- The 24th Annual Business Meeting convened at 12:15 PM, President
James Dittes presiding. About 50 people were in attendance.
- The minutes of the 1972 meeting as published in the Journal
were approved.
- William D'Antonio, Executive Secretary, spoke briefly on the
high lights of his annual report (which is elsewhere published
in this Journal). He further announced a registration at this convention
of 295, almost exactly the figure anticipated. He urged members
publishing any books to notify his office (or Harve, Horowitz)
so that their publishers can be asked: (1) to advertise in the
Journal, and (2) display at the annual meeting. (Later in the
meeting, Jeffrey Hadden, Book Review Editor of the Journal, made
the same request so that members' books are assured review.)
- The report of Edgar Mills, Treasurer, was summarized in his
absence by President Dittes. This included the 1973-74 budget as
adopted by the Council two days earlier. That report is elsewhere
published in this Journal.
- Journal Editor, Benton Johnson, summarized his report (elsewhere
published in this Journal). He noted the authorization of expanded
pages for articles, book reviews, and special projects. He announced
his own stepping down from the editorship at the end of the term
(June, 1974) and his successor, Richard Gorsuch. Several questions
were asked from the floor: To list in each issue the editorial
consultants used therein? Whether to list consultants at all? To
have a permanent board of consultants? No action was taken.
Book Review Editor Hadden summarized his new reviewing ideas (outlined in
the Council minutes for 1973).
- President Dittes then announced the names of those members whose
terms as Council Member had expired, followed by those with new
terms (see Council Minutes for 1973). In addition to Max Stackhouse
as Program Chairman for 1974, Jay Demerath has agreed to organize
whatever sessions SSSR holds jointly in 1974 with the AAR and/or
the SBL. Stackhouse then issued an oral invitation for papers for
the 1974 meeting.
- Dittes then summarized the various new programs just initiated
by the Council (end outlined in its 1973 minutes).
- A question was raised from the floor regarding possible charter
flights to Washington D. C. in 1974. The Executive Secretary volunteered
to look into the possibility and report to the membership.
- Donald Ploch, of the National Science Foundation, announced
a new funding program, a joint effort of NSF and the National
Endowment in the Humanities. It is prepared to support research
into the implications for ethical and human values of technology
and scientific research.
- A move from the floor was made to prohibit smoking in the scheduled meetings
of the Society. Following spirited testimony, the motion was defeated by
voice vote.
- Joseph Fichter read the following resolutions, all adopted:
Be it resolved:
that SSSR expresses appreciation to Dr. Claude Welch and the
Graduate Theological Institute for their thoughtful generosity
in providing the wine-tasting interlude on Thursday evening.
the Society owes and expresses gratitude to Charles Glock
and his committee for excellent work in making local arrangements,
and of course to Charles for many years of service.
Donald Capps and his committee deserve our genuine thanks
for the yearlong preparations that went into the assembling of
this year's outstanding program and for the ingenious foundation
of the book of abstracts.
Jim Dittes fulfilled his obligations as president of SSSR
from double headquarters, Rome and New Haven. His leadership has
been inspirational and elicits the appreciation of the membership.
It is more than an annual ritual when we say that both the
survival and the success of SSSR would be a source of worry if
the membership could not rely on the devoted services of Bill and
Lorraine D'Antonio. To them we give both praise and thanks.
Local arrangements include the registration desk at which
long hours were spent by Lorraine D'Antonio and the girls from
Tolland, Connecticut, and by Karen Muhonen, who is Charles Glock's
secretary. To these faithful workers in a job that is usually
thankless, we say that on this occasion it is not thankless.