Minutes of the Business Meeting of
The South-Central Renaissance Conference
3 April, 2004
SCRC President Donald Stump called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. Vice President Raymond Frontain moved to approve last year's minutes as submitted; seconded by David Ford, the motion carried.
The Secretary-Treasurer, James S. Baumlin, reported on the organization's healthy finances, a result of increased membership and an expanded dues-schedule. As a consequence, J. Baumlin suggested that the organization turn attention and resources to its publications, with the particular aim of raising the number of library subscriptions. To this effect, J. Baumlin announced the initiation of a "Campaign for SCRC Publications," with details forthcoming.
President Stump reported on behalf of Tita Baumlin, the editor of Explorations, who could not be in attendance. Stump was pleased to announce that T. Baumlin would be continuing as editor for the next three years. Explorations would begin featuring special issues, the first of which is devoted to Queen Elizabeth I. Stump also noted the possibility of expanding Explorations from two to three issues annually.
President Stump announced the appointment of a Publications Advisory Committee, to be chaired by J. Baumlin. The committee will study and make recommendations regarding the future of SCRC publications; electronic archiving (via such outlets as JSTOR) and web publishing will be subjects of especial interest. J. Baumlin invited all SCRC members to participate in an email discussion group devoted to these and related topics.
President Stump reported on behalf of Discoveries editor, Phoebe Spinrad, who could not attend. Stump led members present in thanking Spinrad for her successes in expanding the scope, reputation, and circulation of our news-and-notes journal. He also bore the sad news of her resignation as editor. Stump announced that David Reinheimer of Southeast Missouri State University will serve as Spinrad's successor.
SCRC Past President and Local Arrangements Co-Chair George Klawitter reported on the 2004 conference's surprisingly strong attendance of 119 paid registrants; happily, our scheduling conflict with the RSA had minimal effect.
Program Chair Christine Getz offered similarly strong figures: a total of 82 papers were submitted, ten coming from the Queen Elizabeth I Society (QEIS). Of the 72 SCRC submissions, 68 were formally accepted (of these, two later withdrew).
President Stump reported on the exciting prospects of our 2005 meeting, scheduled for March 3-6 in Malibu CA. Hosted by Pepperdine University, our 2005 meeting will be held conjointly with the Renaissance Conference of Southern California (RCSC); Daryl Tippens will serve as Local Arrangements Chair, Norman Land as Program Chair. In addition to the QEIS and the Andrew Marvell Society (AMS), we will be joined by two new affiliate organizations, the Society for Early Modern Women (SEMW) and the Society for Renaissance Art Historians (SRAH).
President Stump announced that our 2005 meeting will feature a one-time change of submission policy. Instead of required completed papers, 400-500 word abstracts will be due by December 1, 2004; these abstracts should be submitted electronically, via email. Upon acceptance of their abstracts, participants will be required to submit completed papers by January 15.
Don Dickson raised several questions regarding the coordination of joint meetings. Will the RCSC and affiliates follow their own meeting schedules and organize their own sessions in isolation from SCRC sessions, or will their schedules and sessions meld with our own? President Stump noted that each participating organization will share a common schedule specifying times for business meetings, plenary sessions, regular sessions, and breaks. Beyond following this common schedule, each group will organize and manage its own sessions.
Dickson followed with a question regarding SCRC membership. As President Stump explained, anyone registering for the 2005 conference will be required to pay dues to the SCRC, regardless of their group affiliation. Rather than listed as a separate line item, these dues will be folded into the conference registration fee, though they can be waived for individuals already "in good standing."
President Stump announced further that our 2006 meeting will be in Houston TX, with Irving Keltner serving as Local Arrangements Chair and T. Baumlin as Program Chair. Our 2007 meeting will be in San Antonio TX, with Ocañas serving as Local Arrangements Chair.
Past President Klawitter proposed the nomination of Maurice Hunt and Patricia Ocañas as SCRC Board Members, replacing Marguerite Tassi and Liana Cheney. Sean Benson was nominated as Secretary-Treasurer, replacing J. Baumlin. Don Dickson moved to accept these nominations; seconded by Daryl Tippens, the motion passed by acclamation.
President Stump expressed thanks to Tassi, Cheney, and J. Baumlin for their faithful service.
Hearing no further business, President Stump declared the meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
James S. Baumlin
SCRC Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Addendum to the 2004 Minutes
J. Baumlin requests that the following items of information be recorded as an addendum to our 2004 business meeting. Though they were not stated at the time of our meeting, they were announced at our luncheon later that day and form part of our regular, Parliamentary business.
The slate of officers for 2005 will include Raymond Frontain, President; Christine Getz, Vice President; Norman Land, Program Chair; Maurice Hunt and Patricia Ocaas, Board Members.
The recipients of the 2004 graduate student travel stipends are Chad Thomas of the University of Michigan and Emily Isaacson of the University of Missouri, Columbia. Congratulations to these winners.