He announced that the society brochure would be updated to reflect changes to the Executive, and he encouraged members to send him suggestions for other changes. He then reported on two other groups with whom the CSBS has strong links:

a) Concerning the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada (HSSFC), which now represents more than 24,000 researchers in 67 learned societies (including ours) and 69 universities and colleges across Canada (http://www.hssfc.ca/), one noteworthy point is that membership fees have increased (for the first time), from $7 to $10 per year for the first 224 members, and from $6 to $8 for members over that number. What we see ("get") most visibly for our participation in this group is the opportunity to meet with other societies at the HSSFC-sponsored Congress. What is not so evident is a range of other valuable elements: (a) the Aid to Scholarly Publications Program managed by HSSFC (and funded by SSHRCC), which is responsible for subsidizing about 140 books per year; and (b) the lobbying done by HSSFC on our behalf with the Federal politicians (e.g., Breakfasts on the Hill, ongoing support for learned journals), and with SSHRCC (for new money for research, and to keep Congress travel grants). HSSFC intends to increase its efforts to provide more direct services to the societies (e.g., helping to provide membership databases).

b) Concerning the Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion (CCSR): the fees are capped this year ($25/year for full members; $21/year for student and un/underemployed). The CCSR serves us well by offering a venue for publishing articles (Studies in Religion/Sciences religieuses; e.g., the last issue included revised versions of last year’s 2 student essay prize papers) and books (particularly through the series ESCJ, edited by Peter Richardson). Peter Richardson added that, in addition to the two books published in this series last year (the Richardson Festschrift and Terry Donaldson’s Religious Rivalries and the Struggle for Success in Caesarea Maritima), one was forthcoming by John Marshall: Parables of War: Reading John’s Jewish Apocalypse. Other ongoing services provided by the CCSR include the Congress Combined Program (for which they pay), an expanding and ever-informative website (http://www2.ccsr.ca), and support for the Canadian Scholars’ Reception at the SBL/AAR. Moreover, active CCSR Board members include Margaret MacDonald (President), Nicola Denzey (Webmaster), Willi Braun (Managing Editor of SR) and Theodore de Bruyn (Book Publications Officer). One change: a student member is to be added to the Board this year, and will work closely with society student representatives.

Student membership numbers are strong. Students currently comprise 76 of the 265 of the members, including 16 new members to be added this year. Ongoing work still needs to be done to inform students who are not members of the value of the society, and to serve the needs of student members even more effectively.

Prize money for the student essay prizes will be raised, beginning next year, from $150 to $250 per winner, and every effort will be made to cover transportation costs for students living within North America to present their prize-winning essays at the Congress.

6. Nominations
On behalf of the rest of the Executive, Ehud Ben Zvi submitted the following slate for Executive positions: Fred Wisse as Vice-President (2001-2002), Glen Taylor as Programme Coordinator (2001-2004), and Colleen Shantz as student Member-at-Large (2001-2002). With no other nominations coming from the floor, and following a motion that nominations close (Wilson/Harland), the three were acclaimed, then thanked for their willingness to serve the society.

7. Programme Coordinator’s Report
Edith Humphrey thanked members for the high quality of the paper proposals that reached her this year, and encouraged members to consider participating as fervently next year. She encouraged members to submit proposals early, in both hard and electronic copy, when they receive the First Mailing in the Fall.

She noted that in 2002 the two seminars (Religious Rivalries; Feminisms, Culture and the Bible) will continue, CSSR will take responsibility for the joint-society public lecture, and HSSFC is looking for joint-society proposals for sessions that address the topic of "Boundaries" (please send suggestions to the new Programme Coordinator [glen.taylor@utoronto.ca]).

A motion was made (Ben Zvi/Jobling) to thank Edith Humphrey for her three years of dedication, diligence and extraordinary care in her role as CSBS Programme Coordinator.

* He encouraged members to consult the society and Corporation websites (http://www2.ccsr.ca/csbs/; http://www2.ccsr.ca), noting that he welcomed feedback on the society website that he manages.

* He also urged members to continue to send him news to distribute to others via the society email list, and to ensure that he receive any changes in people’s email addresses.

* He noted the publication and distribution of this year’s CSBS Bulletin, welcoming suggestions for changes in next year’s edition.

* He encouraged members to recommend outstanding books in Christian origins for consideration for the upcoming Beare Award, and outstanding books in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Ancient Near East, with formal notification of the awards to go out in the Fall in the First Mailing. Self-nominations are accepted, as are ongoing financial donations earmarked for these prizes.

* He reviewed the membership changes and statistics, noting that 265 members were on the role for 2001 (including those to be nominated at this meeting). He then read this year’s list of Nominees for Membership (William Anderson, Stephen Chambers, Nancy Frankel, Adrienne Gibb, Michael Gilmour, Daniel Graves, Kathleen Green, Melody Knowles, Mona LaFosse, Rodolfo Luna, Yvan Mathieu, Hisako Omori, Ken Penner, Todd Penner, Curtis Poyer, Eric Schantz, Kimberly Stratton, David Vanderhooft, Karen Williams, Il-Sung Andrew Yun, Christopher Zoccali, Andrew Wilson), and moved (Morrow/Humphrey) that they be accepted as members of the Society. The new members were welcomed into the Society.

* He added that this year’s travel funds, made possible by a SSHRCC grant of $4,755, were distributed to CSBS Congress participants at a ratio of 50% of the request from students and 35% for others.

* He then distributed and reviewed his financial report, including projected expenses and income. The finances remain healthy. He recommended that, due to increases in HSSFC fees and likely upcoming increases in CCSR fees, as well as the small margin for error in keeping the books balanced, the Society raise membership fees. He made the motion (seconded by J. McLaughlin) that there be a $10 rate increase for full members, from $62 to $72, to be phased in over the next two years (with other rates remaining stable). The motion passed.

* Wayne McCready reviewed the history of the Endowment Committee’s work (chaired by himself, and also including Peter Richardson, Harold Remus and William Klassen): investing $56,425 with Merrill Lynch Canada in 1998, to ensure long-term financial health. The Society has a 30-year investment strategy that is reviewed annually by the Society’s Executive on the recommendation of the Endowment Committee. Features of the investment plan include: (a) a commitment to long-term investment strategies for endowed funds; (b) a conservative approach to investment for an income and growth portfolio; (c) and a judicious use of interest from the investments. The portfolio market evaluation in May 2000 was $65,601; this May it reached $72,640, despite the flat performance of mutual funds.

* The Treasurer thanked the Endowment Committee for their work, then moved (Neufeld/Morrow) that his report be received and approved.

* On behalf of Society members at large, John Kloppenborg Verbin thanked the Treasurer for his hard work in taking over the duties of office this year.

John Kloppenborg Verbin thanked everyone for their participation, the members of the Executive for their work, and in particular Edith Humphrey and David Bergen, outgoing members of the Executive, for their years of service.

(Minutes prepared by Michel Desjardins, June 4, 2001)

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