Social Problems Theory Division Newsletter Fall/Winter 2011 Theory Division Chair, 2010-2012 Brian Monahan Department of Sociology Iowa State University Ames, IA 515-294-8379 bmonahan@iastate.edu MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: Greetings! I hope this finds you well. As the calendar turns to 2012, I use this edition of our newsletter to preview important division business to take place over the next few months and to look ahead to the annual meetings in Denver. In this issue of Social Problems Theory News you will find several items of note, including: • details about the upcoming election to determine our next division chair • information about the division’s sessions at the 2012 annual meetings in Denver • a call for submissions to the division’s 2012 Student Paper Competition • a call for nominations for the division’s Outstanding Book Award • information about how you can become a “Meeting Mentor” DIVISION CHAIR ELECTION: My two-year term as Chair of the Social Problems Theory Division is almost complete, which means it is time to select a new chair (the transition will officially take place at the annual meetings in Denver). This process is currently underway. The list of nominations has been sent to the SSSP Administrative Officer. In the coming months, the SSSP Administrative Office will share the list of nominees with the membership and hold the election electronically. Keep an eye out for an e-mail from the Administrative Office and be sure to cast your vote! AWARDS - CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS: Oustanding Book Award Deadline 2/15/12 The Social Problems Theory Division requests nominations for its Outstanding Book Award. The goal of this award is to encourage and recognize scholarship in the area of social problems theory. Eligible books must have been published between 2009 and 2011. Single or multiple-authored books will be accepted. Authors are encouraged to nominate their own work. Nominees must be members of SSSP. Please send a brief nomination letter and arrange to have a copy of the book sent directly to each of the three committee members listed below: Gary Alan Fine (Chair) Sociology Northwestern University, 1810 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60208 Scott Harris Sociology & Criminal Justice Saint Louis University, 3750 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108 Kathy Charmaz Sociology Sonoma State University 1801 East Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Student Paper Competition Deadline 3/30/12 The Social Problems Theory Division invites papers for its annual Student Paper Award Competition. To be eligible, papers must be authored or co-authored by students, have relevance to social problems theory, and cannot have been accepted for publication. Papers co-authored with faculty are not eligible. Self-nominations are welcome. Manuscripts should be limited to fewer than 10,000 words (not including references). Subject to budgetary approval, we anticipate that the winner will receive a monetary stipend, membership dues, meeting registration fees, and a ticket for the 2012 SSSP awards banquet. The winner will also be invited to present her or his paper at the 2012 SSSP meetings. Please send submissions as an e-mail attachment to the Student Paper Competition Committee Chair: John Barnshaw (University of South Florida) at Barnshaw@usf.edu INTERESTED IN BEING A MENTOR? The Meeting Mentor Program seeks experienced mentors who can spend a few minutes at the annual meetings speaking with a student or newcomer, making them feel welcome, and offering suggestions to help newer members get the most out of their conference experience. In recent years there has been a high level of interest in this program from students and new members seeking mentors, but a considerably lower response from members volunteering to serve in this role. If you are interested in serving as a Meeting Mentor for future meetings, please take a few minutes to complete the online application form (http://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageId/1092) If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer K. Wesely at jwesely@unf.edu . The application deadline is June 30, 2012. SSSP also offers the Professional Mentor Program (http://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageId/1092), which is designed to help junior members with career development. This program requires a long-term commitment of 3 months, 6 months, or one year. Please consider lending your expertise and experience to these worthwhile programs! TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLL IN DIVISION AFFAIRS: We are always interested in identifying division members who are willing to participate in the administrative operation of the division and help to shape its future directions. There are a variety of ways to become more actively involved, including: Attend the division business meeting This is a great way to have a direct voice in division affairs. The meeting provides an opportunity to suggest sessions for next year, volunteer to serve on an awards committee, or network with other scholars who share your interest in social problems theory. Volunteer or nominate a colleague to serve on a committee or in an administrative position This can be done by attending the division business meeting or by sending me an e-mail with nominating information (bmonahan@iastate.edu). We have two annual award committees: one for graduate student papers and one for published journal articles/books. Nominations have already been submitted for the next Division Chair position (to serve from August 2012-August 2014), but please consider nominating yourself or a colleague in the future. Please do not hesitate to contact me or a former Division Chair if you have any questions about this role. Propose and/or organize a session for future annual meetings. Submit content for future newsletters Submissions of all sorts are welcome! From comments and calls for papers, to brief analyses and critiques related to Social Problems Theory. Let us know your reactions to this newsletter, the events at the annual meetings, or inform us of your new work so we can help spread the word. Send submissions to: Brian Monahan at bmonahan@iastate.edu 2012 SOCIAL PROBLEMS THEORY DIVISION SESSIONS: New Directions and Challenges in Social Constructionist Inquiry Organizer: Brian Monahan bmonahan@iastate.edu Linking Popular Culture and Social Problems Theory: Implications for Teaching and Scholarship Organizer: R.J. Maratea rjm@nmsu.edu 2012 SOCIAL PROBLEMS THEORY DIVISION CO-SPONSORED SESSIONS: ocial Problems and the Active Text: Explorations in Institutional Ethnography and Social Problems Theory Co-sponsored with Institutional Ethnography Organizer: Jared Del Rosso delrosso@bc.edu Transforming Social Change into Social Policy Co-sponsored with Conflict, Social Action & Change Organizers: Lynn Letukas lletukas@udel.edu John Barnshaw Barnshaw@usf.edu Drug Policy Activism Co-sponsored with Drinking and Drugs Organizer: Dina Perrone dperrone@csulb.edu Socio-Political Dimensions of Criminal Law from Legislation to Law Enforcement Co-sponsored with Crime & Juvenile Delinquency and Law & Society Organizer: Gray Cavender Gray.Cavender@asu.edu Roles for Social Problems Theory in Teaching on Crime and Delinquency Co-sponsored with Crime & Juvenile Delinquency and Teaching Social Problems Organizer: Joel Best joelbest@udel.edu Scholarly Activism & Activist Scholarship on Law, Crime & Deviance Co-sponsored with Crime & Juvenile Delinquency Organizer: Tim Berard tjberard@alumni.reed.edu Making Social Problems Theory Accessible to Students and the General Public Co-sponsored with Teaching Social Problems Organizers: John Barnshaw Barnshaw@usf.edu Lynn Letukas lletukas@udel.edu