47th Annual Meeting of the Council of the Renaissance Society of America.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2001

8:00 PM

MIDLAND HOTEL 

Attendees: Discipline Representatives, Affiliate Representatives, Executive Board Members, and Distinguished Guests (82 attendees in all)

The Meeting was brought to order by the President Patricia Fortini Brown.

She asked for a moment of silence in memory of our departed members. Additions were made to the list and Germaine Warkentin mentioned that the MLA publishes a list in their journal and suggested the office contact them to inquire into their procedure.

President Fortini Brown then asked everyone in attendance to introduce themselves and indicate their relationship to the RSA.

The officers made their reports.

Treasurer George Labalme, Jr., reported that the Society is still in good financial condition in spite of the decline in the stock market.

Executive Director John Monfasani noted that there was a shortfall in the operating budget in 2000 because of the exceptional expense of Florence 2000 and because the 2001 research grants were paid out in December 2000. He also discussed the Society's move out of New York University's Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimo. Our contract with NYU runs until August 2002, after which we shall have to find new space because NYU's Italian department is expanding. He also noted the new joint membership agreement between the RSA and the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference.

Since John Marino, a former president of the SCSC, was in attendance as a representative of the SCSC, he was asked to say a few words. Professor Marino expressed his satisfaction with the agreement and voiced his hope for future productive collaboration between the two societies.

Chair of Trustees Anne Lake Prescott reported that the Society's portfolio could not escape the effects of "Mad Dow Disease;" but there was no reason to panic. The soundest course is to maintain our present investment posture.

Development Chair Ronald G. Witt reported that the three foundations he contacted turned down the RSA proposals for research support. However, our individual members continue to contribute to the fund.

Membership Chair Guido Ruggiero noted a downturn in membership numbers in 2000 and announced that the RSA will be launching a vigorous membership campaign starting in 2001.

Publications Chair Erika Rummel that any suggestions for reprints in the Society's RSARTS series be sent to her successor since she is ending her second term as chair.

International Cooperation Chair and Acting Affiliates Chair Konrad Eisenbichler asked the Council to approve as new affiliates the Medieval-Renaissance Center at California State University, Long Beach, CA; Roma nel Rinascimento, Rome, Italy; and The Society for Early Modern Catholic Studies (SEMCS). The Council voted affirmatively on all three.

Constitution and Bylaws Chair Nancy Siraisi put forward the following motions:

Article IV, section 8 of the Constitution (p. 217 in the 1999 Directory of Membership) states that past presidents, permanently, and former members of the Executive Board, for two years after the end of their terms, will be members of the Council. John Monfasani has noted this has never been put in practice.

Recommendation to strike this clause.

The Council voted to strike the clause.

By-Laws, Article IV, section 13 (p. 224 in the 1999 Directory of Membership) calls for the election of a Trustee each year. But this bylaw is no longer applicable since in some years there are no vacancies and a new Trustee cannot be elected.

Recommendation to strike this clause.

The Council voted to strike the clause.

Chair of Electronic Media William R. Bowen requested the Council to approve making available to institutional subscribers online through Iter the current issue of RQ. Presently, there is approval only for members to have the current issue of RQ on line while institutions can access RQ online through JSTOR with a three year moving wall from current issue. The motion is intended to complete RQ's movement toward becoming an online as well print journal. The motion carried.

ACLS Representative Paul F. Grendler stated that nothing has, changed since his last report, which was presented at the October 2000 Board Meeting.

Articles Editor of RQ Paul F. Grendler reported that RQ continues to receive a large number of submissions from many disciplinary areas. He expects, nonetheless, to have articles in print within one year of their acceptance for RQ.

Reviews Editor Margaret L. King reported that the backlog of reviews has been completely eliminated.

Nominations and Elections:

George Labalme, Jr. was elected to a new term as Treasurer

John Monfasani was elected to a new term as Executive Director.

Konrad Eisenbichler was elected as the new Affiliates Chair.

David Marsh was elected the International Cooperation Chair.

Eckhard Bernstein was elected as the new Publications Chair.

Nancy Siraisi was elected to her second term as Constitution & Bylaws Chair.

Sheila ffolliot was elected as the new Development Chair.

Craig Harline was announced as the new ACLS Representative, elected by the Executive Board.

SUBMITTED BY LAURA SCHWARTZ, OFFICE MANAGER