CSECS Annual General Meeting
25 October 2003

Empire Landmark Hotel
Vancouver, BC

Meeting called to order at 17:15.

Present:  Marc-André Bernier, Frans De Bruyn, Marie-Laure Girou-Swiderski, Nicholas Hudson, April London, Benoît Melançon, Peter Sabor, Betty Schellenberg, Servanne Woodward, Eleanor Ty, Gordon Fulton, Monique. Moser-Verrey, Ray Stephanson, Jay Macpherson, David Trott, John D. Baird, Marianne Henn, Isobel Grundy, Larry Bongie, Adam Budd, Michèle Bocquillon, Catherine Gallouët, Katherine James-Cavan, Barbara Seeber, Robert Merrett, Paul Rice, Christina Ionescu, Nicky Didicher, Alex Dick, Linda Dietrick, Alison Scott-Prelorenzos, Lisa Wood.

1. The agenda for the meeting was approved.  Moved:  Marie-Laure Girou-Swiderski, Katherine James-Cavan.

2. The minutes of the previous meeting (26 October 2002) were approved unanimously.  Moved:  Marc-André Bernier, Larry Bongie.

3. Nicholas Hudson reported on this year’s conference.  The conference has proceeded very well, with good attendance, including many graduate students.  Institutional support, particularly from UBC, has been impressive.  The financial figures look good, with about $31,000 in expenses and $34,000 in revenues.  The estimated surplus of $3,000 will be earmarked for the production of this year’s volume of Lumen.  The volume will be edited this year by Alex Dick, who has contributed as well to the organization of this year’s conference.

4. The President, Benoît Melançon, indicated that this was his last report, as he would be stepping down this year as President.  He reported that the Society has never been in such fine form, either in terms of finances or membership.  Membership currently stands at a record level (251 members in 2002).  The Society’s journal, Lumen, is now back on schedule, with three issues appearing in three years.  The journal has achieved better visibility and is attracting some advertising.  Now it is important to persuade more of our colleagues to publish in the journal.  We will soon have our first affiliated society, the Eighteenth-Century Scottish Studies Society.  Upcoming conferences will be held at the University of Western Ontario (2004) and at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (2005).  He mentioned the desirability of holding a conference soon in Atlantic Canada.  The president reported on relations with the International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ISECS), which are not good, mainly because of poor communication and organization.  Requests for information and action directed to ISECS, for example, remain unanswered.  Election results from earlier in the year remain unreported.  CSECS seems to be getting very little value for the subscription dues it sends annually to ISECS.  The president concluded by thanking everyone for their hard work on behalf of the Society.

5. The Secretary-Treasurer, Frans De Bruyn, reported on the financial position of the Society (see the attached balance sheet and profit-and-loss statements).  The basic point is that the Society’s finances continue to grow at a healthy clip, owing to a number of favourable circumstances.  These include the successful control of Lumen costs on the part of recent conference organizers, increases in donations, the minimizing of operating costs, growth in membership, increasing interest income, and improved sales of Lumen.   Current assets stand at over $70,000, enabling the implementation of new programs.  The treasurer suggested that after the new fellowship program (to be proposed to the membership at this year’s annual meeting) is up and running, consideration be given to establishing an annual book prize, for the best book in eighteenth-century studies by a member of the Society.

6. Marc-André Bernier, co-editor of the Bulletin, reported that the Web version of the Bulletin is working very well.  Because of the move to a web-based Bulletin, there are currently no costs associated with its production.  He thanked the President for his contributions to the Bulletin.

7. Barbara Seeber and David Trott reported on Lumen activity for this year.  The editors submitted a number of proposals for changes to Lumen, of which the following were approved by the Executive for immediate implementation:  (1) the introduction of a standardized “elements of style” guide for all submissions, in both languages, (2) the inclusion of a “notes on contributors” section, and (3) inclusion of abstracts for all essays published.  Two other proposals to be pursued are the introduction of annual review essays (in English and French) on the state of eighteenth-century studies and the publication annually of an solicited essay by a major international scholar.  The need for closer co-ordination between the managing editors and the annual conference organizer was stressed, with the managing editors to take a more active role in the production of future issues.

8.  Servanne Woodward reported on her meeting with ASECS and its affiliate societies.  Representatives from various groups at the meeting outlined their plans for upcoming meetings.  Servanne communicated to the American Society on a point of friction between our two groups.  ASECS has scheduled an annual meeting in Montreal without consulting CSECS.  Since this can lead to problems for the our Society, in terms of scheduling future meetings and finding sponsors to organize future meetings, such action on the part of ASECS is a cause for concern.

11. Adam Budd thanked the Society for continuing to support graduate student activities, including a graduate student roundtable discussion and social event at the Vancouver meeting.  He thanked Frans De Bruyn, Alex Dick, and Tiffany Potter for their participation in the discussion, and he thanked Michael Wells for his organizational help.  The University of Toronto has agreed to host the graduate-student e-mail discussion list, called CSECSGRADSTUDENTS-L, for the next five years.  The list currently has 57 subscribers from five countries (Canada, US, France, Germany, Australia).  Some concerns were expressed about confusion surrounding deadlines for Lumen and Madoff Prize submissions.  These problems are to be looked into.  Adam thanked Stephanie Masse, of UQTR, for her helpful assistance in translating English-language messages directed to francophone graduate members of the Society.

12. The Society’s Webmaster was not present, so no report was forthcoming concerning the Society’s website.

13. Servanne Woodward reported on preparations for next year’s conference in London, Ontario.  An organizing committee has been set up, and some institutional support from the University Of Western Ontario has already been forthcoming.  Marc André Bernier reported that preparations for the 2005 meeting at Trois-Rivières.  A hotel has been booked, with rooms projected to cost $110 per night.  Financial support from UQTR, to the tune of $4,500, has been generous.  Marc André’s co-organizer is Suzanne Foizy.  He also thanked the city of Trois-Rivières for their help in getting the conference preparations underway.

14. A new category of members of honour has been introduced, to recognize members who have made a strong contribution during their careers to eighteenth-century scholarship and to the Canadian Society.  This year’s nominee is Larry Bongie.  Benoit Melançon spoke a few words in Larry’s honour.

15. The formal affiliation of the Eighteenth-Century Scottish Studies Society with CSECS was approved.  Moved Ty/Bongie.

16. The proposed research fellowship program, valued at $2,000 annually, was approved in principle.  Moved Bernier/Girou-Swiderski.  Some questions were raised about the tax implications of the fellowship, in connection with the charitable status of CSECS.  Frans De Bruyn promised to look into this and to report back to the membership.

17.  Rob Merrett addressed the members regarding the CFHSS endowment fund, designed to give CFHSS relative fiscal independence.  He reported on the Federation’s lobbying efforts with the federal government over the last few years.

18. The following persons were chosen by acclamation to various posts in the Society.  Moved Scott-Prelorentzos/Merrett.  President, Frans De Bruyn;  Sectretary-Treasurer, Tiffany Potter;  ISECS representative, Marc-André Bernier.

Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

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