November 19, 2005, 2 - 3:15 p.m.
Sheraton, Republic Ballroom A
Chair Tim Coombs called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m. He requested members present to review last year’s minutes. A change was noted. Mihaela Vorvoreanu is the website editor for the division for a three-year term, replacing Rachel Holloway. The website is a replacement for the division newsletter.
It was also noted that the names of some paper reviewers did not get included (due to late requests) last year (these names have been included in last year’s minutes). The minutes were unanimously approved.
Chair’s Report: Tim Coombs started out his report with two issues:
1) He relayed a message from James Chesebro about NCA’s online journal Review of Communication. In the past this journal had focused on publishing book reviews but now it will publish extended book reviews, online research, cross-cultural communication research, as well as other types of reviews, and will be an opportunity available for members of all NCA divisions.
2) Tim
also reported on a pre-conference on crisis and risk management. He stated that this session resulted in some
excellent dialogue, and that a smaller conference or an NCA summer conference
could result out of it. He also noted
the role of
Vice-Chair’s Report: Vice-Chair Maureen Taylor thanked the individuals who submitted papers and panels - 52 papers were submitted and 35 were accepted; 16 panels were submitted and 8 were accepted. She reported that two years ago, the division had 16 spots and that this number is now up to 18.
She also thanked the reviewers for reviewing papers and noted that those who serve in this capacity are given priority when it comes to assigning chairs and respondents for sessions. She reminded everyone that it is very important that if one is a respondent or chair and is unable to make it to the conference, s/he should let the program planner know in advance so alternate arrangements can be made. She noted that this would be especially helpful since reassigning these duties could help others unable to otherwise get financial assistance from their departments attend NCA.
Vice-Chair Elect’s Report: Vice-Chair Elect Michael Kent noted that the
theme for next year’s NCA, to be held in
Agora sessions dealing with issues of "freedom of expression in public relations" may be submitted to the public relations division, or directly to Kathleen Farrell: Telephone: (314) 977-2065, e-mail: FarrelK@SLU.edu. This might even be an opportunity for the division to get an extra slot. Submissions can be both in individual and panel formats.
He also reminded paper reviewers to use NCA reviewer email affiliation so that the system can recognize them. Non-academic professionals, he noted, can also get email affiliations for this purpose.
Tim Coombs next asked Mihaela Vorvoreanu to give an update
on the website. She stated that the template
and the structure exist and that the site now needs content. She requested members to send in materials.
She also noted that as of now, the site is hosted under her personal account,
and that she is trying to get server space from the
Tim next asked past-Chair Theresa Russell-Loretz to speak about revising criteria for the PRIDE Committee. Theresa noted that there has been some leeway in the past about these criteria since the history has been passed down orally. She requested Tim to make sure that the criteria are codified in the future. She noted that since research in PR has exploded in volume in recent years, the task is too burdensome for a three-person committee. She recommended having a four-person committee (plus the past-Chair). She suggested that the new PRIDE Committee come up with these criteria and that these criteria be discussed at next year’s business meeting. This would include the need to change the bylaws.
Tim Coombs called for a motion to amend the bylaws and it was approved by acclamation. He also noted that if an individual on the PRIDE Committee has an article/book under review then s/he can be excused from the review process.
Elections:
Theresa thanked the Nominating Committee (Bey-Ling Sha and Shannon Bowen) for its work and started the election process.
Vice-Chair Elect: The two nominees were Denise Ferguson and Oyvind Ihlen. They each gave a short speech. Nominations were opened to the floor and closed. Members voted and Denise Ferguson was elected.
(Tim made various position opening announcements while the votes for Vice-Chair Elect were being counted)
PRIDE Committee: The nominees were Michael Palenchar, Katerina Tsetsura, Mihaela Vorvoreanu and Michael Smith. Nominations were opened to the floor. Josh Boyd was nominated and he declined. Bonita Dostal Neff self nominated. Nominations were closed. Members voted and the new PRIDE Committee comprises Mihaela Vorvoreanu, Bonita Dostal Neff, Michael Smith and Katerina Tsetsura.
(Miscellaneous announcements were made while the votes were being
counted for the PRIDE Committee. Jeff
Courtright mentioned the upcoming joint conference of the International
Communication Association and the American Communication Association. Tim Coombs mentioned that in 2007, the International and Intercultural Annual
will become a quarterly publication. He
also noted that
Nominating Committee: Brigitta Brunner was a self nominee and Josh Boyd was nominated from the floor. Nominations were closed and both were elected by acclamation.
A sheet was circulated for nominating and self nominating paper reviewers. (Bonita Dostal Neff inquired if graduate students could be reviewers. After some discussion it was pointed out that there is no specific mention of this issue in the by laws, but that graduate students have reviewed papers in the past. It was noted that this matter needs to be clarified.)
The following list of paper reviewers for the
Bethany Beebe
James Benjamin
Joshua Boyd
Brigitta Brunner
Tina Carroll
Michael Dickerson
Bonita Dostal Neff
Thomas Fediuk
John Fisher
Lois Foreman-Wernet
Sonya Forster
Susan Schultz Huxman
Oyvind Ihlen
Elizabeth Johnson
Melanie McNaughton
Ahlam Muhtaseb
Amy O'Connor
Michelle O'Malley
Kenneth Plowman
Gerald Slaughter
Ashli Stokes
Maureen Taylor
Katerina Tsetsura
Mihaela Vorvoreanu
PRIDE Awards
Theresa thanked the committee members (Denise Ferguson and Katerina Tsetsura) for their hard work and announced this year’s awards.
Best Book Award
Heath, R. (2004). Encyclopedia of public relations.
(Bob heath was not present and Rachel Holloway would later present the award to him)
Two articles jointly received the Best Article Award:
Dutta-Bergman, M.J. (2004). Civil society and public relations: Not so civil after all. Journal of Public Relations Research, 17(3), 267-289.
Pompper, D. (2004). “Difference” in public relations research: A case for introducing critical race theory. Journal of Public Relations Research, 17(2), 139-169.
(Neither recipient was present to accept their awards).
Tim Coombs inquired if there was any new business.
He adjourned the meeting at 2:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Nilanjana Bardhan, Secretary.