REPORT 2001 THE ANNUAL MEETING THE ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN MIGRATION INSTITUTIONS. SAN MARINO 27.09.01 - 29.09.01. THURSDAY 27.09.01. The annual meeting of the Association of European Migration Institutions (AEMI) began at 9:00 in the Teatro Titano in San Marino, with a welcome and introductory remarks by Mr. Lucio Daniele, Coordinator of the Department of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of San Marino. He was followed by by Ms. Noemi Ugolini of the Centro Studi sull Emigrazione, San Marino, who also extended a warm welcome to the gathering. After Ms. Ugolini, Mr. Knut Djupedal, chairman of AEMI, spoke about the events in the United States on 11. September, 2001, and what they might mean for AEMI. The meeting then stood in silence for one minute in respect for deceased in New York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Djupedal was followed by Fra Gianmario Maffioletti of Centro Studi Emigrazione Roma, who spoke about his institution, and by Ms. Maddalena Tirabassi (Altreitalie-Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli), speaking on that foundations programs on Italian migration The remainder of the day was devoted to the seminar Emigration Agents, and was chaired by ms. Tirabassi. The speakers, their institutional affiliation, and their subjects were as follows: - Dr. Amoreno Martellini (Universitā di Urbino) La ricerca sugli agenti di emigrazione; - Dr. Antonius Holtmann (Research Center German Emigrants in the USA), Europeans to America, American Passenger Lists and European Databases; - Dr. Marjan Drnovsek (Institute for Slovene Emigration Studies), The role of Ljubljana in European Migration Process Before 1914; - Dr. Ulf Beijbom (The Swedish Emigrant Institute), Emigrant Agencies in Sweden; - Dr. Adam Walaszek (Institute for Diaspora and Ethnic Studies), Emigration Agents in Galicia prior to World War II; - Dr. Ercole Sori (Universitā di Ancona), Un introduzione allo studio degli agenti di emigrazione; - Mr. Knut Djupedal (The Norwegian Emigrant Museum), Emigrant Agents in Norway. Following the speakers, Ms. Tirabassi chaired a Round Table discussion on Emigration agents, with participation from the assembled members of AEMI, other scolars, representatives of the Museo dell Emigrante, and other participants. After a break, there was a book presentation by Mr. Paola Bigi and Mr. Vito G. Testaj of the book Volontari, terrazzieri, camionisti sammarinesi in Africa Orientale Italiana, 1935-1945. That evening The Republic of San Marino hosted a gala dinner for the assembled delegates. FRIDAY 28.09.01. Friday the delegates became acquainted with the Republic of San Marino. During the morning, they were given a guided tour of the historic center at Monte Titano. Then at 12:00, they were received in audience by Their Excellencies the Captains Regent of The Republic of San Marino. During the audience, AEMI chairman Knut Djupedal spoke on behalf of the associations members. Following the audience, the delegates visited the Museo dell Emigrante, and were given a tour by the staff. That evening, the delegates first visited the sacellum of St. Marino, the founder of San Marino. Most of the delegates climbed the 200 m. path to the little cave in which St. Marino is said to have lived when he first came to Borgo Maggiore. The group then continued by bus to the village of Montegiardino. Here they were given a tour of the village, a fine dinner, and a dance, hosted by the village. They were met by the head of the local council, and were shown medieval crafts by the townspeople. It was a most enjoyable evening. SATURDAY 29.09.01 The General Assembly of the Association of European Migration Institutions (AEMI) convened in the Teatro Titano on San Marino at 8:30, and was called to order by Chairman Knut Djupedal. In his opening remarks, Mr. Djupedal thanked Ms. Noemi Ugolini, Mrs. Marina Gasperoni, and Mrs. Alexandra Ghironzi for making this annual meeting such impressive and thoroughly enjoyable affair. Mr. Djupedal then called the roll of institutional members present. These were: - The Center for Migration Studies, Ulster-American Folk Park, Omagh (UK), represented by Mr. Brian Lambkin; - The Centro Italianio di Studi Sull Emigrazione, Tramonti, (I) represented by Mr. Aurelio Giordano; - The Danish Emigration Archives, Aalborg (DK), represented by Dr. Jens Topholm; - The Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb (CR), represented by Dr. Sasa Bozic; - The Historical Emigration Office, Hamburg (D), represented by Ms. Elizabeth Sroka; - The Institute of Diaspora and Ethnic Studies, Jagallonian University, Krakow (P), represented by Dr. Adam Walaszek; - The Institute of Migration, Turku (SF), represented by Dr. Olavi Koivukangas; - The Institute for Slovene Emigration Studies, Ljubljana (SL), represented by Dr. Marjan Drnovsek and Marina Luksic Hacin; - The Norwegian-American Collections, Oslo (N), represented by Ms. Dina Tolfsby; - The Norwegian Emigration Center, Stavanger (N), represented by Mr. Hans Storhaug; - The Norwegian Emigrant Museum Ottestad (N), represented by Mr. Knut Djupedal; - The Centre of Regional and Tourism Research, Nexoe (DK) represented by Dr. Henning Bender; - The Research Center for Lower Saxons in the USA, Oldenbourg (D), represented by Dr. Antonius Holtmann; - Routes to the Roots, Oldenbourg (D), represented by Dr. Wolfgang Grams; - The San Marino Emigrant Museum and Study Center, San Marino (SM), represented by Ms. Noemi Ugolini and Mrs. Marina Gasperoni; - The Swedish Emigrant Institute, Växjö (S), represented by Dr. Ulf Bejbom; - Vesturfarasetrid/Icelandic Emigration Center, Hofsos (IS), represented by Ms. Wigdis Johansdottir and Mr. V. Thorvaldsson; - The Åland Islands Emigrant Institute, Mariehamn (SF), represented by Mr. Erik Lindholm and Ms. Eva Meyer. There were no personal members present. The following member institutions were not represented: - The Archives Department, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool (UK); - Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations Humaines, Dudelange, (L); - Center for the Study of Migration and Intercultural Relations, Lisbon (PL); - Centro Studi Emigrazione Roma, Rome (I); - The County Archives in Sogn og Fjordane, Kaupanger (N); - The Danish Immigrant Museum, Farum (DK); - The German Emigration Museum, Bremerhavn (D); - Immigrant-institutet, Borås (S); - The John F. Kennedy Trust, New Ross (IR); - The North Frisian Emigrant Archive, Bredstedt (D). Guests were: Ms. Milena Domjan, of the Slovene Department of Culture; Dr. Jenny Calder and Dr. David Forsyth, of The Museum of Scotland International, The National Museum of Scotland; Dr. Dasa Hribar, of The Slovene Ethnographic Museum; Ms. Maddalena Tirabassi of Altreitalie. 1. Election of a presiding officer for the General Assembly. The chairman moved that Dr. Adam Walaszek of The Institute of Diaspora and Ethnic Studies, be elected presiding officer of the business meeting. The motion was seconded, and adopted by the General Assembly. Mr Djupedal turned the podium over to Dr. Walaszek. Dr. Walaszek asked if there were comments to the agenda. Mr. Djupedal moved that time be set aside to write a letter of condolence to AEMIs associated at the Ellis Island Museum in New York City, in connection with the events of 11. September, 2001, in the United States. The General Assembly adopted the motion. 2. Amendments to the statutes. No proposals had been made, so no action was necessary. 3. Budget for 2001-2002. The chairman and the secretary noted that AEMI has over EURO 8,000 in its accounts. The chairman and the secretary proposed that these moneys by kept as is, and the interest could be used for to help fund a worthy project, should application for such funding be made, and the board accept the application. Otherwise, the chairman and secretary moved that the board be permitted to use up to E 2000 for the board meetings the coming year, and up to E 1.000 for administrative costs. Accounts are to be presented at the next meeting. The General Assembly adopted this motion. 4. Chairmans Report for 2000-2001. The chairman presented his report for the past year. There were comments on a paragraph concerning a trip to The United States on the Queen Elizabeth 2. This paragraph was taken out. The chairman moved that the edited report adopted by the General Assembly. The motion was adopted. 5. Financial statements and accounts for 2000-2001. Secretary/treasurer Henning Bender reported the audited accounts for 2000-2001. Mr. Bender moved that the accounts be adopted by the General Assembly. The motion was adopted. 6. Projects. The chairman moved that this point of business be tabled until after the other business had been taken care of. The General Assembly adopted the motion. 7. The next General Assembly. Previous General Assemblies have determined the following schedule for the coming years: - 2002: Stavanger (Norway); - 2003: Tramonti (Italy); - 2004: Växjö (Sweden); - 2005: Ottestad (Norway). The Center for the Study of Migration and Intercultural Relations, Lisbon, sent a proposal to hold a meeting in the Azore Islands in 2006. Ulf Bejbom moved that the decision of a venue for 2006 be left open for the time being. The General Assembly adopted Dr. Beijboms motion. The secretary pointed out that in the light of the growth of AEMI, and the resultant size of the meeting, the board must be permitted to visit future venues, to assure themselves and the General Assembly, that the host institution can in fact support such a task.. He added that the statutes only say that the General Assembly shall decide where the next meeting is to take place. Therefore, the venues for 2002-2005 must be seen not as final decisions, but as preliminary ones. Final decisions on the venue of any meeting cannot be taken until the year preceding that meeting. The General Assembly agreed to and adopted this interpretation of the statutes. Dr. Walaszek then asked Mr. Hans Storhaug to report on thoughts and plans for the 2002 annual meeting at the Norwegian Emigration Center in Stavanger . Mr. Storhaug said that as of now, there were three points in their planning: there would be a seminar, probably on Domestic (European) Consequences of Emigration, the seminar would solicit papers on this subject, and he planned to have a keynote speaker, and would apply for funding for such a speaker. Otherwise, the meeting would in general follow the plan of earlier meetings, i.e., a seminar, a chance for delegates to get acquainted with the host institution and the geographic and cultural milieu within which it exists, and a day devoted to the General Assembly itself. The General Assembly confirmed that the next annual meeting of AEMI would be held in Stavanger, Norway, at the end of September, 2002. Dr. Walaszek moved that the ordinary annual meeting of AEMI, which includes the General Assembly, always be held during the last week in September. The General Assembly adopted this motion. 8. The Subscription Rate. The secretary moved that the subscription rate remain at EURO 100 for institutional membership, and EURO 20 for individual membership. The General Assembly adopted this motion. 9. New members. As of 29.09.01, the following institutions have indicated that they wish to join the Association: The Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS) Universität Osnabrück D-49069 Osnabrück Germany The Institute for Migration and Ancestral Research Richard Wagner Str. 31 D-18119 Warnemünde Germany The Slovene Ethnographic Museum (no address given at this time) The Museum of Scotland International National Museums of Scotland Chambers Street Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Scotland France Generiques (The French Immigrant Museum) 34 rue de Citeaux F 75012 Paris France As of the meeting on 29.09., however, only the latter two have sent applications for membership at this time. The Slovene Ethnographic Museum, through its representative, indicated that it would send an application in time for the 2002 meeting. Dr. Jenny Calder and Dr. David Forsyth presented the Museum of Scotland International to the membership. The secretary presented material sent by the French Immigrant Museum to the meeting. After a short discussion concerning the rules of admission, the General Assembly admitted the following institutions to AEMI: - The Museum of Scotland International, The National Museums of Scotland; - France Generiques (The French Immigation Museum). The chairman was directed to ask other institutions to confirm their applications for institutional membership by 1. July, 2002, for consideration at the next General Assembly. The discussion preceding this motion uncovered differing interpretations of the criteria of membership. As a result, Mr Hans Storhaug moved that a rules committee be established, consisting of Chairman Knut Djupedal, Dr. Olavi Koivukangas, and Dr. Adam Walaszek; and that this committee present revised rules of admission for consideration at the next General Assembly. The General Assembly adopted this motion. 10. The auditor. The chairman moved that Ulf Beijbom continue in this office. The general Assembly adopted this motion. 11. Election of the Executive Board. According to the statutes Art.4, § 1., the executive board shall consist of a chairman and a secretary/treasurer, and a representative of the host institution, which last organized the ordinary General Assembly. By these rules, the executive board for 2001-2002 consists of: - Mr. Knut Djupedal, chairman (term expires in 2002); - Dr. Henning Bender, secretary/treasurer (term expires in 2002); - Ms. Noemi Ugolini (2001-2002). The chairman stated that it is his intention not to stand for another term. He solicited nominations for a new chairman in time for the next meeting. 