Anonymous Comrade writes

Renewing the Anarchist Tradition 2006
Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals (due July 15, 2006)

September 29 to October 1, 2006
at Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont
http://www.homemadejam.org/renew

We are now accepting proposals for individual presentations and panels for the 2006 Renewing the Anarchist Tradition conference (RAT), sponsored by the Institute for Anarchist Studies. In particular, we encourage people of color, queer, transgender, and intersex people, women, people raising children, indigenous people, people with diverse abilities, working-class people, those outside academia, and others who are frequently underrepresented as speakers (for a variety of reasons) to send in proposals. Also, if you feel alienated when you look at the list of past RAT presentations on our Web site or think that important issues that should be considered through an anarchist lens are being left out, you probably have a presentation proposal to offer. Please get in touch. And please feel free to forward this e-mail to others who may be interested in participating in and/or attending this weekend.RAT aims to provide a scholarly space in which to both reexamine and reinvigorate the social and political tradition of anarchism. The conference is meant as one contribution to the project of developing a more rigorous and contemporary theoretical framework for anarchism, and to assist in nurturing new generations of anti-authoritarian public intellectuals. It brings together anarchist and libertarian left organizers, educators, activists, writers, lifelong learners, and others to explore how we make sense of our own politics; how we understand anarchism in the context of our lives, movements, and present-day social conditions; and how the conceptual tools that anarchism provides can and need to be rethought. As in the past, we hope that RAT will continue to raise difficult and provocative questions in a supportive, participatory environment among anarchist peers.

We’re looking for individual presentations and panels that attempt to analyze and/or critique current social relations and dilemmas; share work and ideas on anarchism's relevance and potential as a political and social theory as well as a practice; grapple with, constructively challenge, and build on standard anarchist concepts in light of a radically changing world; and cover a wide variety of perspectives and scholarly disciplines.

Don’t hesitate to submit multiple presentation/panel proposals on any topic(s). As a sampling of some suggestions, though, we’d like to see proposals that explore the following concerns through an anarchist lens: specific written works and/or major theorists; contemporary social phenomena, especially those undergoing dramatic transformations; movements and/or movement building, particularly in light of today’s geopolitical events; various forms of identity, especially race, gender, and sexuality; the rise of fundamentalisms and their implications; issues surrounding racism, anti-Semitism, and/or Islamophobia; environmental issues; economics and material needs such as food, housing, and health care; imperialism and anti-imperialism; colonialism, neocolonialism, and national liberation struggles; like-minded as well as divergent strains of radical social thought/praxis from autonomous Marxism to various horizontalist movements; past historical examples of anti-authoritarian theories and/or practices; and the changing character of such standard categories as "the state," "capitalism," "class,”" and so on.

Each presentation or panel proposal should include the following:


        * a title

        * a one-paragraph description of no more

            than 150-175 words

        * bios for each presenter of no more than

            50-70 words

        * complete contact information for all

            presenters (address, phone, and e-mail)

        * indicate if you feel comfortable having

            your presentation or panel audiotaped

In order to create a highly participatory environment at RAT, presenters are asked to limit individual presentations to about 20 to 30 minutes, and end by framing a question or two in order to facilitate another 40 to 50 minutes of discussion. We prefer three-person panels, with each panelist speaking for 10 to 15 minutes, leaving plenty of time for discussion as well. Our intent with the panels is to stimulate lively, but friendly debate, so a variety of perspectives on each panel is encouraged; we also ask panelists to end their presentations with a question or two to help shape the group discussion.

Proposals are due by July 15, 2006, and should be e-mailed to: rat-registration@anarchist-studies.org

We will inform you about the outcome of your proposal(s) soon after the deadline date.

Please note: all presenters must also register and pay for the conference

REGISTRATION (deadline: September 15, 2006):

You must register and pay in advance, as the conference space is limited to 200 people — and RAT must prepay all food, housing, and room rental fees in advance (the conference has no outside or independent funding source other than registration fees).

We’re offering a sliding-scale registration for the following three options:

1. Registration and six meals (for locals and

      others not requiring housing): $40 to $60

2. Registration fee, six meals, and shared dorm

      room: $80 to $100

3. Registration fee, six meals, and single dorm

      room: $120 to $150

Registration includes six meals (Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Sunday breakfast and lunch); please specify vegan, vegetarian, or meat when you register. Rooms are single or shared dorm space, and include linens and towels. If you request a shared dorm room, please indicate any roommate preferences such as a specific person or gender. If needed, child care is available; ask for details when registering.

Note: we cannot custom-tailor registration fees to include, say, only four meals, and we cannot refund registration fees.

To register, please e-mail: rat-registration@anarchist-studies.org

SCHOLARSHIPS

A limited number of partial scholarships are available to subsidize RAT conference fees for those with limited resources. We will do our best to offer assistance to those who need it.

These scholarships are made possible because of the generosity of other RAT participants. If you can afford to pay the higher end of our sliding-scale registration fee or want to donate more beyond that, we will pass along the extra funds to those needing financial aid to attend RAT.

GETTING TO RAT

RAT takes place on the Goddard College campus in Plainfield, Vermont, about nine miles east of the state capital, Montpelier, and easily accessible by car off I-89 North or South.

Both Amtrak and Greyhound or Vermont Transit (www.vermonttransit.com) offer train and bus service, respectively, to Montpelier. Limited pick-ups and drop-offs will be available, or you can call a taxi (K C Taxi at 802-476-0882 or Payless Taxi at 802-476-4097) during the daytime hours. Please check with us about your travel arrangements before assuming that a pick-up or drop-off in Montpelier is possible.

There is an airport in Burlington, Vermont, about an hour’s drive from Plainfield. We will be unable to do any airport pick-ups or drop-offs, however. If you fly to Burlington, please arrange your own ground transportation. There are several car rental agencies at the (airport). In addition, there is limited bus service between Burlington and Montpelier on either (Vermont Transit) or Chittenden County Transit Authority and the LINK Express (http://www.cctaride.org/main.php).

MINI-BOOKFAIR

A number of bookstores and publishers will table at RAT as part of our annual mini-bookfair. Tables are available for bookstores, publishers, and others selling literature/materials for a sliding scale of $20 to $35; you must reserve and pay for a table in advance. Tables will also be available at no charge for free literature or other giveaway materials (zines, patches, art, and so forth).

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
WANT TO BE ADDED TO OUR E-MAIL LIST?

Please e-mail us at: rat-registration@anarchist-studies.org

The co-organizers for RAT 2006 are Cindy Milstein, Andrea Maria, Spencer Sunshine, and Joshua Stephens. The conference is a project of the Institute for Anarchist Studies (http://www.anarchist-studies.org/).