FCEA Board Agenda

MINUTES

FCEA Board Meeting

February 23, Ybor City

Present: April Van Camp, President; Keith Hunneycut, Past-President, Rich McKee, Treasurer; Stone Shiflet, Secretary; Steve Brahlek, CEA Rep.; Claudia Slate, Studies Ed.; Carole Policy, Jane Jones

Jane made Susan Jones' nomination official, and Carol seconded the motion; thus, Susan Jones was voted on to the board

Carol nominated Stone for this position; Stone agreed to the 3-year term; Jane made the motion to approve, and Carol was the second.

As Donald, current Vice President, cannot assume the role for 2009 due to work commitments, April agreed to serve a second term for 2009, with Keith remaining as Past President.

Keith has agreed to talk with Karen Tolchin at Gulf Coast to see if she will assume the position. Should Tolchin accept, the Board agreed to vote her nomination online.

After Keith touches base with Karen Tolchin about a possible board position, he will also discuss a possible 2009 conference at Gulf Coast. Steve Brahlek offered to assist with conference planning should Gulf Coast come to fruition.

CONFERENCE ISSUES:

The theme was approved, and the board decided to note that FCEA is hosting the conference on Faces of Florida. The idea of this slight change is to (a) encourage those from other disciplines to attend the conference and to (b) assist those scholars in securing funding for attendance by adding a codicil of FCEA as sponsor, thus opening the conference to multiple fields outside of English Studies.
Donald will have the draft for the call out to the board by the end of March.
He will send out to humanities departments, upon board approval and will post on multiple conference posting locations.
Claudia noted that opening our conference will provide new opportunities for our FCEA publications.

Donald is working to contact Peter Matthiessen as the luncheon speaker, in keeping with the FCEA tradition of having creative writers as speakers. The proposed stipend in $500.00
Stone contacted James H. Meredith, President, International Ernest Hemingway Society and Foundation, to serve as academic speaker. Dr. Meredith will focus on the state of Hemingway studies in Florida and will also discuss NEH projects for Hemingway outreach virtually on an international level. The proposed stipend is $500.00

April plans to work with Book Vendors to see about possible speaker sponsorship for the speakers' hotel, etc.

Upon visits to two conference locations, the board located possible luncheon and evening reception locations. Discussion ensued and will continue online.

As Donald is the local contact, he will serve as signature provider.

ADDITIONAL ISSUES:

Search continues for printer. Donald offered possible Florida contacts. Donald and Rich will work through those and update board on status of printer. Magazine should be camera ready for presentation by 1 July 2008.
Imagism topic has brought big names, including H. R. Stoneback and Ezra Pound's daughter.
Rich and Stone plan to work together to clean up mailing list for members, magazine recipients, etc.

Claudia continues work here, citing that opening the conference topic can offer still more authors to contribute to the yearly collection.
Claudia named scholar to receive dedication for this year's book, and the board agreed unanimously.
Claudia added that we will be indexed in MLA update.

Present members addressed notes from Socky on ideas for this year. The board reached agreement on recipient, pending confirmation that recipient will be attending conference.

Group toured Hampton Inn guest rooms and facility rooms. Donald noted that the two rooms here will likely be used Thursday but added that most conference sessions will be held at HCC on Friday.

Group toured Don Vincente, viewing possible cocktail hour areas upstairs and downstairs. Group decided that the 12 rooms at this location will go first to board members and past board members, as accommodations are limited and away from main hotel.