OPENING

The 1971 Annual Meeting of the Religious Research Association, Inc., was called to order by President Thomas Gannon at 3:45 p.m. at the Denver Hilton Hotel, Denver, Colorado. Proper notice of the meeting had been given in accordance with the By-Laws.

MINUTES

Actions reported in the Minutes of the June 18-20, 1970 Annual Meeting were summarized by the acting secretary, Everett L. Perry. The motion was made, seconded, and carried,* that these Minutes be approved.

*Hereinafter this phrase shall be indicated by the word VOTED.

AGENDA

The agenda (Exhibit A) for the meeting was adopted by consent.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Charles Thorne, Treasurer, presented his report (Exhibit B) which included a Report of Income, June 1 to August 24, 1971 (Exhibit C). He called attention to the deficit of $1,611.71 for the fiscal year, which was due to the payment of an unexpected bill from Loyola University for the 1970 Annual Meeting, received near the end of the year, and the small amount received from contributing and supporting members in this fiscal year. This reduced the balance on hand to $3,570.67.

The auditor's report has been completed, but has not yet been received.

Appreciation was expressed to Dwight Culver for his work in up-dating and computerizing the records since December 1970.

VOTED to receive and approve the report of the Treasurer.

REPORT OF MEMBERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The report of the Membership and Development Committee was presented by Dwight Culver (Exhibits D and E).

Steps are being taken to employ Miss Gertrude Kahler (NYC) as new Records Secretary for the ensuing year.

VOTED to receive the report.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

The report of the Finance Committee (Exhibit F) was presented by the Chairman, Martin Bradley. The records are in much better shape than they have been for the past five or six years. He also noted that over 80% of the budget involves publication of the Review, record keeping and maintenance operations such as audit, accounting fee, and computer expenses.

He reported orally the five actions which the Board had taken to improve the financial status of the organization:

VOTED, that only surface mail be used in mailing subscriptions and special order copies of the Review overseas, effective with the 1972-1973 volume.

VOTED that a committee be appointed to explore the funding of the H. Paul Douglass lectures. The committee is to be comprised of Douglass Johnson and Everett Perry, who are to chose a third member.

VOTED, that effective June 1, 1972, the rate for fellows be set at $11, and that for student and emeritus members, and subscribers, be set at $9. Any variation for foreign subscriptions?) The rate change is to be reported to the agencies prior to January 1, 1972.

VOTED , that the ASA and APA coupon arrangement be discontinued, effective with the 1972-1973 volume.

VOTED, that individual copies of the Review, effective June 1, 1974 be sold for $3.25.

Bradley reported that Tate, Weller, and Baker, CPA's, had been retained as auditor for the next fiscal year.

Some objection was voiced in regard to the increase in the student membership rate. President Cannon pointed out that there was also a decision to monitor student memberships more closely. Question was raised as to the implications of the price freeze for rate changes. This question will have to be dealt with when the situation as of 1972 is known.

VOTED, to adopt the report of the Finance Committee including the recommendations, not including the 1971-1972 budget.

1971-1972 BUDGET

The proposed 1971-1972 budget (Exhibit G) was presented by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Martin Bradley. After discussion it was VOTED , that the budget be adopted as the budget of the Association for the current fiscal year.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT

The Publications Committee report (Exhibit H) was presented by its chairman, David Moberg. He noted that too many manuscripts have been accepted, in view of the present size of the Journal and the time commitments implied.

VOTED to receive the report.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT PART I

President Gannon pointed out that the two major objectives of the 1970- 1971 year were: (a) review and readjustment for more adequate functioning the internal organization of the Association, and (b) more active exploration of relationships-with other associations of similar interests.

During the year the Board has reviewed its operation including its committee structure, and has decided upon changes which have already contributed to its smoother functioning. This includes the designation of an Executive Committee comprised of the officers and chairmen of Standing Committees with power to act for the Board, and the separation of the Program Committee function from the responsibilities of the vice president. Instead the vice president will function as the secretary of the Board, participating in a close relationship to the President in decision-making in the organization. The program work is to be done by a committee with responsibility for only one year, but named a year in advance.

Functions have been expanded with the designation of a Publicity Committee Chairman, Laile Bartlett, who has been at work for several months.

The By-Law changes are thus necessary for the implementation of this strategy.

AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS

The Proposed Amendments to RRA By-Laws (Exhibit I), which were sent to all members of the Association well in advance of the ten day requirement, were presented by President Gannon, with the rationale as above.

VOTED that the amendments be approved.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

Arleon Kelley presented the report of the Nominating Committee (Exhibit J) in the absence of the Chairman, Joseph Grandlienard.

He noted one change -- that in view of Edgar Mills' inability to serve as program chairman for 1973 Jeffrey Haddon's name was substituted.

VOTED unanimously that the report of the Nominating Committee be approved.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT PART II

President Gannon reviewed the present list of officers and committee chairmen.

He noted that we have an objective for 1971-1972 of actively exploring the further development of relationships with other organizations of like interest. He pointed out the difference between generalized de facto relations and specific or de jure cooperation. We are exploring these, leading to action, looking toward the future as well as to the past. In view of the changing situation since their founding the three organizations (RRA, ASR, and SSSR), find themselves relating to many people of similar interests and concern. Thus to talk of the future of RRA without considering ASR and SSSR would be unrealistic. There are three international organizations which might also be considered: the International Conference for the Sociology of Religion (CISR), International Federation of Institutes for Social and Socio-Religious Research (FERES), and the Research Group for the Sociology of Religion of the International Sociological Association (ISA).

This past year, the strategy of the Board for exploring these relationships was first to establish a joint committee with ASR. This committee was comprised of Gannon, Perry, Hassenger, and MacNamara. We have had a joint program, reactions to which must be assessed further; a proposal to cooperate on a joint newsletter did not come off this spring because the ASR Newsletter editor was on a sabbatical outside the country.

For this coming year, therefore, the Board has appointed an expanded committee including, in addition to Gannon and Perry, Moberg and Kelley, to continue more active exploration with representatives of ASR and SSSR toward the development of an entirely new organization -- a new thing -- which will replace all three.

Initially the SSSR was an enegmatic factor in these explorations, but now there is evidence of considerable interest.

We have set two deadlines for the progress of these negotiations -- a preliminary report by the Annual Meeting of 1972, and a decision by 1973. President Gannon reported that the ASR has already taken a parallel action on setting up an expanded committee, and that Ted Mills has been designated by the SSSR to monitor these meetings and bring back a report.

Some discussion ensued, which raised questions: Are the Jewish researchers forming their own society? What about relations with the ASA, which might be a parallel -- not an alternate -- approach? What about relations with the REA and the Church Statisticians, in some sort of umbrella organization?

NEXT ANNUAL MEETING

The Board recommended that the next Annual Meeting of the Association be held in conjunction with the SSSR in Boston, in October 1972, conditional upon concurrent action by the SSSR. The alternative would be meeting alone, or with the ASR. VOTED that the Association meet with SSSR in Boston, October 1972, if arrangements can be worked out.

Adjournment

There being no new business the meeting was adjourned.

JOINT MEETING WITH ASR

Immediately after the adjournment of the RRA business meeting, members of RRA and ASR met jointly to hear a review of progress in exploring relationships. Leadership in this session was shared, under the chairmanship of Robert MacNamara, by Ralph Lane (ASR), Thomas Gannon (RRA), and Ted Mills (SSSR).

This was not an official business meeting. Feedback will be made through the Evaluation Committee of RRA.