NYSCA Executive Spring Meeting

Friday, April 20, 2001 – 1:00pm

In attendance: Thom Gencarelli, President (presiding); Marie and Gary Radford, VPs; Carol Wilder, VP-Elect; Mary Aiello Gray, Executive Secretary; Laura Tropp, Recording Secretary; Al Auster, Chair, Nominating Committee; Lance Strate, Editor, Speech Communication Annual; Judythe Isserlis, Treasurer (sent report); Barbara Jo Lewis, Editor, Proceedings (sent report).

Report from the President, Thom Gencarelli
1. Thom is still working on trying to get the website up and running. Everyone agrees that the organization needs a presence on the web. However, there are still a number of questions and difficulties. The first two are: Where will it be hosted and who will maintain it? There was also discussion about adding the position of Webmaster to the Executive Council. The position could have a three-year term for the sake of continuity. There was, at first, a suggestion that this be put into the newsletter as a query to membership. (See “New Business” below.)

2. There was also a discussion about using a listserv or the website to communicate, in order to avoid the cost and work of more mass mailings. This would be especially useful for communicating proposed Constitutional amendments.
Report from the Vice Presidents, Marie and Gary Radford
1. Gary and Marie spoke with Kutsher’s, and have decided to not run any Sunday morning panels because of minimal to poor attendance. Instead, they are expanding the Friday schedule, and there will be a lunch on Friday instead of Sunday. There was concern expressed that people may not stay over Saturday night, but in the past people have stayed over yet left without coming to the panels on Sunday.

2. The Kutsher’s rates have gone up by $1.00 in every category.

3. They were trying to raise corporate money for support of Edward Tenner as keynote speaker, but were not able to meet his price. Paul Thaler agreed to offer the keynote for Friday, based on his new book, which concerns a British plot to kill Adolph Hitler.

4. They reported on the recent submissions for the 2001 conference. There was discussion about adding a technology-centered panel and also a service-learning panel.

5. Regarding the dates of mailing, they would like to post a preliminary program on-line. They will also get mailing lists and post on CRTNET. They should have the preliminary program out to the membership by the end of August.
Report from the VP-Elect, Carol Wilder
1. Carol would like to introduce into the 2002 conference the idea of distance learning.

2. She has also looked at other sites. There are two chief concerns: money and location. She has a bid from Kustcher’s – roughly $100/day/person – with meals. Other possible sites:

• Arrowwood – pricey: $350.00/night/person
• Tarrytown Hilton – the double rate is $137/day – no meals, which translates to approximately $70/day per person
3.
Regarding the Tarrytown Hilton, it is not too far from New York. Some people may not stay over, however, the site may attract others. People will be on their own for food but there is a restaurant on-site. We need a minimum of fifty to sixty rooms to avoid higher charges for the facilities. The facilities are better than Kutsher’s, and there is more advanced technology. The hotel has offered the weekend of 10/25-10/27.

It was suggested that chairs from different schools might help sponsor a reception. There was also discussion of offering people a one-day only conference fee.

4. There was a vote to move the 2002 conference to Tarrytown. Council was unanimous in favor of doing so.
Report from the Treasurer (Mary read Judythe’s report)
1. We have $13,445.93.

2. We lose $72/year because the interest does not cover monthly charges and we have not found a better rate. Carol will look into an account that charges less. Also, there was discussion of arranging for people to be able to pay by credit card, since some show up at the conference ready to pay but do not have cash, and Mary has wasted time sending back accidentally unsigned checks. It was noted that the cost of providing such a service might be prohibitive.
Report from the Executive Secretary, Mary Aiello-Gray
1. Membership report:

• 194 total members
• 108 regular members
• 54 student members
• 32 life members
2.
We made $206.00 on this conference.

3. There was discussion about the Wilson Service Award. Lance Strate was asked to contact Debbie Borisoff, who is functioning as the head of that committee, to see if they are planning to nominate anyone this year.

4. Discussion ensued about making funds available for the awards for student papers.

5. There was a motion to establish $100 rewards for the best student paper – undergraduate and graduate. The motion passed (yeas – 8, nays – 1).
Report from the Chair of the Nominating Committee, Al Auster
1. Al has identified possible people for the position of VP-Elect.

2. The following is a list of expiring terms:

• Vice President-Elect
• Executive Secretary
• Treasurer
• Recording Secretary
• One Member-at-Large
3.
Also the following positions need to be filled, but are appointed:

• Editor of the Speech Communication Annual
• Editor of Proceedings
• Editor of Reports
• Chair of Nominating Committee
Report from the Editor of the Annual, Lance Strate
1. The 2000 issue is not out yet. The search for funding has tied up this issue, but it should be out by the summer.

2. There are plans to distribute the 2001 issue at the fall conference.

3. Expenses will probably work out to about $3,000 for each issue. The journal is the Association’s major expense.
New Business
1. Do we want to put the position of Webmaster on the Executive Council? This would allow the person to be recognized and give them authority and responsibility. We would need to amend the Constitution. Would this be an appointed position or an elected officer? It was agreed that it would be better to make this an appointed officer. There was a motion to prepare an amendment to the Constitution to add an appointed office of Webmaster. This proposal would need to be sent out to the newsletter, at least six weeks in advance of the Conference. The motion passed (unanimously).

2. We will also propose an amendment adding a student member to the Executive Council.

3. We should re-examine the functions of the Executive Secretary, perhaps providing some money for clerical support as we look to build members. We may also need to invest money to ensure that our databases are up-to-date and kept updated, and have the Executive Secretary oversee this. Perhaps this could be the job of a long-time member of the organization. Or we could hire a part-time worker to maintain the database. Alternatively, several organizations (including the Media Ecology Association and the New Jersey Communication Association) might hire one person to maintain a database that they can share.

4. There was discussion over when to meet at NYSCA. Perhaps we should have two meetings instead of three, and not have the meetings at the same time as breakfast.
3:45pm – Motion to end meeting and recognition and thanks to Carol and the New School for hosting us.

NYSCA General Business Meeting
2000 Conference
Sunday, September 24, 2000 – 12:00pm

1. Two resolutions were passed:

• Resolved that the New York State Communication Association warmly thanks Thom Gencarelli for his tireless work at organizing and implementing the 58th Conference of that organization on September 22-24, 2000 at Kutsher’s Hotel in Monticello, New York.

• Resolved that the family of Gerry M. Goldberg be acknowledged by the New York State Communication Association by sending a gift of condolence to his wife Judy and by making a contribution to the Gerry M. Goldberg Memorial Debate Fund at Pace University.

2. Though the actual gavel was missing, there was a passing of the gavel (a bottle of wine, in this case) to Thom.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30pm.