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In the article, the author discusses the change in the field of sociology. He suggests that a larger proportion of sociologists are now being drawn from background, with relatively high socio-econoimc status. This makes them less Iikely to be threatened by events which may lower the status of the profession. Within this group, those who are most confident and secure of their position within the profession will lead the attack on a role conception which offers protection from a threat they do not feel. As an example, the author discusses the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association held in San Francisco, California in 1967. The hippie influences and political activities in San Francisco are discussed. A significant number of younger sociologists and sociology graduate students embrace a conception of their professional role that differs in at least two important respects from earlier and still dominant conceptions in the profession. The author describes the newer conception to identify the underlying premises which make it differ from the more traditional view.

This article provides information on the meeting of the 1973 American Sociological Association Council in San Francisco, California on December 2 to 3, 1972. The site of the meeting was selected partly because of the economy afforded when some council and staff members were also scheduled to attend a conference in Carmel, California, a few days after the council meeting. Of the 12 at-large members of the council, 4 reside on the West Coast, 4 on the East Coast and 4 in the Mid-West. The timing of the meeting also signals an innovation in the governance of the association. This meeting was the first of a set of quarterly sessions planned by the 1973 council. With more frequent meetings, the council hopes to reduce the pressure of business at the annual meeting so the council can interact with the membership and participate in the general sessions.

The article reports that American Sociological Association's (ASA's) annual meeting at San Francisco, a resolution concerning American policy in Vietnam has been signed by more than three per cent of voting members, was submitted to the Council. On the grounds that the ASA, as a scientific and professional organization, should not express an official position on political issues, the Council, by unanimous vote, disapproved the resolution. To poll immediately all members of the Association as to their individual judgments regarding American policy in the Vietnam conflict, the results of this poll to be made public as quickly as possible, separately for voting and non-voting members respectively. In accordance with Constitutional procedure, the Council now submits the issue to the voting membership of the Association. Two alternatives are before the voting membership: (1) To vote on the substantive issue contained in the Resolution and thereby commit the Association to an official position on Vietnam policy and (2) To adopt the Council's position that to take a position on this issue is not consistent with the goals and objectives of this Association.

The article presents the program of the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA) to be held from August 28-31,1967 in San Francisco, California. The program is as follows: Monday, August 28 will be devoted to the Sections of the ASA with each Section holding a council and business meeting and sponsoring a program session. Tuesday, August 29: Two sessions will be held jointly with the Rural Sociological Society. The Society for the Study of Social Problems will also co-sponsor numerous sessions, as indicated in the program. Wednesday, August 30: At 10:30 a.m. all members are urged to attend the first of two annual business meetings. A second series of luncheon roundtable discussions is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, August 31 is a full day of sessions including some of the most interesting on the program. The second ASA business meeting is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. and the third series of luncheon roundtables at 11:30 a.m. The Pacific Telephone Company will provide a telephone message center during the meetings. The California State Employment Service will conduct a placement center from August 26 to August 31. Application and order forms were mailed with the preliminary program. Forms for hotel reservations, luncheon reservations, and advance registration were printed in the February 1967 issue of "The American Sociologist," and are also available in the preliminary program mailing to all members.