“O Memory! Thou fond deceiver.”
Oliver Goldsmith, THE CAPTIVITY, AN ORATORIO (1764)
I beg to differ with my friend Oliver on this one. I don’t think any of us has been deceived by our delightful memories of the Savannah Meeting. The comings and goings—as well as the takings and leavings—at the Savannah Desoto Hilton this past March will stay with us for some time to come—old friends seen again, old topics newly explored, new voices heard, future excellence promised. Once again, a rousing and sustained “Huzza!” for our Local Arrangements Chair and Immediate Past President Christopher Hendricks, who saw that all went as planned and as smoothly and professionally as possible. Thanks again to our plenary speakers Robin Williams and John McEllen and to Dan Ennis for arranging another eighteenth-century theatrical extravaganza performed by actors from Coastal Carolina University and directed once more by the intrepid Stephen Fawcett. Nor are we soon to forget the wonderful harpsichord and soprano recital performed by Gene Jarvis and Melanie Gibson Rowell. (Then only weeks away from the birth of her second child, Melanie is now home with her new baby girl Alyssa.) Finally, another big “Thankee” to Pat Lee, who put together five full French sessions, helping to assure that this past conference was truly interdisciplinary in scope. It was a privilege working with all these fine folk.
Minutes of the 2004 Meeting
The SEASECS Executive Board was called to order at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, March 4, at the Desoto Hilton. In attendance were Christopher Hendricks (President) William Edmiston (First V.P.), Gary Richardson (Second V.P.), Stephen Szilagyi (Immediate Past Pres.), Martha Bowden (Past Pres.), John Vance (Secretary), Linda Szilagyi (Treasurer), Samia Spencer (Journal), Jessica Kross (Board Member), Felicia Sturzer (Board Member), Daniel Ennis (Board Member), Jennifer Garlen (Board Member, Graduate Student Representative), Pat Lee (Program & Website), and Rob Craig (Adams Prize). Board Members absent were Elizabeth Bartlett, Mita Choudhury, and Philippe Oszuscik.
Minutes of the 2003 Meeting in Columbia were approved.
The Treasurer reported a closing balance (as of March 2004) of $26,312.63—for a Net Gain since March 2003 of $1,616.06. Assets in the ASECS Fund amounted to $12,077.75, with Bank Account balance amounting to $14,234.94. Expenditures for the year ($1,861.21) consisted of amounts for the Graduate Student Prizes, the annual Percy Adams Prize, Newsletter expenses (reimbursed to the Secretary), and Miscellaneous (labels, postage, check fees). The Treasurer requested Board permission to transfer seven or eight thousand dollars from the checking account to an interest bearing account. A MOTION to allow for the transfer PASSED unanimously.
The Second V.P. next noted that the SEASECS informational pamphlet has been redone, asking also if a broad data base (configured by zip code) might be constructed to assist in the recruiting of new members. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of extending a one-year membership gratis to graduate students—and the possibility of additional graduate student prizes.
Felicia Sturzer then MOVED that SEASECS establish a committee to oversee a separate fund for a Graduate Student Travel Grant. Stephen Szilagyi asked to expand the motion to charge the committee with determining further ways to stimulate graduate student involvement. The motion PASSED unanimously.
Jessica Kross followed by reporting (positively) on the 2003 Meeting in Columbia.
Chris Hendricks remarked that 2004 Meeting would likely break even, if not make some money for SEASECS.
Dan Ennis announced that the 2005 Meeting wouldtake place from 3-5 March, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Coastal Carolina (the host institution) has assured supporting funds.
Archivist Stephen Szilagyi asked for relevant information, and the Treasurer solicited e-mail addresses for dues information. The Board moreover discussed a change in the membership year—currently from March to March (i.e., Conference to Conference) to an Annual structure (January 1 to December 31). (See MOTION below).
Pat Lee informed the Board of the new SEASECS web address: www.seasces.org and suggested that the SEASECS Newsletter be sent for on-line publication.
Rob Craig and Felicia Sturzer next reported on the Adams and Graduate Student Prizes. Camille Wells for “Dower Play, Power Play” and Jacob Blosser for “Defining Faith” (short title) were the winners respectively.
Stephen Szilagyi offered the Nominating Committee’s slate. President: William Edmiston; First V.P.: Gary Richardson; Second V.P.: Howard Irving; Treasurer: Linda Szilagyi; Board Member: Joe Johnson; Board Member: Zeynep Tenger.
