Welcome to Seattle (written by your local host, Valerie Manusov, manusov@u.washington.edu, Dept. of Communication, University of Washington, http://www.com.washington.edu/). We have a large team of local volunteers working on the conference from the University of Washington, as well as City University, Highline Community College, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, Washington State University, and Whatcom Community College. Together, we are the official sponsors of the 2007 conference and look forward to seeing you when you visit.

From February 16-20, 2007, Seattle Washington is the site of the Western States Communication Association’s annual conference, held this year at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel (http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SEASM). Up to 4 people can stay in a room for our conference rate of $135.

We have a number of excellent events planned. The hotel concierge can also help you plan tours to the Seattle Underground (http://www.undergroundtour.com), Tillicum Village (http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Blake%20Island), trips on the local ferries or tour boats (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/), riding the monorail to the Space Needle or to the Experience Music Project (http://www.emplive.org) at Seattle Center, and much more.

In addition to the sock hop on Sunday night, to be kicked off by a performance by the Righteous Mothers (http://www.righteousmothers.com), here are our group’s planned events:

This year is the 100th birthday of Pike Place Market, which makes it an ideal time to celebrate Seattle’s major signature space. Participants will join Megan Lee, editor for Pike Place News, for a provocative, informative tour of this market. PPM is considered one of the largest, longest surviving, and most vibrant city markets in the USA; blending vendors from produce to crafts. Come learn about the “secrets” of the market, explore fabulous foods unique to the Northwest, and meet some remarkable urban activists. The tour will also explore the underlying tensions of urban growth and the struggle to remain community-oriented amidst powerful commercial interests. These will be vigorous (i.e., lots of walking, stairs) 1.5 hour tours and are tied to a scholarly panel on the market as public space (event organized by Mara Adelman, Seattle University, mara@seattleu.edu).

For those not attending pre-conference workshops or planning meetings, please join us for a day of skiing at the Summit at Snoqualmie (http://www.summit-at-snoqualmie.com/). We will depart from the conference hotel on Saturday morning and return in time for the Kick-Off reception that night. Ski equipment can be rented at the resort. One fee will cover the transportation and lift ticket. Matt McGarrity (University of Washington) and Renee Houston (University of Puget Sound) are organizing this event. Interested parties should contact Matt mcgarrit@u.washington.edu.

Seattle’s International District (formerly called “Chinatown”) is a highly diverse and vibrant Asian enclave. Major urban development has sought the expansion and revival of this historical area. Culinary delights, transasian markets, historical sites, architectural legacies will be part of this tour. Along the way we will visit the Wing Luke Museum, Uwajimaya (a wonderful market/store), The Panama Hotel, and other historical sites. It will be a vigorous walking exploration. The tour will culminate at one of Seattle’s finest dim sum restaurants. The International District is easy walking distance from downtown (next to train station) and easy access to public transportation (planned by Mara Adelman, Seattle University).

This “interactive session” will provide participants the opportunity to explore their own risk-related traits in response to simulated opportunities for high rewards or outright defeat. Careful observers in this session will notice inadvertent nonverbal cues, judgmental errors induced by situational pressures, and widely varying styles of self-expression. Prospective attendees may be more familiar with this activity by its vernacular label, “No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em.” (Real prizes will be awarded, but this is a free activity that will cost participants no money whatsoever.) (planned by John Gastil, University of Washington)

Sign up and costs (where applicable) for these activities will be in the next newsletter.

For a good sense of the sights and sounds you will experience in Seattle, please view a film directed by Jonathan Tomhave, a PhD student (and filmmaker) from the Department of Communication at the University of Washington, and made just for our conference:

Other useful links:

An enticing article in the New York Times on summer in Seattle (okay, so perhaps this is a bit optimistic):

A focus on the Market (and other activities):

For romantics: