Joint Spring Meeting of the Society for Psychological Anthropology and the Society for the Anthropology of Religion
Moments Of Crisis: Decision, Transformation, Catharsis, Critique
The SAR and the SPA are delighted to announce a joint meeting in Asilomar March 27-9 2009. Asilomar is an idyllic conference retreat, haunt of Mead, Bateson and other anthropologists, just north of Esalen and Big Sur on the beach of the Monterey Peninsula. We hope that the occasion provides us with intellectual vibrancy and social relaxation. The theme of the meeting is meant only to inspire participants, not to constrain them. We hope that members of our organizations will propose panels both within their subfields and panels that reach out to talk across our shared interests.
March 27-29, 2009, Asilomar, CA
First, register for the conference here.
Then, register and secure your lodging by downloading and filling out this form.
You must fax this printed document to Asilomar to reserve your room. Read below for a breakdown of the room rates and an explanation of what your money gets you.
Registration costs for the meeting are $90 for professionals and $40 for students. (Students should state their graduate program); Details regarding how to register will be posted soon on both the SPA and SAR websites. Note: in years past, participants have sometimes forgotten to register. This is costly to the organization. Your registration fee covers the cost of room rental, LCD rental, coffee, tea and cookies during the meeting. This year, your registration will cover the cost of two evening parties, where the wine and beer will flow freely. Participants will not be able to gain access to their sleeping rooms or to the dining room unless they have registered for the meeting.
Asilomar is a conference site, not a hotel. The cost of the room appears expensive, but in fact it includes three meals a day and tax (apart from a $1 tourism tax). Once you factor in food and tax, it is a better deal that the standard conference hotel. Costs per person per day: $198.26 for a single; $121.26 PER PERSON for a double; $91.56 PER PERSON for a triple or quad. Each person pays a $20 booking fee. Per night, you have three meals. Your first meal is dinner, your second breakfast, your third lunch. If you arrive on Friday and leave Sunday, your first meal is Friday dinner, and your last Sunday lunch. There is a vegetarian option, and other needs can be accommodated on request. There are no formal childcare facilities, but the rooms are child-friendly and on the beach. Please see the website: www.visitasilomar.com. Non-resident participants must pay a $10/day fee; for non-residents, breakfast is roughly $9, lunch $10, dinner $18. The food is good, healthy and abundant. There are also local hotels in the area, but those who stay outside Asilomar should plan to take a car. There is coffee on site, and some snacks, but no restaurant.
PLEASE BOOK YOUR ROOM BY JANUARY 15 by filing the room request form. We strongly advise you to book your rooms by then, as rooms will be released, we will be charged for shortfall in our reservations, and you may have difficulty finding lodging. You should fly to either San Jose (closer) or San Francisco. Upon arriving, you take a shuttle to Asilomar. Please arrange in advance through Monterey Salinas Airbus 831 373 7777 (or www.montereyairbus.com). Rates are about $35 from SJO, and $40 from SFO. Allow about ninety minutes for the trip.
1. Panels will begin Friday March 27 at 3 pm, and end Sunday March 29 at noon.
2. Asilomar plans include dinner, breakfast and lunch, in that order. If you stay for both nights, your first meal is Friday night and your last meal is Sunday lunch.
3. Some people are bringing their spouses, so that they can enjoy a relaxing weekend in a beautiful setting (many people come to Asilomar as a soothing retreat). Spouses who are not attending the conference do not have to pay the conference registration fee.
4. Please take shuttle time into account when booking your flight. Shuttles must be arranged in advance through Monterey Salinas Airbus 831 373 7777 (or www.montereyairbus.com). Rates are about $35 from SJC, and $40 from SFO. Allow about ninety minutes for the trip from San Jose, and a bit longer from San Francisco.
5. Some people, because of complicated flight connections from the east coast, may need to stay over in Monterey on Thursday or Sunday night. Asilomar is currently sold out for those nights, but it is possible that cancellations might emerge closer to the time. You can easily stay in Monterey. There are two hotels that are within walking distance of the site, though the walk will be a longish one. They are: the Rosedale 831 655 1000 and Deerhaven 831 373 1114. There are many other hotels as well.
6. The housing form quotes rates that are inclusive for two nights with room, board, and tax. If you factor in food, it’s a pretty good deal. If you stay off site, you will need to bring in a bag lunch and a bag dinner or purchase meals separately to sit with the group, and you will need a car. Non-resident participants must pay a $10/day fee; for non-residents, breakfast is roughly $9, lunch $10, dinner $18. The food is good, healthy and abundant There is a convenience store on the grounds that serves coffee and snacks but there is no other food on site apart from conference cookies. Your registration fee includes a party on Friday and Saturday nights.
7. You must fax your housing registration form to the number indicated on the housing form. Asilomar does not do cyberregistration.