President – Ken Cissna: Dr. Cissna reported that he would like to continue the strategic planning initiative begun by former president Kate Hawkins and is considering convening such a meeting in the summer of 2006.  President Cissna believes that it is time for SSCA to take a close look at SSCA finances, fundraising efforts, and recruitment.  Dr. Cissna also reported on his efforts to help SSCA members cope with the problems associated with the Katrina and Rita hurricanes.

 

Vice President – Charles Tardy: Vice President Tardy presented a written report (  click here to read his report*) and offered highlights of the report to the members.

 

Immediate past President & Nominating Committee – Terry Thibodeaux: Dr. Cissna presented Dr. Thibodeaux's report in his absence.  Dr. Thibodeaux reported that as chair of the nominating committee he had overseen the nomination process for the upcoming SSCA elections.  That process yielded two candidates for SSCA Vice President-Elect: Dr. Jerry Hale and Dr. Joy Hart.  In addition: Monett Ezell was tapped to serve as the SSCA K-12 Representative on the NCA Legislative Assembly.

 

Vice President Elect – Craig Smith: Dr. Smith presented a written report (  click here to read his report*) and offered highlights to the members in attendance.

 

Executive Director – J. Emmett Winn:  Dr Winn announced that it was a pleasure working with the SSCA officers, immediate past ED Hal Fulmer, and the finance committee as he transitioned into the role of Executive Director.  He also thanked Dr. Richard Ranta for agreeing to serve as his advisor and mentor in this role.  Winn explained that he hoped to have the Executive Director transition completed by the end of November 2005.  Winn introduced his Executive Assistant, Ms. Jennifer McCullars Johnson and explained that Ms. Johnson has a MA degree in Communication and teaches Communication and Journalism courses at Auburn University.  Winn also announced the new SSCA webpage should be operational by January 15, 2006.  The new website will provide online membership services, enhanced electronic communication, and the ability for members to pay for their memberships with credit cards. Winn explained that the deadline for newsletter items is January 9, 2006 and that a call had been issued to the officers.  Dr. Winn reported that the contract with Taylor and Francis for the publication of the Southern Communication Journal had been signed. Further Winn explained that the SSCA journal stock had been shipped to T&F.  Moreover, Dr. Winn reported that the contract with EBSCO had been signed and that EBSCO would contact SSCA in early 2006 with a schedule for the electronic distribution of the Southern Communication Journal.  Winn then presented a report on the current membership of SSCA.

 

Advertising Manager – Jean DeHart: Dr. DeHart sent a report encouraging all members to check out the SSCA table in the NCA exhibit area and to pick up some material about Dallas for the upcoming convention in 2006.  DeHart also asked all graduate programs interested in having a table at the undergraduate honors conference in Dallas to please contact her.

 

SCJ Editor – Joy Hart (outgoing): Dr. Hart announced that SCJ Vol. 70.3 had just shipped to its subscribers and that her final issue, 70.4, should be received in January 2006.

SCJ Editor -- John Meyer (incoming): Dr. Meyer presented a written report ( click here to read his report*) and elaborated on the report to the membership. 

NCA Legislative Assembly Representatives – Dave Sutton, Lea Clayton, and Deborah Hefferin: Dr. Sutton presented the report for the LA representatives.  (  click here to read his report*) 

 

NCA Nominating Committee Representative: Kim Golombisky: Dr. Golombisky reported that 2 candidates had been selected for the At Large position: Betsy Bock and Linda Lee Cade.

 

Standing Committee Reports: The following Standing Committees made reports:

Finance – Patricia Amason: Dr. Amason reported that the finance committee was working on redeveloping the budget and presented a mid-year financial report.

 

Minority Recruitment and Retention – Tony DeMars: Dr. Esin Turk talked about the activities of the committee to recruit members, and Chair Tony DeMars submitted this written report*.

Publications - Roseann Mandziuk: This committee reported that they are trying to get some input from current and past editors about the possible need for a second journal.

 

Time and Place – Chuck Grant: Dr. Grant presented this  written report* and moved that SSCA empower the ED to negotiate the best contract possible with Norfolk, VA as the site for the 2009 convention. The motion passed without objection.

 

Resolutions – Dana Gibson: This committee encouraged anyone with a resolution to send it to the committee prior to the April convention meeting so that they could prepare the resolutions for the business meeting.

 

Resource Development – Frances Brandau-Brown: Dr. Brown is chairing this committee and they are looking for ways to improve SSCA's financial resources.

 

Community College – Claire H. Procopio: Chair Procopio announced that the division has an initiative to encourage participation in the Dallas convention among Community Colleges in the area.

 

Freedom of Speech – Norma C. Cook: Dr. Cook presented this  written report* and spoke to the importance of the Communication Law Review.

 

Gender Studies – Sally Bell: Dr. Sandra Halvorson reported that the division had received many excellent submissions for the upcoming convention in Dallas in April 2006.

 

Public Relations – Esin C. Turk: Dr. Turk encouraged all members to encourage their Public Relations colleagues to join the PR Division.