This conference will bring together an international gathering of researchers, rural practitioners, students and
educators to explore issues relating to human service practice and education in rural and small town settings.
We are pleased to welcome two keynote speakers who have received international recognition for their work.
Dr. Brian Cheers, the editor of the international journal Rural Social Work, is the author of five books or
monographs and more than 30 refereed papers about rural issues Dr. Pugh has published widely and made
presentations in North America, Australia, and Europe about a variety of rural issues.

    We welcome proposals for presentations by practitioners, students, and researchers in forms including (but not limited to) videos, poster presentations, 20 minute papers, and 1.5 or 3 hour workshops. Potential topics
relating to the conference theme may include issues such as theory for rural practice, abuse in rural communities, rural diversity, rural healthcare, rural education, childhood (or aging) in rural communities, interdisciplinary approaches to rural human services, or globalization and rural life. After a peer review process selected papers will be published in a special issue of Rural Social Work.

    Proposals should include the following: name of presenter,  position, university or agency affiliation, postal
and e-mail addresses, phone and fax numbers, title of presentation, format (paper, workshop etc), requirements (overhead projector, TV etc), abstract of between 100 and 150 words outlining presentation
 

Further information can be obtained from members of the Planning Committee:
In Canada:           Rosemary Clews (clews@stthomasu.ca), Judy MacDonald (Judy.MacDonald@dal.ca)  Bill Randall  (randall@stthomasu.ca),  Laura Taylor (taylorla@uwindsor.ca) Manju Varma (varma@unb.ca)
In the US:            Lena Carawan (carawanl@mail.ecu.edu)
In the UK:            Richard Pugh (PughRG@aol.com)
In Australia:         Brian Cheers (Brian.Cheers@unisa.edu.au)