Theophanes presents his book to the Virgin Hodegetria; Painted vellum manuscript. Felton Bequest 1960 710-2; with permission from the National Gallery of Victoria
Minutes of the Biennial General Meeting of
The Australian Association for Byzantine StudiesHeld in Rm 321, X5B, Macquarie University, Sydney on 17 July 1999
Present: J. Melville-Jones, W. Mayer, R. Scott, A. Moffatt, L. Garland, P. Allen, S. Lieu, W. Leadbetter, M. Jeffreys, E. Jeffreys, G. Tanner, A. Nobbs, B. Croke, L. Cansdale, A. Shboul, A. Stephenson, A. Stone, M. Choat, A. Walmsley, B. Neil, A. Gillett, P. Tuffin, F. Harley
Apologies: J. Barclay Lloyd, P. Thomas Minutes Secretary: W. Mayer
1. Minutes of 1997 Meeting
M. Jeffreys (moved), P. Allen (seconded). Adopted without alteration.
2. President's Report:
The president reported that the previous two years had been successful, as indicated by the Secretary's, Treasurer's and ByzAus reports. The association has kept in touch with the AIEB regarding their activities. The web site has been established, with anticipated net benefits to the association over the coming years. Conducting the role of president from Western Australia has not proved difficult with the assistance of technology (email especially). Executive have communicated via email circulars and one teleconference.
3. Secretary's Report:
Correspondence in and out, as tabled. Action: WM to create more extensive email list of academics and circulate items received from overseas accordingly. Add bibliographic data (to 1997) to web site.
J. Melville-Jones (moved), R. Scott (seconded). Carried.4. Treasurer's Report:
As tabled. Healthy bank balance (additional ByzAus moneys still to be added). All those who have contributed through unpaid labour over the years to be commended. Newsletter costs currently covered by subscriptions. More funds kept in Commonwealth account than desirable at present. AIEB sub. for 1999 already paid.
Action: Executive to consider further long term deposits with Credit Union.
J. Melville-Jones (moved), W. Leadbetter (seconded). Carried.5. ByzAus Report:
5.1 Publications. Only one new volume has appeared since prev. meeting (Genesios). Currently in pipeline: Kaminiates, Synkellos, Constantine Porphyrogennetos, Theophanes Continuatus, Byzantine Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Manasses' Chronicle [and Proclus of Constantinople, Ed.].
Discussion:
Reprints. Requests for Lemerle vol. do not justify reprint. Zosimus should be reprinted. Much discussion re whether this should be a straight reprint, with list of errata, or new revised edition. General opinion against simple reprint.
Resolved: If Brian Croke produces new introduction, then the gross errors in the original edition should be corrected and the translation revised against new German translation and Paschoud text. New edition to read: Trans. by R. Ridley, revised by .......
Action: Executive to consider proposal by A. Nobbs that AABS pay someone at Macquarie to finish correcting the scanned version of the Ridley trans. (circa one month's work).
Byzantine Macedonia volume(s). Issue of relationship between Vol. 1 and 2, and relationship of Vol. 1 to ByzAus series, if published by ByzAus, to be discussed and resolved by Executive.
Fliers. Suggested that in future more than one volume could be released at the same time, with fliers listing both. Reprints could be released at same time as another volume to reduce costs.
5.2 Sales. M. Jeffreys reported that new system for receiving credit card payment vulnerable to fraud. Has caused as many problems as it solved. Individual (v. institutional) orders stalled temporarily while addressing problem. Provided verbal report of volume sales for previous nine months.5.3 Distribution. M. Jeffreys retiring in course of 2000, resigning from distributorship of ByzAus at end of 1999. Discussion suspended 2.30 PM, to allow resumption of conference sessions. Recommenced at 5.45 PM. Lengthy discussion of alternative distribution options.
To be pursued by Executive: Brepols, Qld Uni Press, Angus and Robertson, Collins, Aries and Philips, Ashgate, Oxbow Books, other alternatives.
New distribution system needs to be finalised and advertised ASAP. Emergency short-term storage space can be offered by AHDRC at Macquarie.
Proposed: That the Executive be empowered to make a decision regarding distribution of ByzAus, after obtaining info. regarding all of the above suggested options. S. Lieu to provide JMJ with contact details for Brepols.
5.4 Other. Concerns raised re use of funds raised by ByzAus for other purposes. Discussion re relative benefits of handing publication and/or distribution over to professionals, with attendant loss of profit and/or total income v. continuing to run the distribution via willing members of association, with profits flowing directly to the association; possibility of AABS continuing as Australian distributor (with reduced handling of stock) for overseas distributor/publisher.
Suggested: that running picture of ByzAus expenditures and income be provided by Treasurer, separate from general income and expenditure.
6. Web-based Review Journal Proposal
Endorsed. Reviews to be published and archived on web site in conjunction with subscribable email list to which is mailed short messages alerting recipients to appearance of new reviews. L. Garland, W. Mayer, M. Choat (editors). Web site to be based at ACU. Honorarium to be paid to Y. Koszarycz to set up initially and maintain for association.
Suggested: that editors ask Paul Halsall to advertise it on the Byzantine web site. That editors arrange to have first review appear in Bryn Mawr with imbedded alert to the new review journal. That the first edition contain a minimum three reviews.7. 2001 Meeting
Resolved: That the 2001 meeting be held in Perth.
Organising committee to take into account International Congress in August 2001; and additional expense of getting to Perth for students and lay members. Noted that U of Notre Dame starting course in Greek Studies shortly.
8. Other Business
Noted that International Congress in 2006 likely to be in UK, possibly Oxford.
Plea from S. Lieu for members to use the Bonn corpus (complete set in NSW and Victorian State Libraries). Failure to use may result in loss of valuable resource.
