American Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TAARII)
Founded in 1989, under the name the American Association for Research in Baghdad (AARB). Annual dues: $250 Institutional Membership; $35 Individual Professional Membership; $20 Student and Emeritus Membership; $50 Supporting Membership; $1,000 Corporate Membership. TAARII is a consortium of universities, colleges, museums, and libraries, incorporated as a non-profit in the State of Illinois and holding 501 (c ) 3 status with the IRS. TAARII promotes scholarly research on and in Iraq and aims to create a multidisciplinary American scholarly research center in Iraq, as conditions permit. TAARII raises funds for advanced graduate and post-graduate fellowships for Americans and Iraqis to work on Iraq. TAARII initiates its own conferences and research projects and is interested in fostering joint projects between American and Iraqi academics. TAARII publishes a semi-annual newsletter. The TAARII annual meeting is held in conjunction with MESA. TAARII sponsors panels at the annual MESA meeting. For information, contact: Stephanie Platz, Executive Director, 1507 E. 53rd St., #920, Chicago IL 60615 (773 844-9658; stephanie@taarii.org; www.taarii.org).

American Association of Teachers of Arabic (AATA)
Membership: 400. Annual dues: $30 regular; $15 student, $200 institutional. AATA is an association of professionals, students, institutions, and other individuals interested in Arabic language teaching, Arabic literature and Arabic linguistics. The purpose of AATA is to contribute to the enhancement of study, criticism, and research in all these areas. Meetings and programs are held in conjunction with MESA. AATA publishes Al-‘Arabiyya, a journal containing  articles by AATA members and others interested in Arabic language scholarship. Executive Director: Elizabeth Bergman, 3416 Primm Lane, Birmingham  AL 35216 (205 822-6800; fax: 205 823-2760; info@aataweb.org; aataweb.org). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

American Association of Teachers of Persian (AATP)
Founded in 1989. Annual dues: $25 per year. AATP is a nonprofit, nonpolitical professional organization, whose objectives are to advance and improve the study and teaching of Persian language, to promote research in the field of Persian language, linguistics, and literature; to further the common interests of teachers in the field; and to facilitate communication and professional cooperation among its
members. President: Soheila Amirsoleimani, University of Utah, Languages & Literature, 1400 LNCO 255 S. Central Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; Secretary: Mahvash Shahegh (801 585-3011; Soheila1@gmail.com; aoliai@wisc.edu; www.aatp.biz). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

American Association of Teachers of Turkic Languages (AATT)
Founded in 1985. Membership: 150. Annual dues: $20 full/associate; $10 student; $40-$500 institutional. AATT is a private, nonprofit, nonpolitical organization of individuals interested in all of the languages of the Turks. AATT seeks to advance and improve the teaching of the languages of the Turks; to promote study, criticism, and research in the field of the languages and literatures of the Turks; and to further the common interest of teachers of these subjects. Publishes the AATT Bulletin, maintains the AATT-L; and holds an annual meeting in conjunction with MESA . Executive Secretary/Treasurer: Erika H. Gilson, NES, 110 Jones Hall, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544-1008 (609 258-1435; fax: 609 258-1242; ehgilson@princeton.edu; www.princeton.edu/~turkish/aatt). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS)
Founded in 1984. Membership: 255. Annual dues: $55 full; $40 student; $500 institutional. AIMS is a private nonprofit, nonpolitical organization which promotes the systematic study of North Africa (Maghrib). AIMS sponsors The Journal of North African Studies, publishes a newsletter, produces an annual roster of members and research directory, sponsors yearly academic conferences in North Africa, provides funding support for students and scholars; maintains overseas research centers in Tunis (CEMAT), Tangiers (TALM), and Oran (CEMA); and hosts an annual Arabic language summer program in Tangiers. For information, or to submit articles to the Journal, contact: John P. Entelis, Secretary and Editor, JNAS, Middle East Studies, LL915A, Fordham University, 113 West 60th St., New York NY 10023 (212 636-6390; fax: 212 636-7153; entelis@fordham.edu; www.la.utexas.edu/research/mena/aims). For membership, contact: Kerry Adams, Executive Director, CMES, University of Arizona, Marshall Bldg., Rm. 470, PO Box 210158-B, Tucson AZ 85721-0158 (520 626-6498; aimscmes@email.arizona.edu).

