Abstract
In this essay we identify and discuss some of the challenges currently faced by the Pacific Sociological Association (PSA) related to its governance. The PSA is not unlike other regional associations and faces similar challenges. The rapid growth in membership for the association has repeatedly placed strains on the governance structure, particularly on the office of the Executive Director. The formal organization of governance has not always matched the actual ways in which governing is carried out, almost entirely by volunteers. Although there is growth, there is also significant turnover in members from year to year and this presents a challenge for maintaining an active, vibrant organization. The governing structure of elected committees and officers has not changed with membership growth but the number of standing committees has increased dramatically, spreading the volunteer membership thin. To meet these challenges, we make several suggestions. We argue for the importance of maintaining a stable membership; that the PSA should continue its work to formally define roles and positions including a restructuring of its committees; and an emphasis should be placed on providing an intellectual home for the members of the PSA. We elaborate on these responses to the challenges faced by the PSA and suggest considerations for the association as it moves into the final decade of its first 100 years.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
These include the Publications Committee, the Nominations Committee, and the Committee on Committees, described later in this paper.
These committees include the Audit, Awards, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, Community Colleges, Contract Monitoring, Emeritus, Endowment, Freedom of Research and Teaching, Membership, Sociological Practice, Social Conscience, Status of GLBT Persons, Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Status of Women, Student Affairs, and Teaching Committees.
The North Central Sociological Association (NCSA) has two paid positions: the Public Relations Coordinator and the Conference Coordinator (personal email correspondence with Susan M. Alexander, September 18, 2013). The Midwest Sociological Society has one paid position, that of the Executive Director, and offers stipends to the journal editors and the assistant to the program chair (personal email correspondence with Lauren Tiffany, September 18, 2013). The Eastern Sociological Society, like the PSA, has one paid employee, the Executive Officer (personal email correspondence with Emily Mahon, September 18, 2013). The Southern Sociological Society has an unpaid Executive Officer but a graduate student assistant who receives a stipend and benefits (personal email correspondence with David L. Brunsma, May 28, 2014). Other regional sociology associations did not respond to our inquiries about paid positions.
Chuck Hohm, personal email correspondence with one of the authors, September 4, 2013.
Dean Dorn, personal email correspondence with one of the authors, September 4, 2013.
Dennis Downey, personal interview and email correspondence with one of the authors, November 11, 2013.
Charles Hohm, email correspondence with one of the authors, November 29, 2013.
For one year after his or her term, the Past Executive Director is also a member of Council. This increases the size of Council to 15 members only in years where the Executive Director has retired the previous year.
Dean Dorn, email correspondence with one of the authors, September 4, 2013.
Dean Dorn, email correspondence with one of the authors, September 4, 2013.
Dennis Downey, email correspondence with the authors, October 14, 2013, and telephone interview with one of the authors, November 11, 2013.
Lauren Tiffany, email correspondence with one of the authors, September 18, 2013.
References
American Sociological Association. (2002). Constitution and Bylaws. Retrieved September 4, 2013 (http://www.asanet.org/about/constitution.cfm).
Dorn, D. S. (2005). Seventy-five years of the pacific sociological association 1929–2004. Sacramento: The Pacific Sociological Association.
Dorn, D. S. (2014). A Brief History of the Pacific Sociological Association. The American Sociologist, (doi: 10.1007/s12108-014-9205-1)
Hohm, C. (2013). “2013 PSA Annual Meeting Satisfaction Survey.” The Pacific Sociologist. Humboldt, CA: The Pacific Sociological Association. Retrieved September 10, 2013 (http://pacificsoc.typepad.com/newsletters/psa%20newsletter_0913.pdf).
Keith, B. (2004). Disciplinary culture and organizational dissonance: the regional association in American sociology. Sociological Focus, 37, 83–106.
Pacific Sociological Association. (2012a). “Bylaws.” Retrieved September 5, 2013 (http://pacificsoc.org/bylaws.html).
Pacific Sociological Association. (2012b). “Committees.” Retrieved September 5, 2013 (http://pacificsoc.org/committees.html).
Pacific Sociological Association. (2012c). “Past Officers and Editors.” Retrieved September 5, 2013 (http://pacificsoc.org/past.html).
Rosich, K. J. (2005). A History of the American Sociological Association, 1981–2004. Washington, DC: The American Sociological Association. Retrieved September 29, 2013 (http://www.asanet.org/about/Centennial_History_Index.cfm).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuipers, K.J., Obernesser, L. Challenges in Governance for the PSA as a Regional Sociological Association. Am Soc 45, 203–218 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-014-9226-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-014-9226-9