October 24, 2002 Report of the a(o).i.r. executive committee Prepared by Steve Jones AoIR Executive Committee President: Steve Jones Vice-President: Nancy Baym Secretary: Ulla Bunz Treasurer: Benjamin Bates Open Seats: David Silver and Barry Wellman Appointed Seats: Matthew Allen and Leslie Shade Student Seat: Lisbeth Klastrup Publications Officers: Jeremy Hunsinger and Charlie Breindahl 2002 Conference Chair: Monica Murero 2002 Conference Program Chair: Klaus Bruhn Jensen 2003 Conference Chair: Liss Jeffrey 2003 Conference Program Co-Chairs: Matthew Allen, David Mitchell Ethics Working Group Chair: Charles Ess 1. Introduction & General (Jones) Ulla has already sent the minutes of the meetings that took place in Maastricht and those serve in the place of the usual monthly reports from the executive committee. I did, however, want to add a post-Maastricht post-script. There are many people to thank for the success of the conference in Maastricht. I could create a list that would be longer than the longest air-l daily digest: The Infonomics Institute and its Director, Luc Soete, The Cal Company and the MECC (which I still think stands for "Monica's Excellent Conference Center"), the members of the program committee and our terrific program chair this year Klaus Bruhn Jensen, the members of the executive committee, our keynoters, Apple Computer, Sander Pomme, Herman Pijper, Sage Publications for sponsoring a refreshment break...and on and on. Nevertheless, the primary "mover and shaker" behind it was Monica Murero and she deserves all of the thanks and credit in the world, certainly far more than I can convey. It was through her hard work and dedication that the stage was literally set for the several days we were able to meet, talk, think, share, eat, in some cases dance, and for many us rarely get some sleep. The conference was splendid, and I'm sure I speak on behalf of the attendees, as well as many who were unable to attend, in addition to myself, by saying that Monica has earned her place in AoIR history. Given this, she and the others of you, whether in Maastricht or not, have assured AoIR a strong and vibrant future. Two years ago when we met for the first time at the University of Kansas it was not entirely certain that we would have another meeting. The good people at the University of Minnesota ensured that we would, and I was more than heartened by the turnout there, in the face of great unease about travel - some of which continues to this day, and if not unease about travel then unease about the prospect of war. I continue to be grateful that so many are willing to spend time away from family and other loved ones to be with colleagues and friends for some days. Spending time with one another is a gift I suspect we do not think about as much as we may have before we had the Internet and widespread use of email, but it is cherished. It is my hope that many of you will again spend some time together, with me, in Toronto, October 16 - 19, 2003. There is a productive and spirited discussion on air-meet already going on concerning planning for the conference, and I encourage you to join in if you would like (http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-meet). Liss Jeffrey, David Mitchell and Matthew Allen are already leading us toward another excellent gathering in a year's time. We will need reviewers for conference paper, panel, workshop, etc., proposals - I cannot stress enough how much we will need your help for that! And I encourage you to consider hosting a future conference, so I will be re-posting our Call for Hosts in a moment. It is, of course, a lot of work to host a conference, but with each one we are better able to plan and anticipate the needs. Given our rapid growth we need to be planning still further ahead, and I will look forward to our 2004, 2005 and beyond meetings,too, with great anticipation. It is on such a note of encouragement that I will end this report. AoIR has grown phenomenally, and to make it an association that you like, you need to be involved in it. If you like something about it, please work with us to make it more to your liking. If you don't like something about it, work to change it. Whatever you do, do not walk away from it - neither we, nor you, I venture, can possibly gain that way. We have a diverse group of members, and we could diversify still further, but diversification, like anything else, will not happen if we look for someone else to do it for us. Tell people you think might be interested in AoIR about us. Join in on air-meet or on a working group. Propose a working group to start a new initiative. Propose panels, papers. Post to air-l. This association sprang from the desire of a few people to do something and from the follow-up actions they took, and it can continue only if others act on their interests and desires. Get in touch with me or with other members of the executive committee at your pleasure and let us know your thoughts and interests, and your interest to volunteer. ------------------------------------end of executive committee report------------------------------ The Association of Internet Researchers is a scholarly association dedicated to the advancement of the cross-disciplinary field of Internet studies. It is a resource and support network promoting critical and scholarly Internet research independent from traditional disciplines and existing across academic borders. The association is international in scope. The association's web site is at http://www.aoir.org. 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