JHL’s info sheet on how the
SOUTHWESTERN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (SSA) WORKS
As one of the two largest affiliates of the Southwestern Social Science Association (SSSA), the SSA meets annually with five other disciplinary groups – Political Science, History, Economics, Social Work, International Studies – and the Women’s and Gender Studies interdisciplinary group. The opportunity for a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary program and stimulation is unique for a regional organization, giving us expanded networks of colleagues. We are the double S A – SSA and part of the triple S A – SSSA.
The SSSA meets typically from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. The SSSA Executive Council includes one or two officers from each affiliate and SSSA officers – one who serves several years advancing through leadership positions and several elected to tasks like secretary, treasurer, general program chair, and an appointed Executive Director, and it meets Wednesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon, and Saturday morning. A rotation scheme shares leadership across the affiliates so that this year, Douglas Eckberg, a sociologist from Winthrop University, is the current President-Elect, to be SSSA President 2010.
Our annual meeting is often during Holy Week of the Christian calendar (this is also often Passover week) as this affords us cheaper hotel bookings, particularly in New Orleans and San Antonio where we used to meet almost two out of every three years. Our recent Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and now Denver sites are basically the result of Katrina taking out New Orleans. Last year we hired a part-time Executive Director for the first time in the history of the SSSA, a mostly voluntary leadership organization. He is Peter Wielhouwer of Western Michigan University. He has the convention direction, site selection, contract negotiation, and website responsibilities. The editorial work of the SSQ is another paid position. In 2010 we meet in Houston. Typically 1000 or more attend the SSSA. Lots of students get their first professional association experience.
The primary sessions of the SSSA run for 75 minutes with 15 minutes break between from 8:30am-5:30pm Thursday and Friday and 8:30am-1pm Saturday. Four papers are ideal or three with a discussant, but given submissions we sometimes find five or six in a session. SSA Poster sessions use two consecutive time slots for more browsing time. On the schedule Thursday late afternoon is typically a SSSA major event/reception. Friday has affiliate and SSSA business meetings as well as sessions. Various committees meet throughout the time and the Presidents of the affiliates are responsible to nominate people to serve three years on Nominations, Budget and Financial Policy, Site Selection, Editorial Policy, Membership, and Resolutions. Affiliate program chairs and treasurers usually serve on their SSSA respective committees.
The SSA is governed by an Executive Council of at least twelve (four elected officers – past-President (who chairs nominations), President (who conducts business meetings), President-Elect (who serves as Program Chair), Vice President (who runs the Silent Auction for the American Sociological Association’s Minority Fellowship Program and is elected to serve four years advancing up the leadership ladder), four elected members (two elected each year for two year terms), two elected student members (one elected each year for two year term), and three officers appointed by the President, Secretary-Treasurer, Historian, and Parliamentarian who serve for three years. So every year we are looking for 8 members to run for two council seats, one student seat, (two year terms) and vice president (four year term). Typically the Executive Council meets twice, 10am Thursday and 7:30am Friday for breakfast and completing business. The General Membership Business Meeting is Friday at 5:30pm for one hour ahead of a 6:30pm President’s Reception.
The SSA also has several committees with chairs appointed by the President. WE WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION. Volunteer NOW to organize/chair a session at the annual meeting or be nominated for a committee assignment or office (sign up sheets at the business meeting and reception on Friday afternoon), in the FALL pay dues and submit paper/poster to session organizers, in WINTER VOTE for the leadership you want (we need your updated email with dues as this task is now done electronically ahead of the annual meeting), in SPRING serve on a committee, contribute, bid, and buy an item from the Silent Auction, stay at the convention hotel (our meeting rooms are free as long as we make a reservation quota negotiated with the hotel), and encourage others to join. Check us out on line at www.swsociology.org or http://www.txwes.edu/sociology/swsociology.htm maintained by Sara Horsfall, SSA President 2010.
SSA income is based on membership annual dues (Wiley collects) & registration/attendance at the annual meeting (Peter Wielhouwer or SSSA website www.sssaonline.org ). We get a proportionate amount of these funds (based on membership and conference attendance), the rest fund the SSSA conference and Executive office. SSA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational association so any contributions are tax deductible and welcome. There is some interest from our reserve funds. We award up to $1200 in prizes annually for Distinguished, Doctoral, Masters, Undergraduate Papers and new Poster Competitions.