Present: Bob Mahony, Nancy Curtin, Michael Gillespie, Monica Brennan, Richard Bizot, Conor Johnston, Stephen Watt, Cóilín Owens, David Miller, Audrey Eyler

President Nancy Curtin called the meeting to order at 2:40 pm.

Announcements:

Call for Papers, FU ACIS 2001 was distributed to the Executive Committee.

Liam O Dochartaigh announce changes in the Limerick conference program, including the arrival of Mary McAleese. He also announced the possibility of a scholarship in the States for Irish artists.

Treasurer's Report:

Brennan presented the Committee with reported that ACIS is in sound financial shape. Money from memberships is down. Brennan suggested that this might be in part because membership renewal forms were sent later than usual, in December 1999. Many who are presenting at Limerick 2000 had not renewed. Curtin offered to announce a reminder to pay dues. Mahony suggested that a list be made available at the registration desk.

Curtin suggested we update the membership database to make clear the date through which members are paid and include this on the renewal notice.

Watt suggested multiple-year renewal renewal option. Curtin suggested a 1-year and a 3-year renewal option. Motion (Steve Watt): That there be a 1-year and 3-year membership option (both at the current rate). Johnston second. The motion passed unanimously.

Brennan noted that the award contributions were down. She also noted the expenditures for the past president were paid out of the contingency fund.

Mahony asked if we have an international representative to take foreign currency transactions. Brennan informed the Committee that Riana O'Dwyer, the Irish representative, has resigned. Curtin noted that we could consider the possibility of taking credit cards for memberships, but that our current bank does not allow that possibility and that

Motion (Gillespie; Mahony second): That the ACIS raise the rates for labels to $200 to foreign addresses, $150 to domestic. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report (Johnston; Bizot second). Motion carried unanimously.

Secretary's Report:

Conrad presented the minutes from the ACIS executive in Roanoke and the second cybersession of the Executive. Mahony, second Eyler. Motion carries unanimously.

Conrad reported that the new ACIS website, www.acisweb.com, has been online since last summer. The new membership survey, approved by the Executive Committee last fall, has been incorporated into the renewal form, which is available online. Members are encouraged to direct inquiries to the site; Monica Brennan can answer further membership questions. Regional Representatives are encouraged to inform the Secretary if they have regional websites. As always, members are encouraged to update their entries to the Guide to Irish Studies for the United States by e-mail to Conrad.

Curtin suggested that members be encouraged to submit their own personal/academic websites for inclusion on the ACIS website. An announcement will follow in the Newsletter.

Motion to accept the Secretary's Report (Johnston; Miller). Motion carried unanimously.

Regional Representatives' Reports--[REPORTS to be linked]

WESTERN Eyler, present

MID-ATLANTIC: Mahony, present

NEW ENGLAND: Johnston, present

SOUTHERN: Bizot, present

MIDWEST (not present)

Discipline Representatives' Reports

ARTS: Watt, present

LANGUAGE: Owens, present

SOCIAL SCIENCE: Miller, present

LITERATURE:  (not present)

HISTORY:  (not present)

CELTIC STUDIES:  (not present)

Committee Reports:

A. By-Laws (Sean Moran, Chair; not present): No updates on the committee's business; the committee will carry over into next year.

B. Finance (Monica Brennan, Chair): According to Brennan, many suggested encouraging graduate students to come to the national conference with financial aid. Also suggested was raising the stipend for regional conferences.

Graduate students, regional conferences: Mahony suggested raising the national donation to the regional conferences and recommending that graduate student registration costs be lessened; Miller suggested that accommodation costs be subsidized. Miller also suggested that graduate students' careers would be benefited from attending regional and national ACIS conferences. Bizot suggested that our encouragement to graduate students be formal and across the board; he suggested that the regional monies be earmarked for graduate student expenses. Curtin suggested that the contribution to regional conference be increased and a separate fund be earmarked for graduate student funding. Brennan recommended increasing conference fees for faculty to enable the reduction of graduate expenses. Eyler noted that regional conference costs often come from the cost of speakers. Gillespie suggested that regional conferences should be regional, including speakers; the national should not be expected to subsidize

Motion (Bizot; second Johnson): That the national organization double its contribution to the regional organizations and to the host(s) of the national conference. (Projected for 2001: $2000 national conference, $1000 to regional organization). The motion passed unanimously.

Book prizes: Miller noted that criteria for book prizes currently are confusing and overlapping and that further consideration of book prize designations are needed. Discussion ensued. Miller further recommended that a committee be formed, composed of past book prize committee members and donors, be formed to consider the book prizes.

Dissertation prize: Curtin suggested a dissertation prize of $500, to be named the Adele Dalsimer Prize. Discussion ensued. Motion (Mahony; Miller): That ACIS establish an Adele Dalsimer Dissertation Prize of $500. Motion passed unanimously. The prize will be announced at the Business Meeting. A committee and procedures will be approved in Executive Committee cybersession and an announcement of the prize will be published in the Newsletter.

Dues: There was general consensus that ACIS should encourage graduate student membership and that lowering the dues could be part of that encouragement. Brennan informed the Committee that this could be accommodated in our budget.

Motion (Miller; second Mahony): That dues for graduate students be lowered to $15.

C. Journal (Mahony, Chair): (type up committee report) An appendix, including publication options, possibilities for joint sponsorship, and costs, was offered for the benefit of the Committee's further consideration of the issue. Discussion of the options ensued. [ Johnston noted that the annual did not present ACIS affiliation prominently and that perhaps we should consider publishing our own. Gillespie noted that he had contacted U Mass. ] The Executive Committee received the report with thanks.

New Business:

A. Celtic Vision proposal: Curtin presented the materials from Celtic Vision for hosting our website. They offer a professionally designed website, a calendaring system, a bulletin board, regional or other group websites, a system for publishing ACIS pages, online ordering and credit card acceptance, and an administrating system that allows ACIS to run it. Commercial sites will not have access to membership lists.

Motion (Miller; Bizot): That we maintain our present site for at least one year while allowing Celtic Vision to develop a site for us and that we reevaluate the sites after one year. The motion passed (8 yes 8, 1 abstention).

B. Michael Gillespie offered Marquette University for ACIS 2002. The motion to accept the proposal (Miller; Bizot). The motion passed unanimously.

C. Dermott Walsh, in conjunction with Liam O Dochartaigh, presented a proposal for a postgraduate scholarship in Irish Studies in cooperation with ACIS.

Watt suggested that 3 years is unusually quick for a PhD program and that students would have a difficult time getting a job in the United States. Walsh said that students would be expected to teach 4-6 hours a week in the PhD program. He also noted that there would be nothing to prevent students from taking an MA, which usually would be completed in two years.

Motion (Gillespie; Mahony second): That ACIS accept the proposal and empower the President to work out the details of the scholarship. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 5:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathryn Conrad