The Chair of the WSCA Nominating Committee, Dr. Heather Canary, is pleased to announce that we have a full slate of candidates for our upcoming 2024 elections. The Nominating Committee worked diligently over the summer and earlier this fall to secure commitments from a diverse set of WSCA colleagues to run for First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Legislative Assembly Members-at-Large. You will receive an email in early November through the WSCA member email system with instructions for accessing the ballot and submitting your votes. 

Please take the time to read each candidate’s statement on the ballot and participate in electing our WSCA leaders who will shape our association for years to come. Your membership and your participation in our election process are extremely important for the vitality of our organization.

Please check your “promotions,” “junk,” and “social” tabs in your email Inbox if you don’t see a WSCA message by the end of the day on Friday, November 8^th. You must be a member to vote in our annual elections.

The WSCA Nominations Committee is actively seeking candidates for the upcoming WSCA Fall Elections. According to the WSCA Policies and Procedures Manual, “The Executive Council, President, Nominating Committee, and Legislative Assembly of WSCA are responsible for seeking candidates for election or appointment. The Association recognizes that this responsibility is essential in developing direction for WSCA and will proceed with intentionality and inclusivity. The Association is committed to embodying its focus on diversity and inclusion by making concerted efforts to expand the range of WSCA’s leaders to include candidates with diverse perspectives on WSCA and on our discipline; and by pursuing candidates representing a wide range of identities, forms of expertise, and beliefs. We are committed to involving as many Association members in leadership as possible, and toward this end we will recruit individuals to one position within the organization at a time, diversifying the individuals involved in decision-making and leadership of our organization as fully as possible” (pp. 22-23)

Serving as an officer or member of the Legislative Assembly is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people in our diverse Association, hone leadership skills, and help shape the future of WSCA. The following positions are open for nominations:

1. First Vice-President:    The First Vice President serves on the Executive Council, Finance Committee, and Member Services and Marketing Committee. The First VP determines the theme for the convention they will plan and shadows the President-Elect during the upcoming convention year. They serve as President-Elect (and convention planner) the following year, then as President, and finish their four-year term by serving as Immediate Past President.

    

2. Second Vice-President:   The elected Second Vice President serves on the Executive Council, plans and facilitates the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference, Graduate Workshop, and Graduate Open House for the convention during their term. This is a one-year term.

    

3. Legislative Assembly Members-At-Large:  Two new Members-At-Large of the Legislative Assembly will serve two-year terms beginning at the 2025 convention. The Legislative Assembly is the principal policy-making body of the Association and meets annually at the WSCA convention.

If you are interested in serving in one of these leadership roles, please contact Immediate Past President Heather Canary (hcanary@sdsu.edu) or any member of the Nominating Committee, listed below:

Nick Chivers, chiversnick@fhda.edu 

Colter Ray, colterray@gmail.com

Jimmie Manning, jimmiem@unr.edu

Ashleigh Marie Day, ashleigh.day@nau.edu

Tara McManus, tara.mcmanus@unlv.edu

Amanda Friz, afriz@uw.edu

Motasem Kalaji, motasem.kalaji@csun.edu

Olivia Roe, aroe@unm.edu

Stephanie Hartzell, stephanie.hartzell@csulb.edu

The WSCA Nominating Committee is now accepting names of individuals willing  to stand for election to the offices of First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly Delegate-at-Large for terms beginning at the 2024 convention. The Nominating Committee will review the individuals willing to serve and from these names will develop a ballot to be voted upon by all Association members.

The First-Vice President position is a four-year progression through the positions of First Vice-President, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President.  The Second Vice-President is a one-year commitment. For both positions, the successful candidate will become a member of the WSCA Executive Council and will attend these meetings at both the start of NCA and the beginning and end of WSCA for the length of their term. The Legislative Assembly Delegate-at-Large position is a two-year commitment. If elected, delegates would attend WSCA’s Legislative Assembly meeting at the end of two consecutive conventions. 

Benefits of the position include developing new skills, interacting with a broad range of individuals in the discipline, visibility for the individual and their department, and service to WSCA. Support for the position includes a $20,000 annual stipend (to cover at minimum one course buy-out), as well as a budget for a bookkeeper. The ED-select will also be supported via an Executive Director Assistant, who has previous experience with the Association and holds a three-year contract and a separate budget to facilitate transfer of institutional knowledge between Executive Director terms.

Requirements include regular and dependable access to a computer; physical and email addresses; telephone; a physical storage space for journals and financial records, such as a 4-drawer file cabinet and bookshelf; ability to travel four times a year (this includes WSCA and NCA conventions and two additional trips, at least one of which may be arranged in summer), and department endorsement. As specified in the WSCA Constitution and By-Laws and the Policies and Procedures Manual, the duties and responsibilities of the ED include, but are not limited to:

      1.  Member services, including assisting the Second Vice President in distributing renewal notices; managing member correspondence and requests; preparing electronic elections and constitution/bylaw changes, and managing convention registration. These duties may be shared with the ED Assistant.

