APSA Meeting Siting

Toronto 2009 Annual Meeting Citing Issue

In September 2008, the APSA was presented a petition to reconsider holding our 2009 Annual Meeting in Toronto Canada. Petitioners raised questions about the protection of “civil rights and liberties of members to free speech and academic freedom” in Canada. More. . .

APSA Council Reports and Decisions on Meeting Siting

August 2008 Message from Dianne Pinderhughes

Dear Colleagues,

After their meeting in late June to consider APSA's policy for selecting sites for our meetings and the meeting scheduled for 2012 in New Orleans, the APSA Council wanted to be sure that resources from the Council meeting were available to APSA members. These resources include the report from the Council Siting Committee that contains summaries of the comments submitted by APSA members. I've asked the APSA office to post these materials and a summary of the Council discussion, decisions, and votes on the website, and these are now available here.

The Council deliberation was collegial, thoughtful, learned, and deeply principled. The materials that have been posted online highlight the great variety of perspectives and values that the Council sought to balance. I encourage everyone to delve into the materials that are available here.

In taking action, the Council adopted clear new language presuming that state laws that restrict rights for same-sex partners create an unwelcoming environment at our meetings. This language was incorporated into APSA siting policy to be assessed city by city in the states where we meet. The Council also framed a distinctive new activity for the Association, to engage publicly in communities where we meet on important questions that relate to our meeting sites; and to enhance support for intellectual and scholarly approaches to such issues. The Council also voted to continue with our meeting in New Orleans in 2012. I believe these decisions have moved APSA forward in important, balanced, and inclusive ways and that this has been achieved within the spectrum of APSA's core purposes.

The Annual Meeting Co-Chairs, Jane Junn and Ed Keller, have scheduled a plenary session on the new shape of APSA's meeting siting policy at our upcoming meeting in Boston for Thursday morning, August 28, at 10:15 a.m. I welcome you there, and urge you to review the Council materials that are online.

Sincerely,

Dianne Pinderhughes
President

APSA Meeting Site Selection Policy and the Decision to Meet in New Orleans in 2012

At the request of President Dianne Pinderhughes, and the APSA Council, I have compiled background materials here about the Council’s recent decision on the siting of APSA meetings, and on the New Orleans meeting in 2012. The materials provided under Part I provide a brief background summary. The material under Part II amplifies this and has links to further background reading, including the report and recommendations of the Council Committee on Siting.

I encourage all members to review these materials, and I welcome any questions.

Michael Brintnall
Executive Director

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Background Materials