MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER, #2 (January 2008)

Dear Colleagues,

With the advent of the New Year can the 11th Annual International Congress of the MSA be far away? Indeed, in only four months the Congress will commence in the beautiful medieval German town of Lüneburg (Leuphana University). This NEWSLETTER is to update you on several pertinent matters.

Benjamin F. Taggie, Executive Director

11TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

During my visit to Lüneburg in December, I had the opportunity to meet with Vice President Stefan Schaltegger, President of the 2008 Congress and Ms. Claudia Wölk (Leuphana University Congress Coordinator) and. I am most pleased to report to you that they are helping the MSA plan a very exciting Congress.

CALL FOR PAPERS

We are still able to accommodate several more sessions and/or papers. If you have not yet sent a proposal in for consideration, please do so as soon as possible.

REGISTRATION

Please keep in mind that the reduced $165 Congress pre-registration fee is due no later than Feb. 1, 2008. After February 1 the Congress pre-registration fee is $200, so please get your registration in now and save the additional cost.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

We have reserved a wide range of hotels accommodations for your consideration from the Seminaris (headquarters hotel) which is excellent value for the money (with an extraordinary buffet breakfast) to less expensive hotels like the Park, Kunsthotel Residentz and a VERY inexpensive Youth Hostel. As of now the deadline for booking at the Park and Kunsthotel Residentz hotels is February 1, and though we are trying to extend that deadline it would be prudent to act now and make your reservation. No payment is necessary, only a credit card to hold the room. You will be able to cancel if necessary (cancellation policies differ from one hotel to another). You can book your room at the Seminaris up until April 1.

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION

Given the distance from Hamburg to Lüneburg we have chartered a coach to transport you from the Hamburg Airport to Lüneburg (about 1 hour). While this transportation is gratis, we request that you notify the Congress Coordinator, Louise Boudreau (Lboudreau@umassd.edu) if you intend to avail yourself of the coach. As indicated on the MSA website ( www.mediterraneanstudies.org), we are scheduling two buses on Tuesday May 27 and one bus on May 28. There will also be a bus returning to the Hamburg Airport on Sunday morning, June 1 (exact schedules and details will be available on the MSA website 2-3 weeks before the Congress). Reservations are on a first come basis.

WALKING TOUR

As you may be aware, Lüneburg was a member of the rich and powerful Hanseatic League and obtained great wealth because of its salt mines. The affluence of Lüneburg is reflected in its rich architectural heritage, much of which still survives. City historian, Dr. Ring, will conduct a walking tour on Wednesday morning, June 28. See MSA website for registration details.

POST-CONGRESS TOUR

With the assistance of my colleague Joe Bronstad , Professor Emeritus of German Language and Literature at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, we have developed a very interesting Post-Congress Tour of Eastern Germany. The tour will commence on Sunday morning June 1 in Lüneburg and end in Berlin on June 5. It will include the medieval town of Goslar (favorite city of the Salian Kings), Leipzig, Wittenberg (of Martin Luther fame), Weimar, Dresden and Berlin. For complete details regarding the itinerary and registration I again direct you to the MSA website.

MSA INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

We remind you that the MSA will be offering three Summer International Programs. The 9th Annual Summer Sicily Program, June 3-28, the 5th Annual Nocciano Institute for high school students July 3-19 in Pescara/Nocciano, Italy (www.mediterraneanstudies.net), and a new pilot program at the University of Évora (Portugal) June 16-July 13. We ask that you help us identify students for the Évora program. The cost for this month long program is $2695 (airfare NOT include) and includes 6 credits from the University of Évora, lodging, 3 meals a day, a four day field trip to Northern Portugal and two one day excursions to Lisbon. This is a pilot program limited to 10 students. All students will study Portuguese (beginning, intermediate or advanced depending on proficiency) and will select a second course in either Portuguese History or Portuguese Art History. Please direct all inquiries to Btaggie@umassd.edu or call 508-264-4854.

You are encouraged to check the MSA website frequently for updated information on the Congress. If you have questions regarding the Academic Program contact Richard Clement, Chair of the Program Committee: Rclement@ku.edu. For Questions regarding registration or logistical matters contact the MSA Congress Coordinator Louise Boudreau: Lboudreau@umassd.edu.

Have a great Spring Semester and we look forward to seeing you all in beautiful Lüneburg, Germany.