Conference Registration.  First, although you can certainly register on site, to save a bit of money we would encourage you to preregister for the conference.  The membership dues and conference registration form is located at the following link for the MSSA webpage Membership and Conference.  Registration forms are to be sent to Sec-Treas. Jamie Baird and must be postmarked by Friday, October 7 – THAT’S TOMORROW.

Hotel Reservations.   Again, you can obviously reserve a room at any time before the conference (based on availability, of course).  However, to ensure that you get a room and get it at the conference rate for the hotel you’ll need to make your reservation before Tuesday, October 11 – THAT’S NEXT WEEK.  Reservations can be made by following this link: http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/L/LITMBDT-SSA-20111025/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG 
or, by calling the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel directly at 501-372-4371.  Be sure to use the group code: SSA.

Audio-Visual Equipment:  Finally, Program Chair, Mark Konty, has asked me to remind all presenters to contact him immediately with any requests for audio visual equipment.  He can be reached at: MSSA11@roadrunner.com.  Mark may not be able to meet all requests, but there is no way he can fill requests that aren’t made.

I’m certainly looking forward to this conference.  The membership has contributed to making this a fascinating program, the Program Chair has arranged for interesting speakers and activities, the location is incredible and there will be ample opportunities for stimulating experiences of all kinds.

Take care,
Tim Gongaware
MSSA Forum Editor/Webmaster

The MidSouth Sociological Association’s 37th Annual Meeting

Southern Exceptionalism: The Good, the Bad, and the “Peculiar”

October 26-29, 2011—Doubletree Hotel—Little Rock, AR

There are a few more spaces available on the program.  If you, or a student, have a paper that you would like to present, please contact the Program Chair, Mark Konty, MSSA11@roadrunner.com as soon as possible.

The plenary speaker is Heidi Beirich, Research Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center.  We are also planning a guided tour of the Bill Clinton Presidential Library.  Lots of good food and music is also planned.

 More information on the annual meeting, as well as hotel reservation information, can be found on our website: www.midsouthsoc.org

For discussion about travel plans, room sharing, or just to ask some questions, find us on Facebook, MSSA11.

I wanted to let everyone know that the webpage for the conference has been updated to include two new pieces of information.  First of all, the membership renewal and conference registration form has been added.  Second, a weblink and information to make hotel reservations has been added as well.  Both of these can be found at the 2011 Conference page (http://www.midsouthsoc.org/?page_id=49).

I certainly hope everyone has been having an enjoyable and/or productive summer.

Take care,

Dr. Tim Gongaware
MSSA Webmaster, Forum Editor

This year we will be joining the 21st century at MSSA.  What does that mean?  It means we will have voting online for the first time.  Later this year, I will be sending out a link where you will go to vote.  We expect this to make voting easier, less costly, and we believe it will lead to increased voter participation. – Kim Davies, Chair of Nominations

Member Publications

Alibeli, M and N. White. 2011. “The Structure of Environmental Concern. International.” Journal of Business and Social Science. 2(4): 1-8.

Alibeli, M. and A.Yaghi. 2011. “Levels of Concern about Water Problems in Five Arab Countries. International.” Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 1(2): 167-173.

Alibeli, M and Neil White. 2011. “Gender and Environmental Concern in the Middle East.” Perspective on Global Development and Technology. 10(1): 156-170.

Alibeli, M and Karen Frye. 2011. “Tribal Law and Peace Restoration in Society: The Case of ‘al-jala’ Tribal Law in Jordan.” International Journal of Business and Social Science. 2(3): 46-51.

Burley, David. 2010. Losing Ground: Identity and Land Loss in Coastal Louisiana. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.  For information go to http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/1279.

Das, Shyamal, Lisa Eargle, and Ashraf Esmail. 2011. “Economic Reforms, Values, and Politics as Determinants of Cross-National Sex Trafficking Network in Developing Country: A Theoretical Overture Using Global Commodity Chain Approach.”  Race, Gender, Class, 18(1-2).

Gongaware, Timothy B. 2011. “Keying the Past to the Present: Collective Memories and Continuity in Collective Identity Change.” Social Movement Studies 10(1): 39-54.

Ito, Kinko.  2011.  A Sociology of Japanese Ladies’ Comics: Images of the Life, Loves, and Sexual Fantasies of Adult Japanese Women.  NY: Mellen Press. For information go to MellenPress.com

Kwenda, Maxwell N. 2011 “Factors Affecting Performance in an Introductory Sociology Course” College Teaching 59(2):1-6.

