The annual business meeting of the membership of The Norman Mailer Society (“NMS”) was convened at the Provincetown Inn, Provincetown, Massachusetts, on October 17, 2008, with President J. Michael Lennon presiding. Other officers present were Barry Leeds, Vice President, David Light, Treasurer, and Marc Triplett, Secretary.
Secretary Marc Triplett requested approval of the minutes of the 2007 business meeting. Mark Olshaker moved for the approval of the minutes as submitted and Robert Begeibing seconded. Minutes were approved by a voice vote.
Treasurer David Light presented his report. He provided summaries of activities of the NMS accounts during the past year in the membership packets distributed at the conference to the members. During the past year, NMS became a non-profit organization. Treasurer Light began by reporting a balance of funds of approximately $23,000.00 as of this date, with an anticipated remaining balance of operating funds of between $18,000.00 and 20,000.00 after the conference, which this year has paid for itself from the charges assessed to attendees. During the past year there were extraordinary expenses associated with the organization’s securing of its non-profit status. Treasurer Light further reported on the separate Mailer Review account, which is not used for activities other than those of the Review, and on the CDs into which funds are deposited for awards to be determined. Approximately $30,000.00 in donations have been received, of which $20,000.00 were from Lawrence Schiller. The Treasurer noted that the cost to produce the second edition of the Mailer Review was approximately $14,000.00.
Phillip Sipiora gave a report on the activities of The Mailer Review. The second edition of The Mailer Review came out before the scheduled NMS conference, a little earlier than last year’s first edition. The second issue is a large and special edition, of which 50% is memorial material. Issue Three will emphasize fiction and film. Major film scholars have been recruited to write on Mailer for this issue.
Phil Sipiora commended his staff of eight members for their tireless effort in the production and distribution of the Mailer Review. Specifically, he acknowledged and commended the editorial staff, including Kristine Wilson, James Miller, Carol Holmes, Raymond Vince, Shannon Zinck, Gerald Lucas and Constance Holmes. Thanks were given also to the English Department at the University of South Florida for its assistance and support, including office space, telephones, fax and internet. Finances of the Review are in good shape for the upcoming third issue, which will not be as thick as the second but will be very substantive. Benefactors are needed and more resources will be required for issue four. A special edition of the second issue is available for sale for $250.00. This special edition is hardbound and is signed by Gunther Grass, William Kennedy, E.L. Doctorow, Don DeLillo, and Phillip Sipiora.
President Michael Lennon complimented The Mailer Review as “a wonderful book that will be on shelves for Mailer scholars for a long time” and commended Phil Sipiora on his outstanding work and accomplishment in producing it. Allen Ahearn reported that four hardbound editions of the first issue of The Mailer Review, signed by Norman Mailer, are available for sale.
Vice President Barry Leeds reported for the Nominating Committee. He made a motion to change Bylaw 6 to increase Board of Directors membership from 21 to 24 members. The motion was seconded by Bob Begiebing and approved by the members. As to the Board members whose terms expire in 2010, Leeds reported that Tara Carlin Sikora is unable to continue to serve on the Board and has resigned. He moved to replace her with Laura Adams Dunham and Allen Ahearn. The motion was seconded by Mark Olshaker and passed by voice vote of the members. Leeds next reported that, as to the Board members whose terms expire in 2011 (Robert Begiebing, Barbara Lounsberry, Neil Abercrombie, Philip Bufithis, Christopher Busa, Phillip Sipiora, and Mark Olshaker), he moves to add as new Board member Michael Chaiken. The motion was seconded by Michael Lennon and passed. Leeds moved to delete Ivan Fisher from the Board, pursuant to resignation, and to award an honorary life membership to Ivan Fisher; further, as to members with terms expiring 2009, he moved to add Constance Holmes and Denise Pappas as Board members for one year terms. These motions were seconded by Michael Lennon and approved. Michael Lennon noted and commended the work of Michael Chaiken on the films of Norman Mailer.
Philip Bufithis joined Barry Leeds in presenting the Robert Lucid Award to Phillip Sipiora, who, in accepting the award, said that he did so on behalf of the team which produced The Mailer Review. A plaque and check for $250.00 was presented to Phillip Sipiora. Philip Bufithis added his praise for the recipient and his accomplishment as Editor of The Mailer Review.
A discussion was held regarding the frequency of future meetings, moderated by Marc Triplett. After hearing the comments of Allen Ahearn, Michael Lennon, Laura Adams Dunham, Phillip Sipiora, Bob Begiebing, David Light, Christopher Busa, and Deborah Martinson, a consensus was reached that the NMS would continue to have annual meetings and will add a board retreat. The Board will make a proposal regarding the location of the 2010 meeting prior to the 2009 meeting to be held in Washington, D.C.
The ad hoc committee for the 2009 NMS meeting in Washington, D.C., consisting of Bob Begiebing, Allen Ahearn and Mark Olshaker, reported on its activities. Ten rooms have been reserved at Capital Suites for October 23 to 26, 2009, and a special conference rate of $210.00 per night is reserved for NMS members attending. Rooms need to be reserved as soon as possible, while they remain available. A meeting room at the Library of Congress is reserved for the Friday sessions, and two rooms at George Washington University are reserved for Saturday sessions. Treasurer David Light will send the membership a confirmation code for the hotel reservations as soon as he receives it.
President J. Michael Lennon reported on the Mailer Writer’s Colony, which has been the product of the work of Lawrence Schiller. There is now a plaque on the Mailer home for the colony, and activities there will commence in the Summer of 2009. In late September or early October, 2009 there will be a fund-raising dinner hosted by Barry Diller and Tina Brown. Outstanding writers will participate in the work of the writer’s colony. Larry Schiller is preparing a color brochure on the colony. Michael Lennon is on the board of the Mailer Writer’s Colony, and it is anticipated that the Norman Mailer Society will collaborate as needed. The Colony is an ambitious project, and Larry Schiller is flying around the world to raise money for it.
There being no further business on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Marc S. Triplett, Secretary