Minutes

IATC Annual Business Meeting

at AATSEEL, 29 December 2004

Present:  Neil Bermel (minutes, chair), Craig Cravens (dark eminence), Mark Nuckols, Geoffrey Chew

Apologies:  Masako Fidler, David Danaher, Laura Janda

1.      Report on transfer of IATC to University of Texas (CC)

The executive officership transferred to Texas in the fall of 2003.  The first year has gone relatively smoothly.  Hana Píchová is the executive officer; Craig Cravens has taken over responsibility for producing the newsletter and keeping the accounts.  The ability to take credit card payments for memberships seems to have been the only casualty of the transfer. 

2.      IATC/November Fund prize for scholarship in the field* (NB)

The plans for the fund were discussed and approved.  There was some question of whether the prize for 2005 should start with the Czech-language or non-Czech-language submissions. 

Action:  Neil to consult the Executive Committee to decide how to begin the judging. 
Action:  Neil to ask David Danaher to manage the judging and prize awarding

3.      New constitution for IATC* (NB)

The new constitution was discussed and approved.  Neil raised Susan Kresin’s point about the need for a quorum at the business meeting being a possible hindrance.  This year’s attendance was a case in point.  We agreed to reduce the quorum to four.  It was noted that people voting on officers and important matters by e-mail before the meeting counted towards the quorum.  Officers had expressed concern that they might be forced out of positions.  Neil noted that the new constitution and by-laws do not prohibit people from switching jobs after the maximum term, or from moving from elective to non-elective office.  Neil suggested that positions for newsletter editors be created and de-coupled from the executive officership and presidency, as currently Craig is doing that work, with assistance from Susan, and it would seem to be unproductive to tie it to elected offices.  There is no provision in the constitution preventing people from holding elected and unelected office simultaneously, so this does not necessarily expand the number of officers. 

*Copies of the Constitution and the November Fund prize initiative were e-mailed in advance to all members for whom we had addresses.  Craig circulated further copies at the meeting for those who had not read them.

4.      Confirmation of existing officer slate and terms (NB)

Neil proposed that the existing officers be reconfirmed in their positions, and the clock “re-set” to allow them to serve the maximum three terms in that office.  The members enthusiastically endorsed this suggestion.  The officer slate for 2005-6 is thus: 

President - Neil Bermel*

Vice Presidents:  Craig Cravens, David Danaher, Susan Kresin

Executive Officer:  Hana Píchová*

Newsletter:  Craig Cravens* (managing editor), Susan Kresin* (contributing editor)

Book review editor:  David Short*

Liaison officer:  Eva Roubalová*

Editorial board:  Michael Heim*, Ivana Bozděchová*, vacancy*

* = elected by or serving at the pleasure of the Executive Committee

Action:  Neil to query the Executive Committee for nominations to fill the vacant editorial board position. 

5.      Newsletter (CC)

The newsletter is now being published out of UT-Austin.  Craig has taken over the editorship of it.  Together with Susan Kresin, they have been pursuing the idea of “themed issues” centered around particular subjects.  The current subscription list for CLN is about 120; some of these are comps to the influential.. 

6.      Membership and finances (CC)

The organisation’s finances are in sound shape.  Craig has been merciless in squeezing dues out of deadbeats and the forgetful.  Concomitantly he undertook a major purge of inactive memberships in consultation with Neil.  The result is that newsletter printing and mailing costs have shrunk to around $300 per issue, and IATC has about $2000 in the bank.  There is another $900 on the way from Brown.  IATC has paid its NCOLCTL membership for the year; Craig negotiated a discount from $200 to $100, as has been the custom in past years. 

The membership warmly thanked Craig for his efforts on behalf of IATC. 

7.      Fundraising (NB)

Neil reminded members of the existence of grants from NCOLCTL and MZV and encouraged them to apply.  The possibility of using them to fund a volume of conference proceedings or a textbook on Czech culture was discussed.  Neil reiterated that, as in the past, IATC was willing and ready to support such applications.  It is important for us to offer services to our members beyond the newsletter and grants offer a good way to do so.  Information on these grants can be found at www.ncfl.org and www.mzv.cz . 

8.      Other projects

None were reported.

9.      Any other business

The issue of Czech memberships was raised.  We decided it should be a high priority to gain access to a bank account, so that Czech members can pay more conveniently and arrange for organizational payment of their dues.  This could be done officially or, if that proves impossible, unofficially, through a trustworthy member with a Czech account. 

Action:  Neil to query Eva, Mako and Geoffrey about the options available. 

Lifetime membership:  at the request of Laura Janda, Neil had investigated the ways organizations cost out lifetime memberships.  Unresolved was the question of how to “reserve” lifetime funds so that each membership continues to “last” over a period of years.  Members agreed that it was desirable to have a way of allowing lifetime memberships. 

Action:  Neil to summarize findings and agree a suitable amount for lifetime membership.  Craig to propose a mechanism for making sure these funds are not immediately squandered. 

The meeting began at 3.20 p.m. and ended at 4.15 p.m.