SOUTH-CENTRAL RENAISSANCE CONFERENCE
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING
APRIL 10, 1999
Savannah, Georgia
President Liana Cheney called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m, and
thanked the Executive Committee for assistance during the year, the
membership for its continually warm support of the organization, and
Savannah College of Art and Design for the superb local arrangements. She
then announced the schedule of upcoming meetings: 2000 in Lafayette,
Louisiana, hosted by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; 2001 in
College Station, Texas, hosted by Texas A&M University; and 2002, in St.
Louis, Missouri, in conjunction with Central Renaissance Conference,
hosted by St. Louis University. She also announced that SCAD would be
issuing refund checks to those who had paid in advance for the Friday
evening dinner.
Printed copies of the minutes of the last meeting having been
distributed to members before the start of the meeting, Phoebe Spinrad
moved waiving a reading of them and approval; and David Reinheiner
seconded the motion,which was approved by a voice vote with no negations
and no abstentions.
Secretary-Treasurer Raymond Frontain reported that the Executive
Committee has been addressing four topics in its meetings:
1) teleconferencing as a way of conducting business since there
are too many important issues to address in one or two sessions during
the annual conference;
2) how to mark our fiftieth anniversary in 2001 (ideas include a
souvenir booklet with memories of the conference's earlier days supplied
by longterm members, collecting photographs for an illustrated lecture,
and reserving space to print recollections and photographs in
Discoveries during our anniversary year);
3) returning the deadline for submission of papers to the annual
conference to Dec. 30 and inaugurating a named lecture or series of cash
prizes for conference papers in order to promote our visibility; and
4) the most effective use of our Certificate of Deposit, which
matures in October.
He reported as well on two motions that had passed at the previous
evening's Executive Committee meeting:
1) to increase support of Explorations from $800 to $1800
annually in order to permit expansion to a second issue per year,
contingent upon Southwest Missouri State University's agreeing to a
proportionate increase in its contribution as well; and
2) to extend the term of the Members-at-Large on the Executive
Committee from two to three years beginning April 9, 2000. Financially,
he reported that SCRC is healthy, with 197 dues-paying members for 1998,
$5,098.30 in the Conference's checking account, and $9,098.06 in a
certificate of deposit. Approval of his report was moved by Phoebe
Spinrad, seconded by David Reinheiner, and confirmed by a voice vote with
no negations and no abstentions.
President Cheney then called for reports from the publications' editors.
Tita French Baumlin encouraged submissions to Explorations. Phoebe
Spinrad encouraged submission of 7-10 page notes to Discoveries
and recommended members' institutional libraries avail themselves of the
free subscription; she reported that Discoveries is now being
indexed in the MLA Bibliography and the Music Index. Review Editor
Christopher Baker encouraged that members submit 800-word book
reviews.
When called upon for his report, Webmaster George Klawitter called
attention to the links recently installed on our webpage and noted that
he would incorporate the e-mail address
of any member wishing to be alerted when new information is posted on
the page. He asked that in the future abstracts of conference papers be
e-mailed to him for greater efficiency in mounting them on the page.
The Nominating Committee proposed John Ford as president, Don Dickson as
vice president, Katherine Powers as program chair, and Ellen Longsworth,
Donald Stump and Nabil Matar for terms of varying length on the Executive
Committee as we shift from two to three-year terms for the Members-at-
Large. Phoebe Spinrad moved acceptance by acclamation, and was seconded
by numerous members. John T. Shawcross and Ann Ashworth were nominated
from the floor to be honored with emeritus status; Phoebe Spinrad
formalized the nomination, was seconded by Susan Ford, and the elections
were duly acclaimed.
Incoming Program Chair Katherine Powers reminded members of the May 1
deadline for proposing special sessions for next year's conference, and
Dec. 30 deadline for submitting papers. Incoming Local Arrangements Chair
Albert Fields extended an invitation to next year's conference in
Lafayette, Louisiana, where our annual meeting will be supported as part
of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's centennial celebration.
In closing business, Phoebe Spinrad moved a vote of appreciation to
outgoing president Liana Cheney for the warmth, intelligence and vivacity
that she has brought to the office, and Donald Stump moved a special vote
of appreciation to Jim Janson, Kari Tunkel, and their colleagues at
Savannah College of Art and Design for the extraordinarily gracious
arrangements they had made this year on our behalf. Both motions were
approved by generous applause.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Raymond-Jean Frontain
Executive Secretary-Treasurer