Dear Colleagues,
I am writing and sending this message as one individual member of ASA and the ASA Section on Teaching and Learning in Sociology (STLS). I am a long standing member of both ASA and this section. I want to urge you all (for those who are not) to join or rejoin ASA and STLS. I would like to tell you why--from my perspective. ASA is our primary disciplinary society. Though (my opinion!) the leadership has often been primarily Research Extensive, research oriented individuals with a focus on activities that enhance traditional research, this has clearly changed over time. ASA has been one of the leaders in disciplinary organizations in terms of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). There are many, many individuals who care deeply about teaching and who find like-mined colleagues, support, resources, etc. at ASA both with in STLS and beyond the section. I know ASA is expensive for many of us but I feel it is worth it. Though I would like to see even more (and it takes people like us to make that happen), ASA has invested a great deal in teaching and learning. (e.g., supporting Teaching Sociology, task forces on the major and other teaching-learning topics, teaching workshops, teaching enhancement grants, teaching resource products, the department resources group, teaching awards...). I come from a research intensive university with many colleagues who do value teaching and live in a region with a great regional society. Yet, personally, most of my professional networks--for a number of reasons-- are via ASA/STLS and SoTL groups rather than in my department and institution. I enjoy and benefit from these networks. The annual meetings now contain so many sessions, workshops, etc. related to teaching that I find little time to do much else (but that is just fine)! I have found colleagues with whom to do research and write on teaching. I have found resources at and involvement in ASA and the section to help legitimate my work at the local level. Well...enough of that!
Below is the list of member benefits from the ASA website as well as two links (at the end of the message) to join ASA. I hope you will all consider doing so and, when you do, joining STLS as well. If you are an ASA member and not in the section, please consider joining the STLS.
Kathleen
Joining ASA or Renewing Your Membership Offers Many Benefits . . .
- Save up to 60% on subscriptions to journals. ASA sells its journals to members at cost, and students receive them for even less!
- Save up to 50% on other ASA publications.
- Save 40% on registration and employment service fees at ASA's Annual Meeting.
- Save 75% on a print subscription to ASA's Employment Bulletin.
- Substantial savings on downloading studies and data sets with Sociometrics database.
- You and your family members receive discounts on student loans in the Capital for Knowledge program.
- Save money on car rentals with Hertz.
- Significant discount on interdisciplinary membership in the American Political Science Association.
- Discounts on group insurance (for catastrophe major medical, dental, term life, etc.) with Seabury & Smith.
- Save up to 50% on journals and books from other publishers with the Coupon Listing.
- Save up to 50% on subscriptions to popular magazines through ASA's Magazine Program.
- Discount rates on an ASA credit card, available through MBNA, with no annual fee, low introductory APR, and a high credit line.
Advance Your Career and Gain Peer Recognition with:To Join ASA and STLS, go to either...
- ASA Sections. ASA's 44 special-interest sections include, for example, medical sociology, social psychology, and sex and gender. Sections provide information through newsletters, websites, listservs, and sessions at the ASA Annual Meeting. They provide great opportunities to network, meet leaders in the field, and learn about current research, grant opportunities, book announcements, and more.
- ASA's Annual Meeting is an opportunity to present your own research, attend sessions, participate in workshops and roundtables, seek a new position through the employment service, and visit nearly 100 exhibitors (book publishers, government agencies, software vendors, etc.)
- Publications. In addition to journals, ASA publishes social policy volumes, directories, career materials, syllabi sets, and volumes on curriculum development, department management, and teaching techniques.
- JSTOR. Members of ASA receive special discounts to archival issues of ASA journals through JSTO
http://www.asanet.org/members/MGEMapp.pdf
http://www.asanet.org/members/membership.html
