Spring 2003
Volume 44 - Issue 1

Editor, Nancy M. Coiro, B.A.
Email: ncoiro@yahoo.com

Inside this issue...
Society Announcements
President's Letter
Briefly Noted
SSSS Student Focus
 Opportunity Alert
Upcoming events, meetings, etc.
Calls for Papers
Wired!

Society Announcements

Congratulations and welcome to Beverly Whipple, PhD, RN, FAAN, the 2002-2003 president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. Dr. Whipple is a Professor Emerita at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in Newark, NJ. She received a Bachelors degree in Nursing from Wagner College, Masters in Counseling and in Nursing from Rutgers University, and a Ph.D. in Psychobiology, with a major in Neurophysiology, from Rutgers University. She has published over 125 journal articles and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. She is no stranger to SSSS, having served on the Board of Directors. She is currently Vice President of the World Association for Sexology and Director of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. She is a past-president of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselor and Therapists.

From the President

SSSS President, Beverly Whipple

Dear SSSS members:

It has been an honor to serve as the President of SSSS since November 9, 2002. There is so much that has happened in SSSS since that date. I will start with the very successful annual meeting in Montreal in November 2002, during which I became president. Congratulations to Dr. William Yarber, who received the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award and to Dr. Sharon McNeely, who received the Distinguished Service to SSSS Award. During this SSSS meeting we held the semi-annual meeting of CASSHE. At this meeting it was decided to form the North American Federation of Sexuality Organizations (NAFSO). All other areas of the world have a regional organization under the World Association for Sexology, and now we have one in North America. Tamara Kreinin (from SIECUS) was elected President, Walter Bockting (from SSSS) was elected Vice-President, Jean Koehler (from AASECT), was elected Secretary and Pierre Assalian (from the Canadian Sex Research Forum) was elected Treasurer. As the current Vice- President of the World Association for Sexology, I was so proud of the collaboration of our sister organizations from Canada and the United States and we hope to have organizations from Mexico join NAFSO soon.

Our new SSSS committees are all working hard and with input from each committee, we hope to have the Policy Manual updated this year. The Task Force on the Finance and the Budget committee has been working with David Fleming to reduce our debt. We have cut back on many expenses without cutting back on service to our members. I personally want to thank David Fleming for all he has accomplished while working with a “bare bones” budget.

Many members of SSSS Board of Directors, Committee chairpersons, and other members were present at the World Congress of Sexology (WCS) in Cuba. I represented SSSS at the NAFSO meeting there and we announced the formation of NAFSO at the General Assembly and the Closing Ceremony. SSSS representatives and members were very helpful at the General Assembly meeting, which I chaired. Eleanor Myticka-Tyndale and Simon Rosser took minutes and counted ballots for the 2007 WAS meeting, which will be in Sydney, Australia. Eli Coleman quietly helped me with the running of the meeting. During the Opening Ceremony the WAS Gold Metal was awarded to 5 people. Of the five, three people, Emil Ng and John Bancroft are SSSS members and Richard Green is a former President of SSSS. How proud I was! Drew Mattison and I gave out SSSS membership brochures and announcements of the next two annual meetings and we had much interest from people from other countries who want to attend and present at the SSSS meetings. The next WCS will be held in Montreal, July 10-15, 2005.

I had the opportunity to attend and the honor to present at both regional meetings in April. The Western Region meeting in San Jose was a great success with many interesting presentations. Thanks to Marty Klein, David Hall, and Vena Blanchard and their committees for their hard work. The Western Region Sexual Science Award was presented to Dr. Norma McCoy. The Eastern Region/Midcontinent Region meeting was held in Baltimore and was also a great success. Dr. John Money was present for the inauguration of the Eastern Region John Money Award and the Midcontinent Kinsey Award was presented posthumously to Dr. Alan P. Bell. Thanks to Jim Beers, Jon Knowles, and Danielle Dimitrov and their committees for their hard work. A special thanks to Sharon McNeely for the continuing education coordination at both meetings.

The Board of Directors met during the Baltimore meeting and accomplished so much for the Society. We hope to be out of the red soon, and will have a Long Range Planning meeting next June at the ER/MR meeting in Madison to look toward the future for SSSS.

We are continuing to reach out to new potential members for SSSS. A letter from Janet Hyde and me has gone out to sexuality educators in higher education, inviting them to become members of SSSS at a reduced cost for the first year. An article from JSR with a lesson plan written by Pat Koch and Ron Moglia accompanied the letter. We hope that this will be a successful membership drive. If you know of any sexuality educators who did not receive this invitation, please let us know at the SSSS office. We also welcome your ideas as to how to increase our membership.

Please also go to our updated web site, at www.sexscience.org for the latest information about SSSS.

I look forward to seeing you all at the annual meeting November 6-9, 2003 in San Antonio.

Beverly Whipple
President, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (2002- 2003)
Professor Emerita, Rutgers, The State University of NJ
Vice President, World Association for Sexology (2001-2005)
Director, International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (2002-2004)
Past-prepresident, American Association of Sex Educators, Counselor and Therapists

Briefly Noted

Regional News


Dr. Norma McCoy was honored with the Western Region Sexual Science Award at last month's regional conference in San Jose, California. Dr. McCoy's work in human hormones helped establish the crucial intersection of psychology, biology, and sexology, according to Conference Program Chair Marty Klein. "Norma's work on the sexological impact of oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and now pheromones has had both practical and theoretical applications," he said. "Both the public and our field are richer for her creative interdisciplinary work."

A member of the International Academy of Sex Research and former Western Region president, Dr. McCoy helped found the program in human sexuality at San Francisco State, and still serves on its executive committee.

At the SSSS Eastern and Midcontinent Region Conference in Baltimore, The Eastern Region inaugurated an award in honor of Dr. John Money. Dr. Money was present to be honored at this historic event.

Alan Bell, Ph.D., was posthumously honored with the 2003 Midcontinent Kinsey Award. Dr. Eli Coleman gave an excellent presentation on Dr. Bell’s contributions to sexual science. Dr. Coleman graciously answered questions about Alan Bell for Sexual Science.

How do you remember Dr. Bell as a colleague?
Alan was extremely supportive of my early research into homosexuality. In 1981, while many discouraged me from doing this research fearing that it would destroy my career, he gave me support and encouragement. He was a thoughtful and kind-hearted man. He always took an interest in what you were doing. He was fascinated by life.
How did Dr. Bell's contributions impact the advancement of sexual science?
In 1978, Alan’s NIH funded study was the most ambitious study of homosexuality ever attempted anywhere in the world. Lengthy face-to- face interviews were conducted with approximately 1,500 persons. The social lives and psychological adjustment of homosexual men and women were studied.
What were his most important contributions?
He was absolutely convinced that there was little difference between "gay" and "straight" relationships and he so wanted to simply study people and relationship problems making sure that there were samples which included both "gay and straight and in-between." He wanted to see it as simply another demographic variable.

He was very troubled by the title of "Sexual Preference" as he was very concerned that people might see sexual orientation as a choice. He much preferred the term sexual orientation.

He showed that, “There is no such thing as the homosexual – a most significant step in eliminating stereotypes which existed or generalizations that had been made.”

Bell stated, “Through the centuries we have come to celebrate other types of diversity (e.g., religious, ethnic) that were once considered onerous. Eventually, we may view homosexuality in much the same light, as simply one of the many differences that make each person unique, and as contributing to a diversity that the world can ill afford to do without.”
Closing thoughts
Dr. Coleman included a quote by Rich Reed, best friend of Alan. Reed, a Bloomington psychologist, had these words about his friend: “Alan loved life, he loved life, he loved life. He taught others how to love others, and inspired them to move forward unequivocally with their passion in life.”

SSSS Student Focus

The 2003 ER/MR Baltimore meeting was a success for SSSS students! Our success is not only due to the participation and enthusiasm of students, but also due the support of Dave Fleming, Beverly Whipple, and Jim Beers. Thanks also go out to Jessica Davis and Danielle Dimitrov for helping to put the meeting together. Here is an update of some of the activities that are going on.

