Dear TASA Thematic Group Conveners,
As you all know, the 2024 TASA Conference starts next week at Curtin University WA & online (25-29 Nov). With less than a week to go, I have two important announcements.
First, please let me know if you need any advice about your Thematic Group meeting at the conference. TASA Conference is always a great opportunity to get TG members together. Many TGs are holding meetings at the conference, most of which will take place at lunchtime on Thurs 28 Nov (although some will take place at other times). TGs have been allocated meeting rooms, with all details to be made available in the official conference program. Several of you have made arrangements for hybrid rooms with a zoom/teams link so members can also attend online if they can't be there in-person. If you are involved in organising a meeting, it's a good idea to have an idea about how you want to run the meeting and/or what you would like the TG to get out of the meeting. There is no need for meetings to be very formal and it's okay if you haven't circulated a formal list of agenda items. Since most meetings will occur during the lunch break, many/most attendees will arrive after grabbing some food... so it's usually a good idea to plan to start a little late (e.g., 1245pm). Often meetings can be more of an informal chat about mutual interests among current/new/potential members of the TG. In other cases, meetings can be run a little more formally. Either way, it's important to remember that this is a great opportunity to get to know each other (if you don't already), to discuss ideas for TG initiatives/events in 2025 and beyond, or to put more developed proposals for members to consider. Remember that up to $3000 funding is available for TG initiatives for 2025/26, with applications due on 1 March 2025. So next week's meetings could be a great opportunity to discuss ideas/initiatives/proposals. As always, if you have questions about your meeting/TG, don't hesitate to reach out!
Second, as is normal practice at TASA Conferences, there will be a meeting for TG Conveners, which takes place at 1230-130pm AWST, Wed 27 Nov in Room 215.300. The meeting will be hybrid. If you want to participate online, you can join at this zoom link (if you're joining from interstate, don't forget to factor in the time difference with WA). This link will also be sent out shortly as a calendar invite. As this meeting is during the conference lunchbreak, we will formally start the meeting at 1245pm AWST... but in-person attendees can feel free to wonder in with their lunch earlier! Please note: the meeting will be recorded for the benefit of convenors who can't make it.
Finally, this will be my last meeting as TG Portfolio Leader for TASA before handing over to our wonderful new Portfolio Leader, Dr Naomi Smith. I will be joining the meeting online, but Naomi will be there in-person, so you will get a chance to meet her and share any thoughts, ideas and questions. It has been a privilege to serve in this role over the past two years, and I look forward to continuing to help build sociology in other ways as a 'regular' member of TASA... as well as meeting many of you next week. As always, don't hesitate to get in touch if you have questions, feedback, etc. See you soon!
Stay safe, best wishes
Tom
|