American Institute for Yemeni Studies (AIYS)
Founded in 1978. Institutional and individual membership totals 200. Annual dues for individuals: $25 regular, $10 students/emeriti (+$7.50 for overseas addresses); $250 institutional. AIYS is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that promotes pre-and post-doctoral research on Yemen and related areas. AIYS is a resource for individual scholars and institutional members’ projects in Yemen by providing a variety of services. AIYS conducts annual pre- and post-doctoral fellowship competitions for US and Yemeni scholars, and participates in the Mellon Foundation fellowship program for East European Scholars. AIYS administers an intensive summer institute in intermediate and advanced Arabic (www.caorc.org/language/index.html);   publishes an annual bulletin Yemen Update and occasional monographs (distributed by MESA). Annual board and business meetings are held at MESA. Executive Director: Maria deJ. Ellis, AIYS, PO Box 311, Ardmore PA 19003-0311 (610 896-5412; fax: 610 896-9049; mellis@sas.upenn.edu; www.aiys.org). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

American Institute of Iranian Studies (AIIrS)
Founded in 1967. Annual dues: $750.00 institutional. AIIrS is a nonprofit, nongovernmental overseas research organization and a member of CAORC. AIIrS supports the advancement of knowledge and understanding of Iran and Iranian culture and civilization from the earliest periods to the present. Its purview is the historical Iranian world of Central Asia, the Middle East and South Asia, and the modern political state of Iran. AIIrS awards language study fellowships to graduate students and research fellowships to junior and senior faculty members to study Persian and conduct research in Iran, and to senior Iranian scholars to conduct research at US host institutes. Awards the annual Lois Roth Persian Translation Prize. Executive Director: Erica Ehrenberg, 118 Riverside Dr., New York NY 10024 (fax: 212 874-4094; aiis@nyc.rr.com; www.simorgh-aiis.org). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS)
Founded in 1973. Annual dues: $25 individuals; $250 institutional. AIPS is a nonprofit organization constituted as a consortium of universities and colleges, and is a member of CAORC. Its mission is to encourage and support research on issues relevant to Pakistan and the promotion of scholarly exchange between the US and Pakistan. It maintains a research center in Islamabad, offers fellowships for pre- and post-doctoral research, and sponsors conferences and panels at national meetings. AIPS publishes a newsletter and supports publications in the field. President (till September 30, 2008): Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, American Institute of Pakistan Studies, The University of Wisconsin-Madison,1180 Observatory Dr., 5240 Sewell Social Science Bldg., Madison WI 53706 (jkenoyer@wisc.edu; www.PakistanStudies-AIPS.org). Direct membership inquiries to: Laura Hammond, Assistant to the President (608 265-4304; ljhammond@wisc.edu).

American Numismatic Society (ANS)
Founded in 1858. Membership: 2000. Annual dues: $100 foreign associate; $75 full associate; $50 basic associate; $35 student associate; $150 library associate; $500 corporate associate; $7,500 life membership. The ANS mission is to be the preeminent national institution advancing the study and appreciation of coins, medals and related objects of all cultures as historical and artistic documents; by maintaining the foremost numismatic collection and library; by supporting scholarly research and publications; and by sponsoring educational and interpretive programs for diverse audiences. Executive Director: Ute Wartenberg. For membership, contact: Megan Fenselau, Membership Office, The American Numismatic Society, 96 Fulton St., New York NY 10038 (212 571-4470 ex.1311; fax: 212 571-4479; membership@numismatics.org; www.numismatics.org).

