Minutes of 11-21-03
MINUTES
The National Communication Association’s
Group Communication Division
2003 Annual Business Meeting
Miami Beach, November 21, 2003
1. Introduction of Officers
The sixth annual meeting of the Group Communication Division was called to order by the chair, Renee Meyers. Thirty-nine people in attendance signed the roster.
2. Approval of Minutes for November 22, 2002 meeting (Dale Brashers). A motion was passed to accept the minutes.
3. Chair’s Report (Renee Meyers)
Renee Meyers attended the Legislative Council (LC) on behalf of the Division. She reported that an increase of dues from $10 to $30 was voted on and approved. David Henry, Malcolm Sillars, and Kent Menzel were named as journal editors. NCA is looking into electronic balloting and electronic journals. Bylaw revisions were proposed, including: 1) units may select representative to LC, 2) units may select representative to legislative assembly, 3) expansion of size of board—6 elected in staggered term and Director appointed.
4. Vice-Chair’s Report (Randy Hirokawa)
Randy Hirokawa reported there were forty-three papers submitted (35 complete, 8 extended abstacts) and recommended continuing extended abstracts. Twenty-seven papers were accepted (19 were not and the majority of those were student papers). Six programs were submitted and five were accepted. There was a high reliability amongst readers for top papers and low-end papers. Didn’t use all program slots allotted. Electronic submissions went quite well, but some didn’t have authors (must register). Noted that it is “first come, first served” for programming, so it is important to submit the division’s requests early. Overall, 14 slots were used including one for the business meeting.
5. Vice-Chair Elect’s Report (Craig Scott)
Craig Scott reported that next year is the 90th anniversary of NCA in Chicago, November 11-15. The theme is “Moving Forward, Looking Back.” February 16th is the submission deadline for all divisions/areas. The Group Division has been given 15 slots for programs (including business meeting). The programmer wants there to be 25% of the slots to be set up as discussion panels with papers available on-line. There was some discussion over copyright concerns and a need to “opt out.” There was additional discussion over possible issues with short responses or positions statements being used or having panels with special calls. The December Spectra will have the call and will be available on December 10th. Presenters are limited to one in a division and 3 overall. May 31st is the release date for the programs.
6. Report of Nominating Committee (Dennis Gouran, Immediate Past Chair) & Nominations from the floor
Dennis Gouran thanked Donna Ballard and Lisa Milhous and presented the Nominating Committee’s slate of candidates for open positions. Nomination from the floor were asked for and accepted.
7. Election of Officers
The following slate of candidates was voted in by the membership:
Vice-Chair Elect: Michele H. Jackson
Awards Committee: Kathleen M. Propp
Nominating Committee: Beth J. Haslett, John J. Oetzel, and Gloria J. Galanes
Submission Review (Paper readers): Charles Pavitt, Joseph A. Bonito, M. Sean Limon, Rebecca J. Cline, and Dean E. Hewes
8. Presentation of Awards (Michele Jackson and Randy Hirokawa)
Michele Jackson presented the results of the Award Committee (Michele Jackson, Ed Mabry, and Tim Kuhn): Dennis Gouran research award (article or book chapter)—Joseph Bonito for "The analysis of participation in small groups: Methodological and conceptual issues related to interdependence" in Small Group Research, Ernest Bormann research award (book)—Larry Frey (editor) for “New directions in group communication,” and the Laura Crowell Dissertation/Thesis award—Jennifer Considine (Renee Meyers—advisor) for “Group centered learning in post-secondary education.”
Randy Hirokawa presented the Top Student Paper awards to: 1st—Renee Heath (U of Colorado) for “ Ideal Collaboration: A Conceptual Framework of Group Deliberation,” 2nd—Johnny Garner (Texas A & M) for “Leading the Dance: A Process Theory of Leadership and Group Development,” and 3rd—Hao Huang (U of Southern California) for “Toward an Understanding of the National Culture Dimension of Knowledge Sharing in Newly Formed Multinational Teams.
The Top Four Paper awards were presented earlier (at the panel) to: 1st— Gwen Wittenbaum and Isabel Botero (Michigan State U) for “Information Sharing among Members of Decision-Making Work Groups,” 2nd—Mike Allen (U of W, Milwaukee) for “Communication and Social Loafing: A Meta Analysis,” 3rd—Jennifer Considine, Renee Meyers, and C.R. Timmerman (U of W, Milwaukee) for “Evidence Use in Group Quiz Discussions: How Do Students Support Preferred Choices,” and 4th—Daisy Lemus, David Seibold, Andrew Flanigan, and Miriam Metzger (U of C, Santa Barbara) for “Argument and Decision Making in Computer-Mediated Groups.”
9. Old Business: None
10. New Business
Michele Jackson led a discussion on selection procedures to be used by the nominating committee. She reported that they did rating and rankings, then a deliberation and discussion. The committee wanted to know if there should be a formal policy or if the committee should select a procedure. Membership suggested that the committee should decide the procedure.
Lisa Milhous led a discussion on ideas for a division bibliographer. It was suggested that an email should be sent out 3 times per year requesting people to tell Lisa of publications outside of NCA journals.
Lisa Milhous then asked to reinstate the ad hoc bylaws revision committee to accommodate changes to the constitution. The committee was reinstated (Joann Keyton, Carolyn Anderson, and Kathleen Propp) to review the division's bylaws relative to NCA's new governance structure and propose any changes needed.
Andrea Hollingshead and Gwen Wittembaum led a discussion about the Interdisciplinary Small Group Association (including researchers from communication, OB, psychology, and sociology). They reported that a self-appointed steering committee sent out a survey about interest and received 40 responses. Division appeared to believe this was a valuable idea and biannual meetings would be best. Ideas on what the division would want from a group of this type were gathered.
JoAnn Keyton asked for ad hoc volunteers to create a template describing our division. She asked for interested people to contact her by February 1st.
11. Transition to New Officers and Adjournment. Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen M. Propp (replacing Kevin Barge, Secretary)
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Kathy.propp@wmich.edu