Rainey-Brown, S. & Johnson, G. 2011. Environmental Justice Reader: Addressing the History, Issues, Policy & Change. NY: Linus Publications.
For information go to http://www.linusbooks.com/more_details.php?id=238 or contact the publishing company at 631-274-5700.

Rich, Brian L. 2010. “Ana Romero and Death Prisons for the Innocent.” Latino Studies 8 (3): 399-410.

Roberts, Jonathan and Thomas J. Durant Jr., 2010.  A History of the Charity Hospitals of Louisiana: A Story of Poverty, Politics, Healthcare, and the Public Interest.  NY: Mellen Press.  For information go to MellenPress.com

Job Postings

University of Alabama in Huntsville. The Department of Sociology invites applications for a one-year Lecturer position to begin August 2011. Successful candidates will teach a total of eight courses during the 2011-12 academic year: 4 in Fall 2011, two in Spring 2012 and two in Summer 2012. We are looking for someone who can teach several sections of Introduction to Sociology, one section of Sociological Theory, and possibly one or two other courses that fulfill both the candidate’s interests and the needs of the department. A Ph.D. with a record of excellent teaching is preferred, but high-quality ABD applicants will be seriously considered as well. Applications should include Curriculum Vitae, contact information for three references (including name, address, phone number and email address), and transcripts and be sent to Bhavani Sitaraman, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899. All materials may be submitted via email tositarab@uah.edu. Our review of applications will begin March 1, 2011, but will continue until the hiring process is complete. The University of Alabama in Huntsville is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action institution, and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Georgia College and State University The College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia College & State University invites applications for Department Chair of Department of Government and Sociology. This position is tenure-track at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, with a twelve-month appointment and reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Department of Government and Sociology currently offers bachelors degrees in criminal justice, political science, and sociology and masters degrees in criminal justice, logistics management, and public administration. The department consists of 24 full-time faculty, one professional staff, and two administrative staff members.. For more information about the department, visit http://www.gcsu.edu/gov/ .
Successful candidates will have the following qualifications: 1) a doctoral degree in an appropriate field, 2) relevant academic administrative experience, 3) excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, 4) a strong commitment to the liberal arts mission of the college and university, 5) a record of effective teaching and scholarly activity within the candidate’s area of specialization, and 6) a commitment to fostering academic excellence.
The department chair must be both faculty-oriented and student-oriented and must have a well developed sense of fairness and integrity. Teaching courses in one’s discipline is expected.
Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the position is filled. Interested candidates should apply online at https://www.gcsujobs.com and include a letter of application, vita, statement of administrative philosophy, statement of teaching philosophy, and the names and contact information (address, email address, and telephone number) of at least three references.
As the University System of Georgia’s designated public liberal arts university, Georgia College & State University is committed to combining the educational experiences typical of esteemed private liberal arts colleges with the affordability of public higher education. GCSU is a residential learning community that emphasizes undergraduate education and offers selected graduate programs. The faculty is dedicated to challenging students and fostering excellence in the classroom and beyond. GCSU seeks to endow its graduates with a passion for achievement, a lifelong curiosity, and exuberance for learning. GCSU is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC).
Georgia is an Open Records state. The finalist will be required to submit to a background investigation. GCSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution committed to cultural, racial, and ethnic communities and to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is expected that successful candidates share these commitments. Persons who need reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in the application process should contact the Division of Human Resources at 478-445-5596.

Rochester Institute of Technology. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Rochester Institute of Technology invites applications for a one-year, renewable position for a Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology, beginning late August, 2011. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Sociology, teaching experience, and an ability to teach introductory and upper-division courses in sociology and urban studies. Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to areas of urban development or communities in global perspective. We are seeking individuals who are committed to contributing to RIT’s core values, honor code, and statement of diversity.

QUALIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED: Ph.D. in Sociology, teaching experience, and an ability to teach introductory and upper-division courses in sociology and urban studies
PREFERRED: Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to areas of urban development or communities in global perspective. Preference will be given to candidates with the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the college’s continuing commitment to cultural diversity, pluralism, and individual differences.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu. KEYWORD Search: IRC 45015. Please submit your letter of application; a curriculum vita; a sample of your written work; and the names, addresses and phone numbers for three references. You can contact the search committee with questions on the position at:

Christine Kray, Department Chair
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Rochester Institute of Technology
18 Lomb Memorial Dr.
Rochester, NY 14623-5604
Christine.kray@rit.edu
Tel. 585-475-4686

Application deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. We are trying to fill the position quickly, and so applicants are encouraged to apply no later than March 31, 2011. The Rochester Institute of Technology is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All individuals with the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the university’s continuing commitment to cultural diversity, pluralism, and individual differences are encouraged to make application.

