International Sociological Association
Research Committee 34: Sociology of Youth
1st Executive Board meeting
Date: Friday, 28th July 2006
Time: 10:40am – 1:05pm,
Venue: UNISA 2B-6B, Durban, South Africa
Present: Helena Helve, Ngan-Pun Ngai, Howard Williamson, Carles Feixa, Carmen Leccardi, Tom Dwyer, Clarence Batan, Ani Wierenga, Charles Ukeje, Vinod Chandra, Natalia Waechter RC34 President Helena Helve explained that she remained President until the following day when the new President Ngan-Pun Ngai would take office. The chairing of the meeting was, however, then, handed over to Ngai. The incoming President expressed his thanks to Helena, welcome members of the new Executive Board and hoped that it would join him in a commitment to move forward constructively over the next four years.
1. Future directions HW apologised for not providing the minutes of the previous meeting, but noted that these are posted on the website. HH added more generally that the IBYR website had developed enormously over the past four years, especially building up and building on networks in South America and Asia. TD suggested that word of mouth contact was also important for improving membership and connecting with existing country institutions and associations. CL reminded colleagues that rc34 information is already available on many other sites. The keyword and key issue seemed to be visibility – improving the visibility of rc34 to:
• Other youth researchers (and prospective members)
• Other research committees
• Related associations and institutions
• Policy making levels CU suggested a website database of members and their interests.
Attention was drawn to data protection issues, but CB said that this could be progressed through coded and confidential sections of the website. CF proposed an electronic journal and discounted journal access to encourage membership and participation – HH noted that there was already a 20% discount to YOUNG for members of rc34. NPN raised the idea of a half-yearly newsletter.
The Board agreed that the key issue was increasing the visibility and improving the communication of youth research activity that exists beyond North American, UK and Nordic contexts – emergent ideas, topics for research, thoughts, and methods. HW argued against too much ‘top-down’ prescription of rc34 activities and in favour of building on ‘bottom up’ thematic networks. CL suggested something like a virtual blackboard for information exchange. AW wondered how much ‘corporate control’ might be exercised – or was required – over decisions and communication favoured by the eight regional Vice-Presidents. TD made the case for more systematic connection with other RCs on key themes, such as labour markets and identities. NPN proposed the need to continuously produce different types of publications, strengthen transnational collaborative research, organize or co-organize international or regional activities, and emphasize membership development. No decisions were reached; these were the preliminary ideas of members of the Board.
2. Planning Timetable The end point for this Executive Board is the World Congress in Sweden in 2010. Between now and then there are some clear markers – formally required by the ISA (mid-term report, the timetable for abstracts and sessions for the World Congress), and already in train by members of the Executive Board (VC’s Asian Youth Studies conference in Lucknow, India, Nov 07). The early part of the planning, however, requires all Vice-Presidents to produce their own strategic vision and plan by the end of September 2006. Each region, beyond more detailed ideas concerning networks, programmes and events, should aim to have at least one important activity. There was some discussion of trying to have a pre-Congress event, reporting in more detail on the important activities of rc34. TD noted that other markers were the ISA Vice-Presidents’ Research Council in Barcelona (2008) and an ISA event in Guadalajara, also in 2008. On receipt of the VP plans, the President would consolidate these with his own overarching vision and plan for rc34 between the autumn 2006 and the summer of 2010. This would be produced and posted on the website for information, comment and response by the end of October 2006.
Action: 1. VPs to produce strategic vision by end of September (send to Ngai/copy to HW) 2. President to produce overarching rc34 strategy 2006-10 by end Oct 2006.
3. Specific co-operation HW had received an email from Ishwar Modi regarding conference collaboration with rc for leisure. The question as always is the basis of collaboration – the ‘terms of engagement’. VC will take this forward. TD noted that the ISA President’s priorities of Education and Childhood should be a priority focus of rc34’s collaborative direction, though individual rc34 VPs should have the latitude to make judgments in relation to more opportunistic links – to areas such as sport, family, theory… It was suggested that each region should try one collaborative initiative with another rc. VC talked about mobilising youth researchers in south Asia in conjunction with the Indian Sociological Society. Work with the United Nations around the forthcoming next World Youth Report was indicated as one ‘global’ arena for cooperation that perhaps the President should explore.
