Dear SEA Members and Friends –
I hope this message finds you all healthy and well in this extraordinarily strange time! Despite the need for social distancing, and the regrettable cancellation of the spring meeting, the SEA board and 2020 program chairs have been hard at work planning for the future. I have a few updates for the membership:

2020 VIRTUAL MEETING “Economies of Convenience”
– Our 2020 Spring Meeting Program Chair, Rahul Oka, has been working hard to set up a virtual meeting which will take place April 30 (10:30 – 5:00 EDT) and May 1 (10:30 – 5:00 EDT). The lineup of speakers looks absolutely wonderful! Please mark your calendars and join us for as much of the conference as you can, from the comfort of your home, with a simple click of an email link! All SEA members are welcome and encouraged to attend and, as always, to provide useful feedback to our presenters. All participants must register, but it is FREE! The program and more information about how to register will arrive in your in-boxes early next week.

AAA EMERGENCY FUND
The AAA Executive Committee has authorized a very generous budget for an emergency grant program. Sections (including the SEA) are also contributing to match these funds. While the details are still emerging, it sounds like all AAA members who do not get full-time university benefits, are no longer supported by university funds or who derive at least 50% of their income from self-employment (consulting, etc) are eligible to apply. More information will be forthcoming from AAA but I wanted those in need to be aware that the deadline is currently planned for MAY 15. Please keep an eye out from the AAA.

2020 AAA MEETING
At the moment the 2020 AAA meeting is still on and deadlines for panels, roundtables, posters and individually volunteered papers have all been extended. We invite you all to submit your papers to SEA for consideration. Our 2020 Program Chair AJ Faas looks forward to your submissions.

ANTHROPOLOGY NEWS
I’m sure many of you have seen the excellent article in the most recent issue of Anthropology News. SEA got the “headline” with Ieva Snikersproge’s excellent article Capitalism and the Coronavirus Conspiracy. Please check it out. Big thanks to Walt Little for doing such a stellar job as our AN editor. Please note that Walt plans to turn over the reigns in November and we are still looking for a replacement. If you are interested, please let me know.

I think that’s it for now. The SEA board wishes you all safety, good health, and comfort in these strange times!

My best –
Cindy Isenhour, SEA President