July 2005

ASA Launches Member-Get-A-Member Campaign

• From now until August 30, the American Sociological Association challenges ASA members to encourage their colleagues, students, and others interested in the discipline of sociology to join ASA for 2005, our centennial year. Each current member who sponsors a new member is eligible for special recognition and 2006 rewards. Join us as we make our 100 th year a record-breaking one! Read more.

Race, Ethnicity, and the Health of Americans

• A new report "Race, Ethnicity, and the Health of Americans" by Roberta Spalter-Roth, Terri Ann Lowenthal, and Mercedes Rubio is now available online. This is the second report in the Sydney S. Spivack centennial series, "How Race and Ethnicity Matter." This report describes and explains the social causes of marked differences in life expectancy, disease, and mortality among different race and ethnic groups.

And the Winners Are . . . .

• ASA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2005 membership rewards drawing. All members as of July 15 were eligible for one of four prizes. Names were drawn using a computerized random selection from the membership database. Congratulations to the following members:

  Apple iPod Mini Digital Audio Player— Beth Schaefer Caniglia, Oklahoma State University

  Kodak EasyShare Digital Camera with Printer Dock— James Gramlich, University of Illinois-Chicago

  Polaroid 8” Widescreen Portable DVD Player with Carrying Case— Jason Rodriquez, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

  Magnavox Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder— Gary Crow, University of Utah

2005 Annual Meeting . . . Join Us in Philadelphia!

• ASA preregistration for the 2005 Annual Meeting has closed. Members are encouraged to come to Philadelphia and register when On-Site Registration opens at the Philadelphia Marriott on Friday afternoon, August 12.
• Plan to arrive in Philadelphia in time for the opening activities on Friday, August 12. There are late afternoon sessions co-sponsored at the ABS and SSSP meetings, and the Opening ASA Plenary begins at 7:00 p.m. that evening. Be there to receive a centennial welcome from ASA President Troy Duster, see the premiere of the short documentary film on the founding of the ASA accompanied by succinct statements on each President’s core idea or observation, and listen to discussion of the social implications and aftermath of the tsunami that struck South Asia and East Africa in December. Afterwards, lift a glass at the Welcoming Party to celebrate the beginning of this centennial meeting!
• Philadelphia is a great place for a meeting. ASA member Wendy Baldwin, who just attended the BIO meeting held in Philadelphia, says, “The location was great! The Reading Terminal Market is real tradition for great casual food, the historic buildings make great diversions, and the logistics were excellent. And, nothing beats the Philadelphia Art Museum. I am sure that ASA members will have a good time there.” So, if you are still dithering about attending the 100 th Annual Meeting, hop off that fence and make plans to get yourself to Philadelphia. Rooms are still available at the Philadelphia Marriott, headquarters for this centennial meeting. Reservations may be made online until July 22; see the ASA Housing page for more information.
• Aching to discuss the current political situation(s) in the U.S.? Don’t miss the two mid-day plenary sessions during the upcoming Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. “Comparative Perspectives on the Rightward Turn in U.S. Politics” (co-sponsored by ABS, SSSP, and SWS) presents perspectives from an historian, two legal scholars and a social analyst on Saturday, August 13, at 12:30 p.m. “The Shifting Political Terrain” at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, August 15, features observations by Kevin Phillips, author of Wealth and Democracy, with commentaries from Patricia Hill Collins (University of Cincinnati) and Arlie Hochschild (UC-Berkeley).
• The Task Force on Institutionalizing Public Sociology wants to hear from you! On Saturday, August 13 from 2:30-4:10 p.m. at the Philadelphia Marriott, join in the Open Forum. Hear about the work the Task Force has done and comment on ways you think public sociology can and should (or not) be institutionalized in ASA and in departments. For example, the Task Force has gathered examples of public sociology to show the scope and variety of this work. They have drafted guidelines for promotion and tenure, to include and evaluate public sociology. Check the ASA website in late July for drafts of their work. Come with your comments to help the Task Force make important, useful, and practical recommendations to ASA Council.

From Footnotes . . .

• Barbara Schneider to Edit Sociology of Education
• Full-Time Faculty Salaries Sink in Academic Year 2004-2005
• NIDA Invested $19.5 Million in Sociologist-Led Research in FY04
• Sociological Skills Used in the Capture of Saddam Hussein . . . Discuss this article in the Member Forum

More from the July/August 2005 issue . . .

Visit the ASA website at www2.asanet.org!

For assistance or information, contact membership@asanet.org.

View June 2005 Member News & Notes

View May 2005 Member News & Notes