Southeastern Early China Roundtable Charter

Revised October 2002

The purpose of the group

Founded in 1997, the Southeastern Early China Roundtable (SEECR) is a group of scholars from the south Atlantic region who specialize or maintain an interest in the study of China, from the earliest period through the Tang dynasty. The purpose of the group is twofold--first, to provide a forum for specialist discussion of all aspects of early China studies through yearly meetings; and second, to promote the study of early China in the Southeast by sponsoring public non-specialist lectures.

The annual meeting

Ideally, each participant will make a presentation and elicit feedback from other group members. Those who wish to predistribute papers or readings will be responsible for the predistribution. In addition, presentations may also include reports on (1) conferences participants have recently attended of interest to other group members; (2) new field-related computer technology; or (3) new publications or archaeological discoveries of interest to the group. At each annual meeting, one session should be devoted to the close reading of a text chosen by one or several group members. In addition to the specialist-oriented meeting, the hosting institution is also encouraged to sponsor a public lecture in conjunction with the meeting.

The structure of the group

Chair: Anne Behnke Kinney, University of Virginia

Duties: chair meetings, maintain membership and mailing lists, provide assistance in finding funding for SEECR events, update SEECR Charter

Advisory Board:

Henry Rosemont, Jr., St. Mary's College of Maryland

Grant Hardy, University of North Carolina, Asheville

Keith Knapp, The Citadel

Duties: to advise and assist Chair by either approving or disapproving of any decisions that affect the nature of SEECR, provide assistance in making grant applications

Host of yearly meeting

Duties: to oversee all local arrangements to host and fund the annual meeting. Ideally, each participating university will host an annual meeting, providing meals, accommodations and meeting space for participants. The local host will arrange the schedule and chair the meeting. If possible, the local host will also sponsor a public, non-specialist lecture.