American Conference for Irish Studies General Business Meeting MINUTES
June 7, 2003, OEC AUDITORIUM, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
The meeting was called to order by President Michael Patrick Gillespie at 1:32 pm.
I. Announcements
A. Motion to thank Jim Rogers and the conference committee for an excellent ACIS National Conference. Moved, seconded; motion passed unanimously.
B. Motion to thank Jim Doan for his work on the ACIS Newsletter. Moved, seconded; motion passed unanimously.
C. Anyone interested in taking on the editorship of the ACIS Newsletter should contact John Harrington.
II. Book Awards Presentation
A. Adele Dalsimer Prize for Distinguished Dissertation
Robert Dogett, "'Deep-Rooted Things': Empire and Nation in the Poetry and Drama of William Butler Yeats" (University of Maryland)."This is a theoretically sophisticated and substantial new look at Yeats that is also beautifully written -- elegant, cogent, supple, and sure."
Committee Chair: Timothy Meagher, Catholic University of America
B. James S. Donnelly, Sr., Prize for Books on History and Social Sciences
Timothy J. Meagher, Inventing Irish America: Generation, Class, and Ethnic Identity in a New England City, 1880-1928 (University of Notre Dame Press). "An impressive command of diverse primary sources produces a readable but theoretically sophisticated exploration of three generations of Irish America in Worcester Massachusetts. This is an important contribution to the field of Irish Studies and American
social and political history."
Runner-up: James H. Murphy Abject Loyalty: Nationalism and Monarchy in Ireland During the Reign of Queen Victoria (Catholic University of America Press).
Committee Chair: Robert Savage, Boston College
C. Michael J. Durkan Prize for Books on Language or Culture (2)
Sebastian D. G. Knowles, TheDublin Helix (University of Florida Press)."The gleeful zest with which Sebastian Knowles tackles his subject, the puzzles, puns, and jokes of James Joyce, crackles off the pages of The Dublin Helix.he succeeds in making a coherent analysis of a challenging subject.
Maureen Waters, Crossing Highbridge (Syracuse University Press)."CrossingHighbridge is beautifully written, deeply moving, and insightfully accurate.Waters strikes just the right balance between the personal and the universal. Her obligation to fidelity, the facts, never impedes her accessibility."
Committee Chair: Charlotte Headrick, Oregon State University
D. Robert Rhodes Prize for Books on Literature
Elizabeth Butler Cullingford, Ireland's Others: Gender and Ethnicity in Irish Literature and Popular Culture (University of Notre Dame Press)."Professor Cullingford's study represents a significant step forward in Irish Studies.The collection of interrelated essays is written in witty,lucid prose that deftly elucidates and array of surprising patterns in modern representations of Irish identity."
Runner-up: Gregory Castle, Modernism and the Celtic Revival(Cambridge University Press).
Committee Chair: Margot Gayle Backus, University of Houston
E. Donald Murphy Prize for Distinguished First Book
David Gleeson, The Irish in the South (University of North Carolina Press)."David Gleeson's The Irish in the South breaks new ground in the study of Irish immigration by examining the role of the Irish in the nineteenth-century American South.Those interestedin Irish-American history, Southern history, or the role of ethnic groups in the Civil War and Reconstruction will find this book a valuable resource."
Committee Chair: Philip Freeman, Washington University
III. President’s Report
Gillespie announced the 3rd volume of the ACIS Annual, Language and Tradition in Ireland: Continuities and Displacements (ed. Maria Tymoczko and Colin Ireland) , to be distributed to current ACIS members at the beginning of 2004.
IV. Treasurer’s Report
Gardiner reported on the healthy state of ACIS finances despite the downturns in the market. He noted that the institutional money market in which ACIS invests is intended to make our finances more transparent. He explained the possibility of outsourcing some membership database duties to Priority Data Systems.
Discussion:
Q: Are ACIS funds in a money-market account and if so what is the rate of return? Gardiner: Tied to the S&P 500. Q: Does ACIS have any bond investments? Harrington: The Finance Committee can take up the issue of bond investments. Q: Is the graduate student conference still being funded? Gardiner: Yes, it is budgeted; the conference organizers need to request the money formally.
Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report. Moved, seconded; motion passed unanimously.
V. Secretary’s Report
Conrad reminded members to check the Guide to Irish Studies in the United States on the website to make sure that the information for their institution is current. She also encouraged members to consult the calls for papers on the announcements page.
VI. Committee Reports
A. Elections committee:
Harrington reported that there was an enthusiastic response to the call for nominations. Approximately 300 ballots were returned; he suggested that we need to consider ways to increase the response rate. He also noted that this was the first year of one membership = one vote (i.e., couples memberships are allotted one ballot).
Discussion:
Q: Can we consider electronic voting with an eye to increasing participation?
Harrington: This question will be considered by the Elections Committee.
B. Future Sites:
2004: Institute for Irish Studies, Liverpool, 12 July-16 July. Joint conference with the Canadian and British associations for Irish studies. The conference is being held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of IIS.
2005: Notre Dame Keogh Center. 13 April-16 April. In keeping with past tradition, we will try to have meetings in the US during the academic year.
VII. New Business
A. ACIS is interested in commissioning a History of Irish Studies in the United States. Writers interested in pursuing this project should contact John Harrington. An announcement will appear in the ACIS Newsletter.
B. The new Executive will meet at 2:30 pm.
C. Gillespie thanked the membership and the executive for making his tenure as ACIS President enjoyable.
D. A member suggested that, in view of the atrocious pronunciation of the Irish language at ACIS sessions, that the ACIS have Irish language consultants at each session to vet pronunciations. Gillespie: This is a matter to suggest to the Irish language representative.
E. Dominic Bryan of the Institute for Irish Studies at Queens University Belfast asked members for any suggestions or advice they might have about institutional Irish studies.
F. A member asked whether there was an ACIS mailing list. Matt Jockers of Stanford offered to put one together along with a revised website and member database, in consultation with the ACIS executive.
Motion to adjourn. Moved, seconded; motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Conrad
Secretary