INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS ASSOCIATION

Present

1. Chairperson's remarks

• J. Foley noted the good attendance and the helpfulness of the R.E.L.C. with whom he had negotiated costs for the provision of meals and facilities; the local committee had dealt only with academic and financial aspects of the Congress. He did not make use of the international committee. He suggested that conferences be carefully scheduled to insure sufficient time between them - some Indian participation was lost due to the closeness of the preceding grammar conference in Hyderabad. The scholarships that the committee had passed out proved very helpful in bringing local students and participants from other countries. The Lee Foundation provided these scholarships. One non-systemicist was invited but declined to give a plenary.

2. Constitution wording

• Numerous suggestions were made (F. Christie, R. Fawcett, and E. Ventola) and discussed as to whether there should be a chief treasurer and regional treasurers or regional treasurers only. It was moved, seconded and passed without dissent that final wording be approved as follows (moved: P. Fries; seconded: F. Christie) (words in capital letters are section headings of the constitution):

  MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORGANIZATION (added to end of 1st paragraph) The association will maintain regional bank accounts. STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION (changes within the 2nd paragraph) The executive committee will consist of the following members: Chair Deputy Chair Membership Secretary Recording/correspondence Secretary Deleted:Treasurer Added: Regional Treasurers

3. Election of new office bearers

Executive Committee
Chair:	Kristen Davidse
Deputy Chair:	Geoff Williams
Membership Secretary:	Nan Fries
Recording Secretary:	Peter Ragan
Treasurers:	Caroline Stainton (U.K.) William Greaves (N. America) Susan Feez (Australia)
International Committee
Australia:	Louise Ravelli
N. America:	Michael Cummings
Germany:	Erich Steiner
Japan:	Masa-aki Tatsuki
U.K.:	Gordon Tucker
China:	Zhuanglin Hu (newly added - see below)

Discussion followed about the make-up of the International Committee:

• The constitution allows for six members; another member might be added (R. Fawcett).
• It would be useful to have members representing a wider range of constituencies (F. Christie).
• It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved that Professor Z. Hu (China) be added to the international committee and the slate of nominees be approved (moved: F. Christie; seconded: M.A.K. Halliday).

4. Minutes of the last meeting

5. Business arising from the minutes

6. Report on last meeting

• Attendance: Excellent
• Income: Levy of 10% on ISFC fees taken
• Budget: expenditures in excess of £20,000; profit approx. £2000, to be forwarded to U.K. treasurer
• Recommendation: funds be kept in reserve to use as advance support for Congresses
• Scholarships: 12 full participant scholarships provided including Africa (2), Pakistan (1) and China (2), and fees waived for approx. 24 participants.

7. Treasurer's report

Australia	Aus. $ 9,679.35*
UK	U.K. £ 4,346.34
Canada	Can. $ 0

* Aus.$6,000 from this account is on loan as 'seed' money to Singapore (1999) and Australia (2000) Congresses. J. Foley added that remaining funds from Singapore '99 will be forwarded to the Australian account.

8. Upcoming conferences

Year of ISFC	Venue
2000	Melbourne
2001	Ottawa
2002	Liverpool
2003	Hyderabad
2004	Kyoto
2005	Open

Chair B. Mohan invited members to discuss the choice and cycling of venues.

• Questioned cycle of countries as listed (J. Martin)
• Discussed the need to reflect developing areas of interest in systemics and therefore extending or otherwise modifying the cycle (F. Christie)
• Noted that ISFCs give boost to adjacent regions; possibility of having a Congress in an adjacent area/country (C. Matthiessen)
• Pointed to success of grammar conference in Hyderabad and growing interest in new areas, especially W. Africa, E. Europe; suggestion of four-year cycle for main venues with additional conferences held during the same year (R. Fawcett)
• Read and discussed letter of interest to hold a Congress in Mendoza, Argentina in late August or September (Spring) (E. Ventola): Experienced with conferences; large number of students and practitioners; sympathetic audience nearby in Chile; good wine; interest in having conference in near future as current interest is strong (2003?); B. Mohan and executive committee will check on firmness of dates in Hyderabad, and follow-up on this offer
• Noted growing interest in Vietnam (F. Christie)
• Stressed importance of location of main conferences and drawing power of pre-conference workshops (W. Greaves)
• Suggested a cycle of different countries (M. Hart)
• Reminded of importance of local body of students (P. Fries)
• Expressed concern by Japanese organizers of Kyoto 2004 of the effects of multiple conferences in 2003 and the likelihood that such conferences would decrease participation in Kyoto (H. Kakehi and M. Hori)
• Suggested 'zigzagging' Congresses around the world (E. Ventola)
• Considered strict rotation and bringing in other countries in other ways (Congresses plus other conferences) (R. Fawcett)
• Reminded of need to be able to draw on coterie of plenary speakers (H. Jenkins) and insure international participation if local support group is small (E. Ventola)

Chair B. Mohan assured the members that the executive committee would note these points for future planning; motion to approve list of venues passed with no dissenting votes.

F. Christie spoke on next year's Congress in Melbourne (2000) and passed out a pamphlet describing and inviting participation in it (enquiries: isfc27@edfac.unimelb.edu.au). She noted that the local committee has budgeted for bursaries but had made no plans for pre- or post-Congress institutes.

W. Greaves noted that the Congress in Ottawa (2001) will be preceded by a Summer School of Systemics on 8-21 July with the Congress being held on 22-28 July. Lynne Young will be the convenor.

9. Announcements of new publications

10. Any other business

Peter H. Ragan
Recording Secretary
ISFLA