<p> Business Meeting Communication Theory and Research Interest Group Sunday, February 19, 2017, 12:00-1:00p Western States Communication Association Salt Lake City, Utah Chair: Miles C. Coleman, Seattle University</p><p>Attendees: Miles Coleman, Chair Andy Gilmore, Chair-Elect Laura Peuquet Ben Smith Diana Zulli</p><p>I. Welcome to the meeting Call to order: 12:00PM</p><p>II. Distribution and approval of 2016 minutes a. Motion: [Miles] b. Second: [Ben] c. Motion carries</p><p>III. Recap of previous year a. Competitive papers: 16/26 61.5% acceptance rate (19/32 in 2016; 18/21 in 2015; 15/22 in 2014; 17/29 in 2013) b. Panels: 1/4 for 25% acceptance rate (1/1 in 2016; 1/1 in 2015; 1/1 in 2014; 3/3 in 2013) c. 4 paper sessions, 1 panel session, 1 business meeting session d. Every submission was reviewed using a double-blind system a. We may want to review and update our bylaws as we are currently only supposed to have three paper reviewers. Each person having to read over 30 papers is not feasible as each paper should be reviewed three times e. Recommendations for 2018 a. Revise call for papers slightly to more clearly emphasize that scholars from all disciplines of communication are welcome to share their views on theory and/or research. b. Revise call to see applications of communication theory that emphasize and demonstrate cross-disciplinary conversation c. Amend bylaws to aid reviews – ensure that each paper gets three reviews </p><p>IV. Presentation of Awards a. Top paper: Cynthia-Lou Coleman (Portland State University), Joseph Provencher (Texas Tech University) Benjamin Smith (University of California, Santa Barbara): “Framing Theory and Research: Where We Have Been and Where Are We Going?” b. Top student paper: Mary Domenico (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill): “Civic Identity in Changing Cityscapes: Affect, Memory, and (Un)Intelligibility at Denver’s Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse” c. Other “top four” papers: Charles E. Soukup (University of Northern Colorado) Christina R. Foust (University of Denver): “Performing Middle Class-ness: An Aesthetic Theorization of American Middle Class Identity”; Diana Zulli (University of Utah): “Towards a Conception of the ‘Mythic Presidency’: Vladamir Putin and Visual Political Rhetoric” d. $200 check to be mailed to recipient of top student paper e. Certificates presented to all “top four” paper presenters </p><p>V. Budget Report a. Our $200 budget was spent on top paper awards. </p><p>VI. WSCA 2018 Planning a. Announcement: We still have a Facebook Group! Look us up. b. Discussion: Ryan Guy (past Chair) set up our new website last year: https://sites.google.com/site/wscactr/ i. Bylaws have been updated, and previous meeting minutes can be located there ii. Top paper winners will be added to the site iii. Officers updated in accordance to votes c. Discussion: Strategies for growing CTR/Ideas for novel ways to engage scholarship (for inclusion in calls for papers and panels) i. Laura: Attempt to cultivate a greater sense of cross disciplinary research by opening up collaborations with other disciplines/areas of study ii. Revise the the call for paper and panel proposals to make an explicit call that the interest group is particularly interested in applications of communication theory that emphasize and demonstrate cross-disciplinary conversation </p><p>VII. Election of new officers a. Chair: Andy Gilmore (acclimation, unanimous vote) b. Chair-Elect: Miles Coleman (no other runners, unanimous vote) c. Secretary: Laura Peuquet (self-nomination, unanimous vote) d. Webmaster: Ryan Guy (no other runner)</p><p>VIII. Meeting adjourned at 12:20 PM</p>