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Volume 36, Number 3 Spring 2002

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The 2002 ASR preliminary program is now on our Web site: www.sociologyofreligion.com. Persons without Web access who want a paper copy may or who want a Word file emailed to them may contact the Executive Office <swatos@microd.com>. It is an exciting program, and I hope you will be able to attend this year’s meeting. Papers, addresses, and authors-meet-critics sessions feature outstanding colleagues from around the world. Now it is time for you to respond by completing your preregistration materials.

Your preregistration entitles you to save money and also is of enormous assistance to us in making adequate plans for the meeting to serve everyone most effectively. Preregistration requirements will be strictly enforced, both in terms of program participation and charges. Try to firm up your plans in the next few days, and send in your materials.

Please note, in particular, the following:

Preregistration forms and hotel reservation forms are part of this mailing. Note that the hotel has a later reservation date than the preregistration date. Don’t confuse the two. Note that you must mail, fax, or email the hotel directly. Do not send the hotel form to the Executive Office. You are urged to ask for a written confirmation. You can access additional hotel information on our Web site.

Note, too, that you may pay 2003 dues at this time, using the preregistration form, even if you are not attending the meeting.

After a number of years of trying an "official airline" plan to no real advantage, we have dropped that approach. In terms of flying to Chicago, there are two possibilities for domestic travelers: Midway and O’Hare. International travelers must use O’Hare for direct flights. Shuttle and Metro transportation is available from either airport to our hotel. But the Metro connection from Midway is much more convenient, while that from O’Hare involves a train change and a more convoluted walk. Of course, taxi/ limo service is also available. We will send Metro instructions when we confirm your preregistration.

We are based at the Essex Inn, immediately across the street from the Chicago Hilton, the principal hotel for ASA. We will have the meeting space to ourselves. The Essex has undergone substantial renovation since we were there in 1999, and we are trying to maximize the use of the space. It is a small property, and you should reserve early, especially if you are planning on coming for any time prior to the meeting, as there is a major convention in town immediately before ours. The ASA Sociology of Religion Section day is Friday (of our Thursday through Saturday sequence). We have tried to keep our sessions down to three in each slot on that day, and we also look forward to a joint Furfey reception with the ASA Section.

Note the hotel deadline of 16 July. It is later than the preregistration deadline, but only a limited number of rooms are available. If you have difficulty making reservations with the hotel before the deadline, please contact the Executive Office at once (727-844-5990; swatos@microd .com). After the deadline, there’s not a lot we can do to help you. We do have a window on either side of our meeting dates, so you can stay on in our hotel for as much of as ASA as you wish.

Our registration desk will be open Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 8:00 to 3:00; Saturday from 8:00 to noon. We should be able to have to book exhibit from noon Thursday through Saturday morning, with pick up of purchases from 8:15 to 10:15, and the final sale from 10:15 ’til noon. Doublecheck when you arrive! This year we hope to repeat the authors’ reception at the opening of the book exhibit, especially to honor those whose books are the subject of authors-meet-critics sessions. Also this year, there will be an opening reception on Wednesday night. Further details of that will be included with your preregistration confirmation.

The ASR will provide overhead projectors in all of the session rooms. These are standard overhead projectors, using transparencies. The ASR does not provide other audiovisual equipment. You must either bring your own or make arrangements with the hotel’s a/v service provider. Consult the ASR Executive Office now for contact information for the service provider.

Past President Anthony Blasi and Pierre Hegy invite persons who are interested in the study of Catholicism, broadly understood, to join them for breakfast at the ASR meeting on Thursday, the 15th, at 7:30 a.m. Depending on the numbers interested, the group may meet in the restaurant informally or reserve space. The purpose is to share information about who does what in the areas of the sociology/ psychology/religious studies of Catholicism. If you are interested, write to hegy@adelphi.edu.