[stpug]

Since I live in a city that hosts one of the largest ComiCon events, I guess I'm OK with the new HomebrewCon moniker. I'm used to it.

But ComiCon has the dual-use letter thing going for it:

Code: [Select]

Comic
    Convention
HomebrewCon doesn't:

Code: [Select]

Homebrew
        Convention
It's an abomination!  Just kidding .  The name is fine either way (even if it doesn't do the whole dual-user letter thing).  Permission granted.

[hopfenundmalz]

It does eliminate some confusion. Now NHC just means the National Homebrew Competition. HomebrewCon can be referred to as HBC, and no confusion.

Edit - I got used to it.

[lupulus]

Fellow homebrewers,
I started this thread not to promote any candidates but to help coordinate the raising of issues/ topics/ actions that can make our hobby better.

You may have seen by now that for good or bad, I am very science-oriented. Cannot help it :-)

What can help me personally and I am sure it would help many other homebrewers is for the GC to facilitate our access to research publications on brewing.
Ideally of course, would be free access to a given journal for AHA members, but more realistically, I think a student membership for AHA members (that are not pro brewers) can be negotiated with most journals.
Examples are :
MBAA technical quarterly
Brauwelt international

There you go.. What do you fellow homebrewers wish to see done that is not part of the commitments of current candidates?

I'm not sure you understand the role of the Governing Committee. While you have a cool idea, it's outside the scope of what we do.

Where is the scope of what you (GC) do defined, Denny?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[hopfenundmalz]

Fellow homebrewers,
I started this thread not to promote any candidates but to help coordinate the raising of issues/ topics/ actions that can make our hobby better.

You may have seen by now that for good or bad, I am very science-oriented. Cannot help it :-)

What can help me personally and I am sure it would help many other homebrewers is for the GC to facilitate our access to research publications on brewing.
Ideally of course, would be free access to a given journal for AHA members, but more realistically, I think a student membership for AHA members (that are not pro brewers) can be negotiated with most journals.
Examples are :
MBAA technical quarterly
Brauwelt international

There you go.. What do you fellow homebrewers wish to see done that is not part of the commitments of current candidates?

I'm not sure you understand the role of the Governing Committee. While you have a cool idea, it's outside the scope of what we do.

Where is the scope of what you (GC) do defined, Denny?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

The bylaws are downloadable on this page.
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/membership/aha-governing-committee/

[lupulus]

Fellow homebrewers,
I started this thread not to promote any candidates but to help coordinate the raising of issues/ topics/ actions that can make our hobby better.

You may have seen by now that for good or bad, I am very science-oriented. Cannot help it :-)

What can help me personally and I am sure it would help many other homebrewers is for the GC to facilitate our access to research publications on brewing.
Ideally of course, would be free access to a given journal for AHA members, but more realistically, I think a student membership for AHA members (that are not pro brewers) can be negotiated with most journals.
Examples are :
MBAA technical quarterly
Brauwelt international

There you go.. What do you fellow homebrewers wish to see done that is not part of the commitments of current candidates?

I'm not sure you understand the role of the Governing Committee. While you have a cool idea, it's outside the scope of what we do.

Where is the scope of what you (GC) do defined, Denny?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

The bylaws are downloadable on this page.
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/membership/aha-governing-committee/

Thanks so much!
After reading, there is nothing in the bylaws that remotely suggests what Denny is stating above.
So again, why exactly the AHA cannot negotiate a discounted access to brewing publications on behalf of homebrewers?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[dbeechum]

well, I don't know about the bylaws and what not - but I'm the ViceChairman of the GC.

The way the GC usually works is we're a sounding board for the plans the AHA is making. For instance, the annual plan is passed by us to get a looksee and sniff. We're also a dedicated volunteer crew that gives extra hands for things like survey analysis, etc.

In the case of the HBC name, that got passed by us as "we're thinking about a name change. What do you think?"

Now, efforts do get introduced by the GC - the insurance program is a great example of that - that's was Crispy and his work to keep driving. For ythe journal idea, it could be introduced by a GC member, but it would be ultimately up to the AHA to figure out how to budget and implement it if it fits into their annual plan. (We would have to convince them that it would be worth the effort)

[lupulus]

well, I don't know about the bylaws and what not - but I'm the ViceChairman of the GC.

The way the GC usually works is we're a sounding board for the plans the AHA is making. For instance, the annual plan is passed by us to get a looksee and sniff. We're also a dedicated volunteer crew that gives extra hands for things like survey analysis, etc.

In the case of the HBC name, that got passed by us as "we're thinking about a name change. What do you think?"

Now, efforts do get introduced by the GC - the insurance program is a great example of that - that's was Crispy and his work to keep driving. For ythe journal idea, it could be introduced by a GC member, but it would be ultimately up to the AHA to figure out how to budget and implement it if it fits into their annual plan. (We would have to convince them that it would be worth the effort)

Thanks Drew for taking time to respond. Indeed it makes sense that for new ideas, the board can only make recommendations and then the AHA will need to allocate resources, human and monetary, to implement them.
At least for what I suggested, Denny is over estimating what it can take.  It is just a phone call to the right person at the journal. You are offering them an additional revenue stream at zero cost to them and a few of us who are interested gain access at the student rate (a clear win-win). The only concern for the journal would be pro-brewer push back but it is not likely.
I can do the phone calls on behalf of the AHA if the AHA gives me permission.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[mabrungard]

The only concern for the journal would be pro-brewer push back but it is not likely.
I can do the phone calls on behalf of the AHA if the AHA gives me permission.

This is a great idea to a geek like me, but I'm not sure that a majority of the general membership would find it valuable. When I was completing my second Masters degree a few years ago, I loved my access to various journals through the University's library. If AHA could get similar access, I would love it. If you have insight as to how libraries and allied organizations get access, your Governing Committee would like to hear it. However, the bottom line is that is limited funding available to things that might have limited appeal to the membership as a whole.

[JT]

I bet there are more geeks than we know about that are either current members or could be swayed into becoming a member with this.  Also betting the AHA could survey this and other initiatives among current members, maybe through the Brew Guru, an email link and/or their website. 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[lupulus]

The only concern for the journal would be pro-brewer push back but it is not likely.
I can do the phone calls on behalf of the AHA if the AHA gives me permission.

This is a great idea to a geek like me, but I'm not sure that a majority of the general membership would find it valuable. When I was completing my second Masters degree a few years ago, I loved my access to various journals through the University's library. If AHA could get similar access, I would love it. If you have insight as to how libraries and allied organizations get access, your Governing Committee would like to hear it. However, the bottom line is that is limited funding available to things that might have limited appeal to the membership as a whole.

I am sorry I was not more clear Martin.
There are two things the AHA can do in this regard.
1. Negotiate student subscription rates with journals and associations. For example, student membership to the MBAA is $42 for students vs $142 for pro brewers. This subscription comes with access to their journal and other benefits. Brauwelt international costs Euro 89 for students, and 169 for pros.
The cost to the AHA for this, is practically zero: A couple of phone calls one time.  Indeed, not many homebrewers would use the benefit but some will, and will benefit greatly from these subscriptions.
2. Interlibrary loan and copy services. I completely understand that this is not a realistic expectation as it would require a budget and as Martin and others mentioned, not benefit most of dues-paying AHA members.
So, again, new and upcoming AHA members, can you please discuss it and if you agree, assign a staff member to get the negotiation done.
Cheers,

[Stevie]

I would be interested in plain English reports citing these articles in zymurgy, but I don't care to read them myself.

[tommymorris]

The only concern for the journal would be pro-brewer push back but it is not likely.
I can do the phone calls on behalf of the AHA if the AHA gives me permission.

This is a great idea to a geek like me, but I'm not sure that a majority of the general membership would find it valuable. When I was completing my second Masters degree a few years ago, I loved my access to various journals through the University's library. If AHA could get similar access, I would love it. If you have insight as to how libraries and allied organizations get access, your Governing Committee would like to hear it. However, the bottom line is that is limited funding available to things that might have limited appeal to the membership as a whole.

Electronic subscriptions are one of the largest expenses for university libraries. The subscriptions aren't cheap and likely would not be for AHA  especially when you consider you are buying access for 46,000 members.

I personally would vote against this if it took money from other programs I value more (AHA home brewing rights work, this forum, out reach, NHC, Homebrewcon).

To answer how universities get access: Universities and other organizations often band together in consortia that then subscribe to packages of journals from the various large publishers.

Here is a list of library consortia.
http://icolc.net/consortia

[WAbrewer]

Most college and university libraries buy subscriptions to journal aggregators/databases, like JSTOR or ProQuest. This is how the majority of academic researchers access journal articles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[denny]

Thanks so much!
After reading, there is nothing in the bylaws that remotely suggests what Denny is stating above.
So again, why exactly the AHA cannot negotiate a discounted access to brewing publications on behalf of homebrewers?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

I didn't mean to say the AHA couldn't.  I said the GC role in it would be limited to nil.

[BrewingRover]

The only concern for the journal would be pro-brewer push back but it is not likely.
I can do the phone calls on behalf of the AHA if the AHA gives me permission.

This is a great idea to a geek like me, but I'm not sure that a majority of the general membership would find it valuable. When I was completing my second Masters degree a few years ago, I loved my access to various journals through the University's library. If AHA could get similar access, I would love it. If you have insight as to how libraries and allied organizations get access, your Governing Committee would like to hear it. However, the bottom line is that is limited funding available to things that might have limited appeal to the membership as a whole.

My wife works for a professional association that provides library services for its members, including Interlibrary Loan and journal access. Their dues are about 18 times higher than AHA dues are and they have 4 times as many members...