      2.  Convention planning, including site visits and recommendations, negotiating and signing contracts with convention hotels, scheduling meeting and event facilities and services; contracting for printing of convention programs, and arranging recognition awards.

      3.   Financial affairs, including working with a bookkeeper or accountant to maintain accounts receivable and payable; developing the annual budget proposal; preparing financial reports; having books and records externally reviewed regularly; filing Federal tax reports, and reviewing investment statements. These duties may be shared with the ED Assistant.

      4.  Meeting administration, including scheduling and arranging facilities for the Executive Council and other committee meetings; preparing and distributing agendas, and taking, preparing, and distributing minutes of the Executive Council meetings. These duties may be shared with the ED Assistant.

      5.  Clerical functions such as maintaining and distributing handbooks and manuals, the membership database, the website updates, the reports, the minutes, and monthly financial receipts. The ED is also responsible for submitting materials to the archive annually. These duties may be shared with the ED assistant.

The ED must be responsible, well organized, fiscally knowledgeable, attentive to detail, personable, patient, and dedicated to WSCA.  We ask applicants to note in their materials their efforts and activities towards inclusion, diversity, equity, and/or access among multiple (and particularly historically marginalized) communities, such as continuing education on the topic (through panels at conventions, certificates, or campus sessions), inclusion of IDEA practices in research and/or teaching, etc.). Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to serving diverse populations in their work as Executive Director.

Applications should be submitted as a single PDF file that includes: 1) a cover letter expressing interest and detailing qualifications, 2) a vita, 3) three letters of recommendation, and 4) a letter of support from the applicant’s department chair.

Applications should be sent via email to WSCA Executive Director Search Committee Chair, Heather Canary (hcanary@sdsu.edu).                     

Application Deadline:  May 12, 2023.

Western States Communication Association (WSCA) invites applications for the position of Executive Director (ED), the chief operating officer of the Association.  The term is for three years, 1 July, 2023 to 30 June, 2026, with the ED-select shadowing the current ED immediately prior to the 2023 convention through the end of the current ED term in June, 2023. The outgoing ED will be available for consultation to the new ED during the 2023-2024 year. The three-year ED term is renewable.

Benefits of the position include developing new skills, interacting with a broad range of individuals in the discipline, visibility for the individual and their department, and service to WSCA. Support for the position includes a $20,000 annual stipend (to cover at minimum one course buy-out), as well as a budget for an accountant. The ED-select will also be supported via an Executive Director Assistant, who has previous experience with the Association and holds a three-year contract and a separate budget to facilitate transfer of institutional knowledge between Executive Director terms.

Requirements include regular and dependable access to a computer; physical and email addresses; telephone; a physical storage space for journals and financial records, such as a 4-drawer file cabinet and bookshelf; ability to travel four times a year (this includes WSCA and NCA conventions and two additional trips, at least one of which may be arranged in summer), and department endorsement. As specified in the WSCA Constitution and By-Laws and the Policies and Procedures Manual, the duties and responsibilities of the ED include, but are not limited to:

      1.  Member services, including assisting the Second Vice President in distributing renewal notices; managing member correspondence and requests; preparing electronic elections and constitution/bylaw changes, and managing convention registration. These duties may be shared with the ED Assistant.

      2.  Convention planning, including site visits and recommendations, negotiating and signing contracts with convention hotels, scheduling meeting and event facilities and services; contracting for printing of convention programs, and arranging recognition awards.

      3.   Financial affairs, including working with a bookkeeper or accountant to maintain accounts receivable and payable; developing the annual budget proposal; preparing financial reports; having books and records audited annually; filing Federal tax reports, and reviewing investment statements. These duties may be shared with the ED Assistant.

      4.  Meeting administration, including scheduling and arranging facilities for the Executive Council and other committee meetings; preparing and distributing agendas, and taking, preparing, and distributing minutes of the Executive Council meetings. These duties may be shared with the ED Assistant.

      5.  Clerical functions such as maintaining and distributing handbooks and manuals, the membership database, the website updates, the reports, the minutes, and monthly financial receipts. The ED is also responsible for submitting materials to the archive annually. These duties may be shared with the ED assistant.

The ED must be responsible, well organized, fiscally knowledgeable, attentive to detail, personable, patient, and dedicated to WSCA.  We ask applicants to note in their materials their efforts and activities towards inclusion, diversity, equity, and/or access among multiple (and particularly historically marginalized) communities, such as continuing education on the topic (through panels at conventions, certificates, or campus sessions), inclusion of IDEA practices in research and/or teaching, etc). Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to serving diverse populations in their work as Executive Director.