American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE)
Founded in 1948. Annual dues: $25 student; $55 regular; $80 family. ARCE is a private, nonprofit organization that supports research in Egypt on all phases of Egyptian civilization and culture and to promote and strengthen American-Egyptian ties. ARCE provides a permanent archaeological and research base in Cairo for American scholars. ARCE supports an extensive program of research fellowships, archaeological excavations and surveys, and special historical and literary studies. Under its Egyptian Antiquities Project, ARCE supports a large program of conservation work and studies. ARCE publishes a newsletter and journal, and holds an annual conference. Cairo office: Director, Gerry Dee Scott III, 2 Midan Simon Bolivar, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt (20 2 2794-8239; fax: 20 2 2795-3052; cairo@arce.org). US office: Membership Coordinator, ARCE, 8700 Crownhill Blvd., Suite 507, San Antonio TX 78209 (210-821-7000, fax: 210 821-7007; info@arce.org; www.arce.org).  Direct membership inquiries to the US address above.Direct membership inquiries to the US address above.

Association for the Advancement of Central Asian Research (AACAR)
Founded in 1989. Membership: 150. Annual dues: $25 individual; $40 institutional. AACAR is a nonprofit scholarly organization devoted to promoting scholarship and instruction on Central Asia. AACAR considers Central Asia to consist of Azerbaijan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the surrounding regions and states which share a long historical linkage with these states: Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia, southern Russia (particularly areas having a large Muslim or Turkic population), Turkey, and Xinjiang. Publishes the Journal of Central Asian Studies. For membership, contact: John Dunn, Treasurer, History, VSU, Valdosta GA 31698 (jdunn@valdosta.edu). For inquiries concerning the Journal of Central Asian Studies, contact: Reuel Hanks, Editor, JCAS, 211 Scott Hall, OSU, Stillwater OK 74078 (hreuel@okstate.edu; www.geog.okstate.edu/journals/jcas/jcas.htm).

Association for Environmental & Developmental Studies in the Arab World (AEDSAW)
Founded in 1997. Annual dues: $20 fellows/professionals; $5 students. AEDSAW's purpose is to raise awareness of and discussion of environmental and developmental issues in the Arab world, organize/sponsor panels, and keep an electronic list. Publishes AEDSAW Media Review. Editor: Maha Broum (mbroum@hotmail.com); General Editor: Gloria Saliba, UCLA, History Dept., Los Angeles CA 90095-1405 (fax: 310 206-9630). Holds an annual meeting in conjunction with MESA. President: James Miller, Dept. of Hist & Geog, Clemson University, Clemson SC 29634 (miller3@clemson.edu). For membership, contact: Kinda Mohamadieh, Secretary/Treasurer, (kind_mohamadieh@hotmail.com; http://almashriq.hiof.no/aedsaw).

Association for Israel Studies (AIS)
Founded in 1985. Annual dues: $50 US; $15 student. AIS is an international scholarly society devoted to the academic and professional study of Israel. AIS is open to all individuals who are engaged in, or share an interest in, scholarly inquiry about the state, society, and culture of Israel. In 1996, AIS established a graduate student organization. AIS publishes the biannual, Israel Studies Forum. Annual meeting and panels at MESA, APSA and ISA. President: Rachel Brenner, University of Wisconsin (brenner@wisc.edu). For membership, contact: Russell Stone (rstone@american.edu), Dept. of Sociology, Battelle-Tompkins Hall, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington DC 20016-8072 (202 885-2630; fax: 202 885-2477; ais@american.edu; www.aisisraelstudies.org).

Association for Middle East Women’s Studies (AMEWS)
Founded in 1985. Annual dues; $47.50; student $42.50. AMEWS was founded by scholars interested in promoting quality research in the field of Middle East women's studies. AMEWS organizes conference panels for the presentation of original scholarship, and administers a listserv to provide a forum for the discussion of current issues and recognize the accomplishments of its members. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in Middle East women's studies. With the inception of the journal, The Journal of Middle East Women's Studies, all AMEWS related matters are handled by Indiana University Press. For online subscription information, visit: http://iupjournals.org/amews. President: Nancy Gallagher. For membership, contact either: Azza Basarudin, AMEWS Secretary (azza@ucla.edu) or Amaney Jamal, Treasurer, 238 Corwin Hall, Dept. of Politics, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544 (ajamal@princeton.edu; www.amews.org).

