The 1995 annual meeting of the Board of Directors of The Bertrand Russell Society was held on Friday, June 30, 1995 in The Columbia Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, Maryland 21044, U.S.A. The meeting began at 9 p.m. in the Ellicott Room on the ground floor. However, after about one hour, it was necessary to relocate the meeting to Secretary Donald W. Jackanicz’s hotel room, Room 319.

The following directors were present: Kenneth Blackwell, Dennis J. Darland, Linda Egendorf, Lee Eisler, Donald W. Jackanicz, Gladys Leithauser, John R. Lenz, Tim Madigan, Stephen J. Reinhardt, Michael J. Rockler, John E. Shosky.

In the absence of Chairman Marvin Kohl, Secretary Jackanicz called the meeting to order at 9:05 p.m. and explained that Chairman Kohl had asked Kenneth Blackwell to chair the meeting.

The first order of business was the election of Board and Society officers. For Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Madigan nominated Michael J. Rockler, and Mr. Darland nominated Marvin Kohl. The secret ballot vote was as follows:

Mr. Rockler – 7
Mr. Kohl – 3

Mr. Lenz then moved that Marvin Kohl be recognized and thanked for six years of service as Chairman; this motion was unanimously accepted.

For the following positions, these officers were nominated by the individuals in parentheses and were elected by acclamation:

Society President: John R. Lenz (Mr. Jackanicz)
Society Vice President: John E. Shosky (Mr. Lenz)
Society Vice President/Information Emeritus: Lee Eisler (Mr. Jackanicz)
Board and Society Secretary: Donald W. Jackanicz (Mr. Rockler)
Society Treasurer: Dennis J. Darland (Mr. Rockler)

Mr. Madigan moved that Mr. Rockler and Mr. Jackanicz respectively fill the unexpired Board terms of the late Jack Cowles and Paul Arthur Schilpp; this motion was unanimously accepted.

Discussion turned to the location of the next two annual meetings. Mr. Rockler moved that President Lenz be permitted to decide the 1996 annual meeting site and date; this motion was unanimously accepted. President Lenz then explained that he would work toward holding the 1996 annual meeting on the campus of Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Mr. Rockler next moved that the 1997 annual meeting be held in conjunction with the joint meeting of Free Inquiry and the Humanist Association of Canada. This motion was unanimously accepted. Mr. Rockler explained that the 1997 annual meeting site would probably be either Toronto or Montreal.

Secretary Jackanicz submitted the report of the committee formed at the 1994 Board meeting to make recommendations about possible new honorary membership nominations. (This report had been mailed to board members on May 24, 1995.) Following discussion, Mr. Rockler moved that all the names listed in the report be laid on the table and a new committee be formed to present five names for nomination at the next annual Board meeting and that the new committee’s chairman by appointed by the Board Chairman. The vote on this motion was: Yes-3, No-3, Abstain-3.

On other matters, Secretary Jackanicz read selections from Chandrakala Padia’s recent letter describing activities of the Benaras Chapter in India. President Lenz reported that the editor of Free Thought Observer had asked for permission to quote Russell Society News material in his publication. President Lenz then explained how he will work on developing a World Wide Web home page for promoting the Society. Mr. Rockler reported he will begin editing Russell Society News with the August 1995 issue and described some of his plans for a new format.

Mr. Jackanicz inquired about plans for continued Society participation in annual meetings of the American Philosophical Association (APA). It was informally agreed that Vice President Shosky and David Johnson would work together on promoting the Society through APA activities, if possible with the assistance of Marvin Kohl. President Lenz moved that a letter of thanks be sent to Ray Monk and the University of Southampton for sponsoring the July 14-16, 1995 “Russell and the Origins of Analytical Philosophy” conference. This motion was unanimously accepted. The meeting was adjourned at 11:58 p.m.

Donald W. Jackanicz, Secretary
Bertrand Russell Society

The annual Society Members Business meeting began at 1l:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, 1995 in the Ellicott Room of the Columbia Inn Hotel in Columbia, MD.

President Rockler introduced John Lenz and John Shosky, who respectively had been elected the new President and Vice President by the Board of Directors the previous night. President Lenz thanked President Rockler for having organized a fine meeting. Secretary Donald Jackanicz then moved that the reading of last year’s annual meeting minutes be suspended. His motion was seconded by Mr. Blackwell and was unanimously accepted. Mr. Jackanicz gave a brief oral report concerning the previous night’s Board meeting. Treasurer Dennis Darland reported that the Treasury’s fund balance was U.S. $3,533.16. David Johnson moved that the Treasurer’s report be accepted; his motion was seconded by Mr. Rockler and unanimously accepted.

