Here’s What You Need to Know.
SSSers!
It is a bit hard to believe, but, our annual meeting is just around the corner!
In just one week we will be coming together for the 88th time as a Society. This time for President Dawn T. Robinson’s forward-looking and full-to-bursting program: “Sociology of the Future and the Future of Sociology.” SSS 2025 will take place April 9-12, 2025, at the Sheraton Charlotte.
In this email we try to bring together all the things you should know as we all are making our final preparations for SSS 2025.
This email contains information on:
- The SSS 2025 Mobile App
- Pre- and On-Site Registration
- On-Site Accommodations at SSS 2025
- Presenting, Presiding, and Posters
- And more!
If you have questions not covered here, please reach out to the Program Chair for issues related to the program of sessions. All others, please reach out to us at the Executive Office.
Mobile App
Everyone should download the mobile app for SSS 2025. In addition to the PDF of the Final Program, the mobile app is the best way to navigate the annual meeting.
- You can download the Whova app directly on your phone or access the information through a web browser.
- Sign up for Whova to join the event. If you aren’t automatically taken to the SSS 2025 page through the links above, search for “SSS 2025,” click on “join” at the bottom of the event description page and enter the event invitation code: SSS2025CLT.
- Create your own profile and begin connecting with others at SSS 2025 through the Community tab. This tab is also where you can start conversations and create/join meet-ups.
- We will use #SSS2025 to share all things SSS 2025 on the app and social media platforms.
- There is an easily searchable and complete agenda that can be filtered by day. You can also build your own personalized schedule.
- The Executive Office will also send out push notifications throughout the meeting for key events and updates.
- Behavior on the SSS 2025 Mobile App is also covered by the SSS Anti-Harassment Policy.
While the Whova Mobile App will be the most effective, up-to-date, and comprehensive way to navigate SSS 2025, we will have a physical copy of the full program in each breakout room, have a PDF of the Program, as well as an online version.
Pre-Registration and On-Site Registration
- Pre-Registration and On-Site Registration will both be in the Symphony Foyer on the 1st Floor of the Sheraton Charlotte.
- If you have paid both your membership dues AND conference registration fees on or before April 1, 2025, you should visit the Pre-Registration tables to pick up your conference materials. To check the status of your dues and fees, visit your SSS Member Portal.
- If you need to pay either your dues and/or fees on-site, visit the On-Site Registration tables. We accept card, check, and cash. (At this time we are unable to process AMEX and Discover cards).
- Each attendee with a paid membership and registration will receive a name tag and a lanyard that will be required for access to event spaces.
- Please note that per SSS policy: All conference participants listed in the annual program are required to be current dues-paying members and each author must register for the conference by paying conference fees. To check the status of your registration or to renew your membership, you may visit and/or set-up your SSS Member Portal(access via your email).
On-Site Accommodations
- Lactation Space (Ground Level below Symphony Foyer)
- All Gender Bathrooms (Symphony Foyer)
- Safe Space (Symphony Ballroom 7)
- Community and Collaboration Space (Mecklenburg Ballroom 3)
- Coffee and Tea (Symphony Foyer)
- Free WiFi in all Sheraton Charlotte conference spaces
- Go to “Sheraton_Conference,” password “excellent24!”
- Organization and Publisher Exhibitions (Symphony Foyer) – Keep an eye out for book signings from Author Meets Curious Reader sessions too!
- This year we also will have Food Trucks from 11am-1:30pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the parking lot area on the ground floor (right down the stairs behind the registration tables) with lots of options each day! (also check out Local Arrangements’ suggestions)
See program for dates, times, and availability for each accommodation. This list can also be found on the Mobile App!
Presentations, Posters, Presiding, Oh My…
- Both presenters and presiders have already received communications about their responsibilities – please check your email records (and spam!), but here are some of the basics…
- Presiders, please ensure that you have communicated to those in your session and familiarize yourself with the role. Communicate the time that each person will have for their presentation and ensure that someone will bring a laptop. The best way to contact those in your session is through the mobile app.
- During the session, make sure to keep time and leave time for Q&A.
- Breakout rooms will be equipped with a projector and a screen but not a laptop. Presiders should have communicated with presenters to ensure that ONE laptop is at each and every session. Some larger rooms will have a small PA for verbal (but not computer) audio.
- The projectors owned by SSS have HDMI and VGA. We also recently purchased HDMI to USB-C converters for all rooms. Aside from these, and due to the wide variety of laptops and required connections, SSS does not own other converters beyond these. Whichever laptop is being used for the session, make sure to have a converter from whatever output the laptop has to HDMI (or VGA).
- Note that the Sheraton rooms will have WiFi (see access info above and on the Mobile App).
- Presenters should plan on having their presentations on USB drives and/or send them to the Presider (if directed to do so by the Presider) beforehand. Each room will have an A/V equipment troubleshooting instructions along with contact information for our A/V Coordinator, Jacob Robinson.
- For those in the Poster session, SSS has easels and 30” x 40” foam boards along with binder clips for presenters to affix their Posters. Please take your poster with you after your session.
- SSS 2025 attendees should not utilize Zoom, FaceTime, or any other remote or hybrid interfaces to present at the conference – our bandwidth is much too small, and it creates issues for those in the audience regarding audio and visual needs during the session.
Parking
If you need parking while at SSS 2025, there is self-parking and valet parking. There is a parking lot beside the Sheraton Hotel and a parking garage behind and attached to the meeting space (entry through Symphony Foyer). We have a discounted group rate for daily and overnight self-parking at $10 and $15/day, respectively. Valet parking is $ $25/day.
Our Collective Responsibility at SSS 2025
At SSS 2025 all members will adhere to the Anti-Harassment Policy.
Our annual meeting is convened for the purposes of professional development and scholarly educational interchange in the spirit of free inquiry and free expression.
Harassment of colleagues, students, hotel staff or other conference participants undermines the principle of equity at the heart of these professional fora and is inconsistent with the principles of free inquiry and free expression. Consequently, harassment is considered by SSS to be a serious form of professional misconduct. See the Mobile App and/or visit the Registration Desk for information on reporting incidents of harassment at SSS 2025. Again this year, we have several trained SSS Advocates ready to help keep our meeting free from harassment.
We hope you will thoroughly enjoy SSS 2025, President Dawn T. Robinson’s theme, Lisa Walker’s Program Committee’s broad and deep program of sessions and events, the Local Arrangement Committee’s (headed up by Vaughn Schmutz and Zara Jillani) advice on engaging with all things Charlotte, and Vice President Anthony Peguero’s Honors Convocation and slate of SSS candidates (you can meet some of them at the Welcome Reception, the Student Mixer, and other spaces – look for their buttons), and, a variety of new and traditional elements as we come together for the 88th time at SSS 2025!
We are very excited!
Stop by and say hello.
Sincerely,
David L. Brunsma, SSS Executive Officer
Elizabeth B. Roberts, SSS Assistant Executive Officer
Cameron Lippard, Incoming SSS Executive Officer
Upali Bhattacharya, Incoming Assistant Executive Officer