Colleagues,

I wanted to let those of you who wrote me know that I received your messages. However, I could not access the Internet from my office. I've been using computers in other locations in my building to read email all day.  I prefer to respond to your message in my office or when I get my I-net service restored; that way I can have my files and my privacy.

Again, I didn't want anyone to think I was ignoring you. I've just been inconvenienced today.

THanks again for your patience.---lmf

________________________________

From: FOR THE MINORITIES AND COMMUNICATION DIV. OF AEJMC on behalf of LILLIE FEARS
Sent: Wed 1/18/2006 12:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Update on MAC Convention Proposals---Please read if you submitted a proposal.



Colleagues,

Hope all is well.

I am sure that many of you who submitted proposals for the San Francisco convention probably have been wondering about the outcome since I attended the chip auction last month.

In sum, the dozen or so proposals that I submitted boiled down to us -- MAC -- taking the lead on ONLY ONE non-research panel.  And that panel is the one that will focus on the legacy of Clint Wilson Sr. and other prominent black journalism figures on the West Coast.

As for the other non-research panels in which MAC will participate or co-sponsor, MAC will not be "taking the lead" on organizing the panel. Rather, we will be submitting names for suggested speakers, respondents/discussants, and moderators.  Beware that the final panel title and/or idea might look strikingly different from what was submitted.

More information will be coming in a later email on what/who I'll need to complete our contributions to these programs, as I know many of you are having to make travel decisions now.

As for all of the panel proposals I received on various Hurricane Katrina issues, even this one came down to convention planners compromising on a mini-plenary that will focus on Katrina.  In other words, other divisions wanted to chime in on this historic event. Here again, MAC will be a co-sponsor with the Newspaper division on the Katrina mini-plen.  And, as it is the case with the other programs in which we'll be participating, MAC will not be taking the lead on this one either.  (You've probably figured out that I'm trying to grab a hold of this "taking the lead" thing.  At one point in the chip auction I felt like I had missed out on something after hearing so many times that some other group was taking the lead on a panel they wanted to co-sponsor with MAC.)

I will be working with all the contacts whose names appear on the MAC Katrina proposals to select and submit names as participants for the mini-plen. I will make every effort to be fair and considerate of each proposal group as I select names.

Finally, because we (MAC) were so limited on what we could do with the many proposals we submitted, I strongly recommend that you consider submitting your ideas as formal  papers to our annual Research Paper Competition (not that you hadn't already considered this route).  Your scholarship and expertise(s) are important, and it needs to be heard.

I hope all this helps, and I will send a more detailed follow-up e-message later.

Thanks for your patience in this matter,
Lillie Mae Fears
MAC Vice Head