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SEESA- 1997 Annual Business Meeting
SEATTLE WA, November 22, 1997
1. The meeting was called to order by President Robert Greenberg (University of North Carolina).
2. Prof. Greenberg presented a report on past and present activities of SEESA. He noted that the panel on "reinvigorating SEE Studies" was an excellent one and a good continuation of the efforts of SEESA to get study of our area back on track. He announced that SEESA was in much better shape than last year on a number of fronts. One major piece of news is that SEESA has received over $40,000 endowment which is intended to assist especially students in the field. He expressed his appreciation for the stellar efforts of Don Dyer (University of Mississippi) in getting Balkanistica 9 and 10 out with volume 11 ready to go in 1998. This is critical to SEESA's future. Finally, he urged members and fellow travellers to pay their 1998 dues.
3. Minutes of the meeting of 1996 will be published (along with the 1997 minutes) in the forthcoming issue of the SEESA Newsletter, now under the editorship of Radu Florescu (Boston College).
4. Treasurer Jim Augerot (University of Washington) reported briefly on finances. We have enought money for the next BALKANISTICA, but need to improve on membership dues payments if we are to continue smoothly in the future. He emphasized that dues should be aimed at paying for BALKANISTICA. Official non-profit status for SEESA is now pending and should be completed shortly. He is also managing the principal from the endowment gift, which will be held and invested. It was suggested that SEESA contact the various country affiliates to see if they would be interested in promoting a joint membership deal for their members, something where members would pay a single fee for both BALKANISTICA and their country group membership and benefits. The board will work on trying to develop a set of liaison persons with each country group. The idea of adjunct memberships was also discussed.
5. Editor Don Dyer reported on BALKANISTICA. As previously noted, 9 and 10 have been published, both solid issues, comprising some 700 pages. Volume 11 is a product of a double-blind refereeing system (25% acceptance rate). It will appear in spring 1998 at about 200 pages (the intended size for future numbers) and will include some reviews. He solicited materials for Volume 12, commenting that there was a shortage of contributions by senior scholars and also a need for more reviews. The meeting expressed our appreciation for Don's work via a round of applause.
6. A discussion of the 1999 International Association for South East European Studies Meeting and our relationship to AIESEE followed. Victor Friedman (University of Chicago), president of the US Commission since 1987 gave a report on the meeting's planning as well as on the frustrations and miscommunications involved. The hope was expressed that perhaps with some encouragement from SEESA and others, there might be a smoother flow of information and better consultation with the US Commission in future. The 1999 themes are now out. It is hoped that a more complete list will be available early in 1998. Money is a problem for AIESEE as well as for the US Commission since the Joint Committee of the ACLS is reconfiguring its policies and funding. It was strongly urged that SEESA become the official US affiliate for AIESEE, possibly following the 1999 meeting, and that these relationships be regularized. The meeting expressed support and appreciation to Prof. Friedman for his efforts.
7. 1998 AAASS Meeting in Boca Raton FL: Several ideas were discussed, including a social science panel and a linguistic panel.
8. Prof. Greenberg indicated that the executive committee would be soliciting proposals for use of income from the endowment. Among ideas mentioned were: subsidizing memberships in SEESA for graduate students, travel grants for graduate students giving papers on SEE topics.
9. SEESA Home Page: Prof. Greenberg has someone working on setting up a SEESA site on the Internet. This should be up by January 1998. BALKANISTICA already has a site provided by Prof. Dyer.
10. Radu Florescu reported on his ideas for the Newsletter. The general idea will be to publish an issue at the beginning of each calendar year and another in September. The first will help solicit/remind members of dues paying; the second will kick off the academic year. Contents of the Newsletter will be thematically organized, not by country (since the latter is available in the country associations' own newsletters). He hoped to make contact with the editors of these various country groups publications. Another item will be to carry complete information on conferences of interest to SEE Studies. Among other ideas: reports on and from centers that work in the area (both in the US and in SEE), cultural news, funding news and information, links to SEE itself (cultural attaches, summer programs, institutes, publications, meetings). The next issue will go to the entire old and new lists of members and adherents; the fall issue will likely be sent only to those who have decided to pay the ridiculously minuscule SEESA dues ($30 a year!!).
11. Prof. Greenberg proposed that the board review the constitution to see if any changes are needed after two years of operation. He also pointed out that there will be an election of new officers in 1998, probably by a mail ballot at the end of the year to paid up members. He also indicated that as of January 1, 1998 dues levels will be raised as follows: 1-year membership $30, $15/students; 2-year membership $55, students $25.
12. The meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by Paul E. Michelson (Huntington College) secretary pro tem