We don’t look 75
2016-2017 marks the 75th year of operation
for our organization. Alpha Epsilon Rho was
founded as an honor society for college
students studying radio. The organization was
in the planning stage in 1941. However,
America’s entry into World War II delayed the
formal founding of the national organization.
Planning in the 1942-43 school year led to a
national gathering at Ohio State University
where the organization was officially founded on
May 1, 1943.
Our 75th year will include a number of
surprises to help us celebrate. Stay tuned as
they will be announced in the coming weeks.
Celebrate Our 75th Convention in NYC
March 21-26 will mark our biggest
convention in years as we head to the media
capital of the world. Panel sessions, speakers,
tours, media workshops, and networking with
industry leaders will all be focused on helping
you prepare for a future in the electronic media
industry. The convention hotel will be the Hilton
Meadowlands (just across the highway from the
football stadium). Despite the New York City
setting, we have affordable hotel room rates
and convention fees.
Speakers will be announced throughout the
fall. Information on the convention can be found
on the NBS-AERho website. The first and least
expensive registration deadline, the Super$aver
registration, is September 30. Additional
registration deadlines include November 30,
February 14, and March 7.
New Registration System Rolling Out
A new registration system is being phased
in as the year progresses. Membership
registration should come online by September
12. Convention registration will follow shortly
thereafter. AERho registration will open by
September 30. Submissions for the student
production competition should open midOctober. The new registration system is
expected to be more efficient and easier to use.
National Student Competitions
The 54th Annual National Undergraduate
Student Electronic Media Competitions are on
the horizon. The competitions include media
production, scriptwriting, and student papers.
Competition will span more than 60 categories.
Information should be posted on the website by
September 15 with registration opening October
17. The early submissions deadline will be
November 17 and the final submission deadline
will be December 2. Winners will be announced
at the national convention in New York.
Pro Competitions/Papers Due 12/30
The annual Professional Production
Competition/Exhibition which is open to NBS
professional members, faculty, advisors,
graduate students and other broadcast
professionals will have a December 30
submission deadline. Details to be posted on
the website by the end of September.
AERho Looks for More Involvement
The national honor society for Electronic
Media, Alpha Epsilon Rho, will be challenging
members with new opportunities in the coming
year. We anticipate several announcements in
the coming month.
Meanwhile, there will be several “tweaks” to
the registration process to keep in line with the
guidelines of the Association of College Honor
Societies. Membership nomination/registration
will open by September 30. The early deadline
for submission of materials (with a $20 fee
discount) is November 10 and the final deadline
is February 10.
Website Overhauled
NBS-AERho webmaster, Dr. Jeffrey Smith,
spent a good portion of his summer rebuilding
our website. We are still populating pages but
the new site has more eye appeal and much
better functionality. We are about to integrate
the new registration system into the site. That
process will be on-going the next several
months.
Jeff would appreciate your feedback on the
new site. He has incorporated a great deal of
previous feedback into the new design. You can
send him a message by going to the “Contact
Us” dropdown on the website.
Expansion of Online Communication
Expanded online communication
opportunities are planned for the coming year.
Members of the Board of Governors and the
national office will participate in sessions with
chapter advisors, chapter presidents, voting
delegates, and other chapter leaders. Monthly
interviews with electronic media professionals
will be designed to help members understand
the process of transitioning from college to the
professional world. If chapters are interested,
we will also undertake information and social
exchanges among chapters. The first wave of
meetings has already started. Future sessions
will be posted on the website.
Participation is best with high-speed
computer access but members can also
participate with computer audio, a smart phone,
or on a telephone. Some of the presentations
will be better when viewed.
Student Advisory Council
The Student Advisory Council will consider
additional applicants that wish serve as the
student voice of the organization and participate
in the national convention planning. The SAC
will work with our two student governors,
Benjamin Schoenkin (University of Nebraska)
and Sierra Lemelle (University of West
Georgia). Several students have already been
selected to serve but there is room for a few
good people. Information and an online
application can be found by scrolling to the
bottom of the NBS-AERho home page and
clicking on the link.
First Chapter Advisor Conferences
The first round of chapter advisor
conferences has started. The 30-minute
sessions will help orient advisors and provide
the necessary information to start the semester.
Advisors can get more information and register
for a session by following the link which was emailed to them or my emailing Jim Wilson in the
national office. The scheduled session options
are on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday,
September 7-9.
First Chapter President Conference
The first chapter president conference is
scheduled for Monday evening September 12.
The 30-45 minute session will begin at 8 pm
EDT/7:00 pm CDT. Registration information will
be posted on the website by Thursday,
September 8. A mass e-mailing will also try to
reach the chapter presidents.
Who are you? How can we reach you?
Reaching chapter presidents and advisors
is one of the biggest challenges for the national
office each fall. About 67% of our presidents
turnover by the start of the fall semester and
contact information on about 20% of our
advisors changes over the summer as well.
Your help would be appreciated. Under the
“NBS Quick Links” on the website, there is a
link to update contact information on advisors
and presidents.
Reminders for Chapters
An updated copy of your local constitution
must be sent electronically to the national office
by November 2. It must be signed and dated by
both the chapter advisor and chapter president.
Monthly reports are normally due by the
10th of each month. The deadline for the
summer report will be extended to September
30 since the online reporting system must be
integrated into the website after the new
registration system activates.
National Office: a Moving Experience
The national office is only moving four miles
and most of our contact information will remain
the same. However, there have been some
phone and internet disruptions during the
moving process. It’s hoped the phone service
will be back in normal operation by Wednesday,
September 7.
Homework to help us Celebrate 75
Please send pictures of your chapter
activities for the website. Click on the “Contact
Us” dropdown on the website and send a
message to Dr. Jeffrey Smith. Your pictures
may be featured on the website and in our
marketing materials.
“NBS-AERho Update” is produced in the NBSAERho national office.
Mail Address:
NBS-AERho
P.O. Box 4206
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone:
636-536-1943 or 314-628-1196
Website:
www.nbs-aerho.org