H-Net Officers and Council

Charles V. Reed
Elizabeth City State University

Jerome Krase
Brooklyn College

Jeff Strickland
Montclair State University

Scott Hendrix
Cuyahaga Community College

Andrew J. Iliadis
Purdue University

Nick Timmerman
Mississippi State University

Daniel Fandino
University of Central Florida

David Prior
University of New Mexico

Jeremy Wells
Texas State University

The Networks Committee is responsible for coordinating the development, oversight, and support of new and existing H-Net networks and for establishing and monitoring support services for editors and subscribers. The committee advises the Council on policies and practices that relate to H-Net subject-area Networks

Publications Committee - Chair: Robert Cassanello

All dissemination of information on H-Net's lists and Web is a form of publication as well as an aid to research. The purview of the Publications Committee is in two main areas:

1. Reviews of books and other publications. In consultation with reviews staff and the networks, the committee will identify where additional review editors are needed and assist in recruiting them. The committee will formulate training and standards guidelines, and enhance the support of review editors through the Web and financial means.
2. The committee has broad responsibility for "matters relating to research and publications." In addition to reviews and other Web content, the committee will advise council on new publishing ventures, both those of H-Net or those envisioned in partnership with other non-profit or commercial entities. The committee may prepare proposals or provide advice to council on proposals from outside the committee.

Teaching Committee - Chair: Monika Lehner

From its inception, H-Net has been dedicated to developing the educational potential of the World Wide Web. The Committee on Teaching has three charges:

1. To critically evaluate and recommend awards for on-line teaching and research resources.
2. To identify and publicize ways that new technologies be effectively used to enhance the teaching of the humanities and social sciences; to identify possible sources of funding for teaching and technology projects; and to facilitate cross-institutional instructional projects usingnew technologies.
3. To identify and suggest ways that H-Net as an organization can promote the effective use of new technologies in instruction.

Nominating and Elections Committee - Chair: Jean Stuntz

This group is responsible for recruiting and nominating eligible candidates for electoral office in the organization. Typically, the President-Elect will be appointed to then recruit an Elections Committee that decides on the elections process and validates the results that are reported to the Council and all the H-Net editors.

Members (2016): Ryan Dunch (President Elect), Randolph Hollingsworth (Past President)

Rules and Procedures Committee - Chair: Randolph Hollingsworth

This committee is responsible for overseeing H-Net's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Council policies, and other policy documents and for making rules and procedures related policy recommendations to the Executive Council.

Members (2016): Jean Stuntz (President), Ryan Dunch (President Elect), Peter Knupfer (H-Net Executive Director), Charles Reed (Editor, H-Empire), Jeff Strickland (Member, H-Migration & H-Ethnic)

All of the leadership, members of the Council, officers and directors, have at least three fiduciary duties to H-Net:

1. "Obedience" to the organization's constitution, articles of incorporation, and bylaws. They must not knowingly act outside the scope of those regulations, or of federal or state laws.
2. "Loyalty" dictates that they act in good faith and avoid conflicts of interest that put their personal interests above those of the organization.
3. "Care" requires that they be diligent and prudent in managing the organization's affairs.

Council

Councilors do not represent lists, networks, fields, disciplines, or interests. They represent the people who elected them: the editors and voting staff of H-Net. Council seats are not apportioned by network or subject field, and the elections are based on one-person, one vote.

Councilors therefore act as individuals informed by their experience as editors and within their fields, and their decisions must look to the broader health and welfare of H-Net as a whole. The work of the Council is shaped by H-Net's Strategic Plan, which may be found at http://www.h-net.org/about/strategic.php.

Article V of the constitution http://www.h-net.org/about/constitution.php describes the council's role in our organization. It governs the organization's affairs, makes policy, and provides strategic direction and oversight to the directorate.

