108th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, August 30–September 2, 2012
Courtesy New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau
For the first time since 1985, APSA is convening in New Orleans, Louisiana for the 2012 APSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Join APSA in this historic location to discuss and reflect on the latest scholarship in political science and address issues related to the theme “Representation and Renewal.” The 2012 APSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition will have something for scholars in every stage of their careers, including an exhibition of publishers, placement service, plenary sessions, and networking receptions. More than 6,000 political scientists, publishers, and other scholars are expected to travel to New Orleans to take part in this largest annual gathering of political scientists.
In their theme statement, program chairs John M. Carey, Dartmouth College, and Lynn Vavreck, University of California, Los Angeles, “ask political scientists to reconsider the normative ideals we attach to representation, the factors that impede the realization of those ideals in practice, and the potential for representative relationships —whether preserved, reformed, or radically overhauled—to translate citizens' collective aspirations into effective public initiatives. We issue this call with an eye on renewal—of cities, economies, institutions, and relationships between the governed and those who govern.”
To address these issues, a program committee consisting of chairs from 51 divisions and more than 60 related groups that span the major subfields of political science have created a program consisting of more than 800 panels, with 35 of these selected as theme panels by the program co-chairs. To review the full theme statement and program highlights, visit the 2012 APSA Annual Meeting website at www.apsanet.org/2012. The complete preliminary program will be available online beginning in mid-May.
All panels, meetings, receptions, and events will take place in the New Orleans Marriott and the Sheraton New Orleans hotels.
Registration
Registration is now open. All presenters must register by June 1, 2012 to secure their space in the program. Other attendees can register at the preregistration rates until August 5, 2012. Members can register for the meeting by logging into your MyAPSA account and following the link under the 2012 Annual Meeting header. If you do not have a MyAPSA account, you can set one up for free at www.apsanet.org/member/. Both member and nonmember registration rates are available, although we do encourage nonmembers to join to take advantage of the discounted member registration rates and the other valuable services the association offers.
Housing
APSA has negotiated special meeting room rates at several New Orleans hotels. You can only secure the reduced meeting rate by booking your room rough APSA's official housing bureau, Travel Planners. For more information on meeting hotels and to book your room, visit www.apsanet.org/2012 and click the Hotels link.
Travel Grants
APSA will accept applications for meeting travel grants until June 1, 2012. You must preregister for the meeting before being considered. To view the criteria and application procedures, visit the meeting website at www.apsanet.org/2012.
Short Courses
Each year, on the Wednesday prior to the start of the Annual Meeting, APSA hosts short courses, half- or full-day sessions that provide opportunities for meeting attendees to enhance knowledge and reinvigorate teaching or research skills. Review short-course details online, including course registration information. Please note that you must register for the annual meeting to take part in a short course.
Working Groups
Consider joining a working group during the meeting. Working groups consist of small groups of scholars who convene throughout the meeting to discuss a common topic or subfield. Group members draw on the rich content of the annual meeting by agreeing to attend a specified set of panels and meeting afterwards to discuss the emerging themes. Working groups can enrich member participation by creating a community and networking experience.
Special Programming
In addition to the programmatic highlights listed here, the preliminary program will list details about each panel session online beginning in mid-May. The online program will be updated daily until the meeting begins.
Awards Luncheon and Ceremony
The annual Awards Luncheon and Ceremony honors scholars for exceptional contributions to the discipline and profession. During the 2012 ceremony, APSA will confer the first annual APSA Distinguished Teaching Award. After the invitation-only luncheon, the ceremony will be open to all APSA Annual Meeting attendees.
Graduate Student Reception
The Graduate Student Reception is one of the most highly anticipated events of every annual meeting. This networking opportunity is a way for the association to recognize the future of the profession and to provide opportunities for graduate students to connect with peers.
Presidential Address and Opening Reception
On Thursday evening, August 30, 2012, APSA president G. Bingham Powell, Jr., University of Rochester, will address the association. Following the address, APSA invites all members to the Opening Reception for an evening of music, hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and networking.
Reception Honoring Teaching
Each year, the association recognizes those who have made a significant impact both on the profession and in the classroom. Campus teaching award winners from across the country will be honored at this special event, which is open to all attendees.
APSA Annual All-Member Meeting
This general membership meeting is an opportunity to bring association business before the APSA president. Additionally, the annual all-member meeting is the time when current APSA president G. Bingham Powell, Jr., University of Rochester, will pass the gavel to president-elect Jane Mansbridge, Harvard University. All members should attend this very important meeting.
Visiting New Orleans
Between events in your busy meeting schedule, take an opportunity to explore New Orleans' rich cultural heritage and beautiful Creole architecture. Calling itself “America's most authentic city,” New Orleans combines a unique culture with modern urban style. On a walk through the historic French Quarter you can sample beignets at Café Du Monde, visit the art galleries on Royal Street, and cap off your day on world-famous Bourbon Street. Or, take a ride on a New Orleans streetcar, the oldest continually operating streetcar in the world, and view the beautiful antebellum mansions along St. Charles Street. Even the cemeteries in New Orleans are a tourist attraction, the most famous being St. Louis Cemetery #1. These “Cities of the Dead” feature elaborate sculptures and artwork embellishing the above-ground crypts. And of course no trip to New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, would be complete without catching some live music.
Resources
New Orleans Visitor's Bureau website: http://www.neworleanscvb.com
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Information: http://www.flymsy.com.
