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Minutes of the General Assembly at the Seventh ICLS Congress
Amherst, Massachusetts, July 31, 19921. Opening Address and Minutes
The president expressed hopes that the Minutes of the Dalfsen General Assembly (still unpublished) might yet appear in a future volume of Encomia.
2. Matters arising from the Minutes: No points were raised.
3. President's report
ICLS has joined FILLM, the Fondation Internationale des Langues et Littératures Modernes (a UN-supported organization). Membership involves two obligations: (a) there is an annual fee of $300, and (b) a member society should be represented at FILLM's triennial congresses, preferably by its secretary. Since the annual dues amount to $300, while the next conference will take place in Brazil, not a cheap place in terms of travel expenses, membership may seem to lead to few benefits. However, the sum invested will be recuperated because members are entitled to a grant from FILLM every 5 years, to be used for the organization of an international conference or the publication of a volume of essays (e.g. a proceedings volume). ICLS has applied for a grant of $ 4000 (the maximum is $ 5000) for the organization of the next Congress. The present International Secretary will attend FILLM's next meeting in 1993.
The constitution of the Society and statement concerning the scope of Encomia are in need of revision. President and Secretary will look into this; their proposal will be published in Encomia, and can be discussed at the 1995 meeting. A motion to this effect was moved and accepted.
Of the international branches some are doing better than others. It is hoped that a Japanese branch may be established. There are a few members in other countries without a national branch, such as Argentina and Morocco.4. Secretary's report
The Dalfsen Proceedings Volume came out in 1990. Those of the Salerno Congress reached the Executive Committee during the Amherst meeting and the Secretary congratulated the editors on their achievement.
Contacts with some branches have been re-established; the Secretary will write to the individual members of branches which were not functioning well or are no longer active to make inquiries after the state of affairs.
From various sides it was suggested that the ICLS logo and pamphlet be renewed. The secretary will provide a proposal for both before the next Congress.5. Treasurer's report
The Treasurer pointed out that some branches are not paying any dues. The President will contact the officers of the branches concerned.
Finances are in good shape. It was decided that the savings would be invested in a high-interest fund.
After a brief discussion it was concluded that having Encomia printed by a commercial publisher would be too expensive.6. Report from the Editor of Encomia
The "Spring" label will be removed from the cover and the emphasis shifted to the bibliographical year.
The circulation was ca. 900 in 1991 and will ca. 1000 in 1992.
It was suggested and accepted that more reviews should be included and a new category "Text and Motet." Branch activities will also be announced or reported.7. Report from the Chief Bibliographer
A major concern remains to increase the usefulness of the Subject Index. In the next issue there will be more cross-referencing. Also, the whole process will be computerized. In either case suggestions are welcome.
Errata will be published whenever these are pointed out to the Bibliographer.
Fax numbers and e-mail addresses will be included in the membership list as soon as possible.
8. Next Triennial Congress
The Society finds itself in the excellent position of having three firm offers for future Congresses: for 1995 from Belfast, for 1998 from Minnesota and for 2001 from Bruges. The President went to Belfast in 1991 to get acquainted with the team and the site; he was much impressed by both.
Also important is the fact that funds are available to subvent the Congress. Dr. Evelyn Mullally very eloquently introduced Belfast and Queen's University to the Meeting. She spoke reassuring words about the city's troubles, which are strictly localized to certain areas at great distance from the University. As the University will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 1995 it is quite pleased at the idea of hosting an international congress in that year. The proposal to have the next Congress in Belfast was accepted, and Dr. Mullally was given a clear mandate to go ahead. The date would be the first week of August.9. Election of Officers
As there were no new candidates all members of the Executive Committee were re-elected, including the Treasurer, who will thus serve a third term.
10. Expenses of Officers
At the request of the President, the Secretary explained to the meeting that the officers of the Society are under the obligation to be present at the Society's Triennial Congresses, but that their universities do not always refund their expenses. Therefore the following proposal was put to the meeting: (a) for all members of the Executive Committee the Congress fees will be waived; (b) costs of plane tickets (lowest airfare rates) and other necessary expenses incurred by Committee members from across the Atlantic Ocean in relation to their attendance at a Triennial Congress will be refunded by the Treasurer: (a) will be financed by a small increase in the Congress fees, (b) by a raise in the price of Encomia from $6 to $8. The motion was carried (with two abstentions) with the understanding that the Society will refund expenses of Committee members only to the extent unto which their own universities fail to do so.
11. Economic Impact Survey
Professor Linda Lowry, Professor of tourism at the University of Massachusetts, handed out a questionnaire to the meeting, which was duly filled out.
12. Other Business
Professor Donald Maddox announced that the deadline for contributions to the selected Proceedings volume will be December 15, 1992, that Congress participants will receive a substantial reduction on the volume, and that he and Sara Sturm-Maddox will be the editors in consultation with specialists as appropriate. Papers from the Welf Colloquium organized by Daniel Buschinger and Wolfgang Spiewok which met during the Congress will be published by WODAN.
Dr. Leslie Brook informed the meeting that the British Branch Colloquium, taking place every year between Congresses, will in future be announced in the Newsletter of the Society.
Professor Donald Maddox announced a Melusine Symposium in Amherst November 5-6, 1993.Erik Kooper, Secretary of ICLS
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