Action: 1. VC to follow up Ishwar Modi’s collaboration request 2. NPN to suggest rc priorities for collaboration (in the context of ISA President’s stated views) 3. NPN to explore relation with UN over World Youth Report
4. Existing commitments HW raised, for information only, the long-standing issue of the training manual arising from the young researchers’ seminars, and the one-time proposed book on the history of rc34. The idea of at least an rc34 archive was mooted, but there were no concrete proposals to take this forward.
5. Alteration of Statutes Two changes were required. First, at the recent election, the Election Officer (HW) had permitted email submission of ballot papers as well as postal submissions. A clear and careful record was made of this process, which would bear external scrutiny. Such practice now needs formally enshrining in the Statutes. Second, the overall membership of the Executive Board is restricted to 15 persons but this currently includes three officers at large, and one ‘composite’ Organisational Secretary and Treasurer. This needs adjustment.
Decision: 1. To allow for voting in elections by email 2. To reduce the number of Officers-at-large to 2 and to have ‘Organisational Secretary’ and ‘Treasurer’ as separate positions Action: 1. NPN/HW to notify the ISA
6. Membership of Executive Board and Advisory Board CL was proposed by HH to be a second VP for Europe. AW counselled that a fuller debate should take place before this was confirmed – there were, after all, provisions for just eight VPs and six were already nominated or elected. What about Russia, or China, or a second VP for Oceania or South America? HH noted that Europe historically had had two VPs. After a fuller discussion, CL (seconded by CF) was duly approved as VP for Europe. The Executive Board emphasised that the final VP position should be for China; once a suitable individual had been identified, the Board gave authority to the President to make the appointment. The composition of the Advisory Board is solely a matter for the President. He confirmed the retention of the existing membership.
7. Young researcher’s award The issue was whether this should be supported and continued. The unanimous view was that it should. Membership of rc34, for those not already members, should be part of the prize. Although some concern was expressed about – on this occasion, in Durban – having committed such a substantial proportion of available resources to this single purpose, it was agreed that all fees and expenses for World Congress participation would continue to be the prize – it was critical that the winner presented to rc34 at the WC. The idea of a more modest level of award, for young writers, at regional level was raised. This should be reflected on by VPs. The ISA as well, the new President having explicitly raised the issue of generational renewal, might be able to assist with some resources for both regional and national development on this front.
Decision: 1. The Award will continue – the prize rc34 membership and participation at the WC Action: 1. VPs to think about a regional writing award 2. NPN to explore with the ISA the possibility of additional assistance
8. Leaflet, logo and letterhead NPN said that he wanted to build on an existing version of a leaflet and logo that HH had prepared for this Congress but which had not been ready in time. The Board also felt that the letterhead should include the names of all Vice-Presidents.
Action: 1. NPN to work on leaflet and logo 2. HW to amend letterhead and send to NPN
9. Membership and fees The business meeting had provided a strong steer that fees were never going to increase significantly the resource base of rc34 and that the expansion of the membership network was more important. Thus the fees should remain as they are or, if some increase was to be considered, it should be modest.
10. International Bulletin of Youth Research CB drew attention to the costs of both hardware and software and requested that the Board sustain its generous contribution to the technical support for the maintenance and development of the website. There were always new challenges regarding language, translation and editing. HH noted that there had been a successful application to the ISA for support last year and the new President should try once again.
Action: 1. NPN to seek ISA financial support for website technical support
11. World Congress, Durban – early reflections There had been some complaints that some abstracts had not been published. HH emphasised that this was an individual responsibility (to get them in on time), but anyway changes could be published on the website. It was suggested that in their regional reports VPs should reflect on what they felt to be the strengths and weaknesses of the rc34 sessions and programme. CL wanted more research-based sessions in the future. The perennial concern about ‘over-packed’ sessions was raised, and it was felt that there should be some consideration to the idea of giving advance, special priority to rc34 members and limiting overall numbers of papers given. HW advocated an iron fist and velvet glove – gently nurturing those giving papers but having the courage to criticise those whose presentations turned out to be incompetent (unreadable OHPs) or unprofessional (running over time, running out of time). Like any community, both praise and sanctions hold it together!
12. Next meeting It is uncertain at this point. To be determined by the President. But not to rule out more ad hoc meetings of members of the Executive Board, should a number be present at some other event. Howard Williamson Organisational Secretary rc34 1st August, 2006 Ngan Pun Ngai President rc34 10th August 2006.