The annual business meeting of the membership of The Norman Mailer Society (“NMS”) was convened at the Provincetown Inn in Provincetown, Massachusetts, on October 11, 2012, with President Mark Olshaker presiding. Other officers present were Barry Leeds, Vice President, David Light, Treasurer, Marc Triplett, Secretary, and Phillip Sipiora, Editor of The Mailer Review.
President Mark Olshaker began the meeting by welcoming all attendees and congratulating NMS founder Michael Lennon on the completion of his biography of Norman Mailer. Publication is expected to be at about this time next year.
Minutes of the 2011 business meeting were approved upon motion of Barry Leeds and second by Phil Sipiora.
David Light, Treasurer, presented his report of the Societyʼs finances after providing some information regarding the conference activities. His report covered the period October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2012. The summary of the state of the Societyʼs finances was included in the Treasurerʼs report in the material provided for the conference and summarized the four major accounts of the NMS. Among the top notable receipts was the payment by Random House for its advertising in The Mailer Review. Notable expenses were highlighted. Income was reduced last year for the reason that registration fees were not charged for the joint conference with the James Jones Literary Society. Marc Triplett moved for approval of the Treasurerʼs report, Phil Sipiora seconded the motion, and by acclamation the report was approved by the membership.
Phil Sipiora reported on The Mailer Review. The 2012 issue was mailed during the preceding week and all members should now have a copy. NMS provided 425 copies of The Mailer Review for attendees of the Norman Mailer Center Gala that was recently held. Next yearʼs theme for The Mailer Review will be “Norman Mailer and Contemporary Literature.” Phil Sipiora reviewed state of finances of the Review. The sum of approximately $5,000 will be on hand after the expenses have been paid. For next yearʼs edition, $4,000 to $4,200 will need to be raised. He thanked benefactors, including the University of South Florida, which support the publication in many ways, including the costs of shipping and marketing. The new advertising deal with Random House for the back cover is the result of a new agreement for the next three years. Mark Olshaker noted that one of our benefactors is the Governor of Hawaii and suggested that perhaps we should secure the support of the remaining 49 Governors. Michael Lennon suggested that the Review next year should consider inclusion of the recent review in the New York Times Book Review of the new David Eggers novel, wherein an extended discussion of Mailer and comparison of Eggers to Mailer as social critic is included.
In the absence of Larry Schiller, who had not yet arrived at the conference, MIchael Lennon reported on the recent gala for the Norman Mailer Center. This yearʼs gala may have been the best. In attendance were Alec Baldwin, who served as emcee, Muhammad Ali, Joyce Carol Oates, Gay Talese, Garrison Keillor, Dick Cavett, Robert Caro and other speakers. The event was underwritten by Van Cleef and Arpels. Larry Schiller, who will arrive on Friday of the conference, is at work on acquisition of the Mailer home for the Norman Mailer Center.
Barry Leeds presented the report of the Nominating Committee. Three resignations of Executive Board Members have been received. Alan Ahearn has resigned and the Committee proposed the nomination of Maggie McKinley for the remaining year of his term. Laura Dunham has resigned, and the Committee recommended the nomination of Ezra Cappell for the two years remaining of Lauraʼs term. Constance Holmes resigned and the Committee proposed the Susan Mailer be nominated to replace her for the three-year term expiring in 2015. The Committee also recommended the renomination of the members of the Board whose term expires this year, for election for another term expiring in 2015. Those members are Deborah Martinson, John Buffalo Mailer, Barbara Wasserman, Bonnie Culver, Carol Holmes, Gerald Lucas, and Denise Pappas. Maggie McKinleyʼs nomination was made by Mark Olshaker, Phil Sipiora seconded, and the election of Maggie McKinley was unanimously approved. Ezra Cappellʼs nomination was made by Michael Lennon, seconded by Raymond Vince, and the election of Ezra Cappell was unanimously approved. The eight members for the term expiring in 2015, including new Board member Susan Mailer, were nominated by Marc Triplett. Mark Olshaker seconded the nominations and those eight members were unanimously elected.
President Mark Olshaker opened a discussion regarding the location of future conferences. After lengthy discussion, which included a proposal from David Light that the 2013 conference be held at Wilkes University, in acknowledgment of Norman Mailerʼs 90th birthday, his connection to the University, its position as former repository of Mailerʼs papers and its contribution to the work and conferences of the NMS. Other potential sites discussed for future included Los Angeles, Chicago, and Brooklyn. After discussion, Marc Triplett moved that the 2013 conference be held in Sarasota, Florida ,and that the decision regarding the location of the conferences in 2014 and 2015 be delegated to the Executive Board for consideration at its meeting on October 14, 2012. Mark Olshaker seconded the motion and the motion was adopted by a unanimous vote.
There being no other business to come before the membership, the business meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Marc S. Triplett
Secretary, The Norman Mailer Society