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Welcome
Fred L. Casmir called the meeting to order at 4:45.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes were amended to include recognition of conference paper reviewers
Michael Crossman, L. Ripley Smith, and Richard Wiseman. A motion to approve
minutes as amended was submitted by Richard Wiseman and seconded by Lynda Dee
Dixon.
Introduction of Officers
Fred Casmir noted that because George Barnett had been elected chairperson
of Divison 10, the Division 5 secretary position had been vacated mid-term.
After discussion between the chair and vice-chair and consultation with ICA
about appropriate procedures, Fred Casmir appointed Melissa A. Johnson to serve
the remainder of George Barnett's term. However, George Barnett will continue
to handle the division's website. Professor Casmir expressed gratitude for all
of Professor Barnett's service in the division. Richard Wiseman motioned that
the division formally commend Professor Barnett for setting up the division's
website, and the chairperson concurred.
Bella Mody is the division's new chairperson, and Richard Wiseman is the vice-chairperson. Both will serve two-year terms. Fred Casmir explained that Division 5 has three segments: International, Intercultural, and Development. He said that the division's practice is to elect a vice-chairperson from an area different from that of the chairperson's area. Professor Casmir is an Intercultural Communication specialist and Professor Mody specializes in International and Development Communication. Professor Casmir said that although he had known Bella Mody as a scholar, he appreciated getting to know her as an individual through their cooperation in Division 5 service.
Annual Report
Lost Bylaws
Fred Casmir said that in the process of reviewing procedures for replacing
the secretary midterm, he discovered that the division has no current copy of
its bylaws. Christine Ogan said that we had modified them in recent years. Joseph
Rota volunteered to search his files for a copy.
Division Reception
Fred Casmir said that the divison's reception on the first day of the conference
was successful, with members from around the world attending. He said there
were more newcomers in attendance than longer-term ICA members to assist the
newcomers.
ICA Membership
The chairperson said that ICA lost approximately 600 members (22%) during the
Israel conference, but that preregistration attendance for the San Francisco
conference was 25 members more than ICA had ever had. (The preregistration figures
were calculated two weeks before the conference began.) Fred Casmir said it
is normal for membership to drop when ICA's conference leaves the United States.
The organization is operating with a deficit of $80,000. ICA expects to grow
to approximately 3,500 members and plans active recruitment of members who have
dropped their membership recently.
Division Membership
As of March 31, 1999, the division had 530 members. It ranked as the third largest
division behind the mass communication and organizational communication divisions.
Division Innovations
Fred Casmir compiled copies of all division paper abstracts in packets for distribution
at the division reception and at the ICA conference publications desk. George
Barnett noted that they are also available on the division's website.
1998 Israel Conference Feedback
According to Fred Casmir, those who attended the Israel conference expressed
security concerns. Last year Division 5 passed a resolution addressed to ICA
leadership advocating more research into potential problems connected with conference
sites.
Acapulco 2000 Conference
June 1 is the tentative date of the Acapulco conference. Fred Casmir said that
the hotel is very luxurious, with a large room costing $99 (excluding tax).
ICA History
ICA is writing a history of the organization. Fred Casmir asked members who
have any information -- especially information about the background of Division
5 -- to contact Howard Giles.
Interactive Display Sessions
Fred Casmir noted that these are among the best interactive sessions that ICA
offers, with opportunities for younger and older scholars to share information.
They are a significant part of ICA conferences. He asked that members not call
them poster sessions.
ICA Publications
Our publications are one of the strongest aspects of ICA, according to Fred
Casmir. Professor Casmir contacted each of the new editors and is serving on
each of the various journals in differing capacities.
New Horizons for Chair
Fred Casmir noted that he is now a Distinguished Professor Emeritus and has
moved to Flagstaff, Arizona (USA). He said that he hopes to continue to work
with Division 5 members. He said that it was significant that the completion
of his term as chair corresponded with his retirement from active teaching.
He expressed appreciation for the members' support and confidence, and the atmosphere
of cutting-edge developments that will impact future academic work.
Questions from Members
Young Yum Kim asked for clarification about future conference sites. The 2000
Conference will be in Acapulco. The 2001 Conference will be at the Washington,
D.C. Hilton at Dupont Circle. Discussion is under way for a 2002 Conference
in Seoul, South Korea.
Three members asked questions related to the South Korea site, including whether
Division 5 had been consulted about the Korea site, given last year's resolution
about Israel (see Old Business below).
Another member said that most presenters are in residence in the United States,
and suggested that we try to increase overseas members' participation. Fred
Casmir noted that reviewers only have two weeks to return comment sheets and
that the program planners have two weeks after that to finalize the entire program
(end of the semester during holiday season).
A member noted that the division only had 12-13 sessions at the Berlin conference
and asked how many we received this year. The current 21 sessions for the division
was considered progress.
Cochece Davis suggested that we take one of our 21 programs and videoconference
it, with presenters from around the world. This would improve the international
reach and save presenters the cost of travel. George Barnett suggested that
we might co-sponsor the conference with another division and that it could be
sent via the website. Cochece Davis offered to help with this initiative.
A member suggested that we increase the number of high-density panels to increase
the acceptance rates for papers, thereby increasing membership retention. The
member also suggested that the division accept papers electronically, which
Fred Casmir said works better in small divisions. Professor Casmir added that
they had experienced technical problems with digital transmission of papers,
from logistical challenges to contracting an Asia-based computer virus that
U.S. university technical support was unable to combat.
