Meeting Participants:

John Bentley, GA	Gloria Mosby, TX
Angela Corbett, SC	Don Poucher, FL
Carla Craycraft, KY	Bob Reynolds, AR
LaRae Donnellan, TN	Ellen Ritter, TX
Mike Futrell, LA	Charles Stott, VA
Barry Jones, GA	W.L.Strain, AL
Tom Knecht, MS

For the second year, the communications committee invited southern region information technology leaders to attend the SRPLC as guests of the committee. Two joint sessions were conducted with both groups and other sessions were held independently. The following information technology leaders were present representing 11 institutions:

	Anne Adrain, AL	Kevin Gamble, NC
	Mike Allen, LA	Don Hamilton, GA
	Gene Baker, LA	Tom Hintz, FL
	Nina Boston, AR	Dwayne Hunter, OK
	Dan Brook, MS	Larry Lippke, TX
	Steven Burns, TN	Fedro Zazueta, FL
	Robert Fehr, KY

Officers:

Co-chairs Don Poucher (representative of 1862, term expires 1998)
John Bentley (representative of 1890, term expires 1999) presided over the sessions.

SUMMARY:

Accountability: Tom Knecht, Charles Stott, and Ellen Ritter comprised a subcommittee to evaluate accountability models for communications. LaRae Donnellen volunteered to join the subcommittee. Tom Knecht presented a report that outlines accountability objectives including the value of products and services received based upon resources expended, demonstrating that clients of the unit receive products and services in proportion to their investment in the unit, and levels of unit productivity. The report also outlined levels of accountability. The committee agreed the next steps will be a summary of southern region activities on a state basis, a public relations literature search, and an outsourcing study relative to products and services produced. The subcommittee will continue with Tom Knecht as sub-committee chair.

Virtual Centers: The ANR committee, communications committee and IT leaders met for a discussion of the possible creation of virtual centers in the southern region based upon subject matter. These joint projects will continue to evolve. It was agreed that several of the IT leaders and communications leaders will continue to explore the feasibility and design of these virtual centers, working with the ANR committee.

Carla Craycraft was elected as the new 1862 representative to SRPLC. Her term will expire in 2002.