Applications should be submitted as a single PDF file that includes : 1) a cover letter expressing interest and detailing qualifications, 2) a vita, 3) three letters of recommendation, and 4) a letter of support from the applicant’s department chair.

Applications should be sent via email to WSCA Executive Director Search Committee  Chair, Christina Granato Yoshimura (christina.yoshimura@umontana.edu).                     

Application Deadline:  January 6, 2023.

COVID-19 has underscored two important truths about professional conferences. First, conventions are more than just the presentation of scholarship. They are sites of meaningful knowledge exchange and creation, networking, career rejuvenation, and inspiration that cannot be easily replaced with virtual sessions.  We convene because doing so offers a place and space away from other demands to help us to build the discipline, our careers, and essential professional relationships. I find value in trying to discover ways for us to continue this tradition as safely as we can. Second, conventions have never been and are not now equally-accessible to everyone due to financial, logistical, health, and other disparities. We can, and must, do better as an association at working within our limited financial constraints to increase equity in accessibility to our convention. I have two immediate plans for doing so, both of which are aimed at making space for the many voices of our association.

First, I am holding two Zoom listening sessions for our membership related to the 2022 convention.  The first will take place on October 18^th at 5pm Mountain Time (4pm Pacific Time) athttps://umontana.zoom.us/j/98153522493. In this one-hour session I am ready to hear your suggestions, concerns, and questions about our in-person convention in February. I will hold a second session in early December, post-NCA, to hear again your thoughts and experiences (zoom link and time will be emailed to members in late November).

Second, I will be forming a Futures Committee on Equity in Convention Access at the close of our February convention.  This group will work on possibilities to improve access for future conventions, including breaking down financial, disability, and technological barriers to access. If you would like to join me as part of this committee, please contact me at christina.yoshimura@umontana.edu.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to WSCA and to your teaching, scholarship, and service. Please take good care, and we will be in touch with more updates over the coming weeks and months.

We recognize the enduring traumas and losses inflicted by a history of race-based harm on U.S. soil, including slavery, forced internment or relocation, and institutionalized mistreatment of people of color. Moreover, we recognize and name how race-based violence continues to be effected in our present. We mourn the loss of recent direct victims of institutionally- and individually-held racism; like Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Hyun Jung Grant, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng and Daunte Wright. We also stand with all of the individuals affected indirectly through loss, fear, and pain; particularly those within African-American and Asian-American communities.

We continue to condemn systemic efforts to centralize white experiences and obscure/delegitimize historic and ongoing racial discrimination, as well as the abuses of communication and power that uphold those systems.  We also recognize ourselves as an association that is situated within these systems and commit ourselves to continued actions to move away from the status quo and to actualize social justice.

We reassert our resolutions and policies on anti-discrimination and diversity:

·      The Western States Communication Association is fully committed to principles of equal opportunity, freedom from harassment, and freedom from discrimination.

·      WSCA opposes the abuse of communication in order to silence, coerce or exploit individuals or groups based on essentialized differences;

·      WSCA opposes acts of violence against all individuals regardless of differences;

·      WSCA opposes all that discriminates, prohibits, and/or restricts individuals’ expression and movements based on essentialized differences;

·      WSCA emphasizes our belief in the power of communication to have transformative possibilities in social relations;

·      WSCA endorses the use of public protests, advocacy, civil disobedience and/or other nonviolent means of expression as (counter)responses to acts of injustice;

·      WSCA endeavors for social change and justice in its pursuits;

·      WSCA supports communication scholars’ and practitioners’ exercise of academic freedom.

Signed:

Rodney Reynolds, Immediate Past President

Marnel Niles Goins, President

Christina Granato Yoshimura, President-Elect

Heather Canary, First Vice-President

Shawna Malvini-Redden, Second Vice-President

Sara Hayden, Executive Director

As officers of the Western States Communication Association (WSCA), we stand in outrage with the Black community and in witness to the murders of and attacks on African-American citizens.  Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd are notable, yet few, among the many deaths from overt racism in the United States, and we stand with individuals and organizations working to focus awareness on this fact and to elicit national change.

We condemn systemic efforts to centralize white experiences and obscure/delegitimize historic and ongoing racial discrimination, as well as the abuses of communication and power that uphold those systems.  We also recognize ourselves as an association that is situated within these systems, and commit ourselves to continued actions to move away from the status quo and to actualize social justice.

We reassert our Association resolutions and policies on anti-discrimination and diversity:

· The Western States Communication Association is fully committed to principles of equal opportunity, freedom from harassment, and freedom from discrimination.

