The 30th annual business meeting of the regional organization was called to order by President Patricia O'Connell Killen at 12:50 p.m.

Announcements

1. Profound thanks were expressed to the host of the meeting, the University of Alberta -- especially Ehud Ben-Zvi, for all the hard work and hospitality. Patricia O'Connell Killen and Rob Kugler were also recognized and thanked for their willingness to speak before the general public during the meeting: Patricia on "What does geography have to do with religion?" and Rob on the Dead Sea scrolls.
   
   
2. Arrangements for travel to the Alberta Provincial Museum exhibit on Syria were announced.
   
   
3. Members were encouraged to make arrangements for shuttle/taxi trips back to the airport in advance.

Old Business

1. Minutes of the April 29, 2000 business meeting, held on the campus of Gonzaga University, were approved as submitted.
   
   
2. Mark Lloyd Taylor gave the treasurer's report for the past fiscal year: 3/1/00 - 2/28/01. The report was approved by members present.
   
   
3. Douglas Clark gave a report on the regional organization's web site. He spoke of its multiple functions and encouraged members to make greater use of the web site. He also described some of the challenges faced in trying to keep the e-mail list server up-to-date (there was discussion of using Ehud Ben-Zvi's model for running an e-mail list).
   
   
4. Concerning committee membership, the following was reported. Nominating Committee: Paul Mosca, Harold Coward. Audit Committee: John Petersen, Ron Schwartz. Regional Scholars Committee (SBL): John Petersen, and the chairs of the New Testament, Hebrew Bible, and Archaeology and the Bible sections. Vacancies were reported in the following: liaison with ASOR; History of Religions, Women and Religion, Religion and Society.
   
   
5. Gary Chamberlain reported on the student essay contest. Numbers of submissions this year were up dramatically: 3 SBL graduate students and 7 undergraduates submitted papers; 4 AAR graduate students and 7 undergraduates. In the future, it was suggested that a delivery system other than the Canadian post office be used to circulate papers to readers. Winners for 2001 were to be announced at the banquet later that evening. [For your information, the winners were: Stephen Young — SBL graduate paper; Paul Evans — 1st SBL undergraduate, Clinton Moyer 2nd SBL undergraduate; Jay Smith — AAR graduate; Brannon Ingram — 1st AAR undergraduate, Nathan Gibbard — 2nd AAR undergraduate.]
   
   
6. Mark Lloyd Taylor gave the national AAR report. He spoke of the on-going changes in the relationship between the AAR and SBL, but noted that 65% of AAR members responding to a survey reported that continuing to meet with the SBL at the national level (annual meeting) was very or somewhat important; only 10% preferred non-concurrent annual meetings. However, in 2001, for the first time, the program book will refer to "annual meetings" and the SBL program will be listed in its entirety, then the AAR program — not interleaved as in the past. He mentioned the crucial importance at the regional level, especially in the Pacific Northwest, of close AAR and SBL cooperation (we need each other!). He also mentioned that the AAR census of departments of religion is nearing completion. And he said that if you liked recent annual meetings in Boston and San Francisco, and did not like the meetings in Opryland and Disneyworld, you should like the meeting site in Denver very much (a vibrant downtown venue with lots of restaurants and shops). The 2002 AAR/SBL concurrent annual meetings will be held in Toronto.
   
   
7. Linda Schearing then gave the national SBL report. She reported a switch in language from regional secretaries to regional co-ordinators. She also spoke of plans to re-configure the regional scholars award (eligibility limited to those within 5 years of receiving the Ph.D. — and the provision of senior scholar mentors for award winners). She reported the SBL council to be in a self-reflective mode and described a meeting between the council and the AAR executive committee (it was a learning experience).

New Business

1. Mark Lloyd Taylor and Patricia O'Connell Killen expressed the desire to seek an AAR Regional Development Grant to re-vitalize the AAR sections of the regional organization.
   
   
2. The region has maintained and used a web site now for five years. It seems to be a good time to review technology issues and the region's life. There is some desire to form a "Technology and the Region" committee to oversee our work in this area. Feelers will be put out in the fall mailing for interested people; maybe using graduate student help.
   
   
3. A lengthy discussion of the format and length restrictions of submissions to the student essay contest ensued. In the end, the following motions carried: 1) That undergraduate papers be limited to 5,000 words (including apparatus); graduate papers to 7,000 words (apparatus included). 2) Style conventions will be provided by the publications of the two organizations (JAAR and JBL).
   
   
4. A proposal for an affiliation with ASOR was discussed. The proposal was approved: the name of the organization is now the Pacific Northwest AAR/SBL and ASOR. ASOR will contribute $300 to the expenses of each annual meeting ($100 for the program; $200 to help sponsor a speaker).
   
   
5. Results of elections: Linda Schearing was elected to a second three-year term as Executive Secretary of the organization. John Petersen was elected President for 2001-2002; and Nicholas Gier was elected Vice-President (also 2001-2002).

The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Mark Lloyd Taylor, Recording Secretary

2001-2002 OFFICERS
Pacific Northwest Region

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