In this issue:

1. HASS on the Hill June 15-16 - registrations
2. HASS on the Hill - accommodation
3. HASS on the Hill - sponsors
4. Foundation Membership
5. Meetings at universities around Australia
6. Subscription levels
7. And an unforgivable mistake

1. HASS on the Hill June 15-16 - registrations

So far, one hundred and two parliamentarians have accepted our invitation for one-on-one meetings at "Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences on the Hill". Gavan O'Connor, MHR for Corio, was number 100, and has been presented with a celebratory bottle of wine.

Now it is up to people working in the sector to register. We need 100-150 people to go into these meetings, and so far we have 39 registrants. The registration form is on our web site: www.chass.org.au

Registrations close on Monday May 24. If the event fills up before then, we may have to close off registrations earlier.

2. HASS on the Hill - accommodation

We have reserved 50 rooms at University House for "HASS on the Hill." Generally good rooms, convenient location, reasonable prices. Ring (02) 6125 5111, and mention the CHASS event.

3. HASS on the Hill - sponsors

Five groups have agreed to support our inaugural event so far, and we are very grateful to the following organisations:

Platinum sponsor

• Innovative Research Universities

Gold sponsor

• The Australian Research Council

Silver sponsors

• The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee
• The Group of Eight
• The National Library

4. Foundation Membership

Groups and organisations interested in HASS are invited to join CHASS as Foundation Members. Thirteen groups have joined to date (see below).

Being a Foundation Member is the best way to support our fledgling organisation and indicate interest in shaping the future of humanities, arts and social sciences in Australia. The application form is on our website: www.chass.org.au

Foundation Membership costs $100. Only Foundation Members will be able to vote at the inaugural AGM on the constitution, and elect the new Board.

Founder Members so far are:

• Australian Academy of the Humanities
• Australian and New Zealand Shakespeare Association
• Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools
• Australian Film, Television and Radio School
• Australian Sociological Association
• Australasian Association of Philosophy
• Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
• Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, UQ
• Cultural Studies Association Australasia
• Division of Humanities, Macquarie Uni.
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Uni. of Adelaide
• National Tertiary Education Union
• University of Newcastle

5. Meetings at universities around Australia

Executive Director Toss Gascoigne has just completed a six state tour to discuss CHASS with interested parties in universities and other organisations. Enthusiasm for the CHASS idea was almost universal.

There was great relief that somebody finally seems to be doing something about the parlous funding situation for research and education in the humanities, arts and social sciences, and gaining a new voice for the sector in national policy-making circles.

6. Subscription levels

Our draft constitution (www.chass.org.au) sets out two suggested ways of working out how much it will cost organisations to be a member of CHASS.

The first will apply to learned or professional societies, such as the Australian Association for Byzantine Studies. These societies will pay a subscription based on their membership, and the per capita rate will be set by the new Board. It could, for instance, be set at $2 or $3 or $5 per individual member per year.

The second method will be for organisations like the Academy of the Humanities, or the DASSH Deans. In these cases a figure will be individually negotiated with the organisation, and then put to the Board for approval.

7. And an unforgivable mistake

In the last newsletter, in the list of members of the Steering Committee, Larissa Behrendt was listed as "Linda". Our apologies!

For the record, here is the full list:

• Professor Tom Stannage (Convener) Dean, Curtin University
• Dr John Beaton, ED, Academy of Social Sciences, Australia
• Professor Larissa Behrendt, UTS
• Mr John Byron, ED, Academy of the Humanities
• Professor Malcolm Gillies, D-VC, ANU
• Professor Andrea Hull, Director, Victoria College of the Arts
• Professor Iain McCalman, President, Academy of the Humanities
• Professor Sue Richardson, President, Academy of Social Sciences, Australia

 

Regards

Toss Gascoigne
15 May 2004

 

For more information, please contact:

Toss Gascoigne

Executive Director

Council of the Humanties, Arts and Social Sciences

Phone: +61 2 6249 1995

director@chass.org.au