    1. Nicholas Grosskopf has kindly offered to help launch a listserve for SSSS students. This will help us all share information and resources as needed. Ideas, help, or input from anyone else would be greatly appreciated!

    2. Tracy Cohn, Robin Milhausen, and Ann Moore are now the official student officers in the Midcontinent region. They will be organizing some social and professional events for students at the upcoming SSSS San Antonio meeting, along with help from John Baker (our new Student Involvement Chair) and me.

    3. Another FYI about the San Antonio meeting: There will be workshop on publishing works in sexuality (i.e., in The Journal of Sex Research and other journals as well as publishing books). John DeLamater and Vern Bullough will conduct the workshop. Thanks go to Sharon McNeeley for helping put this together! The workshop will really be helpful to those of us who are trying to get our work and ourselves out there.

    4. I am conducting a survey of training in sexuality. This will include current students and as well as others. Hopefully, this will help identify training needs and opportunities for current and future SSSS student members.

    5. Jim Beers, who organized the Baltimore meeting, has had some great ideas on mentoring in SSSS (i.e., pairing students with seasoned SSSS members to help students get training, find jobs, etc). Beverly Whipple was so supportive and enthusiastic that she pledged to help us make this happen. John Baker will help to coordinate this. Note from Beverly Whipple: SSSS now has a Mentoring Task Force, chaired by John Baker and Jim Beers.

Brian D. Zamboni, Ph.D.

Opportunity Alert!!!!

Executive Director Job Opening

The Western Region is looking for a new Executive Director This is an unpaid position. The following is a description of the job by Dave Hall, current Executive Director of the Western Region:
· Store and maintain all WR records. (Currently one full file drawer and four boxes.)
· Maintain current status of bylaws, financial policy, election details, minutes of meetings. Provide necessary updating to new officers.
· Maintain data base of officers’ addresses, etc.
· Attend all council meetings.
· Do all mailings for WR council. Meeting agendas, reports, etc.
· Maintain the regional web site.
· Do mailings for conference call, preliminary program, etc.
· Access to cheap printing and mailing service (such as a university) a BIG plus.
· Format and print mailings such as call for papers, exhibit letters, programs, etc. 		· Comfort with a publishing program such as Microsoft Publisher or Pagemaker needed.
· Provide a constant mailing address and contact phone for national distribution.
· Answer questions regarding WR conference and other WR matters.
· Numerous calls regarding conference data from vendors, hotels, convention bureaus, etc.
· Search out and recommend location and hotel for conferences two years in advance.
· Negotiate contract with hotel, recommend to council, final approval by David Fleming.
· Coordinate with conference chair, registrar and treasurer regarding all conference financial matters, mailings, etc.

If you are interested in this position, please contact Stella Resnick, Western Region President.

Director of Medical Education

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health®

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health® (PRCH) is the voice of pro-choice physicians in the United States, and has become an important niche force in the effort to promote a broad reproductive health agenda. We work to keep abortion safe, legal, and accessible; encourage participation in, and educate about, new reproductive technologies and methods; and promote programs and public education to reduce unintended pregnancy. A non-profit organization, PRCH has more than 5,600 physician and non-physician supporters, with headquarters in New York and a staff organizer in California.

POSITION SUMMARY: PRCH seeks a Director of Medical Education to work as part of a management team in a growing organization. The Director will develop, supervise and implement all medical education efforts.

POSITION DUTIES:

Medical Education:
    · Work with the Executive Director to shape the medical education programs.
    · Build effective programs to position PRCH and its physician members as leading resources for medically accurate information about abortion and contraception.
    · Build collaborative relationships and joint efforts with medical and women's health organizations to enhance and extend our impact.
    · Update and develop new educational resources on contraception and abortion.
    · Attend national, regional and local medical and organizational meetings.
    · Recruit and encourage physician participation in medical education programs.
Management:
    · Direct all departmental administration.
    · Supervise all department staff and interns.
    · Serve as the main liaison for all departmental consultants.
    · Draft, forecast and manage department budget.
    · Develop yearly department implementation plan with staff input.
    · Assist in reviewing/drafting department grant proposals.
    · Participate in regular department directors planning and strategy meetings.
QUALIFICATIONS:
    · College degree required. MPH or related degree preferred.
    · At least five years experience in roles of ever increasing responsibility.
    · Proven experience developing and implementing medical education programs.
    · Proven experience in budgeting, planning and staff supervision.
    · Excellent organizational, public speaking, writing and communication skills.
    · Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a variety of personalities.
    · Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
    · Detail oriented.
    · Demonstrated ability to work well in both team settings and individually.
    · Ability to distill complex concepts into clear messages.
    · Sense of humor and flexibility.
    · Strong commitment to the reproductive health of all women and men.

SALARY: Based on level of experience and work history. Excellent benefits.

CONTACT: Interested persons should mail, fax, or email their resume, cover letter, and one relevant writing sample by June 6th to:

Jodi Magee
Executive Director
Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health®
55 West 39th Street, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10018
jodi@prch.org
www.prch.org
Fax: (646) 366-1897
People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Planning grants for international science collaboration

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announces the Women's International Science Collaboration (WISC) Program. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), this program aims to increase the participation of women in international scientific research by helping establish new research partnerships with colleagues in Europe, Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union, Near East, Middle East, Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

Small grants ($4,000-5,000) will provide travel and living support for a U.S. scientist and, when appropriate, a co-PI to visit a partner country to develop a research program. Funds can also be used to support a second visit to the partner country or for a foreign partner to travel to the U.S.

Men and women scientists who have their Ph.D. or equivalent research experience are eligible to apply. Applicants who have received their doctoral degrees within the past six years will receive special consideration, as will scientists applying to work with colleagues in less frequently represented countries and regions. Graduate students (Ph.D. candidates) are also eligible to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Only fields funded by the National Science Foundation and interdisciplinary research cutting across these fields are eligible. For further information, please visit the NSF website (http://www.nsf.gov), or contact one of the AAAS administrators listed below.

The next application deadline is July 15, 2003. For further application information and region-specific guidelines, please see the attached document or visit: http://www.aaas.org/international/wisc/

Marina Sansostri Ratchford
Senior Program Associate
Latin American and Latino Initiatives
Directorate for Education and Human Resources
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
1200 New York Ave., NW
Washington DC 20005
202-326-6490
Fax: 202-371-9849
mratchfo@asss.org

Upcoming Events, Meetings, etc.

Upcoming Meetings in the United States:

SAVE THE DATE!!!!!!!!!

SSSS 45th Annual Meeting
Gender and Sexual Science: What We Have Learned in the 50 Years Since the Kinsey Reports

San Antonio, Texas USA
November 6-9, 2003
Watch for more information in the next edition!

AASECT's 35th Annual Conference
June 3-8, 2003, Riviera Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Registration is available via this web site AASECT Annual Conference or by
contacting AASECT@aasect.org
Approved for 35 AASECT credits and 34 CMEs

Thornfield Sexuality Workshop
July 12-19, 2003 Thornfield Conference center in Cazenovia, New York
For more information, contact Carol Dopp, (703) 256-8098
Registration form available at www.sexualityworkshop.com or PO Box 833, Annandale, VA 22003
20+ CEs will be offered

SSSS Western Region Conference, April 15-18, 2004, Humphrey's Half Moon Inn
San Diego, CA

Upcoming International Meetings:

2nd Annual Conference: Comprehensive Review of Sexual Medicine (Postponed due to the SARS Emergency-Please visit website(www.venuewest.com/crsm/) for information and new conference date.
Sutton Place Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Sex Research.
July 16-19, 2003, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. Contact: Michael Bailey, Secretary/Treasurer of IASR at: jm-bailey@northwestern.edu; Webpage: www.iasr.org

