The Association for Asian Studies Board of Directors (BOD) met for its Fall 2023 meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan on October 9 (with one BOD member joining via Zoom). After approving the minutes from its Summer 2023 meeting, the BOD carried out a full day of discussion about current AAS programs and issues. Below, please find a summary of the votes taken by the Board at its meeting.
A key concern running throughout the day’s conversations was the state of AAS finances. Over the past decade or more, both operational and program costs have risen, while revenue has stayed flat or declined. As a result, the AAS has consistently run a budget deficit, bridging the gap with annual drawdowns of 4.5% from its investment fund. New Director of Financial Operations Joanna Middleditch and Interim Treasurer Siddharth Chandra have been working with Executive Director Hilary Finchum-Sung to review thoroughly the Association’s budget, income, and expenses, seeking out areas in which revenue could be increased or costs reduced. They presented these possibilities to the BOD for consideration.
To address a shortage in cash flow during 2023 caused by a number of unusual expenditures, the BOD approved a one-time interest-free loan from the investment account to the Secretariat. The Board also approved a motion to pursue outside funding to provide International Exchange Grants for travel to the 2024 Annual Conference in Seattle.
One matter that represents both a cost savings and reduction in AAS liability concerns the purchase of alcohol at Association events, such as workshop dinners, staff gatherings, and BOD meals. The Board voted that the AAS will no longer pay for alcoholic beverages at these events. (The Member Reception at the Annual Conference is not included in this new policy and will continue to serve alcoholic beverages.)
Director of Conferences & Events Robyn Jones and the 2024 Annual Conference Program Committee recommended that the conference Call for Proposals (CFP) get a thorough review and update, as this has not taken place in at least twenty years. The BOD approved this proposal and will receive a draft of the new CFP in Spring 2024. The BOD also voted that for the next five years, the AAS will waive conference registration fees for up to three members of the Editorial Board’s designated panel at the Annual Conference, if those speakers come from outside the field of Asian Studies and would not otherwise attend the meeting. In addition, it accepted a proposal from the Southeast Asia Council to partner with the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies on a designated panel at the Annual Conference, funded by the JSEAS.
The BOD agreed to support the four hubs in South and Southeast Asia working with AAS on its SIDA grant project by providing complimentary Institutional Memberships to all for the duration of the program, at a total cost of $3,000.
Recently, a question has arisen regarding whether or not books published by the AAS, or by authors on the AAS staff, should be eligible for Association prizes, subventions, and grants. The BOD discussed this matter and voted to implement a conflict of interest policy stating that such publications are not eligible for AAS awards of any sort.
The Board unanimously agreed on the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Contributions to Asian Studies award; the honoree will be publicly announced at a later date.
In addition to the action items described above, the BOD also discussed future locations for both the Annual Conference and AAS-in-Asia, as well as how to proceed with Education About Asia upon the retirement of Editor Lucien Ellington. More extensive conversations about the 2024 budget and further moves to secure the Association’s financial position will take place at the BOD’s next meeting, which is planned for December 2023/January 2024.