Another member suggested that the first few papers and/or panel proposals that are submitted should be the ones sent to international reviewers.
A member commended Division 5 for speedy notifications sent to paper presenters,
moderators, and respondents. She also noted that the June 1, 2000 conference
schedule is a problem for those on the quarter system. George Barnett responded
that traditionally ICA has tried to accommodate both quarter and semester systems,
but in international locations we must also work with the nation's school calendars.
Top Paper Awards
Fred Casmir presented certificates for top-ranked papers. They were:
Development Communication: "Embracing Incommensurate Paradigms of Technology
and Development: Strategic Information Technology Planning for Developing States,"
Douglas K. Wagner, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
International Communication: "The International Debate on Telenovelas and
Contra-Flow: A Reappraisal and a Case Study on Europe," Philippe Meers
and Daniel Biltereyst, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Intercultural Communication: "Developing a Cross-Cultural Typology of Facework
Behaviors in Interpersonal Conflicts," John Oetzel, University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM, USA; Stella Ting-Toomey, California State University, Fullerton,
CA, USA; Tomoko Masumoto and Yumiko Yokochi, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque,
NM, USA.
Top-ranked student papers were:
Development Communication: "Organizing for Social Change in a Postmodern
World: Rethinking Participation," Sweety Law, Ohio University, Athens,
OH, USA.
International Communication: "Regulatory Reform in the TV Industries of
Brazil and Argentina in the 1990s," Hernan Galperin, Stanford University,
Stanford, CA, USA.
Intercultural Communication: "Korean and US College Students' Attitudes
Towards Environmental Problems and Acculturation's Effects on Those Attitudes,"
Yeonshin Kim and Jong-Phil Kim, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI,
USA
1999 Division 5 Programs
The Division had 150 submissions for 21 programs, with an acceptance rate of
approximately 50%.
Vice-Chairperson's Report
Bella Mody expressed gratitude to John Mayo for passing along well-documented
procedures for the new officers. She solicited members' help in suggesting Mexican
participants for the Acapulco meeting, and emphasized collaboration with contacts
in Mexico. She urged members to email her at Mody@pilot.msu.edu with suggestions
for improvements or changes.
Division Budget
Bella Mody said that the Intercultural and Development Division has 515 members,
and ICA allocates $2 per member to the Division budget. If the monies are unspent,
they revert back to the association.
ICA Journals
The new editors of both Communication Theory and the Journal of Communication
have tried to involve division officers. Bella Mody urged members to contact
her to intervene if they have problems with a journal. Bill Gudykunst and Bella
Mody are co-editing a new edition of Sage's International and Intercultural
Handbook (due 2001).
Division Awards
Two awards were suggested at the Jerusalem meeting. Rich Wiseman and Melissa
Johnson are developing draft procedures for a lifetime achievement award and
a dissertation award. Bella Mody and Rich Wiseman plan to send members a newsletter
this fall requesting a vote on awards and procedures, plus any necessary bylaw
changes.
Intercultural and Development Division Website
Professor Mody commended George Barnett for his unique website and thanked him
for going beyond the call of duty in developing it. Members who have information
for the website should contact George Barnett at gbarnett@acsu.buffalo.edu.
Division Dinner
The San Francisco dinner after the business meeting was the 25th anniversary
of the Division Dinner. Bella Mody visited all of the restaurants recommended
by our Hernon Galperen of Stanford University during spring break to test food
and ambience and determined that Oriental Pearl in Chinatown met our culinary
and budget guidelines best. Members were encouraged to attend the dinner.
Old Business
George Barnett said that at the Jerusalem meeting the division passed a
resolution asking to be consulted about non-US sites. (The report is posted
on the website.) It was sent to Howard Giles, who asked George Barnett to form
an ICA committee to react to the resolution. Giles felt it would be stronger
if a proposal represented all of ICA, not just one division. Fred Casmir, Stan
Deetz, and Jennifer Slack agreed to participate with George Barnett. A number
of international members declined to participate. This Committee on Annual Conference
Cultural Sensitivity recommended two actions. First, that research be conducted
on the cultural, social, political, economic, and historic issues connected
with the proposed conference sites. Second, that the information be made available
to members on the ICA website so that members could have input to ICA officers.
The ICA board approved the research phase component of the committee's proposal
but rejected the idea of making the information public to members and inviting
comments via the website. The board didn't want to be held accountable for a
committee report. In addition, they expressed concerns about cultural relativism
and the possibility of offending international members. Christine Ogan asked
whether the financial aspects of the conference sites would be made available
to members. Fred Casmir stressed that the committee's report will be advisory
to the ICA board officers only.
New Business
Members discussed suggestions for improving the participation of colleagues
in Mexico. Fred Casmir said that there might be some guest passes for select
panel invitees, but all requests had to be approved by Bob Cox. Multilanguage
abstracts were suggested. George Barnett said that at previous Mexico and German
conferences we did have abstracts in multiple languages, but Fred Casmir reminded
members of the costs and logistics for multilanguage abstract packets. Mindy
Chang asked how the Taiwan Communication Association could become an affiliated
organization.
Passing the Gavel
Bella Mody presented the traditional gift to outgoing Division Chair Fred
Casmir on behalf of Division 5. She thanked Professor Casmir for his service
to the division and Mina Casmir for her help in selecting the gift.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.