President Dale Cannon (AAR - Western Oregon University) called the meeting to order at approximately 12:30 PM with more than 50 members present. Dale expressed the region's appreciation for all the planning efforts marshalled by Craig & Jeannie Evans, various students, and Trinity staff. Attendance this year was 104 (29 AAR, 24 SBL, 27 Joint, 19 Student & 5 Other). Apologies were again expressed for the difficulties experienced in the registration process due to the mis-information about banquet costs. The Ex Com will streamline procedures to reduce registration stress. Next year Jon Taylor (University of Great Falls) and Hank Keeton (Recording Secretary-Treasurer) will attempt to have registration on our regional web page to help expedite the process.

The minutes of the 1996 Regional Meeting were distributed at the registration table, together with the current financial reports for both the AAR and the SBL. The reports were accepted as submitted without corrections.

Carol Dempsey (Assistant Professor of Theology, University of Portland) was introduced as our first SBL Regional Scholar. Her paper and nomination were received by the Council or Regional Secretaries, and the award conveyed during the fall.

Student Paper Competition Chair, Ron Jolliffe (Walla Walla College), repeated the announcement of award winners: Susan Zakin (University of Washington) $200 Graduate First Place; Ian Werrett (St. Martins College) $200 Undergraduate First Place; and Benjamin Lyle Berge (University of Alberta) $100 Undergraduate Second Place. Nine graduate and seventeen undergraduate entries were received. Readers for this years awards were: Gary Chamberlain (Seattle University) and Darrell Udd (Seattle University) for graduate papers; Carol Dempsey and Patrick Hartin (Gonzaga University) for undergraduate papers. In 1996 (with awards of $100 for two first place papers) nine graduate and six undergraduate papers were received.

Readers for 1997-1998 are: Karen Barta (Seattle University), Patricia Killen (Pacific Lutheran University), Bob Thompson (Mount Royal College) and someone else.

Mike Cheney (U Alberta) gave a report on the activities of the SBL Edmonton Area Regional Hebrew Scriptures Satellite.

Jon Taylor gave a Web Page report. We tried to be innovative this year and post our registration forms for the Regional Meeting, but our efforts met with some unknown electronic complications. There were a few disgruntled sorts at registration, but these things take time and patience is requested. No other region is doing what we are trying to do electronically, so we are making all sorts of exploratory mistakes. Jon and Hank will work more closely on next years registration process. Any volunteers will be welcomed in the effort. Jon requested members post papers to him which they want on the Web Page. Gradually, we will refine our offerings to suit requests by the membership. We will see if we can post an electronic database form for all members to use. This will keep us in closer contact with one another, and also serve as a collective curricula clearinghouse. Details as they emerge.

Karen Barta and Steven Condit have completed the (old-fashioned-hard-work) written database compilation, and copies were circulated for last minute corrections by those present. The corrected version will be made available to Jon for data entry onto our Web Page. This year pencils, next year electrons!

Section Chairs gave individual reports.

Hank Keeton gave a report on the Regional Secretaries meeting and the National AAR Board Meeting held in San Francisco 18-20 April 1997. There is clear National level interest in and support for activities of the Regions. Hank distributed a complied report of suggestions and questions (attached herewith). Item #3 (travel agent services) was discussed, moved, seconded and carried. In next years registration materials, the services of Association Travel Concepts (1-800-458-9383) will be offered to everyone. The services of this agency can be used by anyone for any travel needs. Simply identify the Pacific Northwest AAR/SBL as your group, and your travel reservations will be added to the Regions account. The benefits from the travel arrangements made through this agency will accrue directly to the Region and will benefit all members by helping to defray travel costs of plenary speakers, officers, and other meeting expenses. Items #7 & #8 (Paper presenter membership requirements & annual membership for paper award winners) were discussed and consensus was expressed, although no motions were offered. The Executive Committee will take this consensus under advisement, and set policy accordingly.

Hank continued with a summary of the Mark Silk Proposal for regional conferences with journalists and religious scholars. Information has been circulated about the format for these potential conferences, and some interest has been expressed. Please see Hank for more details and contact names.

The policy recommendations of the Executive Committee were discussed next. To facilitate reporting of regional finances, the Ex Com recommended that the regional record books be closed in February, audited in March, and the final report submitted to the membership at the Annual Meeting. Bob Stivers (Pacific Lutheran University) moved, Norm Metzler (Concordia College) seconded. The motion carried.

A second policy recommendation from the Ex Com concerned the Audit Committee. Jeff Staley (Executive Secretary) moved to accept the recommendation that the Audit Committee be composed of two members, the President-elect plus one member nominated every three years by the Nominating Committee. Jon Taylor seconded. Motion carried. Paul Ingram (Pacific Lutheran University) as President-Elect nominee will serve (if so elected). Volunteers were solicited for the first three-year term. Norm Metzler offered his services and they were accepted unanimously. Both terms commence at the conclusion of the 97 Annual Meeting.

The Ex Com had posted two possible new configurations for the Annual Meeting format, and attendees had some opportunity to review the options before the meeting. Much discussion ensued about the relative merits and pitfalls. The following meeting format was approved for implementation at 1998 Meeting (if University of Portland can make it work).

Hank Keeton moved we accept Pacific Lutheran's invitation to host our Annual Meeting in 1999. Jon Taylor seconded. Motion carried. Gonzaga was discussed for 2000, and Walla Walla was leading the pack for 2008. Call for early reservations! For those keeping score by the decade, the following is the current line-up for meetings:

Bob Stivers (Nominating Committee Chair) gave the Nominating Committee report. Current members are Bob, Carol Dempsey, and Bob Thompson. The slate of officers presented was: Paul Ingram, President-Elect (AAR); Karen Barta, Executive Secretary (SBL, three-year term). Norm Metzler moved acceptance of the slate, and Paul Davies seconded. The motion carried. (This was a parliamentary error: individual officers should be elected separately, opening the floor for nominations for each office.) [Does anyone know the new committee members???]

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Hank Keeton
Recording Secretary-Treasurer

The spring Board Meeting was held in San Francisco 18-20 April. During this session we held a day-long meeting of all the AAR Regional Secretaries and many ideas and questions surfaced which need sharing. The following list is an attempt to elicit discussion: