Arlington, Virginia
5 June 1998, 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.
The Meeting opened with Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler introducing herself and the current board: Abigail Quandt (Assistant Chair), Eleanore Stewart (Program Chair), Nancy Heugh (Assistant Program Chair), and Alison Luxner (Secretary / Treasurer). Ritzenthaler stated that Miranda Martin agreed to act as Parliamentarian for the meeting.
Ritzenthaler announced that Robert Espinosa will continue to compile and edit the BPG Annual for at least one more year. This announcement was greeted with much applause.
Kate Garland, the Specialty Group Representative to the AIC Board, reminded people to apply for Kress Fellowships for writing on conservation related topics. The grant amount is $18,000.00.
Abigail Quandt said the BPG is responsible for the sponsoring the May 1999 issue of the AIC Newsletter. This means the group is responsible for writing the lead article for that issue. She asked for volunteers or people with ideas to contact her. The deadline for the article March 15, 1999.
The minutes from last year's meeting were voted on and passed without discussion.
Alison Luxner reported that although the BPG's expenses for the year 1997 were almost $10,000 over budget, we still ended the year with a surplus of a few thousand dollars. At the end of the first quarter of 1998, we have a balance of close to $50,000, which is enough to cover the expenses for this year and next. The BPG Annual is the project that gets the most funding, followed by expenses for the Annual Meeting, membership mailings, and our contribution to the George Stout Fund.
Eleanore Stewart spoke about this year's program. (See report)
Nancy Heugh said the next meeting will be in St. Louis. There may be a combined theme with the Photographic Materials Group, possibly on photograph albums and scrap books.
The Nominating Committee was represented by Bill Minter, who announced the results of this year's election. Nancy Purinton is the new Assistant Chair, Jane Klinger is the Assistant Program Chair. The Nominating Committee for next year will be chaired by Ritzenthaler. The Board positions open for election will be Assistant Chair, Assistant Program Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer. Minter asked for nominations for next year's committee. Shannon Zachary, Nancy Ash, and Faith Zieske were nominated and agreed to serve with Ritzenthaler.
Robert Espinosa spoke as Chair of the Publications Committee. (See report and table)
Kate Maynor gave an update on the Paper Conservation Catalog. (See report)
Olivia Primanis gave an update on the Book Conservation Catalog. The BCC was started at the same time as the PCC. Volunteers first focused on binding history and materials, and then decided to make an outline bibliography related to terminology. Recently it was decided to shift the focus to treatment procedures. She is looking for volunteers for compiling, editing or contributing their procedures.
Lyn Koehnline gave an update on the Commentaries to the AIC Guidelines for Practice. Koehnline reminded the members that the purpose is to amplify and clarify the Guidelines to serve better the needs of the different specialty groups. There are 29 guidelines, so far 9 have been approved and drafts for 5 more were just printed. Koehnline pointed out that thus far the work has been done by her and Jan Paris. She asks that more people get involved, even small comments or brief notes to the BPG Chair are important.
Hilary Kaplan said the Archives Discussion Group had a productive meeting about surface cleaning. Next year the topic will be mold. Kaplan is turning over the facilitation of the Discussion Group to Kathy Ludwig.
Maria Grandinette reported that the Library Collections Conservation Discussion Group is having a half day session on the Conservation and Connoisseurship of Paper Back Books at this year's Annual Meeting. (See report).
Ritzenthaler returned to the issue of the BPG's excess funds. She asked the membership for suggestions. Kaplan spoke on behalf of the AIC Health and Safety Committee. In 1996 the H&S Committee was given the assignment to produce a H&S Handbook. This has been limited by funding. She proposed that the BPG donate funds to the H&S for publication of the Handbook. Discussion followed. Ritzenthaler pointed out that this request comes at the same time that the BPG Publications committee is thinking about how to respond to overtures from entities outside of the BPG.
Kaplan made the motion that the BPG consider allocating $10,000 for the purpose of publication of Health and Safety related material. The motion was seconded. There was much discussion, and a general feeling that while this was a very worthwhile project, H&S should ask the AIC Board for the funds, since they had charged H&S with production of the Handbook to begin with. Kaplan replied that the AIC Board had encouraged her to ask the BPG. Betsy Palmer Eldridge, outgoing AIC Treasurer, said the AIC Board would never tell a specialty group how it should spend its money. At this point there was a motion to close debate.
Kaplan made a new motion to consider in the BPG Board's discussion of what to do with excess funds, the H&S Committee be one of the potential recipients. This was seconded, voted on, and was passed.
Espinosa moved that the BPG support the Publications Committee for one meeting this year, with a budget of $1,200. The motion was seconded and voted on. The motion was passed.
Ritzenthaler asked for ideas to be conveyed to the BPG Board for other ways to spend the excess money, such as mid level training. There was no time left in the meeting for further discussion.
Ritzenthaler said Walter Henry will be in touch with people about a BPG archive.
The motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Alison Luxner