March 18, 2020
We have two news items about changes in Association plans in response to the current public health emergency:
- To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the AAA office is asking staff to work remotely at least through April 10. This will help reduce the risk of exposing individuals on staff and in the community with disabilities and/or health conditions to the coronavirus, and is directly related to the aims of #AccessibleAnthro, as we work collectively to support community members and ensure that AAA is accessible to all. We hope you will not detect a difference in office operations. We did a test run on Monday that helped us with a few improvements, but our amazing staff are here to serve the Association, and are just a phone call or email away. Incidentally, if you phone and get staff voice mail, be sure to include both your phone number and email address in any message you leave.
- To help preserve every possibility for a successful Annual Meeting in St. Louis this November, in consultation with Bianca Williams and the Executive Program Committee, we are extending the Call for Paper deadlines in hopes that we will be able to lift our gaze out to a little further horizon in the next few weeks. The new Call for Papers deadlines are:
- Weds, April 1 – Guest Presenter Registration Date Deadline (formerly Membership Exemption)
- Weds, April 1 – Deadline to apply for Program Chair Waiver
- Weds, April 1 – Advance Registration Price Increases
- Fri, April 24 – All General Abstract proposals must be STARTED
- Weds, April 29 – All General Abstract proposals must be COMPLETE
- Mon, May 4 – Call for Special Event proposals opens
- Weds, May 27 – Special Event proposals must be COMPLETE
As we have noted before, if you register now and decide later not to attend due to COVID-19 concerns, we will refund your conference registration in full. Due to the extraordinary circumstances, we will not charge the usual administrative fee on refunds.
We have never been more in awe of your collective capacity for adaptability, resilience, and community compassion, and are propelled by the hope that by November we will come together to celebrate the breadth and depth of our commitment to “Truth and Responsibility.”
Be well, and stay safe.
Akhil Gupta, President
Ed Liebow, Executive Director
