This is your official invitation to attend the 1997 NCSA meeting at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center on the campus of Appalachian State University.

We will begin by gathering at the Appalachian Cultural Museum at 7 PM Thursday, Feb. 20 for an evening of conversation, entertainment and refreshments. Friday morning, Feb. 21, we will have our official annual meeting.

Registration and sign in, along with morning motivators (coffee and doughnuts), are scheduled for 8-9 AM. Our opening session will feature Catherine Harris as our keynote speaker. Catherine is one of our staunchest and most active members. In addition, she is an advocate at the national level for a more prominent role for state associations in promoting the sociological enterprise. We have asked her to address the role of the state association in the sociological enterprise and are looking forward to hearing her perspective on this issue.

Following our opening session, we will begin concurrent sessions. The theme of this year's meeting is "The Sociological Web: Technology, Teaching and Tools for the 21st Century."

• We do indeed have session planned for those interested in technology. Bob Wortham has put together a session called "Computer and Web Applications for Teaching and Research in Sociology." He, George Conklin, and Chien Ju Huang will explore the use of the Internet to access data bases and websites for teaching and research in sociology.
• Louie Ross will preside in a session entitled "Retooling the Discipline." Louie, along with Scott Boeringer, Richard Dixon and Tom Plaut, will discuss the actual use of technology in the teaching environment.

While technologies may be impressive, they are no better than a student's underlying thinking habits. Mary Beth Collins and Jacque Freeman have organized a session addressing techniques for developing critical thinking among students. This session, "Tools of the Trade," will feature the insights and experiences of Harriet Buchannan, David Pipes and Mataleen Thomas.

For students, we have organized a special session, "What Comes Next." Suzanne Trask has organized a panel to address the issue of what our newly graduated sociologists can do with their emerging skills and technological expertise. Suzanne has recruited Catherine Harris, Fred Milano, and Jan Rienerth to discuss this issue.

There are always political issues of concern to our membership. We have two sessions oriented to such problems.

1. In the first, Wayne Adams has organized a panel to explore "The Politics of Course Coordination." The specific issue here focuses upon the standardization of sociology course across community college and university boundaries. There are implications for academic freedom, curriculum building, and course content. Wayne has asked Jan Rienerth to address these issues from the perspective of a university instructor; Jacque and David Freeman provide the viewpoints of community college instructors.
2. Our second issue-oriented session is entitled simply "Issues for Faculty." The concerns of this panel follow directly from meetings of some of our members with members of the legislature. Maxine Thompson will preside at this session and has asked Paul Leubke and Catherine Zimmer to provide their expertise to this discussion.

• 1. The Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. Phone 1-704-262-2204. Single: $48. Double: $52. Each additional person up to four per room: $5. (Rates do not include 9% tax.) This is where we will be meeting. The accommodations are pretty nice, and everything is accessible.
• 2. The Quality Inn. Phone: 1-800-362-2777. Single: $42. Double: $48. (Rates do not include 9% tax.) The Quality Inn is near the campus (as is most everything in Boone). The accommodations are about as good as the Broyhill, although you are about a mile from the convention center.
• 3. The Scottish Inn. Phone: 1-800-524-5214. Single or Double: $43. (Rates do not include 9% tax.) You might try this inn if you're looking for an adventure.

  The High Country is a major tourist center, and there are many more accommodations in varying proximity to Appalachian State. If you wish to explore these alternatives, contact the Boone Convention and Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-852-9506.

  How Do I Get There?

  We have provided a map to the Broyhill. For those who enjoy the challenge of written directions, here's how you get there.
  • From Winston-Salem, take US 421 to Yadkinville, Wilksboro, and Boone. As you enter Boone, you will arrive at a stop light with a SERVCO Station on your right and a HARDEE'S diagonally to your right across the intersection. Counting this stop light as one, move through the intersection and get in the right lane. Continue to stoplight seven (MAST STORE, BOONE POST OFFICE on right). Turn left at this intersection and continue to next stop light (WALKER HALL on your left diagonal). Continue to the top of the hill, and you will have arrived at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center.
  • From Hickory, take US 321 to Lenoir, Blowing Rock, and Boone. As you enter Boone, you will come to a stop light with the MOUNTAINEER RESTAURANT on your left diagonal. Continuing ahead, you will reach a major intersection (WENDY'S on left, EXXON Station on right); continue ahead through this intersection. At the next stop light (HARDEE'S on left, PIZZA HUT on right), turn left. You are now on the ASU campus. At the next intersection, you will encounter some construction work (POWER PLANT renovation there will be a smoke stack that looks like a bell tower). Counting the stop light at that intersection as one, continue to the fifth light. (WALKER HALL is on your left.) Turn left and continue up the hill to the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center.
  
  

  Council Proposes Changes in Constitution, Annual Dues

  The Executive Council of the NCSA has proposed a number of changes in the Constitution governing this body. These proposed changes will be voted on at the business meeting to be held during the 1997 annual meeting in Boone. The following sections contain changes. In each case the present section is cited first; the proposed section follows.

  Article II. OBJECTIVES Present: The objectives of the Association shall be to stimulate and improve research, instruction and discussion, to encourage cooperative relations among persons engaged in the scientific study of society, and to encourage cooperative relations between academic sociology and other agencies with related interests.
  

  Proposed: The objectives of the Association shall be to stimulate and improve research, teaching, learning and professional development, to foster interaction among persons engaged in the scientific study of society and to encourage cooperative relations between academic sociology, governmental structures and other organizations.
  

  Article IV. OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND ELECTIONS Present: Section 6. The Editor shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Executive Council for a renewable three-year term. The Editor will be responsible to the Publications Committee and publish a newsletter and such other periodicals as the Association may wish to authorize.
  