With spring almost upon us it is time to begin thinking about the 2011 MSSA Annual Conference (October 26-29 in Little Rock, Arkansas).  Now, I’m sure I’ll get grief for admitting this, but truth be told I wasn’t initially looking forward to going to Little Rock.  However, when I went to the mid-year meeting earlier this month, I had the chance to spend a few days exploring the area and had a fantastic time!  We are at a top notch hotel that is very nicely laid out with excellent service and staff.  The hotel is located right along the river that has a wonderful set of walking trails (which were enjoyable despite the snow coming down).  We are located downtown within walking distance of some incredible sites, intriguing museums and yummy places to eat.  Given all this as well as the many opportunities for other experiences being developed by Program Chair Mark Konty, I’m looking forward to going back this fall and I would encourage all of you to start thinking about how you’ll be participating in this year’s conference.  Below you will find announcements related to the conference including the Call for Papers as well as announcements/deadlines regarding the Graduate “Paper of Distinction” Award, the Undergraduate Paper Competition, the Stanford M. Lyman Distinguished Book Award and the Stanford Lyman Memorial Scholarship.

Looking forward to a fantastic spring.

Take care,
Tim Gongaware
MSSA Forum Editor &  Webmaster

Call for Papers

Southern Exceptionalism:
The Good, the Bad, and the “Peculiar”

October 26-29, 2011—Doubletree Hotel—Little Rock, AR

Send your abstracts to one of the area organizers listed below.  If you are not sure where to send your abstract please contact one of the organizers or contact me, Dr. Mark Konty, at mssa11@roadrunner.com. 

Deadline for submissions is May 31, 2011.

• Inequality/Stratification:  David Hunt: hdhunt@aug.edu
• Race/Ethnicity:  Jessica Pardee: jwpgss@rit.edu
• Gender/Sexuality:  Jackie Eller: jaeller@MTSU.EDU
• Crime/Law/Deviance:  David May: David.May@eku.edu
• Social Movements:  Ruth Chananie-Hill: rchill@uni.edu
• Work and Labor:  Terrell Hayes: thayes@highpoint.edu
• Environmental:   Shirley Rainey-Brown: raineysa@apsu.edu
• Culture:  Tim Gongaware: gongawar.timo@uwlax.edu
• Health/Aging:  Ollie G. Christian: ocmssa@yahoo.com
• Family:  Roma Hanks: rhanks@usouthal.edu
• Religion:  John Lynxwiler: jlynxwil@mail.ucf.edu

The Doubletree Hotel is located in downtown Little Rock, an area known for its music, pubs and food.  We are planning a private guided tour of the Clinton Library for Thursday evening.  For Friday’s President’s Reception I’m asking our musicians to bring instruments for a jam session that follows on the heels of a special panel on southern music.  You don’t want to miss the fun we’re going to have this year so get your abstracts in early.  If you have any questions check the website or contact the Program Chair, Dr. Mark Konty, at mssa11@roadrunner.com.

2011 GRADUATE STUDENT “PAPER OF DISTINCTION”AWARD

(Deadline: June 30, 2011)

The Mid-South Sociological Association invites the submission of student papers for the annual Graduate Student Paper Session and “Paper of Distinction” Award. The award process is open to graduate students who are members, or become members, of the Mid-South Sociological Association. Among the papers submitted, an award will be presented to any paper that is reviewed and evaluated as possessing a high level of originality and significant potential for contribution to the discipline. If such a paper is so identified, the author(s) will be presented with a “Paper of Distinction” award at the MSSA Banquet. The award will also include editorial review assistance from suitable persons so identified by the Vice President in coordination with the Editors of Sociological Spectrum.

Rules for the 2011 Award Process

Papers may be submitted by the graduate student or nominated by faculty, but in any case, each paper must be accompanied by a cover letter requesting consideration for the Graduate Student “Paper of Distinction” Award. The letter must include the title of the paper, author(s) of the paper, the school affiliation, telephone number, and email address (if available) of the author(s). The author’s name and title of the paper should be included on the title page only. The title of the paper must be repeated at the top of the first page of the text. Additionally:

• The maximum length of an eligible paper shall be 25 double spaced pages of text, not counting abstract, reference, tables, and figures.
• Papers may be co-authored with a maximum of three student authors, but no faculty.
• Papers must not have been submitted for publication prior to submission for award consideration.

