The North Carolina Folklore Society annual conference invites NCFS members and others interested in the fields of Folklore, American Studies, Communications, and Ethnomusicology to submit proposals for papers and panels, film/video screenings, etc, for the 2005 conference at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. Authors of papers related to the theme Music in Our World: Taking It to the Streets are encouraged to submit. We are planning a joint conference with two partners: the Society for Ethnomusicology Southeast and Caribbean Chapter (SEMSEC), and PineCone, the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music.

Both individual paper proposals and panel submissions are welcome. Proposals from graduate students in folklore and community-based music scholars are especially welcome. The format will follow the 20-minute paper format, followed by 10 minutes of discussion. For individual paper proposals, please provide name, affiliation, and an abstract of up to 250 words.

Organized panels are encouraged. Each member of a panel must submit an individual paper proposal and the panel chair/organizer must submit a Panel Abstract. The panel abstract should not exceed 150 words. Panels may have 3 or 4 papers, or 3 papers and a discussant. Paper and Panel proposals and abstracts must be submitted via e-mail. Send an e-mail with name, affiliation and abstract to Barbara Lau at balau@duke.edu. Proposals must be received by February 1, 2005. Notifications will be made by February 15th by e-mail.

The joint SEMSEC/NCFS conference will be held in Talley Student Center at North Carolina State University, located at 2610 Cates Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27695. Hotel accommodation has been arranged at The Holiday Inn-Brownstone Hotel, 1707 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, just a ten-minute walk from Talley Student Center. Double and single rooms are available for the same group rate of $59 plus tax ($66.67 total) per night. To make reservations, call The Brownstone at 1-800-465-4329 and ask for the group rate for the North Carolina Folklore Society conference. You must call by March 18th 2005, to receive this discount rate. The hotel's restaurant, Ledo Pizza and Pasta, is open for all three meals, including a full, hot breakfast buffet for just $5.99. The hotel offers free parking and an airport shuttle service to and from RDU International Airport. The website for The Holiday Inn-Brownstone Hotel is (website) www.brownstonehotel.com. Further details about transportation and directions will be posted on the NCFS website: (web address provided below). For further information on local arrangements, contact Alison Arnold (alison_arnold@ncsu.edu).