Dear CSCAISGC Listserver "Subscribers":
 
This a repeat of a message I sent to this group some months ago.  I
apologize for the lack of 'business' in this group, for it has been a
pretty dreadful summer for me.
 
The reason why I set up this list is to facilitate the communication of
information regarding the potential Interpersonal and Small Group
Communication Interest Group of the Central States Communication
Association.  I have created the listserver as a moderated group (i.e.,
messages come to me personally and I decide whether or not to send them
out to the group).  I have done this to keep the "signal-to-noise" ratio
remains as high as possible.  For example, I nuked a message the other
day concerning investing in foreign casinos.  If you are interested, it
was sent to several hundred other groups as well.  This may be why it
takes longer for your messages to hit the group than in some other lists
(e.g., the COMSERVE discussion groups).  If I'm in the office, I check
my e-mail several times a day, so I would hope that the "turn-around
time" is going to be short.
 
I have been established as the "Temporary" Chair of the group.  It is
not yet an Interest Group (despite my earlier messages indicating that
it is).  If all goes well, the CSCA Executive Committee will establish
the Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Interest Group at the
St. Paul conference.  I have a petition requesting the Executive
Committee of CSCA to establish an Interpersonal and Small Group Interest
Group.  The Executive Committee will discuss this matter at the St. Paul
Conference.  I would like to get as many signatures as is possible when
I meet with the board.  Even if you sign the petition and mail it back
to me, that would be OK.  The Executive Committee wants to know the
level of interest in this potential group from both current members and
nonmembers.
 
By definition, this group has no history.  There can be no "well, that's
the way we've always done it" sorts of institutional rationalization.
We have the opportunity to do new things (or old things in new ways) or
to discuss new issues that less likely to occur in other interest groups
or associations.
 
I can't do it alone (and, frankly, I don't want to).  As a potential
interest group, there are several things that need to be done.  The
first thing we need to do is to communicate the existence of this group
to as widely as possible.  This listserver is one way of doing that.
The opportunity to submit Interpersonal and/or Small Group Communication
papers to this conference should especially be communicated to students.
Regional associations are a good place for students to "cut their
professional teeth" so to speak.
 
Second, I need individuals to volunteer to do the traditional interest
group tasks.  As the interest group chair I will receive paper and panel
submissions but I need individuals to act as readers.  I got a couple of
volunteers at the Indianapolis conference and through the earlier
version of this message, but I would like (and need) more.
 
Third,
 
Finally, I need you to submit papers and panels.  The submission
deadline is September 15th and you should submit the papers to me.  The
conference will be held on April 17-21, 1996 at the Radison Hotel in St.
Paul, Minnesota.  One potential use for this listserver is for
disseminating information about panels.  If you have an idea for a panel
but need another participant (or two), feel free to send a message to
the group.
 
Thanks for your cooperation.  If you have any questions or would like to
make suggestions, feel free to respond directly to the list
([log in to unmask]) or to me personally
([log in to unmask]).
 
Paul Mongeau
Department of Communication
Miami University
Oxford, OH  45056
(513)529-7473
 
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CENTRAL STATES COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION
INTERPERSONAL AND SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION INTEREST GROUP
 
APRIL 17-21, 1996 - ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
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