Homicide Research Working Group: An Interdisciplinary and International Organization

Meeting Minutes

Business Meeting I - June 11, 1998 Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Chris Rasche, Convener, at approximately 12 noon.

Announcement of new HRWG Officers
Report on By-Laws Passage
Appointment of Network Coordinator

Becky Block gave a joint report on the passage of HRWG's new By-Laws. These By-Laws now establish elected offices for the Group, including Convener,(Chris Rasche) Co-Convener (Pam Lattimore), Secretary (Vickie Brewer), Treasurer (Cheryl Maxson) and Network Coordinator (tba). Presently, the Convener and Co-Convener will serve two-year terms, while the remaining officers will serve one-year terms. The By-Laws are now posted on HRWG's Webpage.

Chris Rasche indicated her plan to regularly delegate various Group tasks that are not otherwise assigned to a Group officer. It was established that Dick Block would continue to serve as the keeper of HRWG's user list and Kaye Marz the Web page Coordinator. A Network Coordinator, along with Chairs of the Site Selection, Publications and Program Committees, are to be determined via volunteers and a follow-up discussion of these positions on the June 13 Business Meeting II.
1998 ASC Plans

Dick Block announced that HRWG has a 3-hour time block for the November 1998 American Society of Criminology meeting. Discussion ensued that the group should work toward make HRWG's ASC meeting more participatory, rather than a collection of short paper presentations. Consensus was that this would be an issue for the new Program Committee to address.
Site Selection/Program Committee for 1999

Meeting John Jarvis indicated that he is making preliminary efforts to have the FBI again host the summer meeting. Meeting participants were encouraged to consider alternate sites as well, in case one is needed, between today and Business Meeting II.
Preliminary Report re: Homicide Studies

Becky Block passed out a report of the Journal's editorial activity and subscription record of the past year. She pointed out that the 1998 Volume (#2) includes two special editions: 1) a tribute to Marvin Wolfgang, focused upon city-level analyses of homicide; with Rick Rosenfeld as Guest Editor; 2) an issue focused upon domestic violence, with Jackie Campbell as Guest Editor. Additional accounting of recent Journal activity will be offered by Jay Corzine at the Business Meeting II.
Treasurer's Report

Cheryl Maxson reported that HRWG presently has 205 members in good standing. The treasury has a balance of $12,000. There continues to be discussion of a provision for Student Scholarships/Awards.
Other Business

Ideas were discussed for how HRWG might continue to define itself and, in turn, what the Group may want future meetings to include. Possibilities submitted were: more discussion and less formal paper presentation; a meeting evaluation (which will be begun as of the 1998 meeting); an open microphone format; and a bulletin board for participant Q & A (also to be begun at this meeting). Meeting participants agreed that these will be decisions for each year's Program Committee members to make.

As a preliminary to Business Meeting II on June 13, meeting attendees were asked to consider contributing our collective expertise into various projects. These might include: 1) an ad hoc Projections Research Committee -- to be coordinated by Alan Abrahamse. The proprietors of various homicide data bases could develop a common framework for projections as well as a common methodology; 2) an Archives Committee. The meeting participants agreed that designations of Chairs and committee members should be made by June 13, for four standing committees, including Program, Network Coordination, Site Selection and Publications. Additional ad hoc committees to be discussed further include the Archives, Organizational Liaison, Media Contacts, Trend Projections and By-Laws Revision Committees.

Cheryl Maxson moved, and Everett Lee seconded, that the By-Laws be revised to indicate that the Treasurer's office be appointed by the Steering Committee, without term limits but with provisions for removal. The Steering Committee includes HRWG's officers as well as the Chairs of its committees. An alternative suggestion submitted by Cheryl Maxson was to consider a longer term of office for Treasurer, given the need for an established, ongoing bank account and the possibility of investing some of HRWG's funds.

Kim Vogt asked group members to consider volunteering to take over her portion of co-editorship of HRWG's newsletter. Kim assembles all information and sets up the newsletter text. Vickie Brewer will continue to coordinate the printing and mailing of the newsletters, under sponsorship of the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University.

Chris Rasche adjourned the meeting at approximately 2 p.m.

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