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PRESENT: Adriance, Batson, Benson, Bromley, Capps, Davidson, Gaede, Greil, Hammond, McGuire, Mauss, Poloma ,Robbins, Robertson, Schoenherr, Shupe, Tipton, Wallace, Wright
1. CALL TO ORDER: President McGuire called the council meeting toorder at 7:45 p.m., October 28. McGuire presented the agenda; a motion made to approve the agenda carried. Minutes of the 1987 Meeting were introduced, and a motion to accept them was approved.
Robbins circulated an announcement that among the set of technical corrections to the Tax Overhaul Act of 1986 were provisions "exempting free-lance writers, artists and some live stock producers from a rule that bars taxpayers from deducting certain production expenses before a project produces income." These corrections were passed by both Houses of Congress in October.
2. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS: McGuire encouraged the recruitment of SSSR members beyond sociology, psychology, and religious studies. Attempts should be made to attract political scientists and anthropologists as well as more international members. She encouraged all to be more involved in international organizations.
3. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY'S REPORT: Davidson's report was divided into two main sections: (1) information/evaluation and (2) policy/action items.
Information/ evaluation
a. Changes on Council: Announced that Mary Jo Meadow, having accepted a professional opportunity which will prevent her from fulfilling her Council responsibilities, resigned. Peter Benson, runner up in the election, will serve in her place on Council until 1991. Donald Capps and Robert Wuthnow finish their terms as Editor and Book Review Editor of JSSR. Richard Schoenherr will replace Armand Mauss, who moves into the editorship of JSSR, as Treasurer. Stuart Wright will replace David Roozen as Publicity Chair. Ruth Wallace and Roland Robertson complete their terms this year and will be succeeded by Tom Robbins and Ellen Umansky.
b. Membership and Library Subscriptions: Membership is up, with 1616 members (1,234 "regular"; 261 "student" and 121"emeritus"). Growth is due to aggressive membership drives conducted by Hart Nelsen. Library subscriptions have remained steady over the last six years, varying only slightly from year to year.
c. New Format of Newsletter: seems to be well-received.
d. Amicus-Brief Co-sponsored by Council: was summarized in the June, 1988 Newsletter. Attracted considerable attention of members, but no objections to Council's involvement. A decision on the case can be expected in about six months.
e. Meetings: Acknowledged the competence and support of Adriance, D' Antonio, and Nelsen in planning for this year's meeting. Next year's meeting will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Salt Lake City, October 27-29, 1989. Program Chair is Arthur (Larry) Greil; Stan Weed and Larry Young are helping with local arrangements.
f. Gallup's Survey: SSSR contributed $5000 to Gallup's recent survey on the religious state of the American people ($1500 to support two SSSR consultants: Jill Kiecolt and Wade Clark Roof, and $3500 to cover expenses associated with the survey itself). Satisfied with the returns and SSSR will support the survey again next year.
g. Awards: Decisions have been made on this year's awards, all of which will be recognized at the business meeting. Don Capps and the Research Committee approved grants; David Bromley will report on he Distinguished Book Award. The Student Paper Award goes to Mark Chaves (Harvard University).
h. Passings: Ted Abel, a Weberian scholar and long-standing member of the Society, and Barbara Hargrove who was scheduled to give RRA's H. Paul Douglass Lecture at this year's meeting, passed away during 1988.
Policy/Action Items
a. Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia were considered for the site of the 1991 meeting. Four hotels were presented as possible meeting sites, two suburban and two urban. The move was to go to Pittsburgh's downtown Vista Hotel (selected over the Hilton because of the availability of an earlier meeting date).
b. Future sites: Davidson suggested a site selection policy which would call for a meeting in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions (where most of the members are) two out of every three years, and to go to another region the other year (as a treat to current members and a way of possibly recruiting new members). A motion was moved and seconded that selected the Northeast as a meeting site for 1992.
c. Council Meetings: A motion was made and seconded during which Council discussed two scheduling possibilities to free Council members to participate in Friday morning sessions: (a) SSSR Council: 8 am-noon and 1-4; RRA Board: 6 pm-11 pm and (b) RRA Board: 8am-noon; SSSR Council: 2-6 and 8-11 p.m. The Thursday morning slot would be awarded to SSSR one year and RRA the following. The motion to approve this scheduling carried, with Option B as SSSR Council's choice for 1989.
During the discussion Phil Hammond raised the issue of overlapping board memberships between RRA and SSSR. Davidson suggested that both organizations discuss the issue at their respective board meetings. The issue of overlapping board memberships is to be put on the agenda for next year and RRA will be encouraged to do the same.
d. Food functions: Although we have moved away from having banquets at our annual meetings, Davidson suggested that something more casual may be in order (e.g. a casual buffet, luau around the pool, an ethnic food fair). The discussion was favorable, indicating that such a function would help to keep people at the hotel for plenaries and would serve a ceremonial role.
e. Audio-visual equipment A discussion was held about policies governing the use and cost of audio-visual equipment. The discussion was tabled, with Council feeling this is a complex issue that requires more thought. It was agreed that there may be a tendency to overuse such equipment and the matter warrants further investigation.
f. APRRE: Has been meeting with SSSR on even numbered years but not odd numbered years in a casual relationship. Davidson requested guidance from Council in negotiating a firmer contract. It was moved and seconded that our ties with APRRE be severed. The motion carried.
g. Monographs: Davidson noted the need to promote and market SSSR's monograph series. Wallace moved that $250-$500 be allocated for such promotion. The motion was seconded and carried by Council.
h. CSSR: The Council of Societies for the Study of Religion has invited SSSR to rejoin them. After a discussion of costs and benefits, it was concurred that there was not enough reason for SSSR to rejoin that would justify the annual expense of approximately $750.
i. Davidson sent extra copies of the June Newsletter to members of the theological faculty in the Chicago area to promote interest in the 1988 meeting. He was encouraged to continue the practice in 1989 (Salt Lake City area) and 1990 (Virginia Beach).
4. PROGRAM CHAIR'S REPORT: Adriance noted the diversity in this year's program and acknowledged the support from a number of people. Special mention was given to Jim Davidson, Helen Rose Ebaugh (Program Chair for RRA), Meredith McGuire, and Lorraine D' Antonio. One problem that was noted was the difficulties in working with APRRE, especially their failure to meet deadlines.
5. DISTINGUISHED BOOK AWARD: Bromley reported that 14 books were nominated, many of which were of exceptionally high quality. The list of 14 was shortened to four books that were read by all members of the Committee. Bromley asked that Council consider exactly how books should be nominated. Presses were sending him books, which he in turn sent to a committee member which may or may not make a nomination. Bromley's policy was supported, indicating that members (not publishers) are the ones to make the nomination.
[The meeting broke off at 11 p.m., October 28, and resumed the next morning, October 29, at 8:45 a.m.]
PRESENT. Batson, Capps, Davidson, Gaede, Hammond, McGuire, Mauss, Poloma, Robbins, Robertson, Schoenherr, Shupe, Tipton, Wallace, Umansky
6. BOOK EXHIBIT: Harve Horowitz reported that a half dozen representatives were present for this year's meeting. There is a $2500-$3000 net as a result of the book exhibit. Horowitz encouraged members to inform him of new titles of books published. He promised to send a form to be included in the Newsletter. He would also like to be informed of the"Author Meets Critic" sessions to solicit these books for sale at the meeting.
7. RESEARCH AWARDS: Capps reported that 20 applicants had submitted proposals, seven of which were funded. Recipients were Clyde Wilcox ($900), Donald Kraybill ($1500), David Bromley ($1000), Jeremy Tobacyk ($1500), David Hackett ($1500), James Guth ($900), and Robert Segal ($700). Capps talked about how there was a need to cultivate applications from junior scholars, noting that he wrote suggestions for reapplication for those students requesting it. Deadline for next set of Research Awards: April 15, 1989.
8. MONOGRAPH SERIES: Gaede reported that sales of the Wright and Davidson monographs are doing nicely, due to some new promotional activities. There were no new publications this year, but a promising monograph is coming down the pike. Gaede is concerned about the quality of the manuscripts being submitted, suggesting that the Series is getting more competition from the standard publishing companies.
9. JSSR: Capps reporting sending eight manuscripts to Mauss as potential publications. McGuire offered a word of appreciation to Donald Capps (outgoing editor) and Robert Wuthnow (outgoing book review editor) for their respective service to the JSSR. Mauss, the new editor, noted that the transition went smoothly. Mauss is reporting an average turnaround time of seven weeks for the first review, and an acceptance rate of 14% (12% if summary rejections are included).
10. PUBLICITY REPORT: In the absence of David Roozen, Davidson presented the publicity report. Although media response has been unexplainably low to this year's Chicago meeting, about a half dozen person have contacted Roozen inquiring about press credentials for the meeting. Together with the"regulars," about a dozen press representatives are expected to attend. Stuart Wright will be taking over Roozen's position as Publicity Chair after this year's meeting.
11. AAAS REPORT: Hart Nelsen, SSSR representative to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has organized a session on Religion and Politics: 1988 for the 1989 meetings to be held in San Francisco in mid-January. Anyone wishing to propose a session for the 1990 meetings (to be held in New Orleans) should do so before Nelsen attends the January, 1989 meetings. The general rule is to have five papers (to be given in a three-hour period).
12. SECRETARY: There is a need to start the ball rolling in the selection of a new secretary. Poloma's term expires with the 1989 meeting. It was also requested that the minutes be sent to all members of Council the week preceding the 1989 meeting.
13. BUSINESS MEETING: Hammond suggested changing the nature of the business meeting. It could be tied in with an other session or the plenary. It was felt that council should look for alternative ways to do the business meeting, with all reports available in writing in advance.
14. TREASURER'S REPORT: Mauss expressed some concern over the over expenditures. If there is a systematic problem here, it should be looked into. An overrun of pages on the journal and additional postage costs should be included in the budget if a larger journal is to continue. It was decided that there were no systematic cost overruns. Investments, Mauss reported, have been more diversified since last year. It was suggested that a dues increase be investigated for discussion at next year's meeting.
The projected income of $112,600 should come close to the anticipated expenses of $112,515 for the 1988-89 budget. It was recommended that the Gallup awards be identified and broken away from the other research awards in the budget. The 1988-89 budget was unanimously adopted.
15. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 11:30 on October 29.
Respectfully Submitted,
Margaret M. Poloma
Secretary