Brian Alspach

The Combinatorial Potlatch Home Page

Since 1982

Speakers, Simon Fraser U, 2009
Brian Alspach
U of Puget Sound, February 2002

Omer Angel, Louis Deaett, Glencora Borradaile
Simon Fraser University, November 2009


The Combinatorial Potlatch is an international, irregularly scheduled, floating, one-day conference.  It has been held for many years at various locations around Puget Sound and southern British Columbia, and is an opportunity for combinatorialists in the region to gather informally for a day of invited talks and conversation. While most who attend work in, or near, the Puget Sound basin, all are welcome.  Typically there are two or three talks given by speakers who are visiting or new to the area, along with breaks for coffee and lunch.  Many participants remain for dinner at a local restaurant or pub.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines "potlatch" as: A ceremonial feast among certain Native American peoples of the northwest Pacific coast, as in celebration of a marriage or an accession, at which the host distributes gifts according to each guest's rank or status. Between rival groups the potlatch could involve extravagant or competitive giving and destruction by the host of valued items as a display of superior wealth. [Chinook Jargon, from Nootka p'achitl, to make a potlatch gift.]


News about the Next Potlatch

The 2010 edition of the Potlatch is planned for Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, some time in the fall of 2010 (October, November). Details will be posted here as they become available.

Thanks to Glencora Borradaile, Louis Deaett,and Omer Angel, for excellent presentations at the November 2009 meeting at Simon Fraser University, and special thanks to Luis Goddyn for being an excellent host.

Conference Photo, Simon Fraser U, 2009
Conference Photo, Simon Fraser University, November 2009

Announcements of Upcoming Potlatches

Rob Beezer (beezer at ups dot edu) maintains an email list of people interested in receiving announcements of upcoming Potlatches.  Contact him via email to have your name added.

History of the Potlatch

The first Potlatch that anyone can recall was held in 1982 at the University of Washington (though Pavol Hell insists there were meetings in the 70's).  From that time, through 1997, Brian Alspach was the prime mover and organizer.  After a few years' hiatus, Nancy Neudauer and Rob Beezer resurrected the tradition in 2002.  There have been at least 25 meetings over the past 26 years.  A history, as best as can be reconstructed,  is available in HTML and PDF formats. 

Photo Archives

Old Conference Photos and Speakers Photos are available also.

Potlatch Web Pages


Organizing Committee

Nancy Neudauer, Pacific University   (nancy at pacificu dot edu)
Rob Beezer, University of Puget Sound  (beezer at ups dot edu)

This is: http://buzzard.ups.edu/potlatch/index.html
Last updated: November 22, 2009