Central States Communication Association
2013 Conference Theme

Communicating the Possible

April 2 - April 7, 2013
Kansas City Marriott Downtown

In our research and teaching, we do a great job of highlighting ways to improve deficiencies in communication, problems that can arise from negative communication, and how to communicate competently in a variety of situations. Like many, I believe that communication is limitless in its potential to create social change for our communities and lives. Despite this, rarely do we discuss the finest and highest forms of communication and its possibility to change our very social existence.

Using the convention theme, Communicating the Possible, I invite you to submit papers and panels that focus on transformative communication. As part of this theme, I am encouraging submissions that explore the capacity for emotion, creativity, compassion, hope, forgiveness, resilience, and transcendence in regards to communication. In doing so, consider the following questions: How does communication operate in the organizations that are both transformative and productive? How do we encourage communicative interactions that help relationships and families flourish? How can we foster political rhetoric that connects with audiences? How do we teach in ways that create meaningful relationships with our students? How can we contribute to our communities and build harmony among a diverse set of members? Based on our conversations of creating connections among the interest groups at the 2012 CSCA conference, I have invited the program planners to develop interesting co-sponsored panels that explore these ideas in unique ways. There will be several spotlight panels that feature both teachers and scholars exploring transformative communication. I hope that this theme will allow us the space to explore issues that show the potential and promise of communication.

I look forward to working with the program planners and all the members in organizing our Kansas City conference. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact me at csca-13@wmich.edu, or @edwardschad (Twitter).

 Chad Edwards
Western Michigan University
CSCA 1st Vice President