MESSAGE FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE
Looking Ahead to Kansas City and Exploring RSS Resources
As the fall semester continues, we encourage members to take advantage of the many resources available through RSS throughout the year. The RSS website provides access to valuable member tools including:
Members can also visit the Online Events page to access recordings of past RSS webinars, allowing you to revisit timely discussions and professional development opportunities at your convenience. We encourage you to explore these resources and check back often as new content and opportunities are added throughout the year.
Looking ahead, we are excited to gather in Kansas City, Missouri, for the 2027 RSS Annual Meeting. Our host hotel will be the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, conveniently located near restaurants, attractions, and cultural destinations in the heart of the city. If you're interested in learning more about what Kansas City has to offer, we invite you to explore the visitor information available through Visit KC.
As you begin planning for the year ahead, we also encourage you to start thinking about how you would like to participate in the 2027 Annual Meeting. Presentation submissions will open on December 15, offering a variety of ways to share your work and engage with the RSS community. Multiple presentation formats will be available, including regular oral presentations, flash presentations, posters, organized sessions, workshops, and other conference programming. Whether you are a long-time attendee or considering your first RSS presentation, there are many opportunities to contribute, connect, and participate. Stay tuned for more information on presentation types and submission instructions.
We look forward to sharing additional meeting information and opportunities for involvement in the months ahead and hope to see many of you in Kansas City next summer.
Warm regards,
Suzanne Bevan - Executive Director
Ashley Smedley - Account Representative
Call for papers for a special issue of Rural Sociology
The theme of the special issue is “Beyond the “Old West” and “New West”: Changing People, Places, and Power in High Amenity Rural Areas.” We are interested in papers focused on examining the changing social landscapes of high amenity rural areas, with a focus on updating and expanding concepts related to the New West/Old West framework. We invite empirical, methodological, and theoretical contributions that illuminate the diverse people, institutions, relationships, and power dynamics shaping these communities. We welcome studies of the American West as well as research from other U.S. regions and international contexts where similar dynamics are at play, including papers focused solely on rural places and those making rural-urban or cross-place comparisons.
Prospective contributors should submit an extended abstract no later than 5 PM ET on November 1, 2026. Abstracts can be up to two pages, single spaced, and must include a 3-5 sentence summary about how their study fits with the special issue theme. Submissions should be sent to the guest editorial team (elizabethbennett@isu.edu, kristal@jgresearch.org, and jessica.schad@usu.edu).
We will consider two types of submissions: research articles and research notes. Review the Rural Sociology Author Guidelines for descriptions of each. Specify in your abstract which type of paper you plan to submit if invited for full paper submission. All submissions must be original work that has not been previously published. We will extend invitations by Dec. 15, 2026, and full papers will be due April 1, 2027.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Rural Sociological Society (RSS) is pleased to announce that the submission period for our annual Awards and Endowments opportunities are open now through December 1st.
RSS Awards and Endowments recognize outstanding contributions to rural sociology through a variety of annual honors and funding opportunities that support research, outreach, and education. Awards may be given for achievements in:
- Academic research
- Community engagement
- Innovative projects
- Professional service
Ethics Reminder:
Nominators should ensure candidates for any award meet the RSS Code of Ethics standards. Award recipients must also adhere to these standards.
For full award descriptions, eligibility criteria, and submission instructions, please click the button below.
Research and Interest Group (RIGs) Award Opportunities
The following RIGs are also open for award nominations:
Community, Healthy and Family
Natural Resources
Sociology of Agriculture and Food (SAFRIG)
We look forward to recognizing the exceptional contributions of our members and partners in advancing rural sociology.
RSS Election Nominations Are Open!
Help shape the future of the Rural Sociological Society! We invite members to nominate themselves or a colleague for an RSS leadership position. This is a great opportunity to get involved and help guide the Society’s future.
PLAN AHEAD
Dates To Remember