In practical terms, this usually entails, but is not limited to:

• Approving all network applications and decommissions.
• Certifying and decertifying all editors and board members.
• Establishing editorial, administrative, and fiscal policy.
• Acting as "court" of last appeal in disputes among editors, subscribers, and/or officers.
• Oversight and responsibility for budgets and finances provided by the executive director and treasurer.
• Approving membership on internal committees and boards.
• Appointing the executive director and supervising his or her work; approving related staffing and employment needs.
• Helping to draft, develop, and oversee the implementation of the organization's strategic plan.
• Oversee H-Net's relations with its host institution.
• Draft and implement changes to the bylaws.

In the past, the Council's practice has been to meet once yearly in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Historical Association (in early January). Recently the Council decided to alternate its yearly meetings between the annual meeting of the Social Science History Association (mid October) and the H-Net Home Offices in East Lansing, Michigan. It handles routine matters (like network approvals and editor certifications) on a weekly consent agenda supervised by the President. The group communicates via a dedicated network of record, HNET-COUNCIL, plus any other lists or media it may choose. Councilors are expected to monitor their mail regularly for organizational business.

Officers

The duties of officers are indicated in the constitution's Article IV http://www.h-net.org/about/constitution.php.

President-Elect

As "president-in-waiting," this officer chairs the annual election committee and takes the presidency in case of a vacancy or when the current president's term ends.

President

It is the responsibility of this officer to chair the Council and to formulate policies and projects for presentation to the Council that fulfill the obligations and purposes of this organization. The president shall also work with other officers to plan the development of H-Net and represent H-Net in its dealings with other organizations. H-Net Presidents generally have high visibility in the organization and the profession and serve as the organization's advocate and strategic leader in the profession at large.

Past-President

It is the responsibility of this officer to provide the Council with his or her expertise regarding the development of H-Net. The past-president may also be responsible for supervising the HNET-COUNCIL network and routine matters (like network approvals and editor certifications) on the weekly consent agenda when the president is unable to do so.

Vice President

The vice presidents generally help to manage and develop policy and editorial initiatives through their respective committees. They also try to develop and cultivate involvement by the editors in H-Net's policies and practices, and advise the directorate accordingly. The Vice President for Research and Publications chairs the Publications Committee and is responsible for formulating policies and projects for H-Net publications, including reviews, and submitting these to the Council on behalf of his or her committee. Traditionally, H-Net Reviews has taken up the majority of this officer's time for the organization. The Vice President for Teaching chairs the Teaching Committee and formulates teaching-related policies, standards, and projects that are submitted to the Council from his or her committee. The Vice President for Networks acts as chief editor of H-Net with special emphasis on list and web editors, handles all network applications and launches, helps to arbitrate disputes within or among networks, develops and cultivates a common editorial community, style, and practice, and chairs the Networks Committee.

HNet-Staff Editor

The HNET-STAFF editor manages the staff network that H-Net editors use to communicate their concerns about H-Net. No H-Net officer (other than the elected editor of HNET-STAFF) may serve as editor or assistant editor of HNET-STAFF. The editor shall appoint an assistant editor to handle the list during brief absences and during election campaigns when the current editor is a candidate for re-election. The HNET-STAFF editor is also charged with the role of secretary and is responsible for recording and maintaining records of all decisions made by the Council. The secretary is also responsible for ensuring that regular two-way communication exists between the Council and all of the various constituencies of H-Net, including the staff, editorial boards, and subscribers.

Treasurer

The treasurer is an appointed, non-voting member of the H-Net Council. He or she works with the executive director, professional staff members and designated members of the Council in crafting a budget for H-Net activities. The treasurer is charged with reporting quarterly to the Council.

Executive Director

The executive director of H-Net is appointed by the Council and shall be the chief administrative officer. It is his or her duty, under the direction of the Council, to oversee the affairs of H-Net, to have responsibility for the continuing operations of H-Net, to supervise the work of committees, to assist in the formulation of policies and projects for submission to the Council, to execute instructions of the Council, and to perform such other duties as the Council may direct. The executive director will coordinate the external representation of H-Net with the other officers and will work in cooperation with the other officers and Council in planning H-Net's development.