·  The WSCA opposes the abuse of communication in order to silence, coerce or exploit individuals or groups based on essentialized differences;

· The WSCA opposes acts of violence against all individuals regardless of differences;

· The WSCA opposes all that discriminates, prohibits, and/or restricts individuals’ expression and movements based on essentialized differences;

· The WSCA emphasizes our belief in the power of communication to have transformative possibilities in social relations;

· The WSCA endorses the use of public protests, advocacy, civil disobedience and/or other nonviolent means of expression as (counter)responses to acts of injustice;

· The WSCA endeavors for social change and justice in its pursuits;

· The WSCA supports communication scholars’ and practitioners’ exercise of academic freedom.

We also commit to opening access to information to support social justice and anti-racist efforts.  By end of day Friday, June 5^th, and extending through the end of 2020, the following six articles published by the Western States Communication Association in our Western Journal of Communication and Communication Reports journals will be completely free for public access.  We hope that people might read and share these select works, and use them as part of their efforts to inform, frame, and engage in the creation of systemic and individual anti-racist change.

Signed:

Marnel Niles-Goins, President

Christina Granato Yoshimura, President-Elect

Rodney Reynolds, Immediate Past President

Heather Canary, First Vice President

Sara Hayden, Executive Director-Select

Flores, L. A. (2020). Stoppage and the racialized rhetorics of mobility. Western Journal of Communication, 84(3), 247–263. https://doi-org.weblib.lib.umt.edu:2443/10.1080/10570314.2019.1676914

Free link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10570314.2019.1676914

Holling, M.A. (2018) Centralizing marginality, marginalizing the center in the WSCA 2018 presidential address. Western Journal of Communication, 82(5), 529-536. DOI: 10.1080/10570314.2018.1463450

Free link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10570314.2018.1463450

Triece, M. E. (2018). Constructing the antiracial city: City planning and antiracialism in the 21st century. Western Journal of Communication, 82(5), 613–630. https://doi-org.weblib.lib.umt.edu:2443/10.1080/10570314.2017.1390148

Free link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10570314.2017.1390148

Gallant, L.M. & Krone, K.J. (2014) Tensions in talking diversity. Communication Reports, 27(1), 39-52. DOI: 10.1080/08934215.2013.837497

Free link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08934215.2013.837497

Maurantonio, N. (2014) “That photo”: Journalism and bearing witness to history. Western Journal of Communication, 78(4), 500-521. DOI: 10.1080/10570314.2013.845687

Free link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10570314.2013.845687

Richardson, B. K., & Taylor, J. (2009). Sexual harassment at the intersection of race and gender: A theoretical model of the sexual harassment experiences of women of color. Western Journal of Communication, 73(3), 248–272. doi:10.1080/10570310903082065

Free link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10570310903082065

Western States Communication Association (WSCA)

01.06.2020

As the 2019-2020 Executive Officers of the WSCA, we release this statement against violence for the upcoming convention in Denver, CO from February 21-24, 2020.

Our announcement follows recent episodes at the 2019 National Communication Association’s (NCA) convention in Baltimore, MD.  The WSCA officers collectively show our support to NCA members who continue to perform social justice and inclusivity as organizational values. Learning from those incidents, we reiterate our position against violence and harassment. As adopted in February 2018, “The WSCA opposes acts of violence against all individuals regardless of differences; the WSCA opposes all that discriminates, prohibits, and/or restricts individuals’ expression and movements based on essentialized differences; and the WSCA opposes policies or actions that undermine or restrict diversity” (Statement on Anti-Discrimination & Diversity). As such, the WSCA will not tolerate any form of physical intimidation, harassment, stalking, and/or verbal assault that perpetuates violence any individual, particularly individuals from historically marginalized groups.

All convention attendees shall engage in accordance with the ethical and respectful practices outlined in our Anti-Discrimination & Diversity statement.  Individuals other than designated WSCA photographers must receive verbal consent from presenters to videotape, photograph, and/or record during panel and paper sessions.  

We look forward to seeing all our convention attendees. Have safe travels to Denver.

Rodney Reynolds, President

Marnel Niles Goins, President-Elect

Christina G. Yoshimura, First Vice-President

Shinsuke Eguchi, Second Vice-President

Brian Heisterkamp, Immediate Past President

Michelle A. Holling, Past President

Sara E. Hayden, Incoming Executive Director

Heather Hundley, Executive Director

The WSCA Nominating Committee is securing candidates for the Association’s First Vice President, Second Vice President, and the five Delegates-at-Large to the Legislative Assembly.

Nominations, including self-nominations, are both solicited and encouraged. Please send nominations to Immediate Past President Brian Heisterkamp (bheister@csusb.edu). Nominations should include: a) The name and institutional affiliation of each nominee; b) The email address of the nominee; and c) A brief statement (100 word maximum) about the nominee’s credentials, including service to WSCA.

