Transcript NAPA 20th Anniversary Retrospective - Oak

NAPA 20th Anniversary
Retrospective
American Anthropological Association
Annual Meeting
Robert T. Trotter, II
Northern Arizona University
Various Actions
My First President’s Speech Started
with the Phrase:
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
• I want to thank Ed Liebow for the opportunity given to all
of us to reflect on NAPA’s past and progress, and to
Elizabeth Briody for convieghing these somewhat ironic
words from me to you. I apologize for not being at the
meetings, but the apology is tempered by a late breaking
opportunity to be involved in a project that has the
potential to accomplish some important work.
• I had the privilege of being president of NAPA during one
of its early transitional phase, and felt the what we did at
that time was more important that what we said, so I
started off my first Presidential address with these
words.
Actions and Words
• During the time I was NAPA president, the
organization was in one of its early growth
transitions, with lots of talent, lots of
energy, and considerable vision. The
predominant theme was:
– Applied Anthropology: The fifth subdiscipline
• All of the NAPA board worked very hard
during this time to establish the credibility
of NAPA through both word and deed.
External Actions
• NAPA has had two important roles and audiences since
its inception; part of our job has been to convince
“others” that anthropological theory and practice are
valuable, and part has been to convince “ourselves.” of
the same things.
• Part of the irony of my “actions speak louder than words”
aphorism is that there has been a steady, sometimes
even rapid growth in the credibility of applied
anthropology outside of anthropology. People are
convinced we can act effectively and are asking us for
help. We have provided that help in virtually every
important area of human need, from health to education
to industry to economy to political action.
Internal Words
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At the same time, our internal image and impact has often been more
difficult to establish.
During my Presidency, we had a designated position on the AAA Board of
directors. That forum provided a very important base for maintaining the
credibility and actions of NAPA, for establishing ourselves and our actions,
and sucessfully using that position for a number of years to establish
programs, identify, and credibility.
At the same time, we faced ignorance, distain, some hostility, a lot of
skeptacism, some “theoretical prejudice”, and quite a bit of obliviousness
from the bulk of the AAA membership. Since those are exactly the same
conditions we encounter other places, we used applied anthropology and
our knowledge of the needs and interests of our membership to create
actions. These took the form of workshops, not just sessions, events, not
just speaches, and support services, not just memberships.
In my opinion, we have always been more intereseted in getting things done
than we have in talking about the things that “others” have done. One of the
consequences has been for NAPA and its membership to have more of an
impact outside of the AAA, than inside. And, in my opinion, that may actually
be the correct balance.
The Things we have done right
• The internal external tensions of applied anthropology have actually
been very beneficial to NAPA. It has caused us to focus on getting
things done, rather than just talking about what has gone wrong, and
what needs to be changed.
• At the same time, the balance and need for action has changed and
some of our old actions no longer apply, and we need some new
ones.
• We need to look more to the present and future of our membership,
than to the past. Ignoring the past is dangerous. Getting stuck in it is
deadly.
• Consequently, I will keep this retrospective brief. The organization
has always been responsive and current, and has dealt with the
issues of the day in appropriate and effective ways. I don’t see any
evidence that that will not continue into the forseeable future.
• Actions actually do speak louder than words.
Many Thanks—Fewer Words
• I want to thank NAPA and everyone I have been
associated with for the opportunities to engage in actions
on behalf of the organization, and to say a few words
about it. I have unfortunately belonged to organizations
that are all talk, no action. NAPA on the other hand has
both a history and a future of getting on with the
important things, putting peoples hands and hearts
where they mouths are also engaged.
• I am sorry to not be present for the celebration, and
especially will miss the opportunity to see my friends.
Thanks for the opportunity to talk while also engaging in
a few actions.
• Bob Trotter