Membership Renewal Coming to an End
The ICA membership renewal period ends on December 15, 2008. Typically our renewal period begins with an initial reminder on August 15th each year that October 1st is the actual due date. This begins a 45-day reminder period leading to October 1st. We follow with another grace period allowing members the extra time to deal with their respective university's procedures. Suspension takes place on December 15th.
This year we launched a fundraising module making it easier to make a donation to ICA. Our goal was to have it be a part of the dues renewal process so that as many members as possible would become aware that it was available. If you click on the Invoice number while paying your dues, you will see a list of the various funds available to contribute to. Contributions are completely voluntary and are NOT required for membership renewal.
Here is the link to check for and pay your dues invoices:
http://www.icahdq.org/cgi-shl/Dues.exe/Run:RENEW
Fundraising Module
Visitors to the ICA web site may notice the "Donate to ICA" button on the upper-right corner of our web site. Anyone wishing to donate to ICA can access the fundraising system by clicking on that link. Donations can be in the form of one-time cash contributions, real estate, stock, royalties, or matching gifts. As indicated on the ICA web site, there is no better way to leave a legacy than to remember ICA in your estate plans. And because ICA is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, US donors' gifts are also tax-exempt.
There are various funds available including the ICA Building Fund, the Annenberg Graduate Student Travel Fund and the Larry Gross Travel Fund, Securing ICA's Future and various awards funds. Instructions and information needed for each particular fund will be revealed to a contributor as they choose the various options during the process. Anyone with questions should direct them to Michael Haley, ICA's executive director at mhaley@icahdq.org.
End of 2008 - Membership Totals
As of this printing, ICA membership is at an all-time high with 4609 members! Many members do not renew until it is time to register for the annual conference, so that number will drop significantly come December 15th.
The total number of members in the regions that we track is as follows: Africa/Oceania - 114; East Asia - 308; Europe - 790; The Americas - 3322; and West Asia - 76. The biggest increase since last year was in the Americas (not including the US) growing from 200 to 291.
ICA Expands Social Network
A quick note about a few changes that have taken place on the internet that may be of interest to ICA members: While not officially sponsored by ICA, some of you may know that there has long been an ICA Student Yahoogroup on the internet. There is now an ICA LinkedIn Group dedicated to ICA as well. This is what Bryan Urbsaitis, moderator for the Yahoo student group said in a recent email to members of the Yahoogroup,
"…Dear ICA Student Networking List member,
As a complement to the ICA Student Yahoogroup, and to answer the very legitimate questions posed by several graduating formerly "student members" of the graduate student list of both what to do after graduating as well as how to get an actual job with one's degree(s), I am pleased to announce the creation of the International Communication Association group on www.linkedin.com. The group's goals are not to replace the yahoogroup, but to provide a way for ICA professionals to maintain an online and ongoing network of communication professionals, utilizing linkedin.com's technology, and which is currently unmet by other existing lists. Please find a link to the group at:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=843047
It is my sincere hope that this group becomes as successful as the yahoogroup has been, and that the connections it helps us create as a professional community last a lifetime. Please consider joining the list today as a way of staying connected. As always I can be contacted at the address below with any questions.
Sincerely,
Bryan Mark Urbsaitis, PhD
ICA Student Yahoogroup Moderator
urbs@nyu.edu..."
Have a great December!
Sam Luna
Director of Member Services
sluna@icahdq.org
