The Appalachian Studies Association's 27th Annual Conference, co-hosted by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and Mars Hill College, will be held in the town of Cherokee in the mountains of western North Carolina. Central themes for this conference will explore regional development in:

• Health Education
• Environment and land use
• Politics and policy-making
• Local economies
• Cultural traditions

We encourage you to join some 600 colleagues and participate in the conference through:

• Research papers, panel discussions, group presentations, and poster sessions
• Discussions of community-based research and action
• Films, photography, painting, pottery, poetry, music and dance
• Folk art exhibits with visiting artists and crafts persons
• Community exhibits, visits to the Museum of the Cherokee
• Walking and boat tours of sites key to natural and local history
• Hands-on activities for children, youth (and former children)

Friday morning, March 26, will be a time for special workshops, organization meetings and/or tours in the area. We invite groups to sponsor receptions to welcome participants, or honor an organization or author.

In Cherokee we will have a chance to learn about the impact of history in this particular part of Appalachia, from the Trail of Tears through the cutting of the forests; the building of TVA lakes; and the taking of land for parks, forests and tourism. We will also hear about how communities are regaining control of their lives, health, economies, and the ways in which people relate to the land. This conference will provide people throughout the region with models for scholarship and action to apply in their home communities.

Submitting Proposal

Please Provide:

1. A cover sheet including:
   1. Title of your presentation or activity
   2. Names of all participants, their roles, and contact information for each (Mailing and email addresses, telephone and fax numbers)
   3. Brief biographical sketch of each participant
2. Twelve copies of a one-page abstract of your presentation, with names of presenters.
3. A list of needs for your presentation or session (Internet access and on-site computers may be limited. Come prepared.)

Participants presenting scholarly research papers are allowed one such presentation but can be involved in other kinds of sessions or activities. Most sessions will last 1-1/2 hours.

The Journal of Appalachian Studies invites you to submit conference papers to be considered for publication.

Proposals must be submitted by OCTOBER 3, 2003 to the address below.

If you have questions, contact: Tom Plaut by phone or email or Carol Boggess at 828 689-1189 or cboggess@mhc.edu