WSCA is committed to the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion both in our organization and the communication discipline. Through this commitment, we seek and encourage nominees from historically underrepresented groups so that we can represent and serve our diverse organization.

Here, in brief, are the responsibilities of the officers up for election. Additional details may be found in the WSCA Constitution and Bylaws and in the Policies and Procedures Manual available from the WSCA website (www.westcomm.org):

    · First Vice President is a voting member of the Executive Council of WSCA and  will serve in various capacities for four years beginning at the conclusion of our February 2020 convention in Denver. This person will be the program planner for the 2022 convention in Portland, will be President for the 2023 convention in Phoenix, and will assume the duties of the Immediate Past President for the 2024 convention (location TBA).

       · The Second Vice President is a voting member of the Executive Council of WSCA and will serve a one-year term of office. This person will direct three events at the 2021 WSCA Convention in Irvine, CA: Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference; the Graduate Student Workshop; and the Graduate Programs Open House.

       · The Delegates-at-Large to the Legislative Assembly serve for two years. The Legislative Assembly is the primary governing body of the Association. Those elected will serve as delegates to the WSCA Legislative Assembly meeting for the 2020 (Denver) and 2021 (Irvine) conventions. Five persons will be elected as delegates-at-large.

Please consider nominating WSCA members, including self-nominations, to these leadership positions for the Association.

If you have any questions about these positions, please contact Brian Heisterkamp (bheister@csusb.edu).

Collectively Signed by 
Rodney Reynolds, President 
Christina Granato Yoshimura, First Vice President 
Shinsuke Eguchi, Second Vice President 
Brian Heisterkamp, Immediate Past President
Heather Hundley, Executive Director

For more on WSCA’s Public Statements and Resolutions:

https://www.westcomm.org/page/Resolutions

https://www.westcomm.org/page/PublicStatements

We are pleased to announce the results of the 2018 WSCA Elections.  Christina Granato Yoshimura (University of Montana) has been elected First Vice President, and Shinsuke Eguchi (University of New Mexico) has been elected Second Vice President. 

Our new Legislative Assembly members are:

Hillary Jones-  California State University, Fresno

Fatima Alaoui - San Francisco State

Carlos Flores -University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Nikki Yeboah-  San Jose State University

Alaina Zanin - Arizona State University.

Thank you all for your willingness to serve.  We look forward to your impacts and insights on WSCA!

I appreciate the time and effort put forth by members of the Nominating Committee, who produced a stellar set of candidates for the election slate. With the elections completed and votes confirmed (sans Russian interference or recounts and run-off’s), I am honored to present the results of elected officers and delegates of WSCA.

First Vice-President Marnel Niles-Goins. Dr. Niles-Goins is a Professor in the Department of Communication at California State University, Fresno. She concurrently serves as Graduate Coordinator at CSUF and President of the Organization for Research on Women and Communication.  Her commitment to WSCA is evidenced in her service as Second Vice-President, Delegate at Large on Legislative Assembly, chair of Time and Place Committee, and local host for the 2011 WSCA Convention as well as her editorial board experience for Western Journal of Communication. Her disciplinary knowledge and experience continues into NCA in which her service on its Executive Council and Finance Board will most likely be of assistance as she advances through officer roles.

She will succeed to President-Elect in 2019 with responsibility for planning the 2020 conference after which become President in 2021 and Immediate Past President in 2022. On behalf of the Association, I welcome her as one of the incoming officers of WSCA. I am sure she will manifest her stated goals of increasing diversity in membership and interest groups along with modernizing some of the Association’s practices.

Second Vice-President Justin P. Boren. Dr. Boren is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Santa Clara University. His commitment to advancing undergraduate scholarship anchors in his teaching experience and working in an undergraduate-only department as well as his publication and conference papers co-authored with students. Moreover, he brings vast service experience including reviewer for the Interpersonal Communication interest group of WSCA and for the LGBTQ caucus and division of the NCA, current membership on the Western Journal of Communication editorial board, membership on the Affirmative Action and Intercaucus Council of the National Communication Association, to name a few.

He will serve as Second Vice-President for 2018-2019. On behalf of the Association, I look forward to seeing how he will promote and advance undergraduate and graduate scholarship as he plans the 2019 undergraduate and graduate programming for the Seattle convention.

Delegates At-Large of the Legislative Assembly play important roles in contributing to the governance of the Association. Congratulations to the following:

Maria Blevins of Utah Valley University

 Santhosh Chandrashekar of University of Denver

Benny LeMaster of California State University Long Beach

Kathleen McConnell of San Jose State University

 Pavithra Prasad of California State University Northridge

The list of elected delegates begin a two-year term commencing with the Legislative Assembly meeting on February 18, 2018. I look forward to working with them on Association business at the upcoming meeting.

