Newsletter

Col. 10 No 1, Spring 1998
Society for Germanic Philology

 Carlee Arnett: arnett.53@osu.edu
 Anna Grotans: grotans.1@osu.edu
 Gregor Hens: hens.1@osu.edu
 Amanda Pounder: apounder@acs.ucalgary.ca

  The Newsletter is printed at the editorial offices of AJGLL at the University of Madison-Wisconsin.

• SGP Bylaws
  The Executive Committee of the Society has completed its revision of the Society's bylaws. The revised text, which appears in full below, is submitted to the membership for a vote. Please use the ballot at the bottom of the page to cast your vote by June 1, 1998 (postmarked).
• Membership Drive
  The membership drive for the Society continues unabated. Dues for member-ship are $30.00 for individuals and $15.00 for students. Please ask interested col-leagues and students to consult the SGP web site or write to:
  Robert B. Howell
  Department of German
  University of Wisconsin
  818 Van Hise Hall
  Madison, WI 53706
  USA
• SGP Elections
  The results are in for this year's election to the Executive Committee of the Society. New members are Jennifer Dailey-O'Cain (University of Alberta) and Donka Minkova (University of California, Los Angeles). The full slate of officers and Executive Committee members regularly appears in the AJGLL.
• Germanic Linguistics Annual Conference
  From April 17 to 19, 1998, GLAC 4 was held at The Ohio State University in Columbus. The conference featured over twenty panels on all aspects of Germanic Linguistics, and four invited speakers: David Lightfoot (University of Mary-land), Charles Fillmore (University of California at Berkeley), Hubert Haider (University of Salzburg), and Peter Nelde (Catholic University of Brussels). As in past years, the conference was notable not only for the broad range of topics discussed in all areas of Germanic linguistics, from phonology to syntax and sociolinguistics, but also for its collegial atmosphere and international flair. The organizers would like to thank all participants and guests for making the conference a success, and they gratefully acknowledge major support from the Max Kade Foundation and many others institutions. Special thanks are owed to the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at The Ohio State University.
   Please plan to attend the next Germanic Linguistics Annual Conference (GLAC 5), scheduled for April 16-18, 1999 at the University of Texas at Austin. A call for papers will appear in the Fall issue of the Newsletter. GLAC 6 will be hosted by the University of Calgary (meeting at Banff).
• Honorary members
  On April 17, 1998, the SGP voted to extend invitations for honorary member-ship to the following outstanding members of the profession: Winfrid P. Lehmann (University of Texas)
  James Marchand (University of Illinois)
  William Moulton (Princeton University)
  Edgar Polomé (University of Texas)
  Robert Stockwell (University of California at Los Angeles)
  Frans Van Coetsem (Cornell University)
• American Journal of Germanic Linguistics and Literatures
  9.2 was sent out to members and subscribers in March 1998. The Spring issue of the AJGLL (10.1) will feature the following contributions: Anna A. Grotans, "Simplifying Latin in Notker's Classroom: Tradition and Innovation" Ruth Lunt Lanouette, "The Attributive Genitive in Early New High German: A Semantic Analysis" Elly van Gelderen, "The Future of for to" T. L. Markey, "Some Thoughts on Konrad Koerner's 'Einar Haugen as a Historian of Linguistics' [AJGLL 9.2]" Karen L. Adams and Robert Bjork, Obituary for Daniel T. Brink, Jr.
• Award of the Hugo Moser Foundation
  The Hugo Moser Foundation (Stifter-verband für Deutsche Wissenschaft) is soliciting applications and nominations for their 1999 Förderpreis in Germanic Linguistics (DM 15,000), which targets scholars in the early stages of their careers. The deadline for application is August 31, 1998. For information about eligibility and the application procedure please see http://www.ids-mannheim.de/aktuell/moser.html.
• Calls for Papers
  Modal Verbs in Germanic and Romance. Universiteit Antwerpen - UIA (Campus Wilrijk), December 11-12, 1998. Send abstracts by June 1, 1998 to: Universiteit Antwerpen-UIA
  t.a.v. Patrick Dendale
  Universiteitsplein 1
  B-2610 Wilrijk
  BELGIUM Contact: Patrick Dendale (Phone: +32 3 820 28 13; Fax: +32 3 820 28 23) or Johan van der Auwera (Phone: +32 3 820 27 76; Fax: +32 3 820 27 76). WECOL '98. Western Conference on Linguistics, meeting jointly with LASSO. 9-11 October, 1998, at the Arizona State University in Tempe. The deadline for submission of abstracts is June 1, 1998. Invited speaker: James McCloskey (University of California at Santa Cruz). Abstracts are invited for 20-minute talks in all areas of linguistic theory. Abstracts should be anonymous, and should be no longer than one page, with one inch margins, in typeface no smaller than 12 characters per inch. An additional page with examples and references may be included. Please provide 7 copies of the abstract. Authors should identify them-selves on a separate 3x5" index card, and should include the title and author's address, affiliation, telephone number, and e-mail address. No e-mail or fax abstracts will be accepted. However, subsequent correspondence will be via e-mail. Abstracts should be sent to the following address: Elly van Gelderen, Chair
  Abstracts Committee WECOL '98
  PO Box 870302
  Department of English
  Arizona State University
  Tempe, AZ 85287-0302 LASSO XXVII. 27th Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Association of the South-west (meeting jointly with WECOL). Invited Speaker: Jane H. Hill (University of Arizona)
  Presidential Address: Robert D. King (University of Texas-Austin) Proposals for papers in any area of linguistics will be considered. For the 1998 meeting at Arizona State University, submissions regarding languages of the Southwest are particularly encouraged. The organizers also especially solicit graduate student papers, which may be submitted following the meeting for consideration for the Helmut Esau Prize, a $250 cash award made annually by LASSO.
  Presentation time for papers will be limited to twenty minutes plus ten minutes for discussion. The deadline for receipt of abstracts is June 15, 1998. Only one abstract as single author and a second as co-author will be accepted from any individual. Abstracts must be no longer than one page (MAXIMUM of 300 words). Keep use of special font items (e.g. phonetic symbols, diacritic marks, branching dia-grams, logical notation) to a bare mini-mum. Abstracts of accepted papers will be published exactly as received in a booklet for distribution at the meeting.
  At the beginning of your abstract place the paper title, and at the end of an e-mailed abstract (or on a separate page of a mailed abstract) repeat the title along with your name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address. It is strongly preferred that abstracts be submitted by e- mail to: gajill@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu.
  In the absence of e-mail, or if your abstract contains special symbols, send one hard copy of the abstract with a diskette (labeled for operating system and word processing program) to:
  Jill Brody
  Dept. of Geography & Anthropology
  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4105
  Tel. 504-388-6171 Presentation of papers at the LASSO annual meetings is a privilege of member-ship in LASSO; 1997 dues must be paid by June 15 in order for your abstract to be considered. Annual membership dues for individuals are US$15.00 (or US$7.50 for students, retired persons, and those not employed). To pay dues or for additional information, contact:
  Garland D. Bills
  Department of Linguistics
  University of New Mexico
  Albuquerque, NM 87131-1196
  Tel.: 505-277-7416 Fax: -6355
  E-mail: gbills@unm.edu.