18th International Symposium on Gender Dysphoria, Sponsored by the Harry Benjamin International Gender
Dysphoria Association. September 10-13, 2003, Gent, Belgium. Scientific Chairs: Eli Coleman, Walter Meyer, and Stan
Monstrey. Contact: Bean Robinson, Executive Director, HBIGDA, 1300 2nd Street, Ste. 180, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55454. Phone: 612-625-1500; Fax: 612-626-8311; Email: HBIGDA@famprac.umn.edu

8th International Conference on the Treatment of Sexual Offenders, Sponsored by the International Association
for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders, October 6-9, 2004, Athens, Greece. Program Chair: Orestis Giotakos, MD.
Contact: EPSILON, I.PAPAPANAGIOTOU-V.VOURAZERIS O.E 4, Papadiamantopoulou Str., GR 115 28 Athens, Greece;
Tel. + 30 210 7254360-2; Fax + 30 210 7254363; E- mail address: epsilonb@hol.gr Webpage: www.iatsoathens.gr

17th World Congress of Sexology. July 10-15, 2005. President of the Congress: Pierre Assalian, M.D. Webpage: www.montrealsexo.com

Calls for Papers

National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (NCSAC) Annual Conference

Creating a Culture of Healthy Sexuality: Tools and Tactics

September 25-28, 2003
Minneapolis, Minnesota

The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (NCSAC) is currently accepting proposals for workshop topics for its upcoming annual conference to be held September 25 - 28, 2003 in Minneapolis. This year's conference theme is "Creating a Culture of Healthy Sexuality: Tools and Tactics".

NCSAC is seeking proposals for workshops from individuals in fields as diverse as public health, sex therapy and sex education, mental/behavioral healthcare, addiction medicine, sex offender treatment, employee assistance, cyberspace and religion.

Contact: Bill Herring, LCSW Chair, NCSAC Conference Committee; website www.ncsac.org; e-mail ncsac@mindspring.com

SSSS Eastern and Midcontinent Regions Conference 2004
IS SEX NECESSARY?: OR, WHY DO YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU DO?

Madison, Wisconsin - June 10-13, 2004
Deadline for Submissions: January 10, 2004
Is sex research necessary? To what end? Submissions on all aspects of why?….

Call For Articles

American Sexuality is an online magazine funded by the Ford Foundation. It is a part of San
Francisco State University’s National Sexuality Resource Center (NSRC). The NSRC is a not for profit
program.

Cymene Howe, contact for America Sexuality, is soliciting articles for the publication. If interested in contributing, please contact Cymene at cymene@sfsu.edu

WIRED!

Sexuality Related Websites of Interest . . .

    The Transgender ASIA Research Centre seeks to bring together psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, as well as medical and legal experts who share a desire to better understand the phenomenon of transgender, as well as the circumstances in which transgenders live, in Asia. This website aims to promote and disseminate research and understanding of, as well as contributing toward efforts to effect social change in regard to, transgender in Asia. TransgenderASIA is entering its second year online.

TransgenderASIA website: http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/index.htm

    The International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE), founded in 1987, is a leading advocate and educational organization for promoting the self-definition and free expression of individual gender identity. IFGE is not a support group, it is an information provider and clearinghouse for referrals about all things which are transgressive of established social gender norms. IFGE maintains the most complete bookstore on the subject of transgenderism available anywhere. It also publishes the leading magazine providing reasoned discussion of issues of gender expression and identity, including crossdressing, transsexualism, FTM and MTF issues spanning health, family, medical, legal, workplace issues and more.

International Foundation for Gender Education website: www.ifge.org

    Stephen L. Braveman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Diplomate of Sex Therapy with a Private Practice specializing in sexuality, sexual abuse and gender related therapies in Monterey, California. His site contains a plethora of interesting links on sexual abuse, psychology, laughter therapy, disability, gender, etc.

Stephen Braveman’s website: www.bravemantherapy.com

Thanks to the following members and associates who provided articles and information for this edition of Sexual Science:

John Baker, Eli Coleman, David Fleming, Marty Klein, Erica Neuman, Beverly Whipple, Sam Winter, and Brian Zamboni.