From the President
M. Jennifer Bloxam
It has been an action-packed seven months since the 2017 annual meeting at Scripps College this past February: projects initiated during Andrew Shenton’s term as president have come to fruition, several new projects are nearing completion or underway, and plans are coalescing for a terrific 2018 annual meeting at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC.
This past June, Lexington Press released our first book publication, a collection of essays entitled Exploring Christian Song; eleven scholars drawn from among SCSM presidents, past keynote speakers, and selected winners of the Graduate Student Prize contributed. Although Andrew and I shared the editing work, Andrew was the driving force behind the project, and I could not have asked for a more satisfying collaboration. We are immensely grateful to all the contributors for their fine work, cooperation, and good humor.
Andrew also initiated our active pursuit of tax-exempt status for the Society, and I am thrilled to report that the application for 501(c)(3) status was approved this past July! We are now in a position to fundraise more effectively in order to sustain the Graduate Student Prize Fund and to grow the Graduate Student Travel Fund to the point that we can begin to provide travel grants to assist graduate student presenters to attend the annual meeting. So check out the updated contribution page on the SCSM website, where you can now send in your targeted, tax-exempt donation! Webmaster Adam Perez, Treasurer Zig Reichwald, and member Bob Judd were instrumental in helping to achieve this important milestone.
Three recent initiatives are coming to fruition this fall. First, I am delighted to announce that an up-to-date database of graduate programs relevant to those interested in pursuing the scholarly study of sacred music will have a permanent home on the Resources page of the website as a benefit to anyone who wishes to consult it. Graduate Student Representative Megan Francisco deserves sole credit for assembling this wonderful new resource.
Also completing its work this fall is the Ad Hoc Committee for Constitution and Bylaws Review, formed this past spring. Committee members John Paul Ito (chair) joined by Tala Jarjour and Ellen Olsen George have crafted an update to our mission statement, which the Executive Committee expects to offer to the membership for its approval prior to the annual meeting. This is a most important and timely exercise, offering an incentive for us all to reflect on our shared priorities and goals going forward.
The 2018 Graduate Student Prize Selection Committee, consisting of continuing members Robin Wallace (chair) and Cathy Ann Elias joined by new member Joanna Smolko, have provided a great service to the Society by drafting a detailed set of guidelines for prize applicants. Following review and approval by the Executive Committee this fall, these will be posted on the website and provided to all graduate student presenters in November.
Maintaining and growing our membership base remains an ongoing priority, and new initiatives are under discussion with the Executive Committee, including expanding our categories of membership. We are truly blessed to have such an excellent group of people willing to serve as members of this committee!
Finally, we can look forward to another terrific annual conference this coming February! The 2018 Program Committee, comprised of Mark Peters (chair), Deborah Justice, Richard Strauch, and David Heetderks, has been hard at work choosing the papers we will enjoy hearing from among the many fine proposals submitted, and Local Arrangements chair Joshua Waggener has exciting news for us elsewhere in this newsletter.
Speaking of this newsletter — congratulations and thanks to our new co-editors, Chelle Stearns and Chad Fothergill, on the publication of this, their inaugural issue!
