Present: Layne Cameron, Jim Grim, Brian Hayes, David Knott, Heather Perry, Deborah Robinson, Charlotte Shepperd, Dan Waechter, Marilyn Weaver, and Diane Blankenship.

The meeting was called to order by President Brian Hayes at 2:30 p.m.  Referring to the minutes of the June 11, 2005 meeting, he asked for corrections or additions.  There being none, Heather Perry moved to accept the minutes as presented, Jim Grim seconded, and they were passed by voice vote.

Business
Journalism Alumni Society Logo Update—The approved logo will be used for various purposes, including merchandise.  Marilyn Weaver will check into tote bags and Charlotte Shepperd will check into potential merchandising methods.

Long-Range Planning/Initiatives—Shepperd distributed an updated list of 2005 initiatives for discussion and review.  Respective committees will plan meetings to move forward, accordingly.  Heather Perry was added to the Initiative 4 committee.

Updated award nominee lists were distributed.  Perry re-nominated James F. Wright for the Journalism Alumni Award.  Along with existing nomination methods, it was suggested to utilize an e-mail solicitation.  The board agreed and Shepperd will generate an e-mail to journalism alumni requesting nominations.

Layne Cameron reported that Ball State University has been ranked #1 in wireless technology by Intel and published in US News and World Report.  He also reported that the $12 million goal of the "Drive To Distinction" Stadium campaign has been exceeded.

Department Update
The department has received an $850,000, two-year grant for J-IDEAS from the Knight Foundation. With the funding, the program will focus on First Amendment for High School and First Amendment-related activities. The funding will enable hiring individuals who will help develop the curriculum.

Enrollment is down in the department a bit, and down at the university overall. Weaver indicated that the decline in enrollment is a concern and she shared figures with the board by way of a handout. The news editorial sequence continues to decline in enrollment, but those who are in the program are very strong.

Dan Waechter indicated that one factor is that other departments, for example Family and Consumer Sciences which is offering event planning and management, are offering competitive courses, and that is having some effect on the enrollment figures.

The department has advertised for a position related to digital media. The David Knott scholarship fund is going reasonably well.

Brian Hayes reported on Junior High J-Day, which is set for November 2, on campus. Members of the department will take part in the national JEA convention in Chicago, November 10-12. The fall convention for IHSPA will be at Franklin College, October 20-21.

Weaver is on the university's strategic planning committee. She indicated that forms will be distributed to all departments on campus related to the planning effort.

Dean Roger Lavery has been on board since July. Lavery, who has a background in advertising, is a faculty member in the journalism department. Tony Majeri, senior editor of the Chicago Tribune, is a Center for Media Design Fellow. He will be on campus periodically throughout the spring semester, working with a project in immersion.

The Middletown Media Studies project, a research by Mark Popovich, Michael Holmes, and others, has received major media play, which has been good for the department and the university.

Weaver noted that the program focusing on the Constitution, "Pardon the Constitution Interruption," was conducted successfully September 19 on campus. She also stated that we have been fortunate to be able to keep the well-known national workshop, the Kalisch Workshop, on campus. It is a boost for Ball State's journalism program.

Professional-in-Residence programs are scheduled for November 3 (Schranz Lecture) and November 16.

Alumni Council
Charlotte Shepperd reported that the Alumni Council had met September 10 on campus. The Council heard reports from constituent groups and heard a preview of Homecoming activities. Homecoming week is October 10-15 and will include a host of student activities, department-oriented events, the annual alumni awards dinner, and a full day of events on Saturday, October 15. Shepperd noted that among this year's recipients is Jim Grim, who will receive a Benny Award for his service on the Council on behalf of the Journalism Alumni Society. Also to be honored are three journalism graduates, who are among the G.O.L.D. Award recipients: Gina Behrman, Lisabeth King, and Christina Thien.

Ball State's fall enrollment figure is 17,728, down 1.72 percent from the same time last year. Twenty-six percent of those enrolled are from Delaware, Marion, and Hamilton counties in Indiana. Every state in the union, except Rhode Island, is represented, and four students to date have transferred here as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

The McKinley Avenue Project is completed. Started in May, just after commencement, the project was finished just before the start of fall semester. Next summer, work will be conducted further north on McKinley, with work to the south to be completed after that.

Shepperd noted that Michelle Vore, assistant director for technology, has left the Alumni Association for a new position at a banking institution in Muncie. Laura Ford is a new communications assistant.

The next Alumni Council meeting will be January 21, 2006, in conjunction with a men's basketball home game.

Other Business
Review of October 13-14, 2005 Journalism Student Program/Homecoming activities—Weaver reported that the participation was relatively low.  The programs were well-planned, and overall, the activity was a good idea.  However, Homecoming may not be the appropriate time to schedule such an event.  Suggestions from the board included a job fair tie-in; something where student participation is required; and/or an alumni day during which alumni would speak to classes.  Weaver will address this with sequence heads and evaluate the program for the future.  She invited input from the board.

Future Dates
Chicago Alumni Reception—Monday, December 12, 2005
Awards Committee Selection Meeting—Friday, January 13, 2006, 4:00 p.m., Alumni Center
Journalism Alumni Board of Directors Meeting—Saturday, January 14, 2006, 9:30 a.m., Alumni Center

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.