 Papers should be submitted as a Word document by email to Dr. David G. LoConto at dloconto@jsu.edu by June 30, 2011. If you have any questions regarding the competition, please feel free to contact Dr. LoConto at the email address above or by phone at (782)782-5621. To receive full recognition for participation, submission must meet deadlines and participants must present their papers to the 2011 Annual Meeting October 26-29 in Little Rock, AR. 

Students are strongly encouraged to seek faculty advice prior to submission of papers.

2011 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION

(Deadline:  June 30, 2011)

The Mid-South Sociological Association invites the submission of student papers for its annual undergraduate student paper competition. The competition is open to students in the Mid-South Region and to other undergraduate students who are members of the Mid-South Sociological Association. A prize of $50 will be awarded for the best paper. The authors of the papers selected will be presented with certificates of merit after presentations of papers at the 2011 MSSA Annual Meeting.

Rules for the 2011 Competition

• Each paper must be accompanied by a cover letter requesting participation in the undergraduate competition session. The letter must include the title of the paper, author(s) of the paper, the school affiliation, the email address and the telephone number of the author(s).
• The maximum length of an eligible paper shall be 20 double-spaced pages of text, not counting abstract, references, tables, and figures.
• Papers may be co-authored with a maximum of three student authors, but not by graduate students or faculty.
• Papers must not have been submitted for publication prior to submission for this competition.

 Each of the submissions will be evaluated by a committee of scholars based on (1) originality, (2) contribution or potential contribution to the discipline, (3) clarity of arguments, and (4) mechanics (i.e. neatness, use of an appropriate format, grammar, spelling, etc.).  To receive full recognition for participation, submissions must meet deadlines and participants must present their papers at the 2011 meetings in Little Rock, AR (October 26-29, 2011).

Papers (in word format) should be submitted by email to Dr. Ruth Chananie-Hill at rchill@uni.edu by June 30, 2011. If you have any questions regarding the competition, please feel free to contact Dr. Chananie-Hill at the email address above or by phone at (319-273-7242).

Students are strongly encouraged to seek faculty advice prior to submission of papers.

The Stanford M. Lyman Distinguished Book Award

(Deadline: June 1, 2011)

The Stanford M. Lyman Distinguished Book Award was established in memory of Stan Lyman in order to honor MSSA members whose recently published work makes a significant contribution to the field of sociology. Please consider nominating one of your colleagues for this prestigious award. Keep in mind the following:

• The book must be an original work (and can be sole authored or co-authored).
• The work must have been published within the last three years (thus a book published between 2008 and 2010 is eligible).
• Textbooks and edited editions are not eligible.
• The author must be a current member in the Mid-South Sociological Association, and must have been a member for at least three years.

Be sure to include the following in your nomination:

• The complete citation for the book (author/s, date published, title, publisher)
• Author/s contact information (email, affiliation, phone number if possible).
• Publisher contact information (e.g., contact person, phone number, and ISBN).
• A brief description of the book and why you believe it should be nominated.

The deadline for submitting a book for consideration by the Book Selection Committee is June 1, 2011.  Nominations should be sent (via email) to:

Dr. Thomas J. Durant, Jr.
Louisiana State University
socdua@lsu.edu
Nominations may also be faxed (225-578- 5102), Attention: Thomas Durant

Stanford Lyman Memorial Scholarship
($1,000.00)

(Deadline: September 1, 2011)

Eligibility requirements:

1. Ph.D. candidate working on a dissertation in sociological theory, symbolic interaction, race relations, law, or ethics.
2. Applicant must be receiving the degree from an institution within the MSSA member states (see http://www.midsouthsoc.org/ for more information) or from an institution which has active MSSA student/faculty memberships.

Submission information:

Each applicant is to submit the following:

1. Letter of introduction which includes a brief discussion of how the applicant’s work reflects Stanford Lyman’s tradition within sociology
   • Description of dissertation research project, such as a research proposal – approximately 5 pages,
   • Letter of support from the applicant’s dissertation committee chair which evaluates the dissertation project,
   • Timetable for completion of the dissertation and degree, and
   • Current vitae.
2. Deadline September 1, 2011. The scholarship will be announced at the fall MSSA conference banquet, but the committee does reserve the right not to award the scholarship in any given year.
3. Applications may be sent by mail or email (WORD attachment only) to the scholarship coordinator at the following address:

John Lynxwiler
Department of Sociology
4000 Central Florida Blvd.
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL 32816-1360
jlynxwil@mail.ucf.edu

For more information contact Professor Lynxwiler by email or 321-433-7960

Greetings members of the Mid-South Sociological Association. 

