Environmental Studies colleagues (apologies for cross-posting): Here
is an update on the status of the ongoing initiative to launch a new
international professional association dedicated to environmental
communication practice, research, and teaching:
1. Since November, over forty scholars and practitioners from the
U.S. and abroad have been active in four working groups:
*membership/outreach (co-chaired by Emily Plec, Jennifer Good,
Anabela Carvalho, and Bernardo Motta)
*organizational development (chaired by Tracy Marafiote)
*financial (chaired by Steve Depoe)
*web site/elections (chaired by Brendan Watson)
For more background, see posting on "Indications" blog at
http://indications.wordpress.com/
2. Accomplishments of each working group include:
Membership/outreach group has developed and piloted a survey
instrument that will allow interested individuals to share ideas and
suggestions about the new association via a web-based interface; has
developed a draft launch statement that will be disseminated by March
1; and has developed a list of key associations, organizations,
list-servs, individuals, etc. to whom the launch statement will be sent.
Organizational development group has worked on an organizing document
for the new association (constitution and by-laws), which will
include provisional name, mission, structure and functions,
membership, and governance provisions. A strong draft of this
document will be posted on-line by March 1, with final ratification
of the document to occur at the COCE conference in El Paso TX at the
end of June.
Financial group has worked with journal publisher Taylor & Francis to
obtain a discounted subscription rate for the journal ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMUNICATION: A JOURNAL OF NATURE AND CULTURE that will serve as a
central piece of membership dues for the association; and has
arranged for a "founding member" subscription opportunity that will
be posted on the web site by March 1..
Web site/elections group has purchased a domain name for the launch
web site (http://environmentalcomm.org); and has begun populating the
launch web site with information about the new association. This web
site will be the coordinating location for public participation in
launch activities, including survey (open from March 1-June 1), call
for officer/leadership position nominations (March 1-April 1),
election ballot (April 15-May 15), and founding membership
opportunity (available from March 1 to the end of the year).
On March 1, the association web site will be "open for business,"
with invitations going out for folks to participate. A new
leadership group will be elected this spring, and installed in office
at the COCE conference.
Please contact me off-list at [email protected] if you have any
questions or want to know how you can get involved. We are
especially looking for individuals to step forward with a willingness
to run for leadership positions in the new association.
Exciting times ahead!!!!
Stephen Depoe, Ph.D.
Editor, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION: A JOURNAL OF NATURE AND CULTURE
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/17524032.asp
Professor and Director of Graduate Program
Department of Communication
University of Cincinnati, USA
(513)-556-4459
