We’re growing!
In 2022, we established NCA’s official “Member Count Day” as the first Wednesday of the new year. This year, it was January 4, and on this date, we recorded an 8% increase in individual memberships compared to last year’s membership day. Thank you, renewing members. And welcome, new members; I hope NCA becomes your academic and career home.
We closed out 2022 with a record number of applications from members pursuing governance roles. We also exceeded the expected number of convention registrants. Responses to our first membership survey and our most recent convention survey were robust. Our membership increase is indicative of spirited and growing member engagement. We said we wanted to hear from you and are thrilled you accepted our invitation. It’s fantastic that so many of you are involved.
During a very successful annual conference in November, the Legislative Assembly (LA) had a productive meeting. The LA:
· Adopted the 2023-2027 NCA Strategic Plan and endorsed the NCA Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Strategic Plan to guide our work over the next five years. Both plans propose goals and objectives to build a more vital organization that engages and empowers our members through research, teaching, and service. Those proposed goals and objectives will also support NCA as it strives to enhance public visibility and engender respect for the discipline of Communication, practice inclusivity, and exercise strong leadership and organizational accountability.
· Approved the FY2023 budget
· Approved the Communication and Anxiety Apprehension Division
· Approved the Leadership Development Committee slate of new NCA volunteer leaders, including our new Mentorship and Leadership Council members.
Your leaders are working for you.
As we continue our transformational change journey, the Executive Committee (EC) and LA are piloting a schedule of more frequent meetings. To devote more time to consider complex issues, the EC will gather monthly. We are also planning for a second LA meeting to be held virtually in the spring. We recognize that EC and LA deliberations that advance our new strategic plan and IDEA agenda may require more than quarterly and once-annual dedicated forums to discuss issues. Beginning with the February Leadership Retreat in Washington, DC, the EC, and our other governance groups will explore how to align their work with our new strategic goals and objectives.
Underway at the National Office
Here in DC, we implement NCA policies that the EC and LA create and manage the Association’s business functions. NCA department directors oversee the different components of the National Office, running the day-to-day operations in Communications, Conferences and Meetings, Finance, Governance, Membership, and Research and Publications. We also work closely with our long-time legal counsel when needed.
We’ve welcomed three National Office staff members in the last few months—Patrick West, Dane S. Claussen, Ph.D., M.B.A., and Hannah Hayes, M.A. Some of you may have met Hannah in New Orleans during the annual convention. She joined NCA in November as our Research Assistant. In January, we celebrated with Hannah before she returned to King’s College London to participate in the commencement ceremony and receive her Master of Arts in Eighteenth-Century Studies. You can reach Hannah at hhayes@natcom.org.
In December, Patrick West, our Web & Digital Media Associate, joined the Communications and Public Engagement Department. You can reach Patrick at pwest@natcom.org.
Dane, who begins this month, is our Director of Research, Publications, and Professional Advancement. Over the course of his career, Dane has been a journalism/media or strategic communications professor, newspaper and scholarly journal editor, and nonprofit executive. He holds a B.S. in Journalism (Oregon), an M.S. (Kansas State) and a Ph.D. (Georgia) in Mass Communication, and an M.B.A. (Chicago Booth). Some of you may know Dane from his previous involvement in our Mass Communication Division and LGBTQ Division and Caucus. He also served as a former editorial board member for Communication Education. You can send Dane a welcome message at dclaussen@natcom.org.