SSCA Mass Communication Division

2006-2007 Officers

Chair: Tony DeMars, Sam Houston State University
Vice Chair: Melissa Smith, Mississippi State University
Web Editor: Tony DeMars, Sam Houston State University
Immediate Past Chair: Teresa Taylor, Tougaloo College

MCD Business Meeting, April 7, 2006 in Dallas, Texas

Signed in: Tony DeMars, Dennis Robertson, Justin Young, Bryan Denham, Hana Noor Al-Deen, Mary Jackson Pitts, John Allen Hendricks, Darrell Roe, Karyn Brown, Gary Copeland, Wendy Hajjar, R. Glenn Cummins, Danielle Williams, Barry P. Smith, Bill Swain.

Taylor called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m. In officer’s reports, Smith asked for feedback on the division newsletter which was mailed the previous May, but several members reported that they did not remember receiving the newsletter. DeMars noted that the division has lost members, and that previous business meetings were often attended by 25-35 people. DeMars outlined how he solicited paper submissions for the 2006 conference, and noted that he posted the call for papers on several different communication sites. DeMars reported that the division received nine panel proposals, including the production showcase. Fourteen competitive faculty papers were submitted, and eight were selected for the conference. There were 16 graduate student papers submitted, and 10 were selected for the conference. DeMars noted that the division sponsored one session of top MCD papers and one other competitive paper session.

DeMars said that he opted to schedule the production showcase thematically, rather than in the back-to-back session format used in the past. At the Dallas conference, one production showcase panel featured a video theme, while the other one featured radio productions.

DeMars noted that MCD accepted only electronic submissions for the Dallas conference, and the process went smoothly and efficiently.

Taylor reported on the SSCA general business meeting that morning, which was dominated by discussion of poor management by the organization’s previous executive director. Taylor reported that the new executive director, J. Emmett Winn, and other committee members had discovered several areas of concern, including the lack of financial ledgers outlining invoices or expenditures, the fact that federal income tax forms were not filed for at least two years, and that the organization’s insurance had been lapsed for three years.  Taylor outlined the actions taken by Winn to pull together the organization’s finances and insurance. She also pointed out that Winn had been successful in his attempts to convince the IRS to forgo the $10,000 in fines that had been assessed against the organization because of the unfiled tax forms. Taylor reported that it was determined that no money was missing, and that the finance committee was now involved in the day-to-day financial activities of the organization.

Several MCD members had questions regarding the matter, especially those who had not been in attendance in the morning’s general business meeting. DeMars and Taylor reported that a motion to inform the previous executive director’s employer about this situation had been defeated, partially because of the risk of legal action that would harm the organization. DeMars noted that there was no evidence that there had been any attempt to steal money from the organization. Several people expressed confidence in actions taken by the current executive director and other committee members.

DeMars awarded the top faculty paper award to Bryan E. Denham and Richelle N. Jones. He also noted that the top student paper award went to Eric Peterson, who was not present.

Robertson commended DeMars, who planned the Dallas conference. Pitts noted that she liked the new way of doing the production showcase. DeMars expressed thanks to Texas Christian University, which provided local media resources for the conference.

Hajjar suggested that an off-site location might be secured in Louisville for the production showcase for an evening or after-hours show. DeMars suggested that he would like to see the conference spread the business meetings out to avoid the conflicts which arise when one person is a member of two divisions which are holding business meetings at the same time. In other suggestions for the Louisville conference, Hajjar suggested that the division solicit papers from the Central States organization. She also suggested that the division see if the host state gives credits to teachers who attend conferences.

It was noted that the minutes from the 2005 Baton Rouge MCD business meeting had been posted on the division web site. They were approved by those in attendance.

In officer elections, Denham nominated Wendy Hajjar for secretary. Taylor nominated Justin Young. Hendricks asked both candidates to introduce themselves and their involvement in the division. Paper ballots were cast and handed to Taylor, who counted the ballots and announced Young had won the vote. DeMars asked for nominations for web editor, but none were forthcoming. DeMars will continue to edit the division web site. Karyn Brown was elected to the division nominating committee.

Pitts proposed a resolution thanking Taylor for her years of service. The resolution passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m.

Recorded by Melissa Smith, secretary.