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Society for Germanic Philology Bylaws

article i. title

The title of this organization shall be the "Society for Germanic Philology", abbreviated "SGP" hereinafter referred to as "The Society."article ii. purposeThe purpose of the "SGP" The Society shall be to encourage, support, and further the study of the Germanic languages, and of their literatures and cultures, especially in their earlier phases, by organizing meetings, preparing and distributing teaching materials, publishing a periodical newsletter and a journal, disseminating information to the public at large, by fostering ties with allied organizations, and by such other means as may be consonant with the purpose of the organization The Society may deem appropriate.article iii. membershipMembership in the SGP is open to any person who endorses the purpose of the organization, and who meets such further conditions as the Executive Committee or membership at an Annual Business Meeting may subsequently impose.

section1. Anyone who endorses the purpose of the organization may become a member of The Society upon application to the Secretary-Treasurer and payment of the annual dues

.section 2. The annual dues shall be paid to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society each year by January 31. The amount of the dues is determined by the Executive Committee.

section3. There shall be the follow-ing categories of membership: regu-lar, sustaining, life, joint, institutional, student and emeritus, and honorary members. All members shall receive certain publications of The Society, including its journal (article VIII)

.section 4. The Executive Committee may designate scholars of distinction in the field as honorary members of The Society. Honorary members pay no dues.

section 5. Only personal (non-institutional) members may vote and hold office in The Society, and nominate candidates. Each such member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members.

