The Society: Minutes of the Women's Caucus Meeting
2002 HSS Annual Meeting, Milwaukee
Pam Mack, co-chair of the caucus, opened the meeting at 7:40 A.M. Twenty-eight people attended including Jay Malone, HSS Executive Director and John Servos, HSS President. Those present introduced themselves.
Major discussion centered around a potential women's directory, its purpose and form. Most members preferred an online version because a print version quickly becomes outdated. There were suggestions that a directory could help those seeking jobs and be a valuable recruiting tool for job openings as well as a network for sharing research interests. A consensus emerged that an on-line directory, reached through the HSS Women's Caucus web site (on the HSS web site) should include graduate students and senior scholars. It could include women and those who work on women and gender in science, medicine, and technology and might be coordinated with WITH. Pam Mack will talk with Jay Malone about the way to develop a list using HSS data and the web page.
Amy Bix reported that the job survey was published in the October HSS Newsletter and agreed to continue doing the job survey. The caucus expressed appreciation for her excellent work on that survey.
Pam Mack reported that the listserv is running smoothly. Members expressed appreciation for that list and Pam's willingness to coordinate it.
Sylvia McGrath nominated Judy Johns Schloegel for the next co-chair. Judy was elected by acclamation.
Pam Mack reported on the status of the endowment for the History of Women in Science Prize. The caucus has raised the endowment through a series of small gifts. Because of the recent stock market declines and declining interest rates, and the fact that the prize itself has increased from $500 to $1000, the endowment still needs about $4000 to fully fund the prize. It was suggested that renewal forms for HSS membership should include a place for donating to society prizes, including the women's prize. Pam requested that caucus members also help by nominating books or articles for the prize. The 2003 prize will be for a book; send nominations to chair Bob Nye or other committee members Arlene Tuchman and Londa Schiebinger.
Other discussion included mention of the Prague meeting, "Women Scholars and Institutions," June 8-11, 2003, which was recently announced on the listserv. The caucus discussed using the listserv as a way to begin organizing sessions and the difference between organizing sessions and officially-sponsored sessions. Members of the caucus could organize sessions and submit them to the program committee as organized by the Women's Caucus; that would not guarantee acceptance of the sessions but would create the possibility of more sessions relating to women or gender. Members are encouraged to use the list serve to organize session proposals.
The caucus discussed the time of the meeting and its conflict with other meetings, especially the ISIS editorial board, but decided that the Friday AM time is the best for most members. The current time allows members to remind others of sessions that may be of special interest during the remainder of the HSS meeting.
Rima Apple reported that a printed bibliography of books and articles on the history of women in science, health and technology, such as those previously sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Library, is no longer needed because the information is available on the web. Lynn Nyhart reported that the University of Wisconsin has an excellent finding aid at http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/ through the library. One of the many useful links on that site is to science, math, and technology resources: http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/scimatec.htm Clicking on "Tutorials" at the library web site includes information on developing computer search strategies and evaluating web sites.
Katherine Park pointed out that few women received Dibner fellowships or grants, and there was discussion about probable reasons for that and ways to get more women to apply. Marilyn Ogilvie reminded caucus members who need to use the University of Oklahoma collection that Mellon grants are available for short term research. Contact Marilyn for more information.
John Servos, representing the HSS Council, thanked the caucus for its work. The meeting adjourned at 8:50, expressing thanks to Pam Mack for her excellent work as co-chair.
Minutes submitted by Sylvia McGrath