Finally, as President, and on behalf of the Executive Council, I extend personal thanks to all candidates who ran for office. Their willingness to serve the WSCA is to the betterment of the Association and its members. My hope is that those not elected as well as those who have not previously contemplated running for a position will do so in the future. Cheers to everyone!

The WSCA Nominating Committee is now accepting candidates to stand for election to the offices of First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly Delegate-at-Large for terms beginning at the 2018 convention.  The committee seeks a minimum of two nominees for the positions of First Vice-President and Second Vice-President, as well as 10 nominees for Delegate-at-Large.

The First-Vice President position is a four-year progression through the positions of First Vice-President, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President.  The Second Vice-President is a one-year commitment whose primary responsibilities would be to coordinate the Undergraduate Students Research Conference, Graduate Programs Open House, and Graduate Workshop at the 2019 convention in Seattle. The Legislative Assembly Delegates-at-Large positions represent a two years commitment, so, if elected, delegates would attend WSCA’s Legislative Assembly meeting for the Santa Clara (2018) and Seattle (2019) conventions.

All candidates must be current members of the Western States Communication Association. Detailed descriptions of these duties associated with these positions are provided in our Policies and Procedures Manual, accessible online at www.wsca.westcomm.org via the About WSCA tab.

The Nominating Committee is required to deliver a slate of candidates (and their election statements) to the membership by November 1, 2017.  The November 1 deadline ensures the candidates’ statements are distributed to our membership before the NCA convention in Philadelphia.

The Nominating Committee seeks candidates at all stages of their careers. New academics are likely ideal for a Legislative Assembly Delegate-at-Large position. These positions would effectively serve an individual interested in learning more about the association’s workings. A teacher/scholar with a good record of publications and/or presentations and having achieved tenure would be well-suited for the Second Vice-President position (a one-year commitment). The First Vice-President candidate comes with a longer commitment (four years), such that the ideal candidate attends Western each year and has experience in its leadership positions. The ideal president should be tenured in his/her position (or at least has very little employment stress), believes in the health and welfare of a community of scholars/teachers, mentors others, can meet deadlines, and can lead people competently and confidently. A potential candidate is at least near the middle of the arch of his/her career.

This organization is shaped by members stepping forward to lead. Please consider lending your voice to our organization

The 2016 election results are listed below.  This new slate of leaders will join a dedicated leadership team beginning at the close of the annual convention in Salt Lake City.

First Vice-President

Dr. Rodney Reynolds (California Lutheran University) was elected as the First Vice-President.  Like many of our previous leaders, Rodney first attended a WSCA convention as an undergraduate at the Western Forensics Tournament, and is now a life member.  Over the years, Rodney has served WSCA in many ways – Communication Reports editor, author, reviewer, presenter, respondent, interest group officer (for several IGs and offices), working in the forensic tab room, and as a member of the Legislative Assembly, Executive Committee, Publication Committee, and the Finance Committee.

Rodney will succeed to the position of President Elect in 2018 and plan the 2019 convention in Seattle, then become President in 2020 and Immediate Past President in 2021.  He will work closely with current First Vice President, Brian Heisterkamp, as Brian plans the 2018 convention.  Please join the officers and Executive Council of WSCA in congratulating Rodney on his new role.

Second Vice-President

Donna Gotch (California State University, San Bernardino) was elected as the Second Vice-President.  Donna is also a life member and has attended WSCA for 30 years.  Donna has served WSCA in multiple capacities including as an elected member-at-large on the Legislative Assembly, Chair of the Communication and Instruction Interest Group, Director of the Basic Course Conference in 2010, and Co-Chair of the Local Hosts Committee for our 2006 Convention in Palm Springs.  She currently serves as the Legislative Assembly’s representative on the Executive Council.

Donna will be the Second Vice-President 2017-2018.  She will work closely with current WSCA Second Vice-President, Marnel Niles Goins, as Marnel plans the undergraduate Scholars’ Research Conference in Salt Lake City.  Donna will plan the Undergraduate Scholars’ Research Conference for the San Jose convention.  Please join the officers and Executive Council of WSCA in congratulating Donna on her new role.

Delegates to the Legislative Assembly

Elected delegates to Legislative Assembly, serving two-year terms beginning with the upcoming Salt Lake City convention, are Audrey Deterding (Northern Arizona University), Aaron Hess (Arizona State University), Amy Pason (University of Nevada, Reno), Carlos Tarin (University of Texas at El Paso), and Cynthia Wang (California State University, Los Angeles).  Please join the officers and Executive Council of WSCA in congratulating all the Delegates on their new roles.

