1999 Minutes of the Interpersonal Communication Division Business Meeting
Thursday, April 9, Promenade E,
Adam's Mark Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri
Chair Tom Socha called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
Minutes: Minutes from the 1998 business meeting in San Antonio, Texas were approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Chair's Report: Tom reported on the status of the interpersonal division. Although membership is slightly down the interpersonal division is still one of the largest divisions in SSCA. Tom also remarked that he is not alarmed by the slight decrease in numbers because most members renew their memberships at the convention and these numbers are not reflected in the report. The budget for the division remains at $150.
Tom led a brief discussion about the posting of electronic convention programs as either an option or as an accompaniment to the paper programs that are traditionally sent each year. A suggestion was made for a kiosk at convention sites so members can electronically obtain convention information.
Tom announced that he is on SSCA's Time and Place Committee and is open to suggestions for sites of future conventions. One suggestion for future conventions is a cyber hotel with Internet features.
Tom reported that he is the first editor of the Journal of Family Comuunication published by Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers. The first issue will be coming out around the time of the NCA convention in 2001. Tom encouraged members to think of the journal as a venue for sending their work.
Vice-Chair Report: Bill Edwards reported that the division had 18 programs at the St. Louis convention and that programs are well attended. Bill also reported that there was a high competitive rate among the papers this year. Bill thanked this year's paper readers: Richard Conville, Karen Fountenot, Marcia Hudson, and Rodney Reynolds. The Top Paper Award went to William Powers and his coauthors Paul King, and Melissa Young. Bill also presented outgoing Chair Tom Socha a plaque for his outstanding service as chair of the division.
Vice-Chair Elect Report: Judy Carter encouraged members to submit papers and panels for SSCA's convention in New Orleans in April 2000. The convention will take place at the Montelone Hotel and the convention theme is "Our Century: Uniting and Leading With Confidence."
Web Master Report: Jim Roiger reported that there are questions about not duplicating course syllabi on the division's website. Members are asked to check out the website for information and suggestions for improvement. Division minutes are also now posted to the website.
Other New Business:
Lynne Webb informed members about a one day pre-conference workshop at the NCA's convention in Chicago, November 1999. The pre-conference workshop focuses on the topic of tenure and promotion.
Elections: Jerold Hale was elected vice-chair elect. Tamara Bollis-Pecci was elected as secretary. A review panel for paper submissions was formed and will include Randy Dillon, Kelby Halone, Will Powers, and Carl Thameling. A motion to elect Kandi Walker, Anita Vangelisti and Jerold Hale (Chair) as members of the Division's Nominating Committee was passed. Lynne Webb was elected to the SSCA Nominating Committee.
1999-2000 Officers:
The officers for 1999-2000 are:
Chair: Bill Edwards, Columbus State University
Vice Chair: Judy Carter, Amarillo College
Vice Chair Elect: Jerold Hale, University of Georgia at
Athens
Secretary: Tamara Bollis-Pecci: University of Denver
Nominating: Lynne Webb, University of Memphis
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Randy K. Dillon