Association for the Study of Persianate Societies (ASPS)
Founded in 1996. Annual dues: $75 institutional; $35 regular; $15 student. ASPS is a nongovernmental, nonpolitical, and nonprofit professional organization for researchers, scholars, academics, and all other persons interested in the areas based on the Persian language, with special regard for scholars in Iran, South Asia, and Central Asia. The main objectives are: to promote research in the social sciences and humanities; to create, develop and encourage scientific, cultural and educational exchange and communication; and to enhance public culture and mutual understanding within the region. Publishes an annual journal, Studies on Persianate Societies, and holds a biennial convention. ASPS has regional offices in Vienna, Dushanbe, Islamabad, New Delhi, Patna, Shiraz, Tashkent, Tehran and Yerevan. President: Said A. Arjomand, Dept. of Sociology, State University of Stony Brook, Stony Brook NY 11794-4356 (631 632-7746; fax: 631 632-8203; said.arjomand@stonybrook.edu). Membership information and form are on the website: www.persianatesocieties.org.

Association of Arab American University Graduates (AAUG)
Founded in 1967. Annual dues: $65 regular; $30 student. The AAUG is a nonprofit, tax exempt educational and cultural organization dedicated to fostering better understanding between the Arab and American peoples and promoting informed discussion of critical issues concerning the Arab world and North America. Publishes books, papers, periodicals on Arab and Arab American affairs, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and US foreign policy; holds an annual convention and midyear conferences; provides speakers on topics concerning the Arab world and its people. Publishes Arab Studies Quarterly, editor: Ibrahim Aoude (aoude@hawaii.edu). President: Khalil Barhoum. For information, contact: AAUG, 211 East 4th St., New York NY 10009- 7213 (212 529-3001; www.aaug-asq.org).

Association of Central Asian Studies (ACAS)
ACAS is planning a reorganization and continuation of its activities either by itself or in affiliation with a similar organization. The matter will be resolved by the Board of Directors in the near future. For information, contact: Kemal Karpat, University of Wisconsin, 4121 Humanities Bldg., Madison WI 53706 (608 263-1825; fax: 608 263-5302).

Assyrian Academic Society (AAS)
Founded in 1985. Membership: 200. Annual dues: $70.00 professional; $40.00 student. AAS exists to build continuing and mutually beneficial relationships between its Executive Board, Members, Academic Institutions, and the Assyrian community at large. To this end, the AAS is devoted to strengthening its educational base within the Assyrian community through sponsorship of lectures, seminars, language classes, and academic conferences. AAS publishes specialty books in the areas of history, culture and language, and the Journal of the Assyrian Academic Society (JAAS). For information, contact: AAS, Nineva Bldg., 8324 N. Lincoln, Skokie IL 60076 (847 982-5800; info@aas.net; www.aas.net).

Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA)
Founded in 1967. CASA offers intensive advanced Arabic language and culture training to members of the academic community-at-large who represent various disciplines in the area of Middle Eastern studies. CASA represents a consortium of twenty-eight universities in the US in addition to the American University in Cairo (AUC) and Damascus University, Syria where CASA’s training sites are located.  CASA is overseen by a governing council representing the members of the CASA Consortium and receives funding primarily from the US Department of Education, with support from the Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt. Director (US): Mahmoud Al-Batal. Executive Director (Cairo): Nevenka Korica.  Executive Director (Syria): Khoulood Sakbani. Contact information: Center for Arabic Study Abroad, University of Texas, WMB 6.102, 1 University Station, F9400, Austin TX 78712-0527 ( 512 471-3513; fax: 512 471-0739); UTcasa@austin.utexas.edu; www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/casa/). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC)
Founded in 1981. Membership: CAORC has member centers in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, West Africa, Yemen. CAORC speaks in support of overseas research centers; helps expand the resource base and raise the profile of member centers; fosters new channels of communication and collaboration among centers leading to a strengthening of academic programs and administrative procedures; fosters research projects across national boundaries; serves as advocate for area studies, and facilitates the establishment of new research centers. Executive Director: Mary Ellen Lane, CAORC, PO Box 37012, MRC-178, Washington DC 20013-7012 (202 633-1599; fax: 202 786-2430; caorc@caorc.org; www.caorc.org). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

