural Event. Pat Mora Poetry reading.

AUGUST 18 Session 7: Plenary Session "Maintaining the Momentum "

ROUNDTABLE CO-SPONSORSHIP: The Executive Committee proposed the idea of generating revenues from the Roundtable rather than just covering its costs. The National Council of La Raza-Midwest (NCLR), MALDEF, HACU, and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce will be approached as potential sponsors of the MCLR Roundtable. Representatives of these organizations will be invited to meet with the Board of MCLR either at the April meeting, or at a later date in Chicago. MCLR will maintain control of the Roundtable agenda. The co-sponsors would have a representative on the program committee. Carranza will call Antonio Flores president of HACU. Cuello will contact MALDEF and Villarruel will contact NCLR and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

Kuthy will draft a statement of benefits to potential co-sponsors. Based on this statement, the Executive Board will contact Potential co-sponsoring organizations. The statement should include the following benefits: 1) the co-sponsoring organizations get a linkage to academic organizations; 2) co-sponsoring organizations get access to universities and their Latino faculties; 3) member institutions would provide another arena to co-sponsoring organizations in which they can present their mission and recruit advocates; 4) faculty at member institutions can be acquainted with these co-sponsoring institutions; 5) co-sponsoring institutions will participate in the planning committees of the Scholars' Roundtable; and 6) co-sponsors will get a spot in the program and/or have a table in which to display their materials.

SUBCONTRACTS: It was agreed that MCLR can serve as subcontractor for the research, grants, and projects of the national organizations named above, as well as for other co-sponsoring organizations. MCLR's role would be to find the faculty and researchers on our members campuses for a fee or percentage to work on the projects of these organizations.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS/INVITEES: Kuthy will contact the MCLR board members to have them send the list of invitees to the Roundtable. Board members are encouraged to send to the Secretariat office a list of the 1996 Roundtable participants as soon as possible. There is a need to send invitations promptly to secure better flight opportunities and to secure the invitees' commitment to attend. Among the invitees should be faculty and at least one ABD.

FUNDING AND GRANTS: Funds for the Roundtable are needed. Kuthy will check with Cook if she drafted the proposal to the Kellogg Foundation. Otherwise, Kuthy will work on a draft for Kellogg.

The Executive Committee agreed that MCLR needs to focus more narrowly on the types of proposals it undertakes according to the MCLR mission. Further discussion is needed on the role of MCLR to support faculty at members institutions, since the faculty would be the primary beneficiaries of these grants.

SCHEDULE FOR THE 1996-97 MEETINGS: The Executive Board unanimously approved a yearly schedule of meetings of the Board and of the Executive Committee. The schedule is as follows:

The General Board will meet April 19 and 20, 1996, possibly in Madison. The General Board will meet in Nebraska, August 16, 1996, prior to the Roundtable. The Executive Committee will meet November 22 and 23, 1996. Location to be announced. The General Board will meet February 21 and 22, 1997. Location to be announced. The Executive Committee will meet May 16 and 17, 1997. Location to be announced.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting ended at 5:30 p.m. by acclamation.

WORKING COMMITMENTS FROM THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chicago, January 20, 1996

Brochure

Kuthy and Downer will make the final changes to the brochure and run the draft by Cuello.

Dues Gutierrez and Villarruel need to follow up with their institutions for the payment of their institutional

dues. New Memberships Carranza will get the information on the Big 8 universities. Villarruel. Carranza and Kuthy will explore the possibility of recruiting Penn State. Cuello will explore leads at the universities of lllinois-Urbanaf and at Purdue. Rusty will be asked for possibilities at Minnesota.

Roundtable All of the members of the Board will send a list of the 1996 Roundtable participants and invitees as soon as possible to the Secretariat office.

Carranza will contact the University of Nebraska Press to participate in the book signing reception. The University of Nebraska Press will invite Arte Publico to the Roundtable. Carranza will send the invitation to Keynote speaker Renato Rosaldo. Carranza will invite Pat Castillo from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to read a poem to kick-off the Roundtable.

Villarruel will invite someone from Penn State.

Kuthy will ask Escalante to make the poster for the Roundtable

Co-sponsorship

Carranza will call Antonio Flores president of HACU.

Cuello will contact MALDEF

Villarruel will contact NCLR and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

Villarruel will ask Richardson or Don Warren to participate on behalf of the Kellogg Foundation.

Kuthy will draft a statement of benefits to potential co-sponsors.

Villarruel and Kuthy will follow up with the contracts. Grants Kuthy will check with Cook to see if she drafted the proposal for the Kellogg Foundation. Otherwise, Kuthy will work on a draft. Next Meeting/APRIL 19, 1996 Kuthy will ask Marquez if Wisconsin could host the April 19-20, 1996, meeting of the general board.

Activities Board Kuthy will implement the recommendation to have an activities board with time lines to accomplish these activities. Paper copies of the activities board will be distributed to the board members.