12. A Letter from the General Assemby to The Administration and Staff of the Ellis Island Museum and Statue of Liberty National Monument. The chairman read a proposal for such a letter concerning the events of 11. September, 2001. After some editing remarks by the membership, the letter was adopted by The General Assembly and Mr. Djupedal was instructed to send it as soon as possible to Ellis Island. 6. Projects. The following projects were presented to the General Assembly: - The research and documentation project: THE ROLE OF DIASPORAS IN THE TRANSNATIONATIONALISATION OF EUROPE, initiated by the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, and aimed at determining the role of diasporas in the process of transnationalisation of Europe during initial, current and near future phases. Presented by Dr. Sasa Bozic, of The Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb (CR). - The ongoing project THE ART OF EMIGRATION, presented by Dr. Brian Lambkin, of The Center for Migration Studies, Ulster-American Folk Park, Omagh (UK). - The project NORDIC EMIGRATION - AN INTERACTIVE HERITAGE JOURNEY - through the medium of the Internet - information relating to the late 19th and early 20th century emigration from the Nordic Countries to North America, as presented by heritage centers and related institutions in the countries of origin. Presented by Wigdis Johansdottir and V. Thorvaldsson, of Vesturfarasetrid/Icelandic Emigration Center, Hofsos (IS); - An international project on MIGRATION AND INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS. CHALLENGES FOR EUROPEAN SCHOOLS TODAY, run by The University College of Stavanger, The Norwegian Emigration Center, the Ulster-American Folk Park, CEMRI in Lisbon, and The University of Suffolk, designed to bring emigration history out to the schools, which last fall sought EU funding through the COMENIUS program to expand their network, and which is seeking funding part through the Socrates Program of the EU. Presented by Dr. Antonius Holtmann of The Research Center for Lower Saxons in the USA, Oldenbourg (D); - The book project concerning AN EMIGRATION HISTORY OF EUROPE, presented by Ms. Noemi Ugolini and Marina Gasperoni of the Museo dell Emigrante (SM), the draft of which has been written and will shortly be approved by a scientific committee at the Museo dell Emigrante. - A project designed to create a MAP OF EUROPEAN MIGRATION, involving not only AEMI, but perhaps the American National Geographic Society and other similar institutions. Presented by Dr. Wolfgang Grams, of Routes to the Roots, Oldenbourg (D). The General Assembly discussed the various projects, and then passed the following motions: - All project coordinators who wish to attract support and participation from the membership of AEMI are asked to write a one-page summary of their project, and send this to the secretary for publication on the AEMI web site. The coordinators are also asked to distribute their summaries as e-mail attachments through the AEMI network. - The board is directed to consider ways and means of establishing AEMI as a coordinator of a European Migration History, to meet about this in the coming year, and to send a formal suggestion to the Council of Europe, either through the Museo dell Emigrante in San Marino, or directly from AEMI. Dr. Wolgang Grams then informed the General Assembly about the current status of the German Emigrant Museum and the coming expansion in Bremerhavn. The 2001 General Assembly closed at 1400, with a sincere thanks from Chairman Knut Djupedal to the San Marino Ministry of foreign and Political Affairs, The Ministry of Education, University and Cultural Institutions, The Ministry of Tourisn, Commerce and Sport, and San Marinos National Commission for UNESCO, for helping to make this meeting possible. Mr. Djupedal also specifically thanked the administration and staff of the Museo dell Emigrante, San Marino, and especially Director Noemi Ugolini, Mrs. Marina Gasperoni, and Mrs. Alexandra Ghironzi, for making this one of the finest meetings ever held by AEMI. At 1500, the delegates and guests left by bus for the fortress and historical center of the village of San Leo. Acording to legend, San Marino and SAn Leo were founded by and named after two Christian stonemasons who escaped persecution by the Roman emporer Diocletian by taking refuge in the mountains of east-central Italy. The group received a guided tour of the Fortress of San Leo, which at one time was a papal fortress and prison, and where Count Cagliostro was held and where he died. This tour was followed by a tour of the villages historical center with its pre-Romanesque parish church and Romanesque cathedral, and a reception by the village vice-mayor.