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Annual Report 2013-2014

In light of recent changes in leadership and finances, this winter the Executive and Council engaged in rethinking the role and structure of the James McGill Society. A major conclusion was that the best elements of the informal operations of the Society’s first thirty-nine years should be formalized. To usher in next year’s fortieth anniversary, 2015, the Executive and Council have drafted a Constitution that spells out Goals, Activities, Membership, Governance, and Finances.

Members are asked to review this Proposed Constitution for discussion and adoption at the Society’s first meeting of the 2014/2015 season, on Monday October 6 – Founder’s Day – James McGill’s 270th birthday.

Proposed Constitution: PDF icon jms-constitution-20141006.pdf

Note: This proposed constitution was adopted by the Society’s Membership, Monday November 17, 2014.

Members will note a change in membership fees. At its June 19, 2014 meeting the Executive Committee voted to have the James McGill Society constituted as a Special Interest Group within McGill University, soliciting annual donations rather than annual fees. Annual donation of at least $20.00 – the minimal amount for which McGill issues tax receipts – qualifies for membership in the Society.

Thanks to generous donations from members and friends, commemorating Dr. Stanley Frost’s 100th birthday, and thanks also to a significant bequest from Dr. Frost himself, the James McGill Society’s endowment has grown to $95,000, providing an annual income that covers approximately 50% of our yearly budget.

The Executive Committee also created the annual James McGill Society Recognition, for an outstanding McGill undergraduate paper on a McGill topic, or on a topic making use of McGill’s Heritage Resources. Professor Jarrett Rudy (History Department) and Mr. Gordon Burr (Past President; University Archives) agreed to serve as a committee to evaluate student papers and name the student to be honoured in 2014/2015.

Members will be pleased to hear that Principal Suzanne Fortier has agreed to serve as Patron of the James McGill Society.

The proposed talks for the coming year are:

  • Monday October 6, 2014, Prof. Peter McNally on McGill University and Quebec City, 1960-2002. 166th Meeting – Faculty Club, Main Dining Room.
  • Monday November 17, 2014, Prof. Desmond Morton on the Political consequences for Canada of the Great War. 167th Meeting – Place to be announced.
  • Monday February 9, 2015 Ingrid Birker on Women in Science at McGill. 168th Meeting – Redpath Museum.
  • April, 2015, Topic and venue to be announced. 169th Meeting.

Last year, the Society was honored by these excellent and well attended presentations:

  • Monday, October 7, 2013. Susan Button “Women and the Faces of Philanthropy at McGill.” The Annual Stanley Frost Lecture. 162nd Meeting (Faculty Club Ball Room)
  • Monday November 25, 2013, Richard Pound “McGill University and the Olympic Games.” The Annual Maysie MacSporran Lecture. 163rd Meeting (Moot Court, New Chancellor Day Hall)
  • Monday February 10, 2014, John Hobbins. “McGill’s Faculty of Law and the Inception of University-based Legal Education in Canada.” 164th Meeting (Moot Court, New Chancellor Day Hall)
  • Tuesday April 29, 2014, Susan Wagg. “Sir Andrew Taylor: McGill's Late Great Victorian Architect.” 165th Meeting (Macdonald-Harrington Building - School of Architecture - Room G-10)

The Society notes the passing of members and friends of the Society, including: Dr. William Feindel, January 12, former Director, Montreal Neurological Institute, and Past-President, James McGill Society; Prof. Ralph Estey, January 31, Macdonald College; Mrs. Liliane M. Stewart, May 4, benefactor; Prof. Ellen Aitken, June 13, Dean, Faculty of Religious Studies; Prof. Rod Macdonald, June 13, former Dean, Faculty of Law; Prof. William Tetley, July 1, Faculty of Law. Our sympathies are extended to their family and friends.

Fontanus: from the Collections of McGill University, vol. XIII (2013) appeared this spring with one dozen articles relating to McGill’s history. Four past presidents of the James McGill Society figured among the authors: Gordon Burr, John Hobbins, Peter McNally, and Rob Michel. Fontanus is now published electronically at http://fontanus.mcgill.ca/article/download/269/304 where it can be accessed in full PDF format, free of charge. Attached is the table of contents. Manuscripts are solicited for vol. XIV. Please contact the editors: Gordon Burr, John Hobbins, and Peter McNally.

My personal thanks and appreciation are expressed as always to our President, Theresa Rowat, our Treasurer and Membership Chair, Susan Button, other members of the Executive Committee, and to the entire membership of the James McGill Society for their continuing support and enthusiasm. I look forward to seeing you at our meetings.

Respectfully submitted

 

Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary

 

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