Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As you may know, the Secretariat of the RMMLA has moved to Boise State University. We will be responsible for the business management of the association and for publication of the Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature under the editorship of Carol A. Martin. The purpose of the Secretariat is to keep the association fiscally sound, to provide efficient management , to maintain adequate records, and to report the status of the association to the Executive Board. Since service to the membership is a major purpose of the Secretariat, please feel free to address inquiries or requests to Charles G. Davis, Executive Director, RMMLA, c/o Department of English, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725. During the exchange of the Secretariat, you may have received more than one request to pay dues, even though you last paid them where you registered for the 1983 convention. Membership in RMMLA is for a calendar year; the membership list is published in the program issue ofthe Review, so that people who pay dues after the issue goes to press in June may not be listed as members. In the future we plan to provide a reminder by issuing a membership card indicating the year for which you have paid. Because the dues support publication of the Review and operational expenses of the organization , such as information mailing, elections, and convention arrangements, the Executive Director must make every effort to keep payments current. Another continuing function of the Executive Director is to assist section chairs to organize and publicize their programs for the annual convention. Special sections are approved by the Executive Board for presentation at the next convention with a specific presiding officer and identified presenters. Continuing sections perpetuate themselves each year through election of a secretary to become responsible for the section as chair two years hence. Just before the convention I will send to those people presiding over sections a form on which to report the activities of the section: the new chair (usually the preceding year's secretary unless unable to serve), the new secretary, the attendance, and plans for the forthcoming convention (special theme, format, etc.). This information will be the basis for publication of the November "convention flyer," which will list all sections, the chairs and their addresses. The flyer informs the membership of plans for the following convention and is a means of soliciting papers. Most section chairs will find it useful to publish a separate call for papers specifying preferred topics, deadlines, or other information. About the time the "convention flyer" is mailed, I will send a letter to section chairs suggesting means of recruiting papers and outlining RMMLA policies. I will also provide a format for reporting the section program to eliminate the need for reworking reports into the published program format, thereby reducing the chance for error. The program goes to press in early June, so that section chairs must receive papers in time to report their programs by the 1 May deadline. I believe these procedures will help chairs obtain the best programs and enable the Secretariat to maintain complete information about each section. Since service is our goal, your suggestions or observations are welcome. Charles G. Davis 115 ...