Minutes of the VASTA Board Meetings

November 7 and 8, 1998

At Collin Community College, Plano, Texas

Submitted by Philip Thompson, VASTA Secretary

Present were: Carolyn Blackinton (CB), Kate Burke (KB), Dudley Knight (DK), Betty Ann Leeseberg-Lange (BALL), Dorothy Runk Mennen (DRM), Mandy Rees (MR), Janet Rodgers (JR), Sandra Shotwell (SS), Philip Thompson (PT), and Kate Ufema (KU). We were joined on the afternoon of Nov. 7 by Christia Ward (CW) and on Nov. 8 by Lisa Wilson (LW). The Board convened at 9:00 A.M. and was called to order by President JR.

MOTION: To approve the minutes of the last board meeting on August 8 and 10,1998. Moved: BALL,
Seconded: KU, approved unanimously.

Publications report - SS. Ink color was discussed and samples shown. The traditional VASTA color (Burgundy) was approved by all. Theresa Davis is working with a designer on an update of the membership brochure.

A discussion followed regarding what materials would be best for distribution at international conferences. The discussion grew to include methods of increasing membership and expanding awareness of VASTA in other places as well. Strategies suggested were:

· Using the web to make information available.

· Carry only a handful of newsletters and make personal contact with interested parties.

· Make a one-page information sheet which would be easy to transport .

· Send out mailings regionally.

VASTA Journal report - DK presented a written report from Rocco Dal Vera. Negotiations are underway with a potential publisher of the VASTA journal. The Board then moved on to consideration of an increase in membership dues. Referring to Rocco Dal Vera's report which quoted a survey of VASTA members, JR noted that the membership is willing to pay $75 (+$20) in order to support publication of a journal. After further discussion the following motion was put forward:

MOTION - That VASTA raise membership dues from $55 to $65 beginning in January 1999. Moved: BALL, seconded: SS, approved unanimously. KU then proposed the following: MOTION: That VASTA not raise student membership dues. Moved: KU, seconded: DK, approved: 8 in favor 1 opposed.

Discussion on the need for legal counsel and liability insurance.

Discussion on the need for a Journal Advisory Board and those who might be asked to serve on such a board.

M.F.A. degree programs in theatrical voice and speech report - KU.

VASTA's representative to ATHE report - KB. The Board reached a consensus that our Grad Student ATHE representative should be appointed by president elect KB. KB offered the following: MOTION: That VASTA pay the registration fee to the ATHE conference for our student representative to the ATHE Graduate Student Focus Group should ATHE not waive that fee, and that VASTA waive that student's registration fee for the VASTA conference. Moved: KB, seconded: SS, approved unanimously.

DRM reported on the Joint Conference of The Voice Symposium and NATS this July.

ATHE conference planner report on panel and workshop proposals - CB. JR noted CB's experience and the consensus of the Board was to endorse any choices CB should make.

1999 VASTA Conference Planner report - CW for Candice Brown. The Board discussed the report and made suggestions for solutions to some problems. The Summer board meeting was set for Saturday, July 31 1999.

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VASTA Conference in 2000 report - DRM. The conference will be held at George Mason University. The theme will be "Global Voices."

Discussion on the VASTA Website, a consensus in support of the following proposals was reached :

· A separate bibliography on the VASTA site of technical resources including web links would be a useful addition.

· An archive of syllabi would also be a great resource.

· An archive of older newsletters is a good idea, although we should not also make the most recent newsletters available as these are one of the benefits of membership.

· A resource guide of international conferences should be available, organized by country.

Discussion on VASTA's role in the International Arena. The question at hand being "Should VASTA be an umbrella organization for other groups or part of a network of groups?"

At 5:20 P.M. the meeting adjourned.

November 8, 1998

The Board convened at 9:20 A.M. and was called to order by President JR

MR was appointed to work in consultation with DRM to review VASTA's bylaws and present to the board for discussion any apparent conflicts between versions.

Treasurer's report - KU. She presented a report on expenditures for the past year and gave a budget for next year. LW will now take over as Treasurer. KU reported that the audit of VASTA's financial transactions for the past eight years balanced out to the penny.

A discussion of soon to be vacated Board positions revealed that both DK and SS would soon be ending their terms. In accordance with VASTA's bylaws, the past president(BALL) and two other members will form a nominating committee.

Clyde Vinson Scholarship report - DRM The deadline for application is March 15.

Discussion of the title of VASTA's journal. Three versions of a title were generated and the winner (garnering seven out of eight votes) was: Voice & Speech Review, Journal of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association, Inc.

Discussion on efforts to reach new members.

At 12:20 JR entertained a motion to adjourn. MR so moved, KB seconded, the motion passed and we all went home.