UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1990-05_Page-060

May 17,1990 Washington, DC MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITIEE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO Thursday 4:30 PM Attending: Mr. Bacon, Ms. Thome, Dr. Eilts, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Hinds, Mr. Hayes, Or. Lamont, Ms. Miller, Ms. Oesforges, Ms. Sundstrom, Mr. Merchant, and Ms. Covey. Reporting: Ms. Covey. 1. Agenda The Agenda was approved. 2. Minutes The Minutes of the last meeting were approved. 3: Assessment of the Washington Luncheon: Ms. Covey reported that attendance at the Senate Caucus Room luncheon was excellent for invited guests as well as the honorary sponsoring committee members. The goal of the luncheon was to raise the profile of AUC in Washington, DC and this was accomplished. Under the sponsorship of AUC, Congressmen. congressional staff, Ambassadors. executive Officers from the White House, State, Defense, and Energy Departments, and Middle East thinkers and policy shapers from Washington, DC all gathered at tables hosted by the Trustees and Senior Administration Officials. In addition to remarks made by Mr. Kelberer and Dr. Pedersen, Senator Robert W. Kasten and H.E. Or. Abdel Aziz Hegazy spoke to the 125 seated guests. Regarding the press award that was voted on at the February 1990 Board Meeting, it was noted that the high visibility of the press award nominee and the late start in the selection process precluded an award this year. The committee decided that if an event and award ceremony are to be held again next year, the nomination of a print media figure should be made at the November Board Meeting in order to provide adequate time for both contacting the nominee and setting-up the event. 4. AUC Press: Status of Regional and Intematlonal Growth Project. Ms. Miller reported that Mahfouz has been a tremendous success internationally and that subsidiary distributors have been found for academic and tourist books. A move to further expand the regional press is being analyzed. This would be accomplished by translating English-language, best-sellers. Subsequent royalties will be donated by the authors to a translation fund as are part of the Mahfouz royalties. Dr. Pedersen noted that these plans should be followed closely as there is both financial and political risk if the books are not chosen well. Future considerations include: replacing Columbia Press with a more promotional publisher for Mahfouz; looking for distribution opportunities in other countries and following-up on Mr. Hayes' offer to check into the possibility of distributing in Saudi Arabia through Tahama; and, Dr. Pedersen's suggestion that a five year development plan be written