2009 Sociologists of Minnesota Annual Conference: "Our Favorite Addictions: Business, Government, Public, and Personal Responses" Fri-Sat, October 2 - 3, 2009 Inver Hills Community College Inver Hills, Minnesota Call for Organizers Our conference theme this year is "Our Favorite Addictions: Business, Government, Public, and Personal Responses." We are now organizing panels, roundtables, paper sessions and other activities. All areas of sociological inquiry and practice are welcome. Sessions relating to the conference theme, and topics relating to the interests of sociology students, are particularly encouraged. We welcome applied sociologists, faculty, students and all others who use sociology to understand the world around them. If you have an idea or proposal for the conference please contact 2009 Conference chair and President-elect Todd Paddock, tpaddock@winona.edu This year's theme is a serious dialogue about the subject of addictions, broadly conceived. Possible topic areas include: Addictions to buying, gambling, gaming, work, sex, food, alcohol, drugs, pornography, violence, and more The roles and functions of addiction for individuals, organizations, and society Addictions and responses as deviance The social construction of addictions Social structure and addictions Successes, failures, and new approaches in prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery Grassroots responses or failures to respond to addictions Bridges and gaps between agencies and communities addressing addictions Successes and failures in funding for addressing addictions Addictions and responses across time and cultures And more! How do we use sociology to address addictions? How do we use sociology to investigate the subject of addictions? How do we use sociology to offer new approaches and perspectives on this subject? Send in your ideas -- and see you at the conference!