Boletin 2: Report for
Period April 1997-September 1998
At the business meeting
held at the LASA Congress in Guadalajara, members of the Venezuelan
Network (VenNet, an ad hoc interest group) decided to become a LASA
section. A Coordinating Committee for the Transition was formed.
The Committee suggested objectives and activities, circulated information
on these among members of the VenNet, assessed feedback, and obtained
33 signatures of LASA members to support the petition for Section status.
LASA approved the petition in the second semester of 1997. The
Section on Venezuelan Studies (SVS) has two objectives: 1) to
foster interdisciplinary communication and collaboration among scholars,
students, and non academics whose work considers Venezuelan culture,
politics, economy, ecology, social issues and other aspects of
Venezuela; and 2) to facilitate dissemination of information among members
and non members through public events and the media.
Through September 1998, the
SVS has fostered interdisciplinary communication and collaboration and
disseminated information primarily through 1) circulation of
announcements, surveys and survey results to members and "interested
others" enrolled in the Section’s listserver, 2) through a meeting of
Venezuelan-based members called in Caracas in December 1997, and 3)
through a comprehensive WebPage which includes, among others, a short bio
on current and prospective members; the statement of purpose and Section
news; and links to other Web sites and news sources on/in Venezuela. In
September, a Discussion Forum was inaugurated for SVS members;
enrollment and use were explained at the business meeting
in Chicago. SVS sponsored one panel at the LASA Congress in
Chicago.
In total, there were 7
panels and 60 papers on the program which dealt explicitly
with Venezuela. Election: Nominations for officers were solicited,
processed, and disseminated by e-mail in the second quarter of 1998.
Efforts were made to assure balanced representation of candidates residing
in Venezuela and outside. Bios of candidates and the ballot also were
distributed by e-mail (with 4 sent by post to members without e-mail).
Results were presented and discussed at the business meeting in Chicago and
approved by the members present.
Between 45-47 members
attended the business meeting. Officers for the 18 month period beginning
September 1998 are:
Cathy A. Rakowski,
Ohio State University, Chair
Angel Alvarez,
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Secretary-Treasurer
Venezuelan-based
Council members:
Emperatriz Arreaza
Camero, Universidad del Zulia
Gabrielle Gueron Josko,
Universidad Central de Venezuela
Maria Cristina Parra,
Universidad del Zulia
Rosa Amelia Gonzalez, IESA
(Alternate)
U.S.-based Council members:
Michael Coppedge, Notre
Dame
Brian Crisp, University of
Arizona
Michael Duodoroff,
University of Kansas (Alternate)
Two WebPage Managers were
appointed to an 18 month term:
Margaret Martin, United
States, Main WebPage
Janet Kelly, Venezuela,
Mirror Page
As of October 13, the
Section had 102 members.
Submitted by Cathy A.
Rakowski, Chair
Attached to this report are
the following documents:
1. Statement of purpose of
the Section (which is sent to each new member)
2. Nomination and Election
Report
3. Financial Report
4. Agenda of the 1998
Business Meeting
5. Flier explaining changes
to the WebPage (discussed at business meeting)
6. Minutes of meeting held
in Caracas, December 1997
7. Minutes of business
meeting at LASA Congress, September 1998 (draft
circulated for approval by
members present)
8. Minutes of Meeting of
Officers held at LASA Congress, September 1998
(after the business
meeting)
9. Information on WebPage
and Discussion Forum