VRA Southeast Regional Chapter Meeting Minutes

Held in conjunction with SECAC/MACAA's Nashville Conference, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006

Present: Emy Nelson Decker (University of Georgia), chair; Mary Alexander (University of Alabama), secretary/treasurer; Marianne Hogue (University of North Carolina, Wilmington); J. J. Bauer (University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill); Christine Hilker (University of Arkansas); Kathe Albrecht (American University); Martine Sherrill (Wake Forest); Christina Updike (James Madison University); Macie Hall (Johns Hopkins); Mary O’Neill (University of the South); Pat Casper (University of Alabama at Birmingham); and Joanne Rathman (Vanderbilt University), hostess.

Call to Order

Emy Decker opened the meeting by announcing the formal establishment of the chapter and summarizing other business since the March meeting.

Approval of Minutes

Mary Alexander read the minutes from the chapter meeting held in conjunction with the VRA-24 Annual Conference at Baltimore, Maryland.

Old Business

The first item of old business was discussing and voting on the Bylaws. Emy presented several options on how to conduct the discussion. Discussion could be held during this meeting. The second option was for the chair to send the Bylaws imbedded in an e-mail message for the discussion to take place on the chapter’s discussion list. Christine Hilker made a motion to adopt the second option. This was followed by a discussion on the when to pay dues. Dues were set at $10 at the Baltimore meeting. Mary Alexander was ready to accept due payments. A bank account would be opened after the meeting. The group decided to allot time to pay dues during a recess of the meeting.

Report on the SECAC Board Meeting

Tina Updike gave a report on the SECAC Board meeting. The SECAC Board had accepted venues for the 2007-2012 conferences.

2007 in Charleston, W. Va., Oct. 17-20 (unofficial)
2008 in New Orleans, LA. Sept. 24-27
2009 in Mobile, Al, 3rd weekend of Oct (possibly jointly with the Southeastern Society of Architectural Historians)
2010 Richmond, Va., Oct. 20-23, possibly jointly with MACAA
2011 Savannah, GA
2012 Winston-Salem, NC, 3rd weekend of Oct.

New business for the SECAC Board’s included the call for nominations for the upcoming board openings for the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and At-Large. Increases in membership dues were approved. Individual dues will increase from $35 to $50. Institutional dues will increase from $95 to $125. Other changes included that the SECAC Review will discontinue publishing conference abstracts with the 2007 conference to allow for the publication of more articles and reviews of books and exhibitions. The abstracts will be published in a conference booklet and posted on the website. The SECAC conference AV policy was changed to eliminate supplying slide projectors in session rooms beginning with the 2008 conferences. The last item reported was that an ad hoc committee would be formed to review the SECAC Bylaws concerning affiliate status.

New Business

As the first item of new business, Emy Decker announced the “Ask-the-Expert” session that would be held tomorrow. Emy proceeded to ask the group what we wanted to accomplish as a chapter during the Kansas City meeting. Macie Hall informed the group that more open space will be available during the conference on two evenings and meeting times are scattered throughout the day. She suggested a happy hour or lunch. The conference theme is “Silver Jubilee.”

The next item was the location of our meeting after the Kansas City conference. With SECAC meeting in West Virginia next year (a state outside our chapter area), we would need to decide where and when to meet. Macie Hall suggested a mini-conference with a business meeting on Friday afternoon. Kathe added that a CCO Boot Camp would be feasible during a 2-day meeting. Macie Hall mentioned that CCO has money for workshops. Emy would contact Elsie about a workshop as suggested by Kathe. Meeting locations/states were ruled out of contention where SECAC meetings would be held in the future. Atlanta was mentioned as a possible site. Emy explained her knowledge of Atlanta as a venue versus Athens. Everyone was in agreement to meet in Athens for a 2-day meeting including a chapter meeting, CCO workshop, and nightlife.

For the 2008 meeting, it was unanimous that the chapter meeting be held in New Orleans rejoining with the SECAC conference. Martine stated that it was important for institutions to have representation at the SECAC conference. It is appropriate justification for their attendance. Emy Decker will e-mail the chapter members concerning contributions to the VRA conference raffle and other news. The Chapter’s events during the Kansas City VRA conference will include a meeting, raffle donation, and social event.

Christine Hilker moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Kathe Albrecht.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:15pm.

Submitted respectfully by, Mary Alexander