article iv. officers

section 1. The officers of this organi-zation The Society shall be a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary-Treasurer, who shall be elected from and by the membership to terms of office of three years, so arranged that no two terms begin in the same year. Officers shall be elected by written ballot distributed to all members of the SGP The Society. The terms of office of officers shall begin at the close of the Annual Business Meetings at which their election is announced on January 1 of the year in which their tenure starts and expire on December 31 of the year in which their tenure ends. No two offices may be held by the same person.

section 2. The duties of the President shall include the following: to serve as the official representative of the organization; to preside at the Annual Business Meeting; to convene, and to preside at, meetings of the Executive Committee, and to propose the agenda therefor; to report to the membership at the Annual Business Meeting on the state of the organization during the past year; to seek and maintain contacts with other professional organizations concerned with the field of Germanic languages; and to perform such other functions as the Executive Committee or membership at an Annual Business Meeting may authorize

section 3. The duties of Vice President shall include the following: to assist and advise the President in carrying out his/her duties; to chair the Election Committee; to preside, in the absence of the President, at the Annual Business Meeting, and at meetings of the Execu-tive Committee; to perform such duties of the President as the latter may delegate to him/her; to assume the office of President if that office should become vacant, and to serve to the end of its the unexpired portion of the term; and to perform such other functions as the Exe-cutive Committee or membership at an Annual Business Meeting may authorize.

section 4. The duties of the Secretary-Treasurer shall include the following: to keep the official minutes of the Annual Business Meeting, and of the meetings of the Executive Committee; to maintain an official list of the members of the organi-zation, its officers and Executive Com-mittee members, and their terms of appointment; to serve as custodian of the funds of the organization the chief fiscal officer of The Society; and to maintain such records as may be required to show their the origin, use, and disposition of The Society’s funds; to present a report on the financial state of The Society at the Annual Business Meeting; and to perform such other functions as the Executive Committee or the membership at an Annual Business Meeting may authorize

section 5. Any action by any of the officers in the name of the organization is subject to review by the Executive Committee or by the membership at an Annual Business Meeting.section 6. A vacancy in offices of Vice President and/or Secretary-Treasurer shall be filled by the Executive Committee for the unex-pired portion of the term.

article v. executive committee

section1. The administration of the Society shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee of the SGP, which shall consist of at least nine and no more than fourteen members: the officers of the organization ex officio; six additional members; and the five members of the Executive Committee of the Discussion Group for Germanic Philology ex officio the President, Vice President, Secre-tary/Treasurer and six (6) members elected from and by the membership. Subject to the provisions herein, the Executive Committee may also ap-point up to three (3) ex officio mem-bers. All members of the Executive Committee must be members in good standing of The Society.

section 2. The additional at-large members of the Executive Committee shall be elected from and by the membership for terms of no more than three years each, so arranged that, to the degree possible, the same number of terms begins in any one year no more than two terms begin in the same year. They shall be elected by written ballot distributed to all members of the SGP The Society. Their terms of office begin at the close of the Annual Business Meetings at which their election is announced on January 1 of the year in which their tenure starts and expire on December 31 of the year in which their tenure ends.

section 3. The Executive Committee may appoint as ex officio members the chair of the editorial committee (cf. article VIII), the editor of The Society’s newsletter, and/or one member from the Executive Committee of the Discussion Group for Germanic Philology of the Modern Language Association of America.

section 4. The President may invite appropriate individuals to attend and participate at Executive Committee meetings without vote.section 3.

section 5. The duties of the Executive Committee shall include the following: to take such action as it may deem necessary to advance the purpose of the organization; to determine the amount of annual dues; to oversee the editorial affairs of The Society’s journal and newsletter and to appoint their editorships; to organize the Annual Business Meeting and to propose the agenda therefor its agenda; to appoint standing and ad hoc com-mittees, subject to the provisions herein; to appoint a member to fill a vacancy on the Election Committee; to nominate one candidate for any vacancy which may occur on the Executive Committee of the Discussion Group for Germanic Philology; to elect acting members for any vacancy which may occur, among officers or additional members, except for the office of President, such acting officer or member to serve until an election by the membership can be held to fill the unexpired portion of the term of the vacant office; serve the unexpired portions of the term of a vacant office (except for the office of President) or vacant seat on the Executive Commit-tee itself; to audit the accounts of the Secretary-Treasurer oversee the finan-cial affairs of The Society, or to desig-nate a person or agency therefor; and to perform such additional functions as the membership at an Annual Business Meet-ing may authorize.section 4.

