NAPA 20th Anniversary Retrospective

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NAPA 20th Anniversary Retrospective

• American Anthropological Association Annual
  Meeting
• Robert T. Trotter, II
• Northern Arizona University

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Various Actions
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My First Presidents Speech Started with the
PhraseActions Speak Louder Than Words

• I want to thank Ed Liebow for the opportunity
  given to all of us to reflect on NAPAs 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.

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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.

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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.

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Internal Words

• 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.

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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 dont see any evidence that that will not
  continue into the forseeable future.
• Actions actually do speak louder than words.

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Many ThanksFewer 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