Great Lakes and Ohio Valley
Maritime Gathering Planning Meeting

May 8, 2001
Conference Call: Minutes

Participants:

Bob Graham, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State U.
Jeff Gray, Underwater Archaeologist, State Historical Society of Wisconsin                       
Peter Engelbert, Staff Archaeologist, Maritime Heritage, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation
John Beck, Labor & Industrial Relations, Michigan State U.
Gail Vander Stoep, Park, Recreation & Tourism Resources, Michigan State U.

Agenda and Related Notes:

I.    Quick round of introductions

II.  Brief overview - of CGLC, role of gatherings (maritime gathering specifically), current program offerings (gatherings, conference, scholarships, awards, web presence):  for review, see materials sent previously

III. Discussion - guided by the following questions & issues

A.  Review list of potential invitees
B.  Total number of participants
C.  Location
D.  Length and format of meeting
E.  Date(s) and scheduling (within general time frame of "early fall"
F.  Guiding questions / issues
G.  Inventory process (e.g., archives, collections, museums, authors, artisans and craftspeople, cultural resources, human resources, relevant organizations)
H.  Ways to use the internet / CGLC website:     http://www.greatlakes.msu.edu
I.  Linking with other organizations, resources to supplement and facilitate rather than duplicate

Preliminary discussions, involving suggestions by all, helped the planning team to sort out the purpose of the Gathering.  As was the case with planning the February "Mapping the Great Lakes Identity" conference, the discussion revolved around 1) focusing the theme and purpose of the Gathering enough so that it will serve as a "carrot," people will see the benefit and relevance of the gathering, and will see personal benefits of participating; 2) keeping the structure flexible enough to allow and encourage sharing, interaction and creative discussion about potential roles and functions of CGLC, with a focus on maritime issues.

Other specific topics, functions, suggestions projects for the CGLC maritime group included: developing and promoting 1) literature of the sea, 2) literature of the Great lakes, 3) poetry (e.g., fisher poets of the NW), 4) cultural history, particularly through oral history, because many people involved with traditional maritime lifeways and crafts are dying.

Some "functions" of CGLC (including the maritime group) include: 1) inventorying resources; 2) serving as a clearinghouse for resources and partnership development; 3) providing a teaching/outreach service; 4) collections development; 5) using technology support and facilitate all of the above.

Peter suggested a possible "focused" meeting/workshop theme: developing a resource inventory (archaeological records, maps, plans, publications, collections, etc.), with a focus on database development and integration (such a meeting could serve as a training workshop and working meeting).  Bob supported such an idea, indicating that identifying and evaluating database and software programs used in different places, and identifying ways to more effectively link/integrate these databases is needed.  Q:  how can we compile inventories?  how might the CGLC serve the role of clearinghouse by providing a central website for providing links to all these varied resources?  Where might duplications occur, and what gaps need to be filled?

The team agreed that the CGLC should focus on doing NEW things, on FILLING the gaps rather than duplicating efforts of others.  John suggested we might approach identifying potential roles for CGLC would be to develop a "list" of projects or information that would be useful to have, perhaps using the following phrase as a discussion trigger:  "Wouldn't it be nice if . . . "  (This mirrors the model of a "list of books of Michigan history that don't exist" that was published about 20 years ago.)

When the issue was raised that the CGLC needs to put more effort into including K-12 educators in Center projects, it was suggested that perhaps we might need a separate gathering focused on maritime outreach and public education.

Peter described a program that he and colleagues are working on -- an Edu-kit, targeted for grades 6-8 -- that is CD-based and incorporates photos, text, and interactive games to introduce users to Ontario and Great Lakes maritime history (including a shipwreck game).  Perhaps this could be ready to demonstrate during the Gathering???  A nice kick-off venue???

Program Structure:  Ultimately, it seemed there was consensus that this first gathering should include a variety of people involved with maritime history, culture and management, and should incorporate a combination of structured and free-wheeling components, to include: 1) sharing of individuals' work related to Great Lakes maritime content;  2) initiating development of an inventory of maritime resources; and  3) engaging everyone in a free-wheeling discussion about potential projects, "it would be nice to have/do . . . "

   While we plan to have a "working session" during the evening, it was suggested that we could combine it with a more social environment (where?  need to find an appropriate location, perhaps a room associated with a coastal-based or maritime-themed restaurant?)  This might include a taste-test competition of Canadian and Wisconsin beers (any others want to get into the fray?)

Location/Date:  It was decided that we should try to conduct the Gathering in a coastal community, preferably one that is relatively central to the region, and easy to get to.   It was suggested that the first choice be to schedule the Gathering immediately prior to the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History's conference to be held in early September, 2001 in Detroit.  That meeting is scheduled Sept. 6 (beginning with an evening reception) - Sept. 8 in Roseville, MI, using the Dossin Museum and the St. Clair Shores Public Library.

   It was decided that the first choice for the Gathering would be to schedule it from just after lunch (about 1:00 p.m.) on Wednesday, Sept. 5, having both afternoon and evening programs, then running until about 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6. 

   Individuals volunteered to check various meeting and lodging possibilities near the Dossin Museum in Detroit, and in Windsor (see details under "Budget").

   If we use the Detroit area, perhaps we can piggy-back conference rates for the AGLMH conference hotel (The Easton, located in Roseville, which has a boardwalk and sports bar and is located about 20 minutes north of Detroit).  If we use the Windsor area, we may benefit with a favorable exchange rate (and not hinder Canadian participants).  [NOTE:  If we use a combination of sites, perhaps both U.S. and Canadian participants will have the advantage of not needing approval to go international?  Or maybe that would hinder both . . . REQUESTING REACTIONS FROM THE PLANNING TEAM.]

Participants:  ACTION ITEM: Planning team members were encouraged to review the preliminary list of potential invitees, then to revise and supplement the list (also, help fill in contact information where possible).  The team was encouraged to include folks representing artists, musicians, authors, cultural foodways researchers, fisherfolks, tribal representatives, K-12 educators  (EXs:  Lee Murdock, Song of the Lakes ensemble, Dan Hall, the Mehans, Yvonne Lockwood)

IV. Budget (related to logistics in # III, especially re: policy and procedures for subsidizing part of participants' travel costs)

      Very limited discussion other than to assign various people to check about logistics and possible costs for meeting sites, lodging, etc.

ACTION ITEMS:

Bob Graham will check with John Pollecek about use of Dossin Museum for meeting space.

John Beck will check on potential use of union halls near the Dossin Museum and AGLMH conference site  (will provide information by the end of May due to travel and other commitments prior to that time)

Gail Vander Stoep will contact John Karry (Leamington, Ontario) about checking possibilities for meeting and lodging sites in Windsor

Thanks were given to all participants for donating the cost of their phone calls so that the $100 allocated in the proposed budget can be used for other Gathering costs.

COMMENT/REQUEST:  Please keep track of all your in-kind contributions (personal time, phone costs for conference calls and other program planning calls, mailing or other costs, etc.)  These can be used as in-kind contributions toward the matching funds for the NEH regional humanities center implementation grant.

V.  Where do we go from here?

      Discussion to be continues . . . please provide comments, recommendations as they come to you.  Email is easy!  My address is:      vanders1@msu.edu
(comment:  that's a "one", not an "el" after the "vanders" part)

THANKS for your interest, comments, assistance!  This should be FUN!  I look forward to working with all of you as we continue planning.                     

LOGISTICS INFORMATION GATHERED THUS FAR

Bob Graham reports that we can use the Dossin Museum as a meeting space on Wednesday afternoon for free, and on Thursday morning for $2 per person.