• First – I wanted to remind everyone that the MSSA Executive Committee will be meeting in Little Rock on February 5th.  So, if there is something that you think the committee needs to discuss, please drop a note to MSSA President Roma Hanks at rhanks@usouthal.edu.
• Second, in case you missed it, MSSA member Dr. David Knottnerus has two new publications:
  • Ulsperger, Jason and J. David Knottnerus.  2011.  Elder Care Catastrophe: Rituals of Abuse in Nursing Homes – and What You can Do About It.  Paradigm Publishers.
  • Knottnerus, J. David.  2011.  Rituals as a Missing Link: Sociology, Structural Ritualization Theory, and Research.  Paradigm Publishers.
• If you have any publications, awards or events you would like us to announce, please just drop me a note and I’ll include it in the next posting.
• Finally, below you will find a discussin of the 2011 MSSA Annual Meeting theme provided by President-Elect and Program Chair Dr. Mark Konty.  Please be sure to pay attention to the discussion about how papers are to be submitted for the conference.

2011 MSSA Annual Meeting

October 26-29, 2011 - Doubletree Hotel - Little Rock, AR

Southern Exceptionalism:
The Good, the Bad, and the “Peculiar”

Compare the southern states to any other region in the United States, and by nearly every quantitative and qualitative indicator The South is exceptional – ranking either at the top or the bottom of the comparison.  Some of these are “good”.  Every uniquely American musical form – blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, rock-n-roll – has its roots in The South.  The South is known for its unique cuisines that influence American cooking.  The South is also a very spiritual and patriotic region, reporting the highest rates of religious and military participation.  With the good goes the “bad”.  The South ranks highest in poverty, crime, incarceration, unemployment, and divorce.  Then there is the “peculiar” – that which is or has been unique – beginning with what used to be called The South’s “peculiar institution”: southern slavery.  Sociologists such as Loïc Wacquant and David Garland explore how The South’s institution of slavery spun off further “peculiar institutions” such as Jim Crow, segregation, the urban ghetto, incarceration and modern capital punishment.  With Southern Exceptionalism, how much of what is peculiar to The South explains the good and the bad?

 Keynote: Heidi Beirich, Ph.D.,
Director of Research, Southern Poverty Law Center 

This year, paper submissions should be sent to topic organizers who will collect all the papers submitted on their broad topic area and arrange them into individual sessions. Below is a list of the topics and the topic organizers.  There will also be some Presidential Panels on music and non-profit organizations.  Any suggestions for other panels or topics are welcome.  

If anyone is unsure of where their paper fits, they can contact the topic organizers or contact me, Dr. Mark Konty, at MSSA11@roadrunner.com and we will find a place for it.  

• Inequality/Stratification -  
• Race/Ethnicity -
• Gender/Sexuality – Jackie Eller: jaeller@mtsu.edu 
• Crime/Law/Deviance – David May: David.May@eku.edu 
• Social Movements – Ruth Chananie-Hill: rchill@uni.edu 
• Work and Labor -Terrell Hayes: thayes@highpoint.edu
• Environmental/Disaster Response – Shirley Rainey-Brown: raineysa@apsu.edu 
• Culture – Tim Gongaware: gongawar.timo@uwlax.edu 
• Health/Aging – Ollie G. Christian: ocmssa@yahoo.com 
• Family – Roma Hanks: rhanks@usouthal.edu 
• Religion – John Lynxwiler: jlynxwil@mail.ucf.edu 

I still need organizers for Inequality/Stratification and for Race/Ethnicity.  So please contact me at MSSA11@roadrunner.com if you are interested in organizing.

Greetings Members of the Mid-South Sociological Association

The  Baton Rouge conference was a rousing success with intriguing papers, wonderfully interactive sessions, and informative plenary events.  Read Admiral Clara Cobb, of the US Public Health Service, provided a thought provoking talk and Friday’s Distinguished Panel seems to have sparked excitement for community engagement.  We reflected with fondness upon our times with friends and colleagues who are now gone – most recently Drs. Cliff Bryant and Larry Hall – and then savored each others company at our annual banquet.   To all of you who attended, thank you for making it such an exciting affair, and for all those who didn’t make it - trust me when I say that your absence was noted and you were missed. While the minutes of the meetings will be posted to the website soon enough, we thought we should notify everyone of award and election winners, of the dates for the 2011 conference to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, and of a few kudos to MSSA members.

