The Council members gathered for breakfast in Salon #6 of the Laurentian Hotel at 7:30 a.m. The meeting was called to order approximately an hour later by Charles Y. Glock, President. Present also were Peter L. Berger, Ralph Wendell Burhoe, Walter Houston Clark, James E. Dittes, Benton Johnson, Benjamin Nelson, and the Executive Secretary of the Society, Samuel Z. Klausner.

Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council, held at Columbia University in New York on December 27, 1967, were accepted without correction.

The report of the Executive Secretary was then presented. Mr. Klausner told the Council that this has been the most difficult year he has so far experienced as Executive Secretary. A run of bad luck with Administrative Secretaries has convinced him that an annual salary of $6,300, which the position currently pays, is too low to attract a competent person, and that the salary needs to be raised. He proposed that $1,000 be taken from the Executive Secretary's salary and added to the salary of the Administrative Secretary.

Mr. Klausner also reported that the recent increase in dues is apparently responsible for a slowdown in the Society's rate of growth during the past year. Membership loss has been greater than usual. Mr. Klausner reported on the results of a questionnaire he sent to 375 persons who had failed to renew their membership. Some reported that the work of the Society is marginal to their own fields, and some complained about the increase in dues. He then read excerpts from remarks written by several of the 179 who responded to the questionnaire.

Mr. Burhoe moved the report be accepted. Mr. Nelson seconded the motion. The motion carried.

The report of the Journal Editor was then presented. Mr. Dittes told the Council that the printer has informed him he will not print another issue until the spring bill has been paid. In the past the printer has not required prompt payment. The possibility of changing printers was raised. Mr. Klausner stated that some domestic printers' bids are now lower than what the Journal's Belgian printer charges. He suggested taking out a loan to pay the printer's bill, but Mr. Burhoe opposed this, saying that expenses should be met from income. Moreover, the Society is now meeting its payments more promptly than in the past.

Mr. Dittes reported that his policy is to rely on unsolicited submission of articles for the Journal. There has been a drop in the number of submissions. Whereas 10 percent of the articles submitted used to be published, now 20 percent are published. He feels there has been no deterioration in the quality of the articles published. Almost all articles are sent back for revision. Many are then rewritten in the editorial office. A general discussion of the Editor's policy followed. Some felt more articles should be solicited and that special-topic issues should be planned. It was generally agreed that the psychology of religion has been declining as a field in recent years and that the sociology of religion has been attracting more interest. Mr. Nelson said he feels the quality of book reviews in the Journal has improved materially.

Mr. Klausner then reported that he has had bids from other printers. One American printer could save the Journal $1,000 if the format were altered. Mailing rates must be taken into account in changing to a U.S. printer, however, for U.S. rate structures are different from Belgian structures. Mr. Klausner has not explored credit arrangements with prospective printers. Mr. Glock suggested postponing arrangements with a new printer until current printing bills are paid.

Mr. Dittes reminded the Council that his term as Editor runs for five years and that he is now ending his second year.

He also reported that although he had been authorized 400 pages for the Journal this year, he has managed, by boiling down copy, to use only 350. He would prefer that the Journal remain on a semiannual basis. Mr. Klausner remarked that it is easier to sell a quarterly but that it would cost about $1,000 more each year to put one out. It was generally agreed that the Journal would remain on a semiannual basis for the time being.

The Council expressed its appreciation of Mr. Dittes' handling of the Journal.

Mr. Burhoe then presented the Treasurer's report. Mr. Klausner proposed an increase in the subscription rate to $14 per year. He recommended no increase in the membership rate. Mr. Nelson moved, and Mr. Berger seconded, that the subscription rate be raised to $14. The motion carried.

Mr. Glock noted that the Society will be in debt approximately $20,000 by the end of 1968. He said that all academia is facing financial retrenchment and this does not augur well for the Society. He feels Mr. Klausner's estimate that the Society will receive $6,000 in gifts during the coming year is much too optimistic. New income must be found or expenditures must be cut. Mr. Nelson said he has been approached to edit a series of reissues of out-of-print books and that he might assign the royalties to the Society. Others might be induced to make similar assignments.

Mr. Clark then reported in his capacity as Fund-Raising Chairman. He suggested a special appeal for money to members of the Society. Mr. Glock felt this might frighten off younger members and that it should be confined to those who have been members for five years or longer plus a few well-chosen recent members. Mr. Berger proposed that the Society seek to identify itself with an institution--a university or a denomination perhaps--that would underwrite its operations. Some journals are subsidized by universities. Mr. Klausner felt the Society's income should be earned and that $32,000 is a realistic income estimate for 1968-69. He suggested a special advertising campaign in connection with the Society's forthcoming 20th anniversary, and he indicated certain savings can be made by taking the sheen off newsletters and posters.

Mr. Glock said he feared the Society could not sustain two more years of debt at the current level. He agreed to explore new financing with certain foundations and Mr. Nelson agreed to cede royalties of any reprint series book he edits that is suggested by a member of the Society.

At this point (10:30 a.m.) the meeting was unavoidably recessed.

The Council reconvened at 10:45 p.m.

Mr. Glock and Mr. Klausner reported that during the interim they had met with a representative from the University of California Press who had told them the Press would bill annually and permit some carry-over, would sell back issues and would handle all mailing, including subscriptions. The Press will work with any printer. Mr. Klausner said he feels it would be cheaper for the Society to make its own arrangements with a printer and to continue a strong central office to handle mailings. He would like to see subscriptions built and feels many libraries can be induced to subscribe. He expressed doubt about the wisdom of the Council's vote to raise subscriptions to $14 per year. Mr. Burhoe moved that the $10 subscription rate be restored. The motion was seconded and defeated. Mr. Clark moved, and Mr. Klausner seconded, that subscriptions be set at $12 per year. Motion carried.

Mr. Glock returned to Mr. Clark's suggestion of a special plea for money to selected members. He suggested individual letters to 100 members. Mr. Dittes felt such an effort would be futile because the Society is the primary professional reference for very few people. Mr. Clark moved that the $20-per-year Fellow status authorized by the Council last year not be instituted at present. Mr. Berger seconded the motion and it was passed. It was agreed that Mr. Clark's suggestion of soliciting contributions from selected members would be carried out.

There followed a protracted discussion of the desirability of various types of membership. No decision was reached.

Mr. Berger moved that the Executive Secretary's salary be reduced by $1,000 and that the salary of the Administrative Secretary be raised by $2,000. Mr. Glock seconded the motion. Mr. Burhoe opposed the motion. There was a general discussion of the budget. Mr. Glock stressed the need to cut expenditures. He suggested that the budget be presented to the Business Meeting with the statement that cuts will have to be made. It was generally agreed that another Council meeting to consider the budget will have to be held in several weeks. Mr. Berger's motion was not acted on.

The meeting adjourned at 12:50 a.m.

The Council convened again at 10:30 a.m. in room 1319 of the Chateau Champlain.

Mr. Klausner reported that the American Council of Learned Societies has agreed to help organize a Council of scholarly societies in the field of religion. The constituting committee met in Dallas last week. Mr. Klausner moved and Mr. Johnson seconded that the Society participate in these efforts to organize such a Council. The motion carried.

Mr. Klausner then reported that the American Academy of Religion (AAR) has hopes of absorbing the Society. He opposed such a step. Among other reasons, the AAR is humanistic rather than scientific in outlook. He recommended collaboration with the AAR, however. The AAR has rescheduled its 1969 meeting for Boston and proposes a joint meeting with the SSSR. Mr.. Burhoe moved and Mr. Berger seconded that the SSSR meet jointly with the AAR in 1969 and that a joint planning committee be set up. The motion passed. It was the consensus of the Council that the meeting should begin on a Friday and run through Sunday noon. The Council will hold its meeting before the regular meeting begins.

The AAR has also proposed a joint listing of its own members with those of the SSSR and an arrangement whereby the members of one society get a discount on membership dues to the other society. Mr. Glock expressed concern that this arrangement will cost the SSSR money. Mr. Klausner favored the proposal, and it was agreed by the Council to give AAR members a $2 discount on membership in the Society.

A general discussion of Society finances followed. Mr. Glock reiterated his fear that the Society is headed for bankruptcy. Mr. Nelson concurred and expressed his concern that collaborative ventures with other societies may add to rather than cut expenses.

The Council authorized Mr. Klausner to hire a new Administrative Secretary immediately at a salary of up to $8,000, with the understanding that the extra money would have to be cut from other sections of the budget.

Mr. Glock nominated Mr. Dittes to be Kenneth Underwood's successor as a member of the Council. The nomination was seconded and Mr. Dittes was elected.

Mr. Burhoe was reelected for a new two-year term as Treasurer.

The Council agreed to meet again on November 23 at 10:00 a.m. at Mr. Berger's house in Brooklyn, New York.

The Council adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Benton Johnson
Secretary

Bj/ms

Present: Charles Y. Glock, James E. Dittes, Benjamin Nelson, Walter H. Clark, Ralph W. Burhoe (by telephone), Peter L. Berger, James M. Gustafson, Samuel Z. Klausner (ex officio).

Absent: Joseph H. Fichter (proxy assigned to James M. Gustafson), Benton Johnson (proxy assigned to Peter Berger), Edgar W. Mills (proxy assigned to James M. Gustafson), Andrew M. Greeley (proxy assigned to Peter Berger), Joseph Bram (proxy assigned to Benjamin Nelson).

The meeting was called to order by President Glock at 10:30 a.m. Executive Secretary was requested to send a letter to Claude Welch assuring him that the Council considered his proposal for a survey of religious studies departments in American universities as most significant and timely and encourage him to seek support for the undertaking. The Council reconfirmed its earlier position that Emeritus Status could be granted to individuals who had been dues-paying members for twenty years and had been occupationally retired. Mr. Nelson reported some unfavorable comments he had received regarding the quality of some of the papers presented at the annual meeting in Montreal. Mr. Klausner reported on the financial condition of the Society, explaining that the budgetary crisis could be traced to a combination of factors -- that this was a second organization for many members, the broad disciplinary spread limits interest of advertisers and the recent rapid growth of the Society has brought in some with less commitment to the Organization. As a temporary solution to the problem, he made reference to eleven points contained in his letter of November 12 to members of the Council. Mr. Nelson spoke of the importance of building centers of participation, circles of people in roughly the same fields -- in history, anthropology. Mr. Clark called attention to the fact that the organization was still not sufficiently publicized. He also cautioned against steps which would limit participation in the organization by promising young scholars. Mr. Dittes, reflecting on the dropping interest, said that the strong central office was debilitating to the Society. Mr. Glock referred to the problem of logistics created by having committees with members in various locations. Turning to the revised budget and suggestions in the Executive Secretary's letter of November 12 and Mr. Dittes' letter to members of the Council on November 1, Mr. Dittes recommended contracting for the University of California Press' editorial consultation, negotiations with the printer and routine editing of the Journal. A question was asked about a paragraph in the proposed agreement referring to advertising. It was agreed that, in principle, the arrangement should be completed. Mr. Dittes will clarify the intent of the paragraph on advertising. The intent is to remain with Cultura for 1969 and initiate the arrangement with the University of California Press as of 1970.

Mr. Glock stated that the budget as revised by the Executive Secretary was not viable. He reported an offer from Hiram College to house the Society providing the equivalent of $6,500 in subsidy by giving Paul Gustafson released time to perform duties of an executive secretary and covering part of the salary of his secretarial assistance. It was agreed that before this offer was accepted, Mr. Klausner should explore the possibility of a subsidy from the University of Pennsylvania. At the same time, Mr. Glock agreed to prepare a proposal for presentation to Foundations for program support, and Mr. Clark will prepare a letter to go to veteran members of The Society to inquire about their Foundation connections.

It was agreed that these matters would be reviewed again in February 1969. The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted,

Samuel Z. Klausner