Business Meeting Minutes Spring 1995

Minutes from MRDS meeting, May 1994

Below are reprinted the minutes from our business meeting held last year at Kalamazoo. These are to be approved in Kalamazoo. Please read carefully.

—MRDS Minutes—
Meeting of MRDS
May 6, 1994
Stinson Lounge 5:00 p.m.
Alexandra Johnston, presiding

1. The minutes were approved as written.

2. Milla Riggio presented a treasurer's report, indicating that we have a healthy balance as of now, but that our annual expenses are slightly outdistancing our income, particularly since 85 out of 240 members are now in arrears in dues.

3. Financial considerations: Sandy recommended that we increase dues to $12.00 U.S. and $10.00 for graduate students and others on temporary or no academic appointments. A motion was made and approved.

4. Handling overseas dues: Canadian members should submit money to REED, which will send one check to the MRDS. Shirley Carnahan suggested that we offer a reciprocal service for the REED newsletter. This suggestion was accepted. Please send your REED newsletter subscription money to Milla Riggio.

5. S.I.T.M. report: Sandy reported briefly on the history of the society and of the bi-ennial meeting, to be held in Toronto in July, 1995, to coincide with Carabana. She described the excursions of the festival: see insert for a fuller report. There will be spectacular excursions plus around nine productions, from LeMoyne, Michigan, South Africa, Toronto, among others. Sandy encouraged participation from those attending, even if they are not presenting papers.

6. Nominations for MRDS council—Vice President: Milla Riggio; secretary: Jesse Hurlbut; council: Mimi Dixon, Ralph Blasting, Martin Walsh, Barbara Jaye. Open nominations from the floor. David Klausner moved that the nominations close; the motion was seconded and passed.

7. Future sessions: Sandy announced the sessions for MLA 1994. For 1995 in Kalamazoo and MLA: Larry Clopper proposed a series of memorial sessions from Clifford Flanigan for Kalamazoo (made in consultation with others, including Kathleen Ashley). Five sessions: 2 from the pool, 2 special sessions, 1 from EDAM, under the general rubric of "Ritual, Performance, and Culture." Session in honor of C. Flanigan. This will give students, etc., a chance to honor Clifford. The topic title links the three areas in which Cliff was preeminent and in which he prefigured so many intellectual developments. His premature death in October, 1993 left his work unfinished. David Klausner moved that we offer these sessions; Shirley Carnahan seconded. The motion passed. With one session left to designate for Kalamazoo 1995, the following topics were proposed: Cornish and Welsh and Bretonic drama (David Klausner), continuity in medieval drama, sixteenth century drama and schooling (Kent Cartwright). David Bevington moved that we offer Cornish and Welsh and Bretonic drama for next year at Kalamazoo. Motion carried.

   For MLA, 1995, the following topics were proposed: Electronic approaches to teaching medieval drama; Staging the body. Garrett Epp moved the first session; it was seconded and approved. The second session was moved by Jesse Hurlbut and approved. Sally-Beth MacLean and Jody Enders agreed to organize the sessions.

   New suggestions for topics for later Kalamazoo and MLA meetings: spectatorship, particularly gendered spectatorship, or the question of gender in the Corpus Christi plays or morality plays with reference to spectatorship; May games and the politics of the parish (Jim Stokes). New world theatre (Max Harris). Is there life after Bakhtin? Translation series (Ralph Blasting). The German Low Country connection (John Cartwright). Drama and confraternities (Konrad Eisenbichler). May games and dance (Ingrid Brainard). Connections between law and drama (Elza Tiner). David Bevington suggested that we sponsor a workshop on dance.

8. David Bevington moved that we have one meeting per year, at Kalamazoo—to emend the bylaws to that effect. Motion passed, but must be confirmed at our next meeting.

9. We discussed the role of the council, which is at present almost an entirely honorific function. It was suggested that council members be at the MLA to move things along. They may also serve as ambassadors in other organizations—SAA, Shakespeare at Kalamazoo.

10. The Translation series: eleven projects representing six different languages. The first volume is now at press. Two other manuscripts are complete and undergoing editorial revision. Anneke Prinz and Steve Wright have translations in process. Other potential contributors include Ralph Blasting; Richard Emmerson is now co-translating a French antichrist play. The Murie fragmentary Easter play, which is very brief, might be included in an anthology. Others: Kathleen Falvey, Martin Walsh, Frederick Jonassen, and Janet Ritch.

11. REED project—Alexandra Johnston provided a report on the REED project, which seems at least for now to have achieved a level of highly desirable solvency. But continued support will always be necessary. The P.L.S. has a revitalized board and a bank account now in the black. One touring show, the Interlude of Johan Johan. Renovating wagons and cleaning out the shed. Now in a position to entertain suggestions for other plays and other wish lists. One other point of business. Production committee would like to propose a session devoted to performance. One play per year, a permanent session.

Respectfully submitted,
Milla Riggio

Agenda

Business Meeting, Sat. May 6
Following Martin Walsh's 5:00 p.m. Performance
Fetzer Center Rm. 1005

1. Approval of Minutes.
2. Announcements.
3. MLA Re-accreditation process report.
4. Amend the bylaws. (See pp. 7 and 13.)
5. Choice of topics for Kalamazoo and MLA.
6. Upcoming events: SITM in Toronto.
7. The changing of the guard: New guidelines for membership dues and newsletter.
8. Translation series.
9. Electronic edition.
10. Other business.

Topics for Future Meetings

A reminder that our "new" rules require you to bring to the meeting in Kalamazoo written topics with possible organizers designated so that you can provide them to be discussed at the meeting. The MRDS council will present possible topics at the meeting. Others can be added from the floor, but if you have topics to suggest, PLEASE contact Larry Clopper or Milla Riggio with those topics ahead of the meeting, if possible, or circulate them on PERFORM! Without our MLA business meeting, we don't have the usual headstart on topics. Reminder: we will be choosing topics (probably 3) for Kalamazoo next year and 2 topics for MLA presentations in 1996, assuming we renew our status as an Allied Organization (see below for information on that question. See also p. 7.

Email address for topics:
Clopper@Ucs.Indiana.Edu
Milla.Riggio@Mail.Trincoll.Edu