Award Winners

Stanford Lyman Memorial Scholarship

Racist Medicine and Contested Citizenships: Migration Of Indian Physicians To The United States And The Paradox Of Return

Wasudha Bhatt, University of Texas at Austin

Graduate Paper Award

The Second Shift and the Nonstandard Shift: How Working Nonstandard Hours Affects the Relationship between Divisions of Household Labor and Fairness Perceptions

Katie James, University of Georgia

 Undergraduate Paper Award

Parental Incarceration:  Broader Implications for Children of Offenders Educational Aspirations and Achievements

Devon Tyron Wade, Louisiana Statue University

Election Results

• President Elect: Mark Konty
• Vice President Elect: Ruth Chananie-Hill
• Chair of Nominations: Kim Davies
• Chair of Committee on Professions: David Knottnerus
• Chair of Committee on Women: Shirley Rainey-Brown.
• Chair of Committee on Small and Community Colleges: Kathy Smith and Anita Bledsoe-Garner

In order to increase the number of members who vote in the elections (there were only 32 voting members this year) we will now be doing online voting when the time comes.

Between now and then, however, please send your nominations for President-Elect, Vice President, the Chair of the Committee on Minorities, the Chair of the Committee on Membership, and the Chair of the Nomination Committee to Nomination Chair Kim Davies.

2011 Annual MSSA Conference

Conference Theme:  Southern Exceptionalism

October 26-29, 2011
Little Rock, Arkansas

Doubletree Hotel
424 West Markham
Little Rock, Arkansas  72201
(501) 372-4371

Member Kudos 

Finally, when I post things to the website, I’d love to be able to highlight the many accomplishments of our members.  So, if you, or a member you know, recently published an article or a book, gave a talk, received an award and/or put on a special event, please send the information to me so that I can include it in the Member Kudos.  This month, I found out that our Chair of the Committee on the Profession has been a rather busy and productive scholar lately: 

• Knottnerus, J. David. Forthcoming. Ritual as a Missing Link: Sociology, Structural Ritualization Theory and Research (November 2010). Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.
• Ulsperger, Jason S. and J. David Knottnerus. Forthcoming. Elder Care Catastrophe: Rituals of Abuse in Nursing Homes – and What You Can Do About It. (November 2010). Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.
• Varner, Monica K. and J. David Knottnerus. Forthcoming. American Golf and the Development of Civility: Rituals of Etiquette in the World of Golf (August 2010).  Koln, Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.

Well, that’s it for now.  As promised, we are going to do our best not to abuse this newsletter function and will keep the posts down to only about one per month or everyother month depending on what’s going on.  If you want to discuss what’s happening, ask questions or just converse with other MSSA members, don’t forget about the MSSA-L Listserve.

Sessions/presentations are listed by day, room, and in the index by session.

Per MSSA policy and practice, we cannot guarantee a laptop and projector in every presentation room. We have made every effort to secure presentation equipment from universities in the area of the conference. Three sets have been located so far. These will be available on a first come, first served basis from the registration desk.

We have five concurrent sessions — four paper and one breakout/roundtable. If a laptop and projector are essential to your presentation, you may want to bring your own equipment. Alternatively, you may bring handouts. Each room can accommodate at least 30 participants; the larger rooms hold 50. You are probably safe bringing 25-30 handouts for most sessions.

Looking forward to seeing you in Baton Rouge!

Roma Hanks
2010 Program Chair

If you have any issues or concerns, please direct them to Dr. Roma Hanks at rhanks@usouthal.edu.

We’ll try to keep you up to date as more about the conference comes up.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there

Timothy B. Gongaware, PhD
Vice- President
Editor, MSSA Forum

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

The great book of ages stated it best.
Let us celebrate the life, contributions, talent and time of two late great professors.

Dr. Clifton Dow Bryant was the President of MSSA, 1981-1982. He served the organization well-indeed very well. His contributions to students and colleagues at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the disciplines literature are legendary.

Dr. Larry Hall, Spring Hill College, made excellent contributions to MSSA as well as students and colleagues for decades. He gave unstintingly of time and talent to the discipline of sociology, making it stronger and relevant to the changing times.

Both scholars/leaders gave yeoman service to MSSA.
It is fitting that we “Remember and Reflect”.

Respectfully,
Ollie Christian, President
MSSA

For more information about Dr. Clifton Dow Bryant, please visit:

The Roanoak Times