Mapping out IONA’s potential future

This document contains material that outlines a possible future for IONA. It draws on the work of Josh Davies, Donna Beth Ellard, Georgia Henley, Matt Hussey, Clare Lees and Mary Rambaran-Olm, and borrows from other professional organizations including the SMFS (Society of Medieval Feminist Scholarship), the MAA (Medieval Academy of America), and the ACLA (American Comparative Literature Association).   

The current interim steering committee consists of Josh Davies, Georgia Henley, and Matt Hussey and we recognise that this document is imperfect and encourage feedback from IONA’s members.

We propose that this document is discussed at the next IONA meeting and, following that, a new Organizational Committee is formed that can lead the next stage in IONA’s development. As detailed in the draft constitution below, any member of IONA will be able to stand for election to the Organizational Committee or offer to host an IONA meeting. Following the next meeting the current Organizational Committee will administer an election to determine the composition of the next Organizational Committee.

Before the next meeting, feedback may be sent to the steering committee. The steering committee will document all feedback received via email and present it at the next meeting.

Statement of Purpose

IONA is a professional organization and community of early medieval scholars seeking new methods, approaches, and networks that engage with the study of the early medieval cultures of the North Atlantic and beyond.

IONA’s events are designed as non-traditional workspaces where students, artists, critics, and scholars can work cooperatively, comparatively, and interdisciplinarily, challenging the boundaries that traditionally encircle the academy.

The expressions “early medieval” and “North Atlantic” locate IONA’s remit in roughly the years 500-1100 and the region of Ireland, the British islands, and Scandinavia, but does not limit us to these parts or set temporal restrictions on our scholarship.

IONA understands that in order to maintain the vibrancy of our field amid shrinking medieval faculty at many universities, organizations like ours must offer training in professional skills that are often no longer available as for-credit coursework. To that end, workshops are a substantial component of our conferences, offering participants opportunities to study topics unavailable at their home institutions.

IONA is dedicated to deconstructing white supremacist fantasies of the early Middle Ages and exposing the disciplinary elements that are implicated in such fantasies. Its collaborative and non-hierarchical structure seeks to develop knowledge, networks, and skills to reinvigorate and rethink early medieval studies of the islands of the North Atlantic by denationalizing, deperiodizing, and decolonizing the field.

IONA recognizes that while our field is comprised of human collaborators, the work we do takes place on Earth. Our ethical generosity to one another is always measured in relation to our environmental ethics – because colonialism and decolonization have always been partner to environmental exploitation and justice. 

For more information on the history of IONA, see Who We Are.

Inclusivity Statement

As an international organization, IONA is fully committed to valuing diversity, difference, and inclusivity. It values the inherent worth of every person and encourages shared respect and mutual understanding. IONA is committed to the presence and participation of all persons with respect to age, bodies, abilities, ethnicities, gender identity and expression, sexual orientations, status, nationality, race, religion, socioeconomic condition, or culture. 

IONA will stand strongly against discrimination, harassment, micro- and macro-aggression of any sort based on these identities. Bias, inequity, and exclusion only serve to harm people, and also to narrow and diminish our shared field. We welcome diverse participants and support the visibility of such diversity, because we seek a more inclusive future for the field, the academy, and our communities. IONA prioritizes being inclusive, safe, and accountable. 

Harassment and Assault Resources

IONA seeks to provide an environment in which diverse participants may learn from each other, collaborate, exchange viewpoints, and enjoy the company of colleagues in an environment of mutual human respect. Some behaviors are, therefore, specifically prohibited as they may contaminate this environment.

Harassment includes (but is not limited to) any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. 

Harassment of colleagues, students, or other Participants in IONA conferences and events undermines the principle of equity at the heart of our mission and is inconsistent with the principles of free inquiry and free expression. Consequently, IONA considers all forms of harassment to be a serious form of professional misconduct.

Expected Behaviour

  • IONA expects all participants of its conferences and meetings to abide by this anti-Harassment Policy

  • If you witness an incident that potentially harms a Participant, be proactive in helping to mitigate this harm.

  • If you witness an incident in which a Participant appears to be in immediate, physical danger, please follow the safety and security protocols of the host institution.

Unacceptable Behaviour

Unacceptable behaviour includes but is not limited to:

  • Intimidation, demeaning and/or offensive words

  • Jokes, comments, slurs, and actions based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, age, or sexual orientation.

  • Sexual harassment, which is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature.

  • Harassing photography or recording

  • Sustained disruption at seminars, talks, or workshops.

  • Harassment based on race, ethnicity, and national origin, which is defined as unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct based on a person’s actual or perceived race, including but not limited to racial slurs, racial jokes, making derogatory or offensive comments about a person’s race, ethnicity, or national origin, including mention of personal characteristics associated with race, and other threatening/demeaning behaviour based on a person’s race, ethnicity, or national origin.

IONA does not tolerate sexual harassment/predation or other forms of harassment by any conference attendees (and IONA committee members) at any gatherings associated with the organization. The following outline can serve as a guide for submitting a complaint.

Making a Harassment Complaint

Multiple people (more than 1) must be designated by the Organizational Committee as reporters for harassment at IONA events. These people must be trained in inclusivity and harassment by their home institution or otherwise. Harassment must be promptly and impartially investigated by the Organizational Committee and appropriate actions must be taken within 48 hours.

A harassment complaint may be submitted orally and/or in writing to designated members of the Organizational Committee. Designated reporters will support you and take your report at face value without doubt or judgment. IONA policy requires a prompt, impartial investigation of harassment complaints and will take appropriate action within 48 hours. Investigations will be conducted in as strict confidence as possible and only to the extent necessary to conduct an investigation will necessary information be disclosed.

Consequences of Harassment

Attendees of IONA events and committee members who have harassed someone at an IONA event will be expelled from IONA events in perpetuity. Details will be passed on to the harasser’s place of work and to other relevant professional bodies. Anyone registered for an IONA event will be automatically supplied with this Inclusivity Statement and Harassment policy, and their attendance will be taken as agreement with this policy.

Constitution

Article 1

Name and Purposes:

1.1 The name of this organization shall be: Islands of the North Atlantic (IONA)

1.2 To make information of shared interest to members available electronically and through conferences.

1.3 To build and support a more just and equitable community of early medieval scholars, writers, artists, and other creative practitioners.

1.4 The Association’s Statement of Purpose, Inclusivity Statement, Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment Policy, and Constitution shall be displayed on the Association’s website, accessible to all.

 

Article 2

Membership:

2.1 Membership in IONA shall be open to anyone of any geographical, scholarly, and linguistic area who is interested in furthering its objectives upon payment of annual dues.

2.2 Any membership may be suspended or cancelled for cause by the Organizational Committee.

2.3 The Organizational Committee may create other classes of membership, such as Honorary Membership, which may have different privileges and duties.

2.4 All members agree to follow the rules and ethos detailed in the Association’s Statement of Purpose, Inclusivity Statement, and Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment Policy.

 

Article 3

Organizational Committee:

3.1 The current, provisional Organizational Committee (which arose when IONA was only a conference) is made up of two components: a steering committee plus a local committee that is hosting the current/upcoming conference. Following the conference, the local committee may join the Organizational Committee to serve a remaining term. 

3.2 The Organizational Committee, which shall consist of a Steering Committee plus a Local Committee that is hosting the current/upcoming conference, assumes responsibility for advancing and developing the aims and purposes of the Association, and is authorised to take all such action that will support those interests. It is governed by this constitution and the related policies of the Organization.

3.4 The Organizational Committee shall meet at least once a year and the agreed minutes of their meeting shall be published on the Associations website, without restriction.

3.5 The Organizational Committee shall meet at least once at each conference held by the Association and any member of good standing shall attend that meeting.

3.6 A quorum of two thirds (2/3) of members of the Organizational Committee is required for the transaction of business.

3.7 Members of the Organizational Committee will normally serve a term of four years.

3.8 The Organizational Committee will normally consist of at least seven (7) members.

 

Article 4

Elections to the Organizational Committee:

4.1 The election process to the Organizational Committee shall be administered by the Organizational Committee and held in the six months immediately following the Association’s biennial conference.

4.2 Elections shall be advertised to all members of the Organization via the Organization’s email list.

4.3 Elections shall be conducted via secure electronic ballot.

4.4 Any member in good standing may stand for election to the Organizational Committee. 4.5 The Organizational Committee is responsible for supervising and ensuring fair and diverse representation in all elections.

 

Article 5

Conduct of members of the Organizational Committee

5.1 Members of the Organizational Committee agree to follow the ethos of the Association as detailed in its Statement of Purpose, Inclusivity Statement and Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment Policy.

 

Article 6

Conflicts of interest

6.1 No member of the Organizational Committee may hold a professional or political position in any organization that places the member in a position of conflict of interest with the obligations of office in this Association or brings this Association into disrepute.

 

Article 7

Removal from office of members of the Organizational Committee

7.1 The Organizational Committee has the right to remove from office any member of the Organizational Committee for cause, such as bringing the Association into disrepute, behaviour that contravenes the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policies that govern the Association, illegal activities, conflicts of interest, incapacitation, and devoting insufficient attention to the duties of office.

7.2 Members of the Organizational Committee may be removed from office by a vote of the other members of the Organizational Committee that passes the resolution by a two-thirds (2/3) majority or a vote of the members of the Association in good standing that passes by a majority.

 

Article 8

Conferences:

5.1 IONA will hold a biennial conference.

5.2 The conference will be hosted by an institution or institutions.

5.3 Any member in good standing may propose to host a conference. Where necessary, the Organizational Committee shall vote to decide the location or dates of conferences by majority.

 

Article 9

Amendments:

9.1 This constitution may be amended in whole or part by members of the Association.

9.2 The Association’s Statement of Purpose, Inclusivity Statement, and Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment Policy may be amended in whole or part by members of the Association.

9.3 Amendments may be proposed by members of the Organizational Committee or by ten percent (10%) of the current members of the Association in good standing.

9.4 Any proposed amendment to this constitution shall be circulated electronically to the membership before the conference at which the proposal shall be discussed.

9.5 Any successful amendment shall be adopted by the Association within thirty (30) days of the successful vote.