Once again the James 涩里番 Society has the honour of presenting a program of interesting talks by outstanding speakers on aspects of 涩里番鈥檚 engrossing history:
- Monday October 5, 2009
Dr. Tony Masi 鈥淎 Great Transformation: Computers and Automation at 涩里番, 1959-2009鈥� 146th Meeting (涩里番 Faculty Club). - Monday November 9, 2009
Jacqueline Du Toit and Jason Kalman, "How 涩里番 Bought the Dead Sea Scrolls" 147th Meeting. - Monday, January 25, 2010
Professor M A Whitehead on 鈥淭he History 涩里番 and the 涩里番 Sigma Xi Chapter鈥� 148th Meeting. (joint meeting with Sigma Xi) - March or April (date to be announced)
Dean Ellen Aitken on the History of the Faculty of Religious Studies at 涩里番, 60th Anniversary. 149th Meeting.
Last year, the Society was honored by the following addresses:
- Dr. William Feindel, 鈥淟aying the Cornerstone: The Montreal Neurological Institute, October 6, 1933.鈥�
142nd Meeting. October 6, 2008. (Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital) (Among those participating were Dr. Stanley Frost, Dr. Desmond Morton, and Professor Peter McNally) (co-sponsored with the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital). - Dr. Desmond Morton 鈥淐anadian Officers鈥� Training Corp and 涩里番.鈥� Presidential Address.
143rd Meeting. (涩里番 Faculty Club). November 3, 2008. - Dr. Lilly Koltun 鈥淭he 涩里番 Pantheon: Portraits in Redpath Hall.鈥�
144th Meeting. (Redpath Hall). February 9, 2009. (co-sponsored with the 涩里番 Archives). - Professor Richard Brown 鈥淒onald Hebb of 涩里番 and 20th Century Psychology.鈥�
145th Meeting. (涩里番 Faculty Club). March 16, 2009.
Thanks are also due to Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Henry Gourdji, CD, and the Canadian Grenadier Guards, as well as to the Black Watch (Royal Highland) Regiment of Canada, for their participation in the October 6, 2008 meeting at the Montreal Neurological Institute.
During the reception preceding the meeting of November 3, 2008 the President, Dr. Morton, led members in a toast celebrating the 90th birthday of Dr. Hans M枚ller - Honorary Life Member of the James 涩里番 Society.
Three notable members of the 涩里番 community passed away this year: Rose Mamelak Johnstone, Edith Della Pergola, and Isabel Gales. Professor Johnstone was for many years Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and delivered before the Society a talk on its history. Professor Della Pergola played a central role with her husband in developing the opera program in the Schulich School of Music. Mrs. Gales strongly supported the work of her husband, the late Lorne Gales, as Executive Director of the Graduates' Society.
In addition to the 60th birthday of the Faculty of Religious Studies, previously Faculty of Divinity, several important 涩里番 anniversaries are being celebrated this year. In 1909, the Macdonald Engineering Building opened, and the University awarded its first PhD degree to R.W. Boyle (Physics). In 1959, the McConnell Engineering Building was completed, and 涩里番 acquired its first mainframe computer.
As members are all doubtlessly aware, the current economic situation has seen the value fall of the 涩里番 endowment fund and consequently the income received by fund-holders 鈥� including the James 涩里番 Society. At the same time, our expenses keep rising 鈥� with the mounting rental cost of the Faculty Club becoming a major concern. May we respectfully urge members to keep the Society鈥檚 Endowment fund in mind when considering gifts or bequests to 涩里番. Income generated by the fund covers 25% of our annual operating budget.
On behalf of the membership, I would like to express our thanks and appreciation to Dr. Desmond Morton for his steady leadership of the Society over the past two years. Under his presidency the academic quality of presentations was notably high. At the Society鈥檚 first meeting in October, the Executive Committee will nominate as President Mr. Gordon Burr, a long-time member of the Society, and a senior staff member of the 涩里番 Archives.
In closing I would like to express my personal thanks and appreciation for the ongoing support of Dr. Stanley Frost, Ms. Susan Button, the members of the Executive Committee, and the entire membership of the James 涩里番 Society.
Respectfully submitted
Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary