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The University of Oregon



Conference Directors:
Beata Stawarska, Philosophy
Ted Toadvine, Philosophy and Environmental Studies

• An Important Note from the Acting General Secretary
• Download a copy of the Program Schedule in .pdf format
• Download a copy of the printable Registration form in .pdf format

(To view or print the Program Schedule and Registration Form, you will need

As most of you already know, Martin Dillon passed away on March 10, 2005 of heart failure while vacationing with his family in Switzerland.  This is a great loss for his family, friends, colleagues, students, and for the Merleau-Ponty Circle.  We miss him deeply and continue to mourn his passing.  A memorial session has been incorporated as a significant part of the Fall conference program.

Mike had served as the General Secretary of the Circle for over two decades.  He had expressly indicated several times that in his mind all previous conference directors constituted an informal group of advisors for the Circle.  Thus, in the wake of his death, the Circle's Directors, together with Professor Glen Mazis, were in close communication to steer the organization through this unexpected time of transition. The Directors’ first order of business was the unanimous request that I serve as the "Acting General Secretary" and I was deeply honored to accept this position, until such time as the full membership of the Circle could either ratify that decision or select other permanent leadership. A “transition team” composed of recent conference Directors, Helen Fielding, Larry Hass, Ted Toadvine, and Gail Weiss, in consultation with all of the Directors, has been assisting me with the many imminent tasks and decisions.

The two most pressing matters for the membership of the Merleau-Ponty Circle are 1) to elect a General Secretary and an Associate General Secretary, a new position for us but one that now seems wise to mitigate the situation we have recently undergone, and 2) to approve a set of very minimal by-laws for the organization that, among other things, articulates a process for future transitions in leadership.  Together with the Conference Directors, we have agreed upon the following process to carry out this important business within the timeframe of this year's conference:

Thursday, September 29, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.:

A business meeting open to all conference attendees with the express purposes of 1) making nominations for the positions of General Secretary and Associate General Secretary, and 2) presenting and discussing a proposed set of minimal by-laws.  Nominations for the two positions can come from anyone who is in attendance at the meeting or their representative.

Saturday, October 1, 11:45 to 1:45 p.m.:

The annual business meeting at which time there will an election among the candidates who have been nominated, and the by-laws, with any revisions or amendments, will be voted upon.  As is our custom, all members of the Circle who are present will have the opportunity to vote on both matters.

I look forward to being with you at the conference, to the memorial session for Mike, and to maintaining and continuing the philosophic work and friendships of the Merleau-Ponty Circle.
                                                  

Galen A. Johnson

Professor of Philosophy, University of Rhode Island

Acting General Secretary, Merleau-Ponty Circle

The 30th International Conference of the Merleau-Ponty Circle is sponsored by The Oregon Humanities Center, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Philosophy, Department of English, Department of Psychology, Environmental Studies Program, and Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences

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