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Midwest Modern Language AssociationThe 51st annual convention of the MMLA will be held 12–15 November 2009 at the St. Louis Union Station Marriott in St. Louis, Missouri. Over 200 conference sessions will cover a broad range of topics; in particular, many sessions have been organized around the convention's informal theme, Migration, and special events include a keynote address by Cary Wolfe (Rice Univ.). The MMLA Web site (http://www.luc.edu/mmla) provides full details and a convention program. Preregistrants may request up to twelve advance papers for the regular preregistration fee of $60. A special rate of $30 (without complimentary papers) is extended to students and those who are unemployed, part-time, or retired. All registration materials and information may now be found online. Nonmembers are welcome at the convention, where anyone may register on-site for $45 (student, unemployed, retired) or the regular fee of $75. The MMLA's annual short-term fellowship at Chicago's Newberry Library, open to members only, was won for 2008–09 by Michael Genovese (Univ. of Virginia). During his time at the Newberry Library, Genovese will be working on the second chapter of his dissertation, "Sociable Currency: The Expansive Self of Eighteenth-Century British Literature." Those interested in applying for the fellowship and wishing to join the MMLA may consult an online dues schedule that begins as low as $20 for graduate students and those unemployed or retired. Inquiries about special two- and three-year renewal rates are cordially invited, as are departmental memberships with additional benefits available at convenient multiyear rates. Membership dues may be paid online, or forms printed from the MMLA Web site at http://www.luc.edu/mmla/forms.html may be sent with checks or money orders (US funds only) to the Midwest Modern Language Association, Dept. of English, Loyola Univ. Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660. All members receive the Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association twice a year. The spring issue features shorter working papers by MMLA members, while the fall's special convention issue brings a year's shared focus on the convention's informal theme to fruition. For 2010, the spring issue's shorter timeline favors submissions of 12–15 pages drawing upon at least 12–15 sources and due on 15 December 2009. The fall special issue on Migration invites essays of varying lengths due on 31 March 2010. A wide range of subtopics—such as Death, Sleep, and Power: Migration Beyond Physical Borders, Diary to Autobiography: A Migration of Self-Authored Texts, Diaspora and Memory in Contemporary Spain, Hapless Hop-a-longs/Seltsame Springinsfelden: Transience in Early Modern Germany, Migration and Exile in Israel/Palestine, and Violent Migrations—may be found on the MMLA's home page. Book reviewers are always welcome. Those interested are invited to check Web site guidelines concerning format and length at http://www.luc.edu/mmla/brguidelines.html, as well as the posted list of books received from university presses. Anyone requesting a specific book via mmla@luc.edu should match title to training by attaching a CV. For 2007, MMLA membership was 797, including 37 departmental members. Approximately 700 attended the 50th annual convention, held 13–16 November 2008 at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, with an informal theme of Fame/Infamy. Special events included a President's forum, "Gender, Fame, and Infamy," and a keynote address by Lennard Davis. The convention's three professionalizing workshops were: "Staging the Job Search," "Publishing an Essay," and "Placing a Book Manuscript." Special thanks to 2008 President Devoney Looser for her tireless leadership. Officers for the current year are President, Jenifer Cushman (Juniata Coll.); Past President, Devoney Looser (Univ. of Missouri, Columbia); Vice President, Richard R. Glejzer (North Central Coll.); Executive Committee members Thomas B. Byers (Univ. of Louisville), Kathleen Diffley (Univ. of Iowa), Elizabeth Klaver (Southern Illinois Univ.), Katherine H. Lee (Indiana State Univ.), Timothy A. Spurgin (Lawrence Univ.), Craig Dionne (Eastern Michigan Univ.), Jefford Vahlbusch (Univ. of Wisconsin, Eau Claire), Eilene Hoft-March (Lawrence Univ.), R. Clifton Spargo (Marquette Univ.), and Marjorie Worthington (Eastern Illinois Univ.); Executive Director and Editor, David M. Posner (Loyola Univ., Chicago); Associate Director and Managing Editor, Bernadette Steele (Loyola Univ., Chicago); and Assistant Editor, Natalie Kalich (Loyola Univ., Chicago). The 2010 annual convention will be held 4–7 November at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. The next informal theme and the 2010 call for papers will be posted as usual in January at http://www.luc.edu/mmla. In the meantime, feel free to contact the office by phone (773 508-6083), by fax (773 508-6062), or by e-mail (mmla@luc.edu). Special acknowledgments and thanks go to Kathleen Diffley (Univ. of Iowa), who served as Executive Director of the MMLA for eight years and whose exemplary stewardship of the association will be a very hard act to follow. Diffley shepherded the MMLA through the move to its new institutional home at Loyola University, Chicago, and her mentoring and sage counsel continue to prove invaluable as we move forward into our next half-century. DAVID M. POSNER Executive Director
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