Presidents’ Column: 2016 EC Retreat Report

The ASLE Executive Committee gathered for its annual meeting at the Lost Valley Education Center, Dexter, Oregon, from April 8-10.  LVEC is an intentional community located on an 87-acre nature sanctuary south of Eugene. The sylvan setting provided the perfect backdrop for two days of invigorating conversations.

Group Photo EC 2016

Discussion about future conference sites

We began our meeting by reviewing 2019 conference site proposals, beginning the process of determining a host site for ASLE 2019. We received a record four proposals, and so the work of deciding on a site is both challenging and exciting, and still ongoing.

We decided not to pursue one site proposal, submitted by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, because it was determined that we will not sponsor conferences or symposia in North Carolina until HB-2 has been rescinded. After the retreat, a letter was submitted to the President of UNC-G (ASLE HB-2 Public Statement) stating ASLE’s objection to the legislation.

Our conversation then turned to ways in which to make calls for proposals for future conference sites more effective. We discussed encouraging those submitting proposals to address, in more detail, the demographics of their communities, the role of environmental justice at their home institution, and an intellectual (as well as a regional) rationale for hosting the conference. The EC reconstituted a subcommittee dedicated to thinking about alternative conference formats.

ISLE Journal Report

In the context of addressing current and future budget challenges, we discussed at length different ways in which to re-envision ISLE, our quarterly flagship journal. The EC liaison with ISLE, Heather Houser, reported about recent and upcoming changes at the journal. A new sub-committee was formed to contemplate possible changes in the journal’s editorial structure.

Mentoring Program Report

Co-coordinator Elizabeth Dodd reported on the status of the mentoring program. Among future enhancements we discussed were the development of mentoring-related conference panels; the creation of a document containing best practices for ASLE mentoring; and a more visible presence for the mentoring program on the ASLE website.

Contingent/Independent Representation on the EC

The EC voted to convert one of the six at-large EC representatives into the position of a designated, elected Contingent/Independent Advocacy Officer, with a three-year term, and to change the bylaws accordingly. The EC also voted to guarantee travel funds for one contingent faculty member or independent scholar to travel to the annual business meeting.

Advocacy Policy

A request from a student at the College of St. Rose for ASLE’s support in protest of cuts there generated a lively discussion about the creation of an official ASLE advocacy policy.  The president and board of St. Rose, in Albany, NY, had recently eliminated, among other faculty, several English professors and the MA program in Environmental Studies (hence the appeal to ASLE). Diversity Officer Sarah Wald was charged with crafting the new policy, which is currently being voted on the by EC.

Involvement of Undergraduates in the Work of ASLE

EC members voiced strong support for encouraging undergraduate students in ASLE conferences and symposia, for example by including one-on-one mentoring during the conferences, and providing guidelines for best practices to the ASLE website (read the guidelines document at our Undergraduate Students Page).

Fundraising

The initial funding for ASLE’s three-year pilot grants will be expended after this year, and monies will need to be raised if they are to continue. This led to a discussion of new fundraising mechanisms to be adopted by ASLE, including a new capital campaign and an annual appeal. Look for information on ways members and supporters can contribute and help us reach our fundraising goals this fall.

Detroit 2017 Conference

There was great excitement among ASLE members about Detroit as the site of our 2017 conference. We were fortunate enough to have a member of our host team, Andrea Knutson of Oakland University, attend the retreat. We discussed food options, venues, field trips, and thematic foci desired by the host team. Given the political situation created by the Flint water crisis, the EC responded enthusiastically to the request to highlight water security and food systems.  In a vibrant, intellectually challenging visioning session, the EC agreed on “Rust/Resistance: Works of Recovery” as the overall theme for the 2017 Biennial Conference.  The conference CFP, is now out, and posted to our Biennial Conference page. The program committee for the Detroit conference will consist of Christoph Irmscher, Anthony Lioi, and Cate Sandilands.  We are excited to continue the innovative and popular progressive evening, inaugurated at the 2015 conference, that will connect the ASLE conference with local Detroit artists and businesses.  We will also be continuing the longstanding tradition of Friday afternoon field excursions, which will include possibilities such as visiting urban research field stations, perusing the WSU Library’s North American Labor Collection holdings, visiting the Underground Railroad Living Museum, taking an urban garden tour, and biking the Inner Circle Greenway.

The two days at Dexter reminded us again how privileged we are to be part of such a vibrant, exciting, and caring community of scholars and writers.  We strongly encourage member who have questions about any of the topics discussed in this column to write to us at info@asle.org, and we thank the members of ASLE for the trust they have placed in us.