Discussion turned to three topics: BRS participation in the Eastern, Midwest, and Western Division annual meetings of the American Philosophical Association; how email can be used to promote the BRS and for communication between members; and how to increase membership through advertising strategy and a revival of the Information and Membership Committee.

Next considered was this series of honorary membership advisory nominations, which would require affirmative Board of Directors action before honorary membership may be offered.

Nominations by Mr. Blackwell, seconded by Mr. Jackanicz:

Kenneth Coates: Yes 14, No 1, Abstain 1
Elizabeth Eames: Yes 16, No 0, Abstain 0
Nelson Mandela: Yes 7, No 7, Abstain 2
Willard Van Orman Quine. Yes 16, No. 0, Abstain 0
Michael Foote: Yes 6, No 6, Abstain 5

Nominations by Mr. Shosky, seconded by Mr. Madigan and Carl Westman:

Paul Kurtz: Yes 16, No 0, Abstain 1
Antony Flew: Yes 15, No 0, Abstain 2

Lastly Mr. Blackwell discussed the fundraising work of the Bertrand Russell Editorial Project and a mailing recently sent to all BRS members.

In accordance with Stephen Reinhardt’s motion that was seconded by Mr. Madigan, the Society Business Meeting was adjourned (and the overall meeting was recessed) at 12:55 p.m.

Donald W. Jackanicz, Secretary
Bertrand Russell Society

The 1995 Annual Meeting of The Bertrand Russell Society was held at The Columbia Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, Maryland 21044, U.S.A., June 30 - July 2. Except as noted, all events took place in Ellicott Room on the ground floor.

Friday, June 30, 1995

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by President Michael Rockler, who offered general remarks of welcome and orientation. Book Award Committee Chair Gladys Leithauser then presented the 1995 BRS Book Award to Kenneth Blackwell and Harry Ruja for A Bibliography of Bertrand Russell. After accepting the award on behalf of Mr. Ruja, who was unable to attend, and himself, Mr. Blackwell spoke at length about this great three volume work and the years of scholarly effort leading to its recent publication.

The meeting was recessed at 9:00 p.m. The Board of Directors meeting was then held. (See “BRS 1995 Annual Board of Directors Meeting Minutes” above.)

Saturday, July 1, 1995

President Rockler reconvened the meeting Saturday morning at 9: 10 a.m. In addition to Society

members, five students from President Rockler’s university class attended the morning session as guests. John Shosky made a presentation titled “Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Enlightened Self-Interest: Bertrand Russell and the Quest for Political Recognition.” Following a short break, President Rockler spoke on “Russell and Education: Russell’s Debt to Locke.”

The annual Society Members Business meeting was then held, beginning at 1l:15 a.m. (See “BRS 1995 Annual Members Meeting Minutes” above.) The Members meeting was adjourned and overall meeting recessed at 12:55 p.m.

Following a luncheon break, the meeting was reconvened at 2:15 p.m. Mr. Madigan made a presentation, “Russell and Dewey on Inquiry.” Following a short break, Paul O’Grady, a lecturer at Trinity College, Dublin and winner of the 1995 Paper Prize Contest, read his paper. “The Russellian Roots of Naturalized Epistemology.” The meeting was recessed at 4:30 p.m.

The Red Hackle Hour and Banquet were held in a lounge and dining area outside the Ellicott Room beginning at 5:30 p.m. At the Banquet, past President Rockler introduced Brian Dixon, Director of Government Relations for Zero Population Growth (ZPG), who accepted the 1995 BRS Award on behalf of ZPG. Expressing appreciation for the award, Mr. Dixon spoke about ZPG’s efforts through the years and current problems challenging his organization. The Banquet ended at 9:15 p.m.

Sunday, July 2, 1995

The meeting was reconvened by President Lenz at 9:00 a.m. James Alouf made a presentation, “Bertrand Russell as Teacher Educator.” After a short break, a final presentation titled “Problems of Power in Russell’s Politics,” was made by Peter Stone.

Following words of farewell from President Lenz and Past President Rockler, the meeting was adjourned at 11:58 a.m.

Donald W. Jackanicz, Secretary
Bertrand Russell Society