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The areas represented in DAPA are varied, but they do represent some spe-cific concentrations: contract archeology (the largest single concentration); publicpolicy/economic development; organizational consultants (public and privatecontracts); economic development; planning; medical; health planning—general;health care delivery; police investigation—genetic fingerprinting; fund-raising;and law/public policy.

DAPA is not thus far incorporated.With respect to governing structure, DAPA has the elected offices of presi-

dent, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. However, this structure is used onlyfor extra-organizational interaction. For internal functioning there is in fact no formalorganizational structure. This is somewhat messy, but no fighting over turf occurs.

The initial goal of the organization was to provide a vehicle for interaction be-tween like-minded anthropologists. To date the goal remains the same, but themethod by which this could be accomplished—given the growth of the organiza-tion and the dispersed geographical nature of the membership—is under discus-sion. For example, a newsletter and a lecture series offered by members was in-stituted to facilitate exchange of information. Currently, DAPA is reviewing strate-gies for providing more useful information to members. Finally, the leadership hasrealized that the newsletter is a very inexpensive and efficient way to educate non-practitioners about practicing anthropology.

With respect to "new directions," DAPA expects that those people who takeprimary responsibility for the organization will set the direction of new activities.There is some concern by nonacademic anthropologists that the needs of stu-dents will become too center stage.

Sun Coast Organization of Practicing Anthropologists (SCOPA)Founded in 1979; reorganized in 1987Current membership about 60Address: 12 Bahama Circle, Tampa, Florida 33606Correspondent: Susan Ryan

History and Leadership

SCOPA was originally organized in September 1979, as the joint effort of eightgraduate students in the University of South Florida's Department of Anthropologyand Erve Chambers. The idea for SCOPA had been conceived during the 1979Society for Applied Anthropology meetings when Chambers and Gil Kushner (bothfaculty members in the USF Department) suggested to graduate students Pat Sor-rells and Trish Long to attend an organizational meeting called by WAPA andSOPA, the Tucson LPO group. The idea of the gathering was to assist in the for-mation of local practitioner organizations elsewhere in the country.

SCOPA had strong faculty support. Chambers was the "nuts and bolts" per-son, and Kushner was consistently supportive, especially in discussing organi-zational strategies. The activity of the group was centered around publishing Prac-ticing Anthropology. Deadlines for PA brought members together for intense work-ing periods, usually followed by a party.

The stated purpose of the club was

34 BRIDGES FOR CHANGING TIMES

to develop and promote anthropology as a profession. The organization seeks to de-velop the art and science of anthropology to promote its use for the betterment of hu-mankind To further these goals, the Organization and its members seek self-develop-ment through active support of formal and informal means of communication betweenmembers and to promote to the public the value of anthropology. [SCOPA articles ofincorporation, which are not yet filed]

SCOPA was active for one year, disbanded for six, and was revived at the1987 July 4th picnic held at the University of South Florida facilities. The revitali-zation of SCOPA was prompted by the 1987 SfAA meetings in Oaxaca. Anthro-pology faculty members from USF called a party and suggested that SCOPA bereorganized. Many attendees had not seen each other since they had left schooland were interested in a professional affiliation whereby they could discuss theirwork worlds.

When reconstituted in 1987, the SCOPA mission was to: (1) help identify em-ployment opportunities for practicing anthropologists; (2) provide a means forcommunication among practicing anthropologists through meetings, a newsletter,and a membership directory; (3) promote informal and formal solidarity amongpracticing anthropologists; (4) coordinate educational opportunities in anthropol-ogy and other related areas; (5) contribute to area professional meetings; and (6)serve as an advocate on behalf of issues of professional concern.

Tampa as a Cultural Context for an LPO

Consisting of the port cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg, the ap-proximately 1 million people in the Tampa Bay area are very spread out. Tremen-dous ethnic variability exists. A number of Cubans go back to the 1800s when theycame to work in the cigar factories, as well as the two recent waves of refugees(1960s and 1980s) from Cuba. The large group of migrant farmers are 60% Mex-ican and constitute a stable group, in part because of the eight-month work sea-son. A large Ethiopian community has developed over the past five years, and asubstantial Vietnamese group has settled in the area. Blacks constitute 25% of thelocal population, and racial tensions are very strong.

The economy of the area is highly diverse, and the unemployment rate verylow. Agriculture—including food raising, processing, and marketing—and shrimp-ing constitute major industries. With a rapidly expanding population, the construc-tion trades are substantial. The Air Force Strategic Air Command for Central Amer-ica is located there. Tourism is important, as is medicine because of the numberof retirees who have settled in the area. There is absolutely no end to the range ofemployment possibilities for anthropologists: many are in planning, architecturalfirms, medicine, and social service.-The need for professionals generally is verygreat, and people with M.A. degrees hold influential positions.

However, anthropology is not as broadly visible as it might be. Individual pro-fessors do an exceptional job making anthropology known within their own area ofexpertise. Anthropologists seem to blend in so well once they are working in a par-ticular area and do not do a good job advertising to a wider public.

The Anthropological Community

Reaching a "critical mass" necessary to make an LPO succeed would seemto be no problem for SCOPA. There are at least 200 anthropologists in the areawith at least a B.A. degree; 130 are on the mailing list. This is partly due to the fact

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that so many of the students who have come to Florida to study applied anthro-pology have stayed there. The Department of Anthropology has provided consid-erable psychological support to the organization, although a small percentage ofthe faculty has joined. From its inception, the anthropology program was designedto be applied, with a strong involvement in the community. Internships get studentsinto positions that usually lead to jobs. Thus, there is a potentially strong interplaybetween the applied anthropology program, graduates working in nonacademicsettings, the community, and SCOPA.

Problems and Solutions

The biggest problem for the initial group was that too few people were doingthe work. In addition, the main organizing group consisted entirely of students, whodid not have sufficient time to develop a viable organization. It was an exhaustingundertaking; when no help was seen on the horizon, the leaders quit planningfunctions. This problem has not really been resolved, and the current core groupof six is again taking on all the responsibilities. SCOPA needs a recruit who hasenthusiasm, energy, and a willingness to devote significant time to get the orga-nization rolling.

Ongoing Organization

Dues are $10 a year for all members. They expect an initial membership of atleast 60 and anticipate a steady increase, especially among nonstudents. Of thenumber of people involved, most are nonacademically based. Mailings currentlygo out to people located in the three-city area. Because of the large number ofanthropologists working in the area, this is an opportune time to be reorganizing.SCOPA is not incorporated and has not applied for a special tax status. Its gov-erning structure is a loosely organized, interested group of about six people whoare acting as an interim "junta" while a more formal group can be constituted.

Ties with Other Professional Anthropology Organizations

SCOPA shares newsletters with other LPOs. Graduates of the USF depart-ment have been much more likely to join SfAA rather than AAA in part because ofSfAA's relatively reasonable dues and explicit applied orientation. A fair numberof nonacademic anthropologists from Tampa do attend SfAA meetings. SCOPA isvery open to suggestions from other LPOs as to how they might best proceed atthis time.

New Jersey Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NJAPA)Founded in May 1987No formal membership as yetAddress: Kenneth Brook, Department of Anthropology

Montclair State College, Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043Correspondent: Kenneth Brook

History and Leadership

NJAPA is just beginning to organize; its second meeting took place in April1988. Out of an estimated 30-40 anthropologists in New Jersey doing applied