Critique: Critical Middle Eastern Studies
Founded in 1991. Critique: Critical Middle Eastern Studies is a peer-reviewed journal, published three times per year by Taylor & Francis Ltd. Annual subscription rates: individual $108 (£70), libraries and institutions$380 (£230). For publication details, back issue orders, and subscription rates, visit: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/10669922.asp. Critique promotes an academic and critical examination of the history and contemporary political, social, economic, and cultural aspects of Middle Eastern countries. Critique actively engages theoretical and empirical studies, and by so doing promotes a critical understanding of the complex nature of ideas, values, social configurations, and material realities of Middle Eastern societies. Critique holds an annual symposium at Hamline University. Editor: Eric Hooglund. For information regarding submission of manuscripts or the annual symposium, contact: Critique, Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave., PO Box 211, St. Paul MN 55104 (651 523-2955; fax: 651 523-2956; critique@gw.hamline.edu; http://www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/centers/critique/index.html.

Historians of Islamic Art Association (HIAA)
Founded in 1982. Membership: 250. Annual dues: $25; $15 students; $50 institutions. HIAA's purpose is to promote high standards of scholarship and instruction in the history of Islamic arts; facilitate communication among its members through meetings, the HIAA newsletter and directory; and promote scholarly cooperation among persons and organizations concerned with the study of Islamic arts. HIAA holds a periodic majlis or meeting of its members, often in conjunction with meetings of the College Art Association (CAA) or MESA. President: Renata Holod, History of Art Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia  PA 19104 (rholod@sas.upenn.edu); President-elect: Marianna Shreve Simpson (simpson@jhu.edu).  Secretary/Treasurer: Finbarr Barry Flood, Associate Professor, Department of Art History & Institute of Fine Arts, New York University (barry.flood@nyu.edu); http://www.historiansofislamicart.org

International Society for Iranian Studies (ISIS)
Founded in 1967. Annual dues: $65 individual; $40 student; $222 institutions (includes on line journal). ISIS is a professional society to support and promote the field of Iranian studies at the international level. ISIS publishes the journal, Iranian Studies and convenes biennial conferences. President: Nasrim Rahimieh. Executive Director: Mansour Bonakdarian. For membership information, please consult the society website:  http://www.humanities.uci.edu/iranian-studies/s

Kurdish Studies Association (KSA)
Founded in 2000. Founding Membership: 35. Annual dues: none at inception. KSA is a private, nonprofit organization of scholars and others interested in Kurdish studies. KSA seeks to encourage scholarly research and writing on Kurdistan and Kurdish politics, culture, and society in the global context; to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas among scholars and others sharing a serious interest in Kurdish issues; and to foster a wider and better informed understanding of the Kurdish people and their diaspora. Annual KSA meeting is held in conjunction with MESA. Contact: President, Charles G. MacDonald, Dept. of International Relations, Florida International University, 3000 N E 151st St., North Miami FL 33181 (305 919-5958; fax: 305 919-5964; macdona@aol.com) or Executive Secretary: Carole A. O’Leary, American University (ksa@american.edu). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

Middle East Economic Association (MEEA)
Founded in 1974. Membership: 1,000. Annual dues: regular (nonstudent) members residing in countries outside the MENA region $25; student members residing in countries outside the MENA region $20; all members currently residing in the MENA region $10. MEEA is a private nonprofit, nonpolitical organization fostering economic research on contemporary and historical issues in countries of the Middle East and North Africa region. Emphasis is placed on contending analytical perspectives and cross-country comparisons. MEEA holds an annual meeting with the Allied Social Science Association (ASSA), an annual summer conference, other conferences jointly sponsored with other organizations, and publishes an electronic proceedings journal (www.gsb.luc.edu/depts/economics/meea) and newsletter. President: Hadi Salehi Esfahani, Dept. of Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana IL 61801 (esfahani@uiuc.edu; http://meeaweb.org); Executive Secretary: Serdar Sayan, Department of Economics, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Sogutozu Cad., No. 43, 06560 Sogutozu, Ankara, Turkey (serdar.sayan@etu.edu.tr). For membership, contact: Hassan Aly, Treasurer, Ohio State University (aly.1@osu.edu).