A volunteer organization like WSCA depends on members who are willing to serve and to risk running for office.  The officers and the members of the Executive Council wish to thank all the candidates in this years’ election for their willingness to seek office and I hope all the candidates will continue to serve the Association.  I encourage all the members of WSCA to consider running for elected positions, and I look forward to working with the membership in the future. 

The WSCA Nominating Committee is now accepting candidates to stand for election to the offices of First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, and Legislative Assembly Delegate-at-Large for terms beginning at the 2017 convention.  The committee seeks a minimum of two nominees for the positions of First Vice-President and Second Vice-President, as well as 10 nominees for Delegate-at-Large.

The First-Vice President position is a four-year progression through the positions of First Vice-President, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President.  The Second Vice-President is a one-year commitment. The Legislative Assembly Delegates-at-Large positions represent a two years commitment, so, if elected, delegates would attend WSCA’s Legislative Assembly meeting for two consecutive conventions (in Salt Lake City and Santa Clara)

All candidates must be current members of the Western States Communication Association.

Detailed descriptions of these duties associated with these positions are provided in our Policies and Procedures Manual, accessible online at www.wsca.westcomm.org via the About WSCA tab.

The Nominating Committee is required to deliver a slate of candidates (and their election statements) to the membership by November 1, 2016.  The November 1 deadline ensures the candidates’ statements are distributed to our membership before the NCA convention in Philadelphia.

The Nominating Committee seeks candidates at all stages of their careers. New academics are likely ideal for a Legislative Assembly Delegate-at-Large position. These positions would effectively serve an individual interested in learning more about the association’s workings. A teacher/scholar with a good record of publications and/or presentations and having achieved tenure would be well-suited for the Second Vice-President position (a one-year commitment). The First Vice-President candidate comes with a longer commitment (four years), such that the ideal candidate attends Western each year and has experience in its leadership positions. The ideal president should be tenured in his/her position (or at least has very little employment stress), believes in the health and welfare of a community of scholars/teachers, mentors others, can meet deadlines, and can lead people competently and confidently. A potential candidate is at least near the middle of the arch of his/her career.

This organization is shaped by members stepping forward to lead. Please consider lending your voice to our organization. My personal experience in the WSCA presidential queue has been incredibly rewarding. In truth, there is no “ideal” candidate for any of these positions. Officers and Delegates have strengths and weaknesses. What we want and Western needs is a slate of candidates to reflect our membership and our organization’s purpose. Please contact a member of the committee or me if you are interested in standing for an elected position (or if you just want more information before committing yourself to anything).

Greetings WSCA Members!

I write this on the day that panel, paper, workshop, pre-conference proposals are due to program planners. Midnight (or 11:59 pm) is nine hours away and I have already received a few workshop proposals. Can’t wait to read them and others I receive.

Related to conference planning is devising a logo that captures the essence of a conference theme. After months of envisioning one, and producing cryptic drawings of what I sought, I am ecstatic to reveal the logo for the 2017 WSCA convention. Drum roll please……

I owe a great deal of thanks of Alexandra Jackson Nevis. She was pivotal in bringing to fruition my ideas. Many thanks!

Members can expect to see the logo integrated into all future communications about the convention. Until my next news posting, which will have another ‘big reveal,’ I invite members to post comments about the logo.

Results from the WSCA election are in! No hanging chads or recounts. The new slate of leaders will guide WSCA beginning at the close of the San Diego convention.

 Dr. Brian L. Heisterkamp (California State University, San Bernardino) was elected as First Vice-President. In that capacity, he will plan the annual WSCA membership drive. At the end of the 2017 WSCA convention, Brian will succeed to the position of President-Elect and plan the 2018 convention in Santa Clara. He will become President at the end of that convention and will preside over the 2019 WSCA convention in Seattle. A Life Member of WSCA, Brian served as WSCA Second Vice President in 2014-2015. In this capacity, he planned the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference and the Graduate Student Open House at the Spokane convention in addition to serving on the Executive Council. In addition, he has served on the Legislative Assembly and as the Legislative Assembly’s representative on the Executive Council. In doing so, he also chaired the Distinguished Service Award Committee and served on the Nominating Committee. He has also served as chair/program planner, paper reviewer, chair, and panel participant for the Language and Social Interaction Interest Group.

Dr. Marnel Niles Goins (California State University, Fresno) was elected Second Vice President. Her major responsibilities will include running the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference, preparing the Graduate Students Workshop, and hosting the Graduate Programs Open House at the 2017 Salt Lake City Convention. A WSCA member since 2007, Marnel served as the Local Host for the 2011 WSCA convention in Monterey. She is currently Vice President of the Organization for Research on Women and Communication (ORWAC) and, at NCA, served as President of Black Caucus and Secretary of the Small Group Division.

