Proceedings
And Addresses
January, 2004 (Volume 77, Issue 3)
Minutes of the 2003 Pacific Division Business Meeting
Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Thursday, March 27th, 2003
CALL TO ORDER: Vice President Julia Annas called the meeting to order at 12:08 pm.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The agenda was approved without dissent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF March 28, 2002: The Minutes were approved without dissent.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Vice President Annas read the names of members of the Association who had passed away since the last Business Meeting. A moment of silence was observed in their memory.
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE: On behalf of the Nominating Committee, which he chaired, Bernard Linsky put the names of Hubert Dreyfus (for Vice President), Anita Silvers (for Secretary Treasurer), and Sara Goering (for a three-year term on the Executive Committee) in nomination.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: The nominees were elected.
REPORT OF THE PACIFIC DIVISION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Chair Joseph Tolliver reported on the mini-conference program initiated by the APA Pacific Division. A conference on terrorism, honoring Gregory Kavka, had been held earlier in March at the University of Arizona. A Mini-Conference on Global Justice will be held on March 24 in conjunction with the APA Pacific Division meeting. The Executive Committee has had preliminary inquiries regarding several proposals for mini-conferences that are expected to be submitted for the 2005 and 2006 meetings.
Tolliver also reported that Leslie Francis will chair the 2004 Program Committee.
Tolliver reported that the Executive Committee had passed a resolution giving special thanks to APA Meeting Coordinator Linda Smallbrook for the expertise, finesse, and grace with which she provides meeting support.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER:
Silvers reported on the financial state of the Pacific Division. Unlike
previous years, none of the revenue received by the APA National Office
for the 2003 convention's book exhibits or pre-registration yet has
been disbursed to the Division to cover 2003 convention expenses. A
cash flow problem resulted, but due to the Division's reserve policy,
the Division's financial state at this time continues to be acceptable.
The Secretary-Treasurer then distributed a report showing the Division's
financial balance as of March 21, 2003. She also distributed comparative
information
about the Division's financial state at the same date in previous years.
The current balance complies with the Division's cash reserve policy.
Executive Committee members had been puzzled by the new practice because APA by-laws 2 a ii-iv designate all income resulting from a meeting as divisional funds and direct that divisional funds be disbursed to the Division's secretary " at the pleasure of that division." The Executive Committee will ask the APA Board of Officers to discuss the interpretation of these by-laws during the Board's Fall '03 meeting.
Silvers also reported that the Executive Committee has reconfirmed the limits of the Division's role in regard to the Kavka Prize. The Executive Committee guarantees space on the program for the Kavka Prize Session. The Executive Committee also is willing to continue to nominate members of the Kavka Prize Committee. As established in the 1997 proposal from UCI, where the Kavka Prize Fund is held, APA expenses related to the prize are to be defrayed by the Fund. The Executive Committee's examination of the Division's role in the Kavka Prize process included a review of emailed communications between former APA Executive Director Elizabeth Radcliffe and UCI Philosophy Department Chair Nick White.
COMMENDATION OF PROGRAM CHAIR: Nick Smith's excellent work as program chair, and the work of his Program Committee, were commended. Executive Committee members have received many enthusiastic comments from members about the quality and depth of the program. The Program Chair and the Program Committee members donate a vast amount of time and expertise to make the annual meeting successful. A gift certificate was presented to Smith as a small token of appreciation.
COMMENDATION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR: Joseph Tolliver's outstanding contributions as Chair of the Executive Committee for the past three years were commended. During his term, Tolliver led the Executive Committee in establishing a mini-conference series, with each mini-conference to be organized by a committee of philosophers on the basis of a proposal submitted to and approved by the Executive Committee. The mini-conference series will advance the Pacific Division's mission of enriching the philosophical resources available to Pacific Division members. The first mini-conference will take place in conjunction with the 2004 Pacific Division meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Christiano Thanked: A motion to thank Tom Christiano for organizing the Kavka Conference on Terrorism was passed unanimously, with applause.
Opposition to Iraq War: Peter Radcliff moved, and Bart Gruzalski seconded, sending the following motion to mail ballot: "Members of the Pacific Division of the American Philosophical Association express our serious doubts about the morality, legality and prudence of a war against Iraq led by the United States.
Both just war theory and international
law say that states may resort to war only in self-defense. Iraq has
not attacked the United States, and claims that it is about to do so
are not credible. Even in the absence of imminent threat, the United
States claims a preemptive justification for war in this case. This
claim
Minutes of the 2003 Annual Business Meeting
stretches the meaning of preemption beyond reasonable bounds and sets
a dangerous precedent which other states may feel free to follow.
A war waged by the United States against Iraq will be costly in lives, both Iraqi and American, and probably those of other nations. It will create disorder leading to more suffering of innocent people in the long term, both within Iraq and elsewhere. It will cost American taxpayers many billions of dollars that would better be used for humane purposes at home and abroad."
Secretary-Treasurer Silvers explained that arguments made at the Business Meeting for and against public policy resolutions are included on the mail ballot.
Six considerations in favor of the resolution were offered by the motion's maker and seconder:
1. The APA has taken stands on other political issues.
2. Philosophers have a special obligation to voice our concern on issues of war and peace because our discipline is directly concerned with issues of social ethics and just war theory.
3. War related expenditures have a deleterious effect on universities. Further, students are being called away from their studies to active service in the military.
4. An official APA stand on the war against Iraq validates philosophers' devoting class time to the subject and invites general discussions of the topic across the campus.
5. The APA joins other professional associations that have taken a stand on the war against Iraq
6. Professional associations that have yet to take a stand may be positively influenced by the APA's resolution.
No arguments against the resolution were presented.
ADJOURNMENT: Vice President Annas adjourned the meeting at 12:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anita Silvers
Secretary-Treasurer