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Morgantown, PA April 22, 2005 The meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. with President Paul Raber presiding. A quorum was present. Attendance attached. The minutes were accepted as distributed on a motion by Verna Cowin and seconded by Amanda Valko-Fritz. The treasurer’s report and projected budget (2005-06) was presented verbally and in written format by Paul Cowin. Discussion included: · Increasing membership · Luhmen Fund accounting · Journal printing expenses · Elmer Erb reorganization Albert Moore performed the annual review of the Society’s financial records. The treasurer’s report and budget were approved as presented on a motion by Mark McConaughey and seconded by Brian Fritz. Old Business Financial Discussion: Elmer Erb Permanent Fund Reorganization—Kurt Carr is the acting chairperson of the Permanent Fund until reorganization is complete and a transition can be made. Reorganization involves consolidation of accounts and transfer of the savings and investments to a venue accessible to all the new trustees. A resolution was produced with signatures of Society officers and our official seal to satisfy the financial institution’s requirement for documentation to remove outdated and deceased members from the accounts. A copy of the Resolution is on file with the secretary. A written report of the limited activity for 2004 was submitted. The life memberships and C-14 payments to the general fund have not been made for 2005. A mutual fund transaction will enable the transfer of payment to be made soon. Grants and Budget—Paul Raber filed the annual PHMC grant application on behalf of the Society. The supplemental income from this organizational grant subsidizes the Society’s newsletter printing and promotional printing for membership and curation brochures. The PHMC has approached the Society to enter into an agreement to manage the Pennsylvania Farm Show exhibit to promote Archaeology in the state. This will involve a grant to cover expenses. We will need a planning committee with budget and manpower to maintain the exhibit. This would allow the SPA to come in contact with virtually thousands of visitors. The incoming president Amanda Valko-Fritz with past-president Paul Raber will arrange a meeting with Barbara Franko, Museum Director and Jean Cutler to discuss the project. A decision to participate in the Farm Show Archaeological Exhibit was made on a motion by Jim Herbstritt and seconded by Ken Burkett. PASSED Pennsylvania Archaeologist—Editor Bill Tippins reported upon his first year as editor. He outlined his strategy for returning the publication schedule to normal. His goals for the journal were: · Maintain the quality of the journal · Return to the publication schedule of twice yearly, spring and fall printing and mailing · Readjust the publication budget for economy He thanks his editorial staff members, Ed Dlutowski, Verna Cowin and Paul Raber for their support and timeliness. The projected production schedule would put Volume 75 (1) out by mid summer, Volume 75 (2) before 2006, thus putting publication back on schedule. At that time budget issues will be addressed. Membership After a 5-year decline in membership, partly due to erratic journal publication, the Society is seeing some rebound in membership with 2005 numbers close to 500. Membership discussion: · Local chapters should emphasize the benefits of state membership at meetings. Pennsylvania Archaeologists journals, SPA Newsletters and the preservation brochures can be used as recruitment tools. · An effort to recruit from the colleges for student members should be made with PAC, SPA and the college contacts. A motion to allow a student poster session at each Annual Meeting was entered by Beverly Chiarulli, seconded by Noel Strattan. PASSED · Display materials should be used to raise awareness of Archaeology in Pennsylvania—traveling displays, posters, field schools, speakers and especially the website: www.PensylvaniaArchaeology.com · SPA Newsletters are currently sent to some college Anthropology departments and this practice will be expanded. SPA Website—Brian Fritz is doing a great job in maintaining the website. Most SPA information is contained on the site. The site should be referred to for all current SPA events. Archaeology Month—Problems persist with mailing and timeliness of planning. The planning committees for SPA, PAC and any third party sponsors need to meet early in the year to develop a timeline for the appropriate task completions to insure mailing is completed on time. A mailing service would be an appropriate solution and the cost would be a budget issue for the committees. Philip and Valerie Perazio will compile the calendar. Please plan events early and submit them as soon as possible. A joint meeting will be scheduled for planning the 2006 Archaeology Month activities. Byrd Leibhart Site Update—Paul Nevin reports that the issue is still in debate, the property is not protected but the fight goes on. Commonwealth Archaeology Program—the program has been essentially gutted of manpower and resources. Act 70 issues are subject to a new interpretation of the “intent” of the Act. It has been decided that the enforcement of compliance is “optional”. This puts a new emphasis on volunteers and chapters to help monitor sites. A grass roots effort is needed to avoid loss of sites, help with salvage sites, and inform legislators when sites are being lost. Each member should contact their representatives to voice their concerns. There is a plan in motion to produce a “Preserving Pennsylvania Archaeology” License Plate. Email design thoughts and support for the project to Kurt Carr as soon as possible. The proceeds would provide an archaeological trust fund in Pennsylvania. Education Initiative/Project Archaeology—Education projects presented to the SPA for consideration were discussed. Dr. Anthony Boldurian from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg should be invited to present his initiative to the Board of Directors at a future meeting. Dr. Boldurian is not a member of the Society and did not approach the board directly. The Project Archaeology information was requested from Edinboro and Dr. Wolynec with no response to date. Award of Charter for North Fork Chapter #29—President Paul Raber presented the charter to Kenneth Burkett, chapter Vice President. Welcome North Fork. Annual Meeting Hosts—Allegheny Chapter #1 will host the 2006 Annual Meeting in the Washington, PA area. Peggy Sinclair is the arrangements chairperson. Call for Papers and meeting details will be announced in the September SPA Newsletter. Hosts for future Annual Meetings are needed. Contact Mary Alice Graetzer for details. Response to the Franklin Museum—President Paul Raber reported to the Board of Directors and membership the process used to deny the petition for a new chapter from the Franklin Museum group. The SPA Newsletter detailed the findings of a site visit and the exchange of letters that followed. There were no real artifacts and no real site. The Board of Directors agreed that the SPA has an obligation to debunk sites that are being promoted to the public as archaeological sites without evidence. It is important that the Society not be used to promote such sites and theories now or in the future. SPA Officers 2005-2007—Election of officers is slated for Annual Meeting. The ballot is as follows: First Vice President-Paul Nevin Second Vice President-Andy Myers Treasurer -Paul Cowin Secretary-Judy Duritsa Directors 2005-2011—Kenneth Burkett and Robert Oshnock New Business Cost of Back Issues—It is cheaper for institutions to buy years of back issues than to pay the annual institutional dues. After discussion, a motion was entered by Paul Cowin stating: The cost for the immediate previous 3 year period of Pennsylvania Archaeologist issues will cost $15 per issue plus handling and tax for all institutional orders. The motion was seconded by Catherine Spohn—PASSED. General sales of back issues remain steady. COAS Newsletter—The Coalition of Archaeological Societies produces a newsletter that would be a good way to disseminate information about the SPA including Annual Meeting notices and Archaeology Month information. Ed Dlutowski has volunteered to represent SPA as a reporter to the COAS Newsletter. Send news to be shared with other state societies to Ed. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Judy M. Duritsa Secretary, SPA
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