Samia Spencer reported on the Society’s Journal XVIII. New Perspectives on the Eighteenth Century. The Board commended the journal’s editor (Samia Spencer) for her efforts and dedication, which resulted in the debut issue being available at the Savannah Meeting. Discussion ensued regarding the contents of the first two issues, the replacement of an editorial board member, the appointment of a managing editor, the journal’s current financial status, and the financial commitment to the journal (long and short-term) of SEASECS. The Board APPROVED Samia Spencer’s four motions (revised as one) that SEASECS change its membership period to a January 1-December 31 st structure (rather than conference to conference), that SEASECS acknowledge that receipt of each year’s volume of the journal “is a benefit to current members of that year,” that the journal editor be provided in mid-January a list of all current members and their addresses and another list of conference attendees two weeks after the annual meeting, and that within a month of the approval of this motion, the funds for the journal approved by the Board be transferred to the journal editor for deposit in the journal’s account.
Felicia Sturzer then MOVED (amended by Pat Lee) that the Board accept the budget constructed by the editor and guarantee the amounts for the first TWO issues (2004 & 2005). The editor requested $500 for the 2004 journal and $500 for the 2005 volume. The motion PASSED unanimously.
Membership Meeting
The SEASECS Membership approved the 2004-05 Slate of Officers--and each began immediately to serve with distinction. William Edmiston accepted with grace, humor, and trepidation the gavel from the outgoing, wearied, and grateful President, Christopher Hendricks, who reported that the Savannah tally was 90 registrants and 7 no-shows. Future SEASECS destinations will be Auburnin 2006 and a likely 2007 joint-meeting with ASECS in Atlanta. Editor Samia Spencer announced that Barbara Schnorrenberg has joined the journal’s editorial board that that Felicia Sturzer will serve as the new managing editor. Discussion was marked by concern about timely notification of the Annual Meeting dates and times for individual sessions. The Local Arrangements and Program Chairs offered replies, each suppressing incorrigible impulses. Accordingly, the Secretary would now like to remind everyone of
The 2005 SEASECS Meeting
We will assemble in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from Thursday March 3 rd to Saturday March 5 th. Assuming tradition will be kept, the Conference will commence for the Board Members with a luncheon late Thursday morning, with regular sessions beginning early Thursday afternoon. The final sessions will likely be somewhere in the afternoon of March 5 th. Any questions regarding further specifics should be addressed to the Local Arrangements Chair Dan Ennis at dennis@coastal.edu and Program Chair William Edmiston at edmistonw@sc.edu.
Annual Dues
A reminder: SEASECS membership is now going to a calendar-year format. Dues are now to be paid by January 1 for the 2005 year. Membership will expire for us all (except for Lifetime Members, of course) on December 31 st.
(And you thought the Millennium New Year’s Eve was scary.) For answers to dues questions, contact Linda at lszilagyi@mindspring.com.
New of Members
Congratulations to Joe Johnson (Georgia Southwestern) for the publication of his book Once There Were True Friends, or Idealized Male Friendship in French Narrative from the Middle Ages through the Enlightenment (Summa Publications, hardcover, $48.95, ISBN 1-883479-42-8). Joe also edited and did some illustrations for The Adapted Victor Hugo
(96 pp., full color, hardcover, $17.95, ISBN 1-56163-390-9). The link for the Hugo book is www.nbmpub.com/comingup/comapr.html.
Emily Lorraine de Montluzin (Francis Marion) has two recent electronic publications. Attributions of Authorship in the GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE, 1731-1868; and Attributions of Authorship in the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, 1782-1826. The first contains a fully searchable database that “provides attributions for over 25,000 anonymous contributions in the periodical.” The second lists “all known attributions of authorship for anonymous, pseudonymous, or incompletely attributed articles, letters, reviews and poems” appearing in the magazine. These publications are available without charge to users world-wide through the Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia’s website.
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/bsuva/gm2/ and http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/bsuva/euromag/.
‘Sibling’ Society News
Some conference dates:
ASECS in Vegas. 31 March-3 April 2005.
GSA in Nation’s Capital. 6-10 October 2004
MLA in Philly. 27-30 December 2004
**Also keep in mind the comings and goings of the MWASECS. Find out more from our friend Jim Tierney at jetier@umsl.edu.
Institutional Membership
Rob Craig encourages, reminds, and implores all of us to solicit a SEASECS membership from our home institution. A bargain at $40.00.
Important Addresses:
XVIII. New Perspectives on the Eighteenth Century
Editor: Samia Spencer
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
Spencsi@auburn.edu
334-844-6374
**Dues
Once more—we’re now going January 1 to December 31 st. All dues checks ($20.00) to our Treasurer:
Linda Szilagyi
10014 Willow Cove Rd.
Huntsville, Alabama 35803
***NOTE: New SEASECS Website Address: www.seasecs.org
Your Humble Editor
Best, and until we meet (or I write) again--JV
Archived Newsletters: