I have always enjoyed a faculty party, a time to relax and catch-up on what is going on, I learn from my colleagues and they are happy to share. Back in the day, Nat Anderson and I used to have Halloween Parties with hundreds of faculty, their spouses and their costumes, yes incognito, it was a requirement. Everyone brought booze and food; the late and loved, George Mosko, my friend and neighbor would set up the smoking-martini bar on the deck and we would dance until late in the night.

Therefore, it was quite natural to begin the AAUP year with a little party, and to respect our colleagues who felt constrained when speaking before senior faculty we tried to wear masks, to have fun and be incognito. Carr Everbach shared some beautiful artful masks made by his very talented children, and some of us were game, however, in the end, the masks did not take off. But the meeting did and I appreciate everyone who came and shared ideas.

This gets me to the first issue I wish to raise. I considered our party an informal gathering, not a meeting but a chance to get a sense of what people are interested in doing. Often the first meeting of AAUP sets the tone for the year and I want everyone to know that I am not done collecting ideas and setting the agenda, what was discussed this week will not determine our work for the year. I hear it as a beginning and a chance for the re-working of old issues.

We had a great report from Bob Weinberg on the continuation of the Child Care Committee and remain optimistic about their progress. We are looking forward to a report at the next faculty meeting. Also I mentioned issues of gender equity in pay and will be working to get that on our years agenda. I mentioned current faculty discussions about tenure requirements and would encourage faculty to come forward to discuss what, if any, role the AAUP should do about it. At our first meeting in November we will set an agenda, so get your ideas to me.

The bulk of our conversation was about the faculty whose salary has been frozen to make up for alleged over pay.   I will not rehash that conversation here, but Matt Zucker has kindly volunteered to be our recording secretary, took some very thorough notes and they will be posted here on our new web site. Please take a look. I want to thank all of the faculty whose wages may have been enhanced in the same pay period, it may have been uncomfortable to hear all of this and I think you can see that none of the 41 wish to make this a wedge issue among faculty. We are solid together, a strike against one is a strike against all, and as I have said: we take the issue very seriously because of the divisive, secretive way it was revealed and if you can do it against one group, nothing prevents a similar action against all.

Lynne Molter has volunteered to lead the group that will be addressing this issue and we expect to have an informational panel as well as meetings with the administration. Contact her if you want to be on her mailing list.

This issue does not get to the main question of salaries, gender equity and the four course load. All of these are concerns of the faculty. Please take a few moments to look over the minutes and keep in touch with your concerns.

Finally, I have election results. For three years faculty have wanted AAUP elections, but let me point this out, it is not clear who to include in our mailing lists. For this year I decided not to just use last years mailing list but to expand us to the first year gathering, maybe it will get more of our membership out to the party. So we had official ballots and we voted. We had about 25 people there, but only about 22 voted, Judy Vogt counted the ballots.

AAUP election
President:
Marj Murphy 21
Carr Everbach 1

Vice President:
Micheline 1
Paul 2
Ted Fernald 1

secretary:
Edwin 1
Paul 2
Lynne 2
William Turpin 1

Treasurer:
Carr 2
Ted 1
Judy 1

Corresponding secretary:
Judy 1

Other positions (exec committee?):
Matt Zucker
Ted Fernald
Carr Everbach
Carol Nackenoff (volunteered)
Peter Baumann
Lynne Molter 2
William Turpin

Secretary or treasurer if needed in no particular order (all from one voter):
Carr
Richard Eldridge
Bob Weinberg
Lynne Molter
William Turpin
Ted Fernald

I will happily serve as President and again thank Paul for helping out; Carr remains as our unofficial treasurer, web master and general support; Matt Zucker has already stepped in as Recording Secretary and I am very grateful. Lynne Molter is head of the Steering Committee on Salary; Judy Vogt has been elected corresponding secretary and will be helping us make target lists of faculty to expand our membership; Ted Fernald, Richard Eldridge, William Turpin, Micheline, Peter Bauman, Judy Vogt and Paul should all consider themselves members of the executive committee and potentially vice president.   (I figure the administration has all of these vice presidents, why can’t I?) Please plan to come to a meeting in November and please, please bring a new faculty member. mm