As I write this newsletter column, many of us are putting the finishing touches on our ICA papers. The deadline for submissions is 1 November, 2011, 11 PM EST. Meanwhile, the ICA board, Division officers, and staff are busy working on special events for the conference that will be held at the Phoenix Sheraton Downtown 24-28 May, 2012. Division planners have done a great job creating innovative venues for scholarly dialogue and interaction and many of the special events being planned relate to our conference theme Communication and Community. We have accepted 16 proposals for preconferences and they address a wide array of topics and professional development issues as well as focus on diverse theoretical perspectives and methods. Topics range from "New Media and Internet Communication and Communities in China," "Communication and the Ethics of Consumption" to "Historiography as Intervention." Some divisions are sponsoring Doctoral Consortia. I am confident you will find that the extended sessions and preconferences provide unique, intellectually energizing, and exciting conference experiences.

Conference plenary sessions are being finalized and I am delighted to announce that our opening plenary will feature representatives of The Arizona Center for the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan. This community based organization has provided educational and employment opportunities as well as cultural and emotional assistance to the more than 550 Sudanese youth who escaped the brutal civil war in Sudan in the 1990's, entered United Nations refugee camps in Kenya, and eventually came to settle in Arizona. I invite you to explore their web site http://www.azlostboyscenter.org/meet.html  to learn about the remarkable things being done by and for the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan living in the Phoenix area. It will be a memorable evening as they tell their stories of community disintegration and regeneration. Plans are also underway for an exciting Friday afternoon performance and interview with a Grammy-nominated and award winning Native American performer who has also created an inspiring educational foundation for Native American youth. Our closing plenary will feature some of our most respected and distinguished scholars in our community debating critical issues.

Building upon the successes of our past two virtual conferences and based on feedback from participants, we are continuing to experiment with new formats, types of presentations and content for the "virtual overlay" of the Phoenix conference. In collaboration with Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, we hope to make the content more dynamic, live-streaming sessions throughout the day, and featuring some of the very best papers and presentations from across divisions. The comments feature will be open before and after live-streamed events, and we hope to engage many conference participants (both attendees at the Phoenix conference and those who are joining the conference online) in online discussions. There will be an online book exhibit and unique happenings everyday. Integrating different platforms to provide both on and off site conference participants enhanced opportunities to be involved is an exciting challenge. I thank all our members who are providing guidance and suggestions.

The Phoenix conference promises to continue our tradition of excellence as well as provide innovative formats and memorable moments. I look forward to seeing you in Phoenix and/or online.

Dates to Remember: The deadline for submitting papers and panel proposals is 11 pm EST, 1 November 2011. To avoid any technical problems, early submission is always recommended. The conference submission website has been live since 1 September and hundreds of papers and panel proposals have already been submitted. To reach the conference website, go to the ICA home page at www.icahdq.org  and follow the link for 2012 Conference Submission. Full and half day ICA preconferences will be held on Thursday 24 May, with two day preconferences beginning on 23 May. Registration for preconferences will begin in January.