section 6. The Executive Committee shall meet as often as necessary to conduct the business of The Society, at least once a year. Such meetings may be face-to-face, as at a conference, or via other means such as conference calls or electronic-mail. The quorum for any meeting of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of those officers and members attending a conference during which the meeting is held, or a majority of the officers and members, if the meeting is held at any other place.section 5.

section 7. Any action of the Executive Committee in the name of the organization is subject to review by the membership at an Annual Business Meeting.article vi. election committee [See now article VII.]

article vi. annual business meeting [formerly article VII.]

section 1. Once a year an Annual Business Meeting shall be held at a time and place as convenient as possible to the membership. Normally, the Business Meeting shall take place during the Germanic Linguistics Annual Con-ference (article IX).

section 2. Notice of the agenda shall be given in writing at least thirty calendar days prior to the day of the Annual Business Meeting. By a vote of one-third of the members present, action on any item of which advance notice was not given may be deferred to the next Annual Business Meeting.

section 3. A quorum at the Annual Business Meeting shall consist of those members of The Society present at the Annual Meeting.article vii. annual business meeting [See now article VI.]

article vii. committees [formerly article VI.]

section 1. The Executive Commit-tee, by resolution adopted by a major-ity of its members, may designate one or more committees as are deemed necessary to facilitate the business of The Society. Normally, an Election Committee, an editorial committee (article VIII), and a Conference Program Committee (article IX) will be appointed as regular commit-tees.section 1.

section 2.1. The Election Committee shall consist of three members, appointed by the Executive Committee, one of whom shall be designated as Chair: the Vice President, who shall serve as chair, and two members appointed by the Executive Committee. The terms of office of the members of the Election Committee shall be three years each, so arranged that no two terms begin in the same year. It The Election Committee shall be responsible for the solicitation of nominations and the conducting of elections for officers and members of the Executive Committee in such manner as the Executive Committee shall by resolution determine.section 2.

section 2.2. The Chair of the Election Committee shall announce the results of each year’s election at the Annual Meeting, and in any other manner which the Executive Committee deems suitable.section 3.

section 2.3. In the event of a disputed election, the Chair of the Election Committee shall present the relevant information to the Executive Committee, which shall be the sole judge of its membership.article viii. fiscal year [See now article X.]

article viii. journal

section 1. These bylaws authorize the Society to publish an official journal, entitled at the date of their ratification, the American Journal of Germanic Linguistics and Literatures. The Society shall publish the journal in such manner (including title, scope, and frequency of publication) as in the judgment of the Executive Committee best meets the require-ments of the Society and the pro-fession.

section 2. The Executive Committee shall appoint an editorial committee, whose charge shall be to run the day-to-day affairs of the journal. The editorial committee shall be constituted in such manner (includ-ing number of members, their titles, and assignment of duties) as in the judgment of the Executive Committee best meets the requirements of the journal.

section 3. The Executive Committee shall appoint one member of the editorial committee as chair, who acts as editor-in-chief of the journal and assumes responsibility for general coordination of publishing activities. The chair of the editorial committee is an ex officio member of the Executive Committee.

section 4. The editorial committee and its chair serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee.

article ix. annual conference

section 1. These bylaws authorize the Society to hold an annual conference, circumstances permitting, the name of which at the date hereof is the "Germanic Linguistics Annual Conference," (abbreviated "GLAC").

section 2. For each such conference, the Executive Committee will appoint a Conference Program Committee, which shall be responsible for advising the local conference organiz-ers in planning The Society’s Annual conference.article x. fiscal year [formerly article VIII.]The fiscal year of The Society shall begin on 1 November January and end on 31 October December.article xi. parliamentary authority [formerly article IX.]The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.article xii. amendments [formerly article X.]An amendment to these bylaws must be approved by the Executive Committee and presented to the membership in the form of a written ballot. The amendment takes effect upon ratification by a majority of those voting.article xiii. dissolution [formerly article XI.]The Society may be dissolved by an amendment to rescind these bylaws.

Ballot

The Society for Germanic Philology herewith rescinds its existing bylaws [March 22, 1992] and replaces them with the new bylaws attached hereto [approved by the Executive Committee, March 15, 1998].

Members of the Society for Germanic Philology please vote below either in favor of ("Yes") or against ("No") the resolution.  

  ___ Yes
  ___ No

Please return this ballot by June 1, 1998 (postmarked) to:
Thomas F. Shannon
Department of German
5319 Dwinelle Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-3243
USA

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