ECA – 2011 Highlights

Greetings and Happy New Year!  Below are ECA highlights from 2011. 

• The 102^nd Annual Conference was held at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia and 850 people attended.  Bravo to Cindy Lont for planning a successful and profitable conference!
• Over 200 students participated in the inaugural James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference held during the 102^nd Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia. 
• A Visual Image Task Force and an Interest Group Task Force were created during the Arlington conference.
• The ECA Code of Ethics was remanded to committee for continued review. 
• Janie Harden Fritz from Duquesne University was named the next editor of Qualitative Research Reports in Communication.
• Benjamin Bates from Ohio University was named the next editor of Communication Quarterly.  Beginning with Volume 59, CQ now publishes five issues each year.
• ECA journal editors are now provided with financial support to assist in the publication of the Association’s journals. 

                     Communication Quarterly: $8,000/year
                     Communication Research Reports:
                      $6400/year
                     Qualitative Research Reports
                     in Communication: $1600/year  

• ECA’s total financial assets increased by more than $45,000 in 2011. 
• Thomas Flynn from Slippery Rock University was elected as First Vice President Elect-Select and will plan the 2014 conference.
• The 2013 conference will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Omni William Penn Hotel.  Danette Ifert Johnson is enthusiastically planning the conference under the theme “Confluence.” 
• The 103^rd Annual Conference will be held April 25-29, 2012 at the Royal Sonesta Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  The conference theme will be “Transitions” and we are rooting for First Vice President Nancy Willets! 

These are just a few of the many exciting events that occurred in 2011 and a brief preview of what the future holds. Again, welcome to the New Year.  Back to your campuses and best wishes for a fruitful semester.  Thank you for your support of the Eastern Communication Association, the oldest communication association in the discipline. 

Sincerely, 

Ronald C. Arnett, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies
Henry Koren, C.S.Sp., Endowed Chair for Scholarly Excellence
Duquesne University
Executive Director, Eastern Communication Association
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Communication Association Editor, Review of Communication