Colleagues, If you did not get an opportunity to read my article in the MAC News summer e-newsletter, I'm posting it below. I look forward to seeing you in Chicago! Camilla A Time for Historical, Critical Reflection & Advocacy Camilla Gant, Head I'm excited about seeing each of you in Chicago in a few weeks. As I'm sure you know by now, the conference is slated for Wednesday, August 6th through Saturday, 5th. While MAC has a history of offering progressive programming that transcends the foci of AEJMC divisions and interest groups, this year's programming is particularly special. Our emphasis this year is historical and critical reflection to inform and encourage spirited advocacy for LANA, journalism, and mass communication programs, initiatives, and scholarship. Below are three convention sessions that I ask you to consider attending during the convention. Tuesday, August 5, 1 to 5 p.m. 40 Years After Kerner - No Fee, No Registration Required Presented by AEJMC, this workshop will focus on developing an action plan to improve diversity within the academy and industry. Discussion will center on ways to strengthen initiatives for news media to hire and promote journalists of color, and ways to renew the commitment to the fundamental, core mission of journalism -- public service. Wednesday, August 6, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Lessons from the Past and Fodder for the Future: 40 Years After the Kerner Report & Lee Barrow's Vision of an Inclusive AEJMC (MAC & AEJMC Council of Affiliates, Co-Sponsors) Friday, 1:45 pm to 3:15 pm State of the Division & Discipline: Rethinking and Repositioning MAC (MAC Sole Sponsor) The strength of these programs is our intellectual capital, so I extend a special invitation to you to be a part of the dialogue, which will inform and shape AEJMC and MAC's strategic plan to be launched following the convention. Also, I ask that you make plans to attend the MAC business meeting on Thursday, August 7th, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. In addition to the procession and election of new leadership, the agenda will include consideration of two critical proposals-- a proposal to amend MAC leadership succession; and a proposal to adopt recommendations that evolve from the Kerner Commission workshop to be forwarded to AEJMC, journalism educators, administrators, news organizations, etc. Indeed this has been a great year for MAC. We have an awesome convention line-up thanks in large part to our vice head/program chair, Sharon Stringer, who did the lion's share of the work (with scant opportunity for training) in collaboration with our second vice-head, Jennifer Woodard; PF&R chair, Frances Ward-Johnson; and teaching chair, Bradley Gorham. Our research competition was vigorous, and our research chairs, Petra Guerra (faculty research) and Brenda Edgerton Webster (student research), ably navigated year two of the electronic submission process. We also launched our website and electronic newsletter, thanks to the diligence of Darlene Lee, newsletter editor; and we strengthened our out-of convention programming. Kudos to Yuiki Fujioka and Jerry Domatob midwinter conference coordinators; E.K. Daufin, Ida B. Wells lecture coordinator and listserv manager; and Diana Rios, Ethnic American Press exhibition coordinator. Please join me in thanking our colleagues for their sacrificial leadership, and raising the bar of excellence for our division. I also extend special thanks to each of you for your commitment to MAC, and I look forward to seeing you in Chicago! Camilla Gant, Ph.D. Director/Associate Professor Mass Communications University of West Georgia 678.839.4933 Office 678.839.4926 Fax