Middle East Librarians Association (MELA)
Founded in 1973. Membership: 156. Annual dues: $30. MELA is a private nonprofit, nonpolitical organization of librarians and other persons interested in aspects of librarianship that support the study of the Middle East, North Africa and the Islamic world. MELA promotes communication among members and shares information about and encourages cooperation among Middle East libraries, collections, and individual members through meetings and newsletters. Annual dues include a subscription to the journal, MELA Notes. MELA meets annually in conjunction with MESA. President: Joan Biella (president@mela.us). For membership, contact: William J. Kopycki, MELA Secretary/Treasurer, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3420 Walnut St., Philadelphia PA 19104-6206 (215 898-2196; kopycki@pobox.upenn.edu; www.mela.us). Anyone interested in Middle Eastern librarianship may subscribe to the Association’s MELANET-L mailing list.

Middle East Medievalists (MEM)
Founded in 1989. Membership: 350. Regular annual dues: $15 for North American addresses, $17.50 elsewhere. Discounted dues for two or three year memberships. MEM is a professional nonprofit association of scholars interested in the study of the Islamic lands of the Middle East during the medieval period (defined roughly as 500–1500 C.E.). MEM has two primary goals: to increase the representation of medieval scholarship at scholarly meetings in North America and elsewhere by co-sponsoring panels; and to foster communication among those with an interest in the study of the medieval Middle East. MEM publishes Al-‘Usur al-Wusta: The Bulletin of Middle East Medievalist, with articles, information on scholarly meetings and resources, and reviews or notices of significant scholarly books published in the Middle East in local vernaculars (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish), as these works are generally not reviewed in Western journals. For membership, contact: Steven Judd, MEM Secretary, Dept. of History, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent St., New Haven CT 06515 (203 392-5605; judds1@southernct.edu; www.MiddleEastMedievalists.org).

Middle East Microform Project (MEMP)
Founded in 1987 by the Middle East Librarians Association. Membership: 24. MEMP is working to cooperatively acquire microform copies of unique, scarce, rare and unusually bulky and expensive research material pertaining to the field of Middle Eastern studies; and to preserve deteriorating printed and manuscript materials of scholarly value. The geographic coverage of MEMP includes materials from or on the Arab countries, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and other related areas not covered in other cooperative microform projects. The largest portion of MEMP’s collection focuses on newspapers from Middle Eastern countries. Other projects include the microforming of a large pamphlet file of materials on the Middle East at the Library of Congress, and preservation of the Chaquèri Collection of Iranian left-wing materials at Harvard University. For membership, contact: James Simon, Director of International Resources, Center for Research Libraries, 6050 S. Kenwood, Chicago IL 60637 (773 955-4545 ext. 324; fax: 773 955-4339; simon@crl.edu; www.crl.edu/areastudies/MEMP/index.htm).

Society for Armenian Studies (SAS)
Founded in 1974. Membership: 222. Membership fee: $40 regular/supporting members; $15 students; $25 retired members; $50 donors; $100 patrons. The goals of SAS are to promote the study of Armenian culture and society, including history, language, literature, and social, political, and economic questions; to facilitate the exchange of scholarly information pertaining to Armenian studies; and to sponsor panels, conferences, a newsletter and journal. SAS organizes and sponsors panels on all aspects of Armenian studies at professional meetings, conferences and symposia. SAS normally meets in conjunction with MESA. President: Richard Hovannisian (hovannis@history.ucla.edu). Contact the secretariat: Society for Armenian Studies, Armenian Studies Program, California State University, Fresno, 5245 N. Backer Ave. PB4, Fresno CA 93740-8001 (559 278-4930; fax: 559 278-2129; barlowd@csufresno.edu; armenianstudies.csufresno.edu/sas/index.htm). Direct inquiries about the Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies (JSAS), newsletter or membership to the address above.

Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Seminar (SERMEISS)
Founded in 1977. Membership: 174. Annual dues: $15 full; $10 associate; $200 institutional ($100 for schools with enrollments  under 5,000, school districts, and private schools). SERMEISS is a professional society of faculty from various fields who study or teach some aspect of the Middle East and Islamic World; it provides scholars in the southeastern US an opportunity to meet regularly to share research findings and teaching concerns. The region includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Members from outside the region are welcome. Fall and spring meetings annually, with programs designed for three levels: specialists, non-specialists who include the region in their college teaching, and secondary school teachers. Publishes a newsletter, sponsors teacher-training workshops and trips abroad, and maintains an outreach center. President: Ron Messier, Department of History, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN 37235 (615 898-5828; ronald.a.messier@vanderbilt.edu). Executive Director: John Parcels, SERMEISS, PO Box 8023, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro GA  30460-8023 (912 764-9802; parcels@georgiasouthern.edu;  http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/sermeiss). Direct membership inquiries to the Executive Director.

Sudan Studies Association (SSA)
Founded in 1981. Membership: 300. Annual dues: $30 regular or non-profit members; $150 profit-making organizations; $200 life membership. The SSA is an independent professional society open to scholars, teachers, students and others with interest in the Sudan. The SSA promotes Sudanese studies and scholarship on ancient, historical and contemporary topics. Activities include: the publication of the SSA Newsletter, annual meetings, including an international meeting held every three years; and support for the website. SSA sponsors panels and programs in conjunction with other academic associations and maintains an archive of publications. Executive Director: Richard Lobban, African Studies, Rhode Island College, Providence RI 02908 (401 456-8784; fax: 401 461-0907; rlobban@ric.edu; www.sudanstudies.org). Direct membership inquiries to the address above.

Syrian Studies Association (SSA)
Founded in 1992. Membership: 85. Annual dues: $20 full; $10 student and income under $35,000. Membership dues and donations are tax exempt in the US. SSA is a private, nonprofit, nonpolitical organization of scholars and other persons interested in Syrian studies. SSA is dedicated to promoting high standards of scholarship and instruction, to facilitate communication among its members through meetings and other contacts, to encourage international scholarship on Syria, to promote international cooperation among persons and organizations concerned with Syrian studies, and to encourage students to learn Arabic in Syria. SSA defines the area of study for the association as historical Bilad al-Sham. Sponsors panels at various professional conferences, publishes a newsletter, awards prizes for best dissertation, best published article and best book in Syrian studies, and publishes latest information on Arabic programs and language courses in Syria. President: Peter Sluglett (sluglett@aol.com). For membership, contact: Annie Higgins, Secretary/Treasurer (higginsuf@yahoo.com; www.ou.edu/ssa).

Turkish Studies Association (TSA)
Founded in 1971. Membership: 350. Annual dues: $30 regular/fellow; $40 joint; $15 student; $15 Turkish member in Turkey; $15 retired; $50 institutional. TSA is a private, nonprofit, nonpolitical organization of persons interested in Turkish and Ottoman studies. TSA promotes high standards of scholarship and instruction; facilitates communication among its members through meetings and written exchanges of information; and promotes international, scholarly cooperation among persons and organizations concerned with Turkish and Ottoman studies. TSA publishes the Turkish Studies Association Journal. The TSA annual meeting is held in conjunction with MESA. For membership, contact: Paul Kaldjian, c/o Yvonne Plomedahl, Dept. of Geography, University of Wisconsin, Eau Clair, 105 Garfield Ave, PO Box 4004, Eau Clair WI 54702-4004 (715 836-2321; fax: 715 836-6027; kaldjian@uwec.edu; www.h-net.org/~thetsa).