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Email from Steve Breckler to Psychology Department
Chairs
Dear Psychology Department Chair:
In conjunction with 53 other science, engineering, and industry
organizations, the American Psychological Association has proposed a pair of
"Virtual Town Hall Meetings" with the major-party presidential
candidates. I am writing to let you know about this invitation and ask you to be
prepared to help organize gatherings to view the proposed webcasts if they
occur. While we have not received a firm response from either campaign thus far,
we need to be prepared to organize quickly should they agree to participate.
To ensure a large audience for the events, we are working with
industry contacts, university administrators and faculty, and national lab
leaders to organize large gatherings to view the webcasts. We hope that your
department will join this effort, either on its own or in conjunction with other
science departments on your campus.
Organizing such a gathering would offer your faculty and
students the opportunity to see the presidential candidates discuss science and
technology issues and join a community of thousands of other scientists and
engineers. Moreover, your participation would further one of the main goals of
the events: to establish the science and engineering community as a significant
constituency in the eyes of the candidates.
The proposed webcasts would provide an opportunity for President
George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry to interact with scientists and
engineers working in industry, national laboratories, and universities across
the United States. The meetings would consist of separate events during which
each candidate would deliver remarks setting forth a vision for science and
technology in the 21st Century. In fitting with our high-tech age, the remarks
would be webcast live to tens of thousands of scientists and engineers
throughout the country, and a short question and answer period via the Internet
would follow. The total time of each event would be no more than 45 minutes.
Technical requirements to view the Webcasts will be minimal--just a computer, a
projector, and an internet connection. More details, including the letters of
invitation, are available at http://www.HiTechTownHall.org
. An Associated Press story about the proposed events can be viewed at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5762324
.
I hope you will agree to join us in this exciting endeavor.
Please let me know by return e-mail whether you will be able to do so, and we
will provide additional information as soon as it is available.
Best Regards,
Steven J. Breckler, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Science
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5938
(202) 336-5953 (fax)
sbreckler@apa.org
www.apa.org/science
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