August 2005
“Of those few fools, who with ill stars are cursed, / Sure scribbling fools, called [secretaries], fare the worst; / For they’re a sort of fools which Fortune makes, / And after she has made ‘em fools, forsakes.”----William Congreve, The Way of the World (1700)
With great trepidation, I embark on my three-year journey as Secretary of the highly exalted SEASECS organization. Following in the giant footsteps of the most recent Secretary is indeed a daunting task. How, may I ask, can one chronicle the history of an intellectual gathering like a SEASECS Conference yet do so with—dare I say—a Vancean air? Can I adequately document the inspiring presidential facilitation of an Edmiston or a Richardson yet find time to perform an operatic duet or Salierian soliloquy? The answer, of course, is plainly obvious; I must recognize my own limitations and, as Pope suggests, “Be sure [my] self and [my] own Reach to know.” With that in mind, I humbly offer my first installment of The SEASECS Gazette. Read the following in a manner fitting its creation, flowing not from the font of genius but from a common, everyday SEASECS citizen, one who merely hopes to contribute a subordinate clause to the long sentence of SEASECS history.
Presidential Address
Dear Fellow SEASECSers,
As the new academic year begins, I wish to welcome you back to the society and to its work. I know that each of you is embarking upon a challenging year with many responsibilities and projects to consume your time and energy. Wrestling with the tyranny of the immediate too often leaves us little time to contemplate a more pleasant future, but for the psychic and intellectual balm it provides, I offer you the prospect of another fine March meeting.
In anticipation of that gathering, let me request not only that you think seriously about personally participating in the program this year by submitting a proposal by the October 1, 2005 deadline but that those of you with graduate students also encourage them to join us in Athens. Last year’s co-winner of the Graduate Student Prize, Tyler Boulware, reminded me of SEASECS’s crucial role in that regard when he wrote thanking the society for its part in his development as a historian and for bestowing upon him its prize last year: “Since [my first SEASECS conference], I have participated in the annual meetings of the AHA (American Historical Association) and ASA (American Studies Association), but I feel it was my experiences at SEASECS two years ago which gave me the confidence to partake in these larger associations.”
In an effort to continue the legacy of scholarly encouragement and Southern hospitality that has been a hallmark of our society, I have undertaken a major effort to raise the visibility of SEASECS among graduate programs in our region. In the next few weeks, approximately one hundred thirty (130) graduate departments from North Carolina to Louisiana will be receiving detailed notifications of our society’s next meeting and the Graduate Student and Percy Adams prize competitions. The society’s website (www.seasecs.org) will continually be updated during the coming months and by the time that you receive this newsletter will already have basic information about next March’s meeting. I invite you contemplate three days of intellectual stimulation, festive gathering, and scintillating company before submitting that proposal and booking your stay.
Please feel free to contact me at any time about the society and to offer any suggestions that you feel will help improve its workings.
Collegially yours,
Gary A. Richardson, President 2005-06
richardson_g@mercer.edu
Myrtle Beach
A splendid time was had by all at the 2005 SEASECS Conference, hosted by Coastal Carolina University. Many thanks should be given (even at this late date) to Dan Ennis, “Mr. SEASECS” to most of his friends. Countless papers were once again stimulating and lively; the “Sex I” and “Sex II” panels were especially well attended. A highlight of the gathering was the Plenary Speaker, Charles Joyner, the Burroughs Distinguished Professor of Southern History at Coastal Carolina University. Professor Joyner’s presentation regarding the history of Horry County and South Carolina was both entertaining and enlightening. Of course, the Courtyard Reception that preceded Prof. Joyner was a nice close to a busy Friday.
Minutes of the 2005 Meeting
The Executive Board of SEASECS was called to order in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at 11:37 a.m. on Thursday, 3 March 2005. Present were William Edmiston (Pres.), Gary Richardson (1st VP), Howard Irving (2nd VP), Christopher Hendricks (Immediate Past Pres.), Stephen Szilagyi (Past Pres. & Archivist), John Vance (Sec.), Linda Szilagyi (Treas.), and Board Members Jessica Kross, Felicia Sturzer, Daniel Ennis, and Joe Johnson. Absent were Board Members Philippe Oszuscik, Zeynep Tenger, and Graduate Member Jennifer Garlen. Also in attendance were J. Patrick Lee, Jack DeRochi, Byron Wells, and Journal Editor Samia Spencer.
The Minutes of the 2004 Meeting were approved, with one correction regarding the editorial board of the SEASECS Journal. Jessica Kross is a member of the editorial board and Steven Epley is the Managing Editor (not Jessica Kross as was reported in the 2004 Minutes).
The Treasurer reported a closing balance of $28,799.70 as of the meeting. The SEASECS Fund as of the previous June totaled $12,159.99, with Total Cash on Hand at $16,639.71.
Chris Hendricks reported on the 2004 Savannah meeting, noting that eighty-five attended and $470.78 in profit collected.
Dan Ennis announced that Thursday morning's tally showed seventy-six participants for the 2005 meeting, with his expectation that the number would increase by the weekend to eighty-five to ninety.
Stephen Szilagyi encouraged SEASECS to spend more funds for Graduate Student travel allowances (other than the amounts provided to the winners of the Graduate Prize). Discussion ensued, with the result that the Board moved and approved the following motion: that for 2006, the Graduate Prize Committee would award only one prize but add up to four graduate travel grants of $200 each (with a waiver of registration fee).
Samia Spencer offered a full report on the SEASECS Journal (the nature of Vol. 2, the reception of Vol. 1, income and printing costs for Vol. 2, and the projected budget for Vol. 3 and beyond). The Board moved and approved the following motion: That the 2007 budget shall include up to $2000 for the production of the journal. In addition, the Board would set a three-year commitment period, with annual evaluations of the financial state of the journal.
Christopher Hendricks announced the nominations for 2005-06.
President: Gary Richardson (English)
1st Vice President: Howard Irving (Music)
2nd Vice President: Kay Doig (French)
Secretary: Jack DeRochi (English)
Journal Editor: Samia Spencer (French)
Board Member: Hugh Reid (English)
Board Member: Reed Benhamou (French)
Membership Meeting
The SEASECS Membership approved the Minutes of the 2004 Business Meeting and also the 2005-2006 Slate of Officers.
Samia Spencer spoke of the SEASECS Journal, reminding the members that Vol. 3 was in progress and that ads had been secured from MLA and Delaware.
The Meeting locations for 2006 (Athens), 2007 (Atlanta with ASECS), and 2008 (Charlotte) were announced. Dan Ennis reported that the 2005 Meeting tallied eighty-five paying participants, of which seventy-nine actually attended. Dan was recognized by the membership for his efforts as local arrangements chair. Elizabeth Kraft noted that the 2006 meeting in Athens would be held at the downtown Holiday Inn. Byron Wells assured the members that SEASECS would have its own identity at the 2007 ASECS Meeting (Colony Square, midtown Atlanta). Annibel Jenkins encouraged the members to join ASECS or renew their memberships.
Bill Edmiston passed the gavel to new President Gary Richardson. New President Gary Richardson addressed the communications and notifications issue and announced that Martha Bowden would be Program Chair for the Athens Meeting in 2006, its theme and that its theme would be "Town & Country."
[For the complete minutes of the 2005 Executive Board or Membership meetings, email me directly at derochij@winthrop.edu.]
Annual Dues
Once again, a reminder: SEASECS membership is now a calendar-year format. Dues should be paid by January 1 for the 2006 year. If you have any questions as to your membership or dues, contact Linda at lszilagyi@mindspring.com.
News of Members
Former SEASECS President Robert M. Craig has been named the recipient of the 2005 Distinguished Professor Award of the College of Architecture , Georgia Tech. This is the highest
award of the College and acknowledges life achievement as a scholar or design practitioner. Craig's latest article, appearing last month in New Perspectives on the Eighteenth Century [Vol 2, No. 1 (Spring, 2005), pp. 27-38], is entitled, “Architecture as Expression: Le Camus de Mézières and Bernard Maybeck.”
The Future Looks Bright
What other Academic organization knows where it will be for the next 3 years?!
We will gather next year for the 2006 SEASECS Meeting in Athens , Georgia , from Thursday March 2 nd to Saturday March 4 th . The theme of the conference is “Town and Country”; all 1-page abstracts should be submitted to Martha Bowden at mbowden@kennesaw.edu or via snail mail to Martha F. Bowden, Dept of English, Kennesaw State University , 1000 Chastain Rd #270 , Kennesaw , GA 30144 .
The 2007 SEASECS Meeting will be a joint meeting with ASECS and held in Atlanta , Georgia . The 2008 SEASECS Meeting will be held in Charlotte , North Carolina and hosted by Winthrop University .
SEASECS Journal
The journal continues to impress with its first issues. Be sure to contact Sam ia Spencer at The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Auburn University , Auburn , AL 36849 , spencsi@auburn.edu, or 334-844-6374. Institutional and individual subscriptions are remarkably inexpensive.
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.
Future News
Please forward any important announcements to your newest, and even more humble Editor (especially humble considering the tardiness of this newsletter) at derochij@winthrop.edu or 803-323-4577.
Secretarily yours, JD
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