SEMA Executive Council Minutes, Nashville, 2009

SouthEastern Medieval Association Executive Council Meeting

Friday October 16, 2009

Minutes, submitted by Thomas J. Farrell, Secretary-Treasurer

1.  President Frans van Liere called the meeting to order at 7:35 AM.

2.  Host Lynn Ramey welcomed everyone to Nashville and Vanderbilt University and reported that almost 200 people had registered; 153 papers were scheduled in 52 sessions and no major problems had arisen.

3. van Liere introduced Dana-Linn Whiteside and Matt Gabriele as the hosts of the 2010 Conference, which will be held in Roanoke, VA, under the joint auspices of Roanoke College and Virginia Tech.  There was some discussion of the best dates to hold the conference in order to maximize attendance and reduce costs; as usual, hosts will make the final decision on such matters.

4.  Tom Farrell presented the Treasurer's Report, somewhat reformatted from previous years in order to highlight anticipated expenses. The success of the 2008 Conference in St. Louis has improved the Association's financial position.

5.  Dan O' Sullivan, editor of Medieval Perspectives, announced a tentative agreement to publish MP online through EBSCO Host.  Cessation of print publication is not contemplated at this time.  The Council endorsed his work in this area.  Dan also reported that he now has material from the unpublished volumes 18 (2003), 22 (2007), and 23 (2008), as well as the current Volume 24.  He is still evaluating the best way to make use of that material with his printer.

6.  A full slate of candidates for the Executive Council was noted; the election will be held at the Business Luncheon.

7.  It was announced that Lorraine Stock has been awarded the 2009 Teaching Prize, Jo Koster, the 2009 Scholarship Prize, and Elizabeth Dachowski the 2009 First Book Prize.

8.  Gloria Betcher presented the new SEMA website (http://sema.eserver.org/).  The large advantage presented by the e-server site is that anyone who will have information to post to the site can be granted login privileges to edit it whenever necessary.  It should be possible to keep the site much more current with less stress on any individual.  Gloria fielded questions and demonstrated the workings of the new site.

9  The meeting was adjourned at 8:51.