Elected delegates to Legislative Assembly, serving two-year terms beginning with the upcoming San Diego convention, are Jennifer Asenas (California State University, Long Beach), Aaron Hess (Arizona State University), Brandi Lawless (University of San Francisco), Matthew Petrunia (Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY in New York, NY), and Nina Reich (Loyola Marymount University).

The Leadership Team (those in the presidential queue along with members of the Executive Committee and Legislative Assembly) welcome these individuals who will help guide WSCA in the coming years. Special thanks also go to all those willing to run, but not elected. We sincerely appreciate these individuals’ past service to WSCA and hope they remain involved in the organization's future.

It’s WSCA election season! No, we aren’t talking about Hillary and The Donald (and the rest), but WSCA officer election time. The polls are now open and will remain so through November 25^th (the day before Thanksgiving). Patty O’Keefe and the rest of the Nominating Committee (Elizabeth Root, Robert Becker, Michelle Holling, Bernardo Attias, Michael Walker, Shinsuke Eguchi, Jeanine Minge, and Chevelle Newsome) have developed a full slate of candidates to help advance our association. So please read through the various candidate statements and be sure to vote by the 25^th!

To vote, you must first sign into the WSCA website. To do so, go to the WSCA website [http://www.westcomm.org/] and sign in with your user name and password. Then click on the Profile Home link in the My Profile box. Then scroll down until you see the Online Surveys box, on the right-hand side, and click on the Officers Elections link. No hanging chads here, just click away to cast your vote!

 Only current WSCA members are allowed to vote and you may vote only one time.

Please contact Heather Hundley at hhundley@csusb.edu if you don't know your sign in name or if you have any questions or experience problems with the website or the voting process. If you do know your sign in name but can't recall your password, click on the I forgot my password link. If you successfully answer the math question (typically something really difficult like 4+3 = __), you will be emailed a temporary password. Once you sign in with it you may update your password.

Thank you for taking the time to help select the future officers for WSCA.

By Patricia O'Keefe, Immediate Past President

The Nominating Committee is now accepting candidates to stand for election to the offices of First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, and Delegate-at-Large for a term beginning at the 2016 convention.  The committee seeks a minimum of two nominees for the position of First Vice-President, two nominees for the position of Second Vice-President, and 10 nominations for Delegate-at-Large.

The First-Vice President position is a four-year commitment:  First Vice-President, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President.  The Second Vice-President is a one-year commitment.

The membership will elect 5 Delegates-at-Large to represent our membership for a two-year term. If elected, five delegates attend WSCA’s Legislative Assembly at the Monday evening meeting for two consecutive conventions.

All candidates must be current members of the Western States Communication Association.

The detailed duties and descriptions of these positions are in our Policies and Procedures Manual easily accessed online www.wsca.westcomm.org via the About WSCA tab to view the Policies and Procedures Manual.

The Nominating Committee is required to deliver a slate of candidates (and their election statements) to the membership by November 1, 2015.  The November 1 deadline ensures the candidates’ statements are distributed to our membership before the NCA convention in Las Vegas.

The Nominating Committee seeks candidates at all stages of their careers. Someone just beginning an academic career might be ideal for a Delegate-at-Large position. Someone with a good record of publications and/or presentations just completing tenure would be suited for the Second Vice-President position (a one-year commitment). The First Vice-President candidate is a greater commitment (four years). Some characteristics of this candidate are he/she looks forward to attending Western each year, is tenured in his/her position (or at least has very little stress regarding employment), believes in the health and welfare of a community of scholars/teachers, mentors others, and generally can meet deadlines and lead people with competence and confidence. A potential candidate is at least near the middle of the arch of his/her career. This organization is shaped by members stepping forward to lead. Please consider lending your voice to our organization.

Years ago, Dan Canary and Sara Hayden asked me to run for First Vice-President, and I said no at that time. However, the seed of leadership was planted. Four years ago I stood for election to serve Western. The experience enriched my life beyond expectations. In truth, there is no “ideal” candidate. Officers and Delegates have strengths and weaknesses. What we want and Western needs is a slate of candidates to reflect our membership and our organization’s purpose. Please contact a member of the committee or me if you are interested in standing for an elected position.

Many thanks, Patty O
Immediate Past-President and Chair, Nominating Committee

Patricia O’Keefe, pokeefe@marin.edu
Elizabeth Root, Elizabeth, root@oregonstate.edu
Robert Becker, Robert.becker@nwc.edu
Michelle Holling, mholling@csusm.edu
Bernardo Attias, Bernardo.attias@csun.edu
Michael Walker, Michael.walker@asu.edu
Shinsuke Eguchi, seguchi@unm.edu
Jeanine Minge, Jeanine.minge@gmail.edu
Chevelle Newsome, cnewsome@skymail.csus.edu