Minutes of the Annual General Meeting,

Canadian Association for the Study of Language and Learning,

Mont Gabriel, Québec, May 9, 1999

PRESENT: Kathryn Alexander, Natasha Artemeva, Laura Atkinson, Hourig Attarian, Sandy Baardman, Marcy Baumann, Ann Beer, Martin Behr, Audrey Berner, Janet Blatter, Bill Boswell, Doug Brent, Rick Coe, Mary-Louise Craven, Patrick Dias, Janna Fox, Patricia Golubev, Betty Holmes, Chris Holmes, Lynn Holmes, Anne Hunt, Russ Hunt, Charlotte Hussey, Jane Ledwell-Brown, Ana Maria Klein, Jamie MacKinnon, Shurli Makmillen, Kenna Manos, Jean Mason, Laura Mastronardi, Jane Milton, Pam Nason, Joan Page, Anthony Paré, Margaret Procter, Pat Sadowy, Leslie Sanders, Donna-Lee Smith, Tania Smith, Stan Straw, Gail Vanstone, Andrea Williams, Yaying Zhang.

1. Moved, seconded, and carried: to approve the minutes of the fifth annual general meeting (Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, May 1998).

2. Election: Nominated as members-at-large for a three-year term: Jane Ledwell-Brown (re-elected) and Martin Behr.

3. Reports:

1. Financial Officer: Kenna Manos circulated a financial statement and reported that the balance for the year (as of May 1, 1999) was $1689.20. Expenses for the past year consisted of $770.70 in grants to graduate students for travel to Inkshed XV and $400.00 for startup expenses of Inkshed XVI.. After discussion, it was decided that $1000 from funds generated by Inkshed XVI registrations would be available (upon application) for subsidizing the travel of graduate students and underemployed members to this conference. A vote from members accepted the financial report.
2. Inkshed Publications: Sandy Baardman reported that no new publications have come out since 1997, but that five books are available and are being distributed. In discussion, members suggested various ways of publicizing the current booklist, list of books now available, including bringing copies to various conferences for sale, creating a page for the Inkshed Web site, and inserting a notice in the Inkshed Newsletter. A vote from members accepted this report.
3. Inkshed Newsletter: Russ Hunt, Mary Kooy, and Margaret Procter have served as interim editors during 1998-9. Margaret Procter reported that Joanne André and Barbara Schneider have agreed to take on the editorship after September 1999. They will welcome participation from other CASLL members and possibly their classes, as outlined in recent online discussions. Discussion reiterated the importance of a print publication as well as the Web site, and also suggested ways of reducing the mailing list so as to save mailing costs.

4. Discussion of plans for the Inkshed XVII conference, May 2000: Rick Coe and others from Simon Fraser offered to investigate the possibility of hosting the conference in British Columbia next year. The suggestions was enthusiastically received. Further discussion ensued about encouraging people to come with poster papers or other very short presentations, so as to include the maximum number of presenters.

5. Thanks and a standing ovation were offered to the conference organizers for Inkshed XVI, Ann Beer and Jane Ledwell-Brown.

6. The motion to adjourn was moved, seconded, and carried.

(Minutes reconstructed by Margaret Procter, with help from Kenna Manos and Tania Smith; corrections, additions, and subtractions gratefully received. )