USASBE/SBI National Conference
January 13-16, 2005
(Pre-conference & Opening Reception January 13, 2005)
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa
Indian Wells, California
Deadline for Submissions: August 13, 2004

We invite you to submit papers, case studies, workshop or symposia proposals that deal directly or indirectly with:

COMPETITIVE PAPERS

Papers should address issues of significance to entrepreneurship and small business development. The following criteria will be used by reviewers in selecting papers for presentation at the conference and publication in the Proceedings:

• Significant contribution to the field of small business, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education
• Interesting to USASBE and/or SBI members
• Illustrates application, theories, concepts, and research in relevant literature
• Appropriate research design for questions under study
• Conclusions clearly linked to findings and arguments presented in the paper
• Implications for future research

We encourage the electronic submission of papers.
Submit competitive papers to:

Dr. Shawn Carraher
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Dept Of Marketing & Mgmt
PO Box 3011
Commerce, TX 75429

Phone: 903-886-5696
Fax: 903-886-5702
Email: shawn_carraher@tamu-commerce.edu

FINAL CALL DEADLINE for paper submissions is August 13, 2004.

WORKSHOP/SYMPOSIA/PANEL PROPOSALS

Workshop, symposia, and panel presentations should address the themes of the conference. Preference will be given to those targeted to one of the USASBE/SBI divisions.

• Proposals should include all activities to be carried out in the workshop. More than one person can present within a workshop. If you are proposing a panel, please obtain agreement from all panel members before submitting their name in the proposal.
• Workshop proposals will be published in the Proceedings. However, presenters are required to bring and provide handouts or other materials to the workshop.
• Symposia, panels, or workshop submissions must include a brief abstract (100 words), have a three- to five-page overview statement. Proposals must include an abstract that includes pertinent objectives, issues, and/or activities to be included in the presentation. If the submission is accepted, all participants must register for and attend the conference.

Submit workshop, symposia and panel proposals to:

Workshop/Symposium Chair

Jon Richards
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Business Development Center
2455 Maple Leaf Lane
North Bend, OR 97459

Phone: 541-756-6445
Fax: 541-756-5735
Email: jonbdc@uci.net

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

The following instructions have been written to ensure consistency and quality across submissions to facilitate the review process. Authors of accepted papers will receive specific instructions for manuscript preparation for the USASBE Proceedings.

• All submissions must be entirely original and must not be under any current consideration or scheduled for presentation elsewhere.
• Electronic submissions are strongly encouraged. If not submitting electronically, please submit five (5) copies of your paper. Three copies should have no identification other than the title. Two copies must include a brief abstract (100 words), an executive summary* (no more than 300 words) and a title page with the appropriate topic or track name and the name(s), address(es), telephone and fax numbers, Email addresses, and the university/business affiliation for each author or authors. Titles such as Doctor or Professor should not be used; however, students should place the word STUDENT in parentheses immediately after their names. (*The Executive summary is intended for business people and practioners and is a summary of the findings that includes implications for practice and how the findings might be implemented. Papers and workshops must address the ‘so what’ question as it relates to the field to be considered. Paper authors must include a section prior to conclusion addressing the “so what?” issue of their research/concepts and workshop submitters must indicate how the “so what?” issue will be handled in their presentations.)
• All submissions must be typed, double-spaced, with 1” margins, using 12 point Times Roman font. The entire paper, including the title page, executive summary, and the abstract page should be no more than 21 pages long. The length restriction applies to electronic as well as hard copy submissions.
• Each submission must be sent under separate cover. Each hardcopy must include two self-addressed stamped envelopes, which will be used to notify authors of receipt of the submission and will provide detailed conference information.
• All submissions will be blind reviewed. Authors must avoid revealing their identity in the body of the paper. Selection will be based on quality, originality, and relevance as judged by at least two independent reviewers and the track or division chair. Outstanding papers will be eligible for USASBE, SBI and Coleman Foundation awards. Reviewers will be directed to look for the “so what?” issue in both paper and workshop submissions.
• Authors submitting papers must agree to return a camera-ready copy of a one-page abstract, the executive summary, and a floppy disk properly formatted for the CD-ROM Proceedings. Authors must provide a full copy of the paper to the paper chair by November 10, 2004.
• Final copies of the accepted papers must follow the specific format. Disk copies must be in Microsoft Word for Windows and accompanied by a one-page abstract that will be printed in the conference program. The Proceedings will be in CD-ROM format with full paper presentations. Detailed guidelines for authors will be mailed with acceptance letters.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

At least one paper author and ALL symposia and workshop participants must attend the conference if the submission is approved. Conference registration fