Society for the Scientific Study of Religion

Business Meeting Minutes

1980

November 1, 1980      

President Benton Johnson called the meeting to order at 11:05 A.M. Agenda for the meeting was as follows:

  1. Minutes: Moved and seconded that the minutes of the 1979 annual meeting be approved as published in the March 1979 issue of the Journal. Passed.

  2. Retiring Council: Johnson recognized and thanked retiring Council Members: Newton Maloney and Richard Fenn.

  3. New Council: Johnson reported the election results and welcomed the newly elected Council members: Jackson Carroll and Hart Nelsen.

  4. Executive Secretary Report: The Executive Secretary, Clark Roof, indicated that attendance in Cincinnati was 420 registered participants, a record number and considerably above the 252 registered participants at the 1979 Meetings in San Antonio. In general comments, Roof indicated that the society is in a good state, sound financial condition, good spirits, has a stable membership. There was a slight decline in regular members but this was more than made up by an increase in library members. He noted a serious problem of membership: a yearly loss of between 16 and 20 % of individual memberships. To date the loss has been more or less replaced through new memberships, yet he expressed concern about the extent of turnover.

    The Executive Secretary reminded members that the basis of the existence of SSSR is interdisciplinary. Intellectually our society is broad; however, in terms of membership, we have attracted mainly sociologists. He hopes to interest scholars in the other social sciences and humanities and to make our society more attractive to women and to minorities. He feels we are in a unique position for the 1980s and wants to continue the advances we have already achieved.

    He also emphasized the need for more scholarly research especially of an interdisciplinary nature. The Council is examining various possibilities to encourage such research, one being the renewal of the research award.

    The split offices are working well: the separate business office and executive secretary office. Roof attributes this to the fine services of Lorraine at the Business Office and the cooperation of the two offices. He expressed special thanks to Ben Johnson, to Bill D'Antonio, and to his own university secretary.

    Finally, he extended a special welcome to everyone attending the meeting and called attention to our meetings in Baltimore in 1981 and in Providence in 1982.

  5. Treasurer's Report: Ruth Wallace, the Treasurer, presented the Treasurer's report. She noted that the Society is financially healthy at this time. But this state is in part a result of the dues increase which produced an additional $14,000 income. For this reason, she suggested, we must continue into the future most carefully. Special thanks go to Lorraine D'Antonio and Clark Roof for their handling of finances.

  6. Program Chairman's Report: John Seidler, the Program Chairman, noted his pleasure in the high level of participation and in the full and interdisciplinary nature of the program. He is also especially happy to have many foreign members attending. He thanked the hotel and local arrangements personnel and indicated that everyone had been most cooperative.

  7. Publications: Journal editor, Phil Hammond, drew the attention of the membership to the color of the journal. It is intentional that the color darkens toward the end of the year. He noted that although submissions have dropped for some journals, this is not true with 146 to 149 submissions this year for JSSR. The Journal accepted 16-25% of the submissions with 30-36 articles appearing per year. Hammond indicated that the referees have been good with an average of 27 day turn-around time, slightly faster than last year. After last March non-members submitting materials had the option of paying a $10 servicing charge or becoming members. This policy led to 10 new members. Hammond is pleased with the operation of his organization but mentioned that he is on his way out and that the Council must name a new editor a year from now. He invited any interested person to submit his or her name.

    Donald Capps, Book Review editor, reported that he is moving toward shorter book reviews so that 16 books may be reviewed per issue of the Journal. He especially thanked members for their cooperation.

    Bill Newman, Monograph Series editor, called attention to the fact we have an active monograph series, with two volumes already published. He requested anyone with a ms. to send it to him as no acceptable ones arrived this year. He noted that the Fenn volume received Choice Magazine's award which is an honor and that Swatos' monograph is just beginning to sell. He asked members to call the SSSR Monograph Series to the attention of their librarians asking them to order copies.

  8. 1981 Program: Mary Jo Meadow reported that she is in the process of developing programs with specific themes within the general meeting theme, "Changing Religions in a Changing World." She asked for ideas as well as names of participants to be passed to her-as soon as possible. A sheet explaining next years theme and procedures was included in this year's meeting packet. Meadows observed that the extended session format was working well this year and that the research seminars also seemed most useful. She said she planned to institute some new program format as well.

  9. Publications Committee: Sister Marie Augusta Neal noted that the Committee was highly pleased with the work of the Journal Editor, Phillip Hammond, and asked him to reconsider and to continue in his position. She also indicated that authors of papers presented at the SSSR Annual Meeting should seriously consider reworking them and submitting them to the Journal.

    Neal also noted that the Council has reactivated the SSSR Research Grants. She stressed the importance of interdisciplinary research as a funding priority. The grants will be of two kinds: group working on common problem up to $2,500, or individual grants up to $1,500. Not more than $3,000 will be awarded in a single year. The Council expects a report after the research grant is completed. The applications are due by February and after review by the Officers of the Society the results will be announced between April and June.

    Neal reported that the Committee would like to see the SSSR Newsletter take on an intellectual as well as a practical emphasis.

    Members then questioned Neal regarding the Research Grant.

    Student? Yes, monies could be used for a student investigator or assistant.
    When? Monies will be available in June.
    Forms? There are no specific forms but see the note in the Newsletter.
    Who? Yes, colleagues from different universities and schools may work together.

  10. SSSR Representative to the AAAS: Donald Ploch reported that the AAAS meets annually from January 3 to 8th, this year in Toronto. SSSR will sponsor one half-day session, chaired and organized by Roger O'Toole. We applied for two sessions and received one. Ploch has the application forms for sessions in the next year's meetings, to take place in Washington, January 3-8, 1982. Please send him your ideas for sessions or requests for a copy of the forms. Ploch also discussed SSSR placement within the Section System of the AAAS and hopes to broaden our base in terms of Section representation.

  11. Budget: Clark Roof and Ruth Wallace noted the 1980-81 budget of $74,935 had been approved by Council. With the same income as this year there will be no difficulty in meeting expenses. Roof also commented on the $3,000 Research Award. Even with inflation a high money market of 10 to 13% combined with the dues increase of last year, he has hopes of no additional dues increases in the near future.

  12. Additional Comments of the Executive Secretary: Clark Roof commented upon the Council's support in reaching the media. Dave Roozen developed a brochure which was mailed to the media. It produced a good response and media interest in the SSSR Meeting and Meeting theme. We would like to encourage more media interest in and exposure to SSSR publications and SSSR Meetings. Any suggestions from the membership would be most useful for Dave's work.

    Harve Horowitz, SSSR Advertising Representative, requested that members seek advertising from your publishers for both the Journal and SSSR Meeting Program.

  13. New Business: Benton Johnson asked for questions and comments from the floor.

    Meeting with AAR? The Council considered meeting with them but with mixed feelings.

    Barbara Hargrove mentioned the AAR Dissertation Series. Contact Hargrove for particulars about publications.

    Russell Dynes called attention to the Supreme Court's decision regarding the IRS depreciation of inventory act as applied to publishers holding unsold copies of books. Motion: that SSSR send a letter to Senator Monyihan explaining our position and requesting his aid. Passed.

    In relation to the Gallup Seminar taking place at the meetings, it was noted that Gallup might like to cooperate with SSSR. Should SSSR not try and assist him? President Johnson asks for authority to have the Executive Secretary explore the possibility. Approved.

    It was pointed out that research with small cults is becoming rather touchy. Some cults are going to court, challenging reports and publications especially when these are negative. No action taken.

  14. Adjournment: Benton Johnson, President, moved that we send letters of appreciation to Harry Dillingham, John Seidler, and to the Netherland Hilton Hotel. Passed. Johnson adjourned the meeting at 12 noon.