December 15, 2001 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 Coordinator: Monica Murero 2002 Conference Program Chair: Klaus Bruhn Jensen Ethics Working Group Chair: Charles Ess 1. Introduction & General (Jones) Below is the monthly report from AoIR executive committee members. 2. Executive Officers' Reports 2.1 President (Jones) 2.1.1 I had planned on using this bit of space to talk about some of the challenges facing AoIR in the near future (none of them bad...just challenging), but let's save that for the new year's first report. Instead, I urge you to take a look at the AoIR 2001 conference report at http://www.infotoday.com/it/dec01/conhaim.htm. It's terrific, independent affirmation, and another tip of the hat to John Logie and Leslie Shade, and all who contributed in some way to the conference. And it's a very favorable note on which to close out the 2001 reports of the executive committee, along with my thanks to all those who have helped, and are helping, AoIR to serve as a meeting place (virtual or otherwise) for those interested in Internet research. May we all have a peaceful, healthy and happy new year. 2.2 Vice President (Baym) 2.2.1 I have been helping the flow of conference organization. There was very little response to my database suggestion posted to air-l, so I am not quite sure where, if anywhere, to go with that. There seemed to be the most expressed interest in at least indexing online archives. If anyone else has thoughts on this or is interested in helping to develop online resources for aoir members, please share your thoughts with me. 2.3 Secretary (Bunz) 2.3.1 I have completed the (non-electronic) AoIR folder that now contains all items required by bylaws, including a membership list, conference programs from previous conferences, all CfP, etc. 2.3.2 Matthew Allen, David Silver, and I are putting the final touches on a project tentatively called Internet Research List of Lists. For more information, please check David's posting. 2.3.3 In addition, I've been using some of my European connections, trying to help Monica Murero and Klaus Bruhn-Jensen to recruit Liikanen as one of our keynote speakers. I have made a few suggestions regarding conference planning and volunteered as a reviewer. 2.4 Treasurer (Bates) 2.4.1 Since the last report, we've had about 10 renewals and 10 new memberships, roughly equally split between US and non-US email addresses. We've also had one chargeback (a payment that did not go through, which we still have to pay a transaction fee on). I'll be sending out the December renewal reminders before I leave for break. Will be mostly out of touch between 18 Dec and 28 Dec. 2.5 Open Seats (Silver, Wellman) 2.5.1 Silver: I've been helping out with the conference committee, working on the (now ready for prime time) CFP. It's been exciting working with Monica Murero and the rest of the committee and this conference promises to raise the bar in Internet research. Matthew Allen, Ulla Bunz, and I are putting the final touches on a project tentatively called Internet Research List of Lists. The purpose of the project is to provide a comprehensive index of mailing lists and online forums. Contributions from all academic or non-academic origins and from all over the world are welcome, as long as the content of the list is devoted to the study of the Internet and new media. We are hoping that this project will be member-generated and plan to release the project in early January. 2.5.2 Wellman: Gave whatever advice I could, volunteered to be on an awards committee, represented AoIR at Kyto Digital Cities conf in October, represented AoIR at Canadian Policy Research Initiatives conference (with Fed. govt) in Ottawa -- so did Leslie! 2.6 Appointed Seats (Allen, Shade) 2.6.1 Allen: In the past few weeks, the main activity was to attend the inaugural ::fibreculture:: conference, including a public debate 'Digital Publics', in Melbourne. At the conference we handed out AoIR information and I wore my interconnections t-shirt *grin*. There was a great buzz of excitement about fibreculture, which will develop I believe into a great network of projects, information, and creative/intellectual production within Australia and beyond. 2.6.2 Shade: Nothing to report. 2.7 Student Seat (Klastrup) 2.7.1 Nothing to report. 2.8 Publications Officers (Hunsinger, Breindahl) 2.8.1 Hunsinger: the usual for this time of year did a little bit of everything and a whole lot of some things mainly conference stuff secondarily exec stuff some list stuff and finally some members support stuff. 2.8.2 Breindahl: Not nada, but then not mucho, either. If that's a double negative, it's a double negative. If that's redundant, so what - it's my research subject. 2.9 2002 Conference (Monica Murero, Coordinator; Klaus Bruhn Jensen, Program Chair) 2.9.1 Murero: During this period many activities have been done to organize 2002 AoIR conference. I have prepared the Action Plan for the months ahead: the activities are proceeding very successfully. The Call for paper was approved and issued. The list of the invited speakers (amazing!)was prepared and approved by the planning committee, and the process of invitation is on its way. People from all over the world have _already_ started to register for next year's conference, form Japan to Finland! 1 year before!!! I am looking forward to meeting you all next year! 2.9.2 Jensen: I have been working with Monica Murero, Jeremy Hunsinger, and other contributors to air-meet in preparing the 2002 call for papers as well as the structures facilitating submission and review. The CFP is out, the submission system and its categories are in place, and a good number of volunteer reviewers are awaiting submissions. Next up is aiding in the review process and stimulating submissions. 2.10 AoIR Ethics Working Group (Charles Ess, Chair) 2.10.1 No report.