  Section 7. Candidates for President-Elect and... Proposed: Section 6. The Editor shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Executive Council for an indeterminate term. The Editor will be responsible to the Publications Committee and publish a newsletter and such other periodicals as the Association may wish to authorize. Section 7. The Archivist shall be chosen by the Executive Council for an indeterminate term. Section 8. Candidates for President-Elect and... (Sections following to be renumbered as required.)
  

  Article V. COMMITTEES Present: Section 3. Publications Committee: The President with the consent of the Council shall appoint a chairman of the Publications Committee and such other members as appropriate to the general supervision of the publication activities of the association. Terms of office on the Committee shall be set by the Council. A budget for expenses of publication must be approved by the Committee and the Council, and expenditures under this budget must be approved by the Treasurer. The President may elect to ask the Council to serve as the Publications Committee.
  Section 4. Other Committees shall be appointed by the President as deemed necessary.
  

  Proposed: Section 3. Publications/Media Committee: The President with the consent of the Council shall appoint a chairman of the Publications/Media Committee and such other members as appropriate to the general supervision of the publication and media activities of the Association. Terms of office shall be indeterminate. A budget for expenses of publication must be approved by the Committee and the Council, and expenditures under this budget must be approved by the Treasurer. The President may elect to ask the Council to serve as the Publications/Media Committee.
  Section 4. Legislative/Organizational Liaison Committee: The Legislative/Organizational Liaison Committee shall be appointed by the President with consent of the Executive Council. Terms of office shall be indeterminate. The Legislative/Organizational Liaison Committee shall be responsible for monitoring legislative and other governmental action of concern to the Association and for promoting the interests of the Sociology profession with the North Carolina State Legislature and other appropriate organizations.
  Section 5. Membership Committee: The Membership Committee shall be appointed by the President and shall consist of the Secretary-Treasurer and such other members as deemed advisable. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for monitoring and promoting membership in the Association.
  Section 6. Other committees... (Remaining sections to be renumbered as required.)
  

  In addition, the members of the Executive Council have recommended a dues increase to take effect following the annual meeting. Annual dues will be raised to $10 for regular members and $3 for student members. This proposal will also be voted on during the annual business meeting.
  

  Meet the Candidates for Executive Council, President

  This year the Nominating Committee has found four candidates for the NCSA Executive Council and one candidate willing to stand for office as president-elect. Those on the committee continue to remark on the difficulties of recruiting candidates. NCSA members are invited to write in candidates for these offices should they so desire.

  • Suzanne Trask is the candidate for president-elect.

  • The nominees for the three openings on the NCSA Executive Council are:
    1. Kenneth Land

    2. Christa Reiser

    3. Johnny Underwood

    4. Catherine Zimmer

  
  

  "We appreciate the willingness of these candidates to volunteer their time and talents to support the NCSA, said NCSA President Bob Moxley on behalf of the Nominating Committee. "If others would be willing to serve, now or in the future, we encourage them to make themselves known."
  

  Biographies of the Candidates

  The membership will elect three of the following candidates to serve three-year terms on the NCSA Executive Council.
  

  • Kenneth Land is John Franklin Crowell Professor and Chairman of Sociology at Duke University. He is a social statistician with research interests in demography, criminology, and the sociology of organizations. Dr. Land is the author or coauthor of over 100 articles in refereed journals in the social sciences and statistics and chapters in edited volumes. He has been a member of the NCSA for several years.
    
  • Christa Reiser received the bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue University and a Ph.D. from NC State University. She has taught at East Carolina University since 1974. Her research interests include gender roles and marriage and family. "Being a candidate for the NCSA Executive Council gives me a chance to have input and make a difference," she said. "There is much work that needs to be done in the state."
    
  • Johnny Underwood received the B.A. and M.A. degrees from Appalachian State University. He has also studied at the Asbury Theological Seminary. He currently teaches sociology at Carteret Community College in Morehead City. He is an active member of the NCSA and has expressed a desire to serve the association and the discipline. He is also a member of the Southern Sociological Society. His research interests are race and ethnicity.
    
  • Catherine Zimmer is an associate professor at North Carolina State University. She has spent her career there, starting as an instructor (1987), then becoming an assistant professor (1989) and receiving tenure and promotion (1995). She received an M.A. (1984) and Ph.D. (1989) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "The NCSA has been an important organization for me since 1986 when I presented my first paper at the annual meeting in Greensboro," said Zimmer. "I particularly appreciate the NCSA's emphasis on undergraduate education. By serving on the Executive Council I hope to enhance the visibility and applicability of sociology in North Carolina."
  
  

  Candidate for President-Elect: Suzanne Trask.
  

  The president-elect of the NCSA will serve as the program chair for next year's annual meeting. Following a year as president, this person will also serve for one year as a member of the Executive Council. Suzanne Trask has taught sociology at Salem College in Winston-Salem since 1989. She also serves as chair of the department. She earned the B.A. degree from Drake University, the M.A. from the University of Tennessee, and the Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Prior to taking her present job at Salem College, she had taught at Greenville Technical College (SC), Furman University, and Appalachian State University. Her research and teaching interests include work and occupations, stratification, and urban sociology. She is currently serving on the NCSA Executive Council.
  Note: ballots will be in the printed version of Sociation. Please check your snail mail.

  Make Your Reservations NOW for Annual Meeting in Boone

  
  Advance registration for the 1997 meeting in Boone is $12. Registration at the door will be $15. The cost of the Awards Luncheon is $8; reservations must be made in advance and must be received by Feb. 17. Dues for 1997 are currently $7. Please send your check to Dr. Pat Wyatt, Secretary-Treasurer NCSA, Department of Sociology, Catawba College, Salisbury, NC 28144. Include your mailing address, institutional affiliation, phone number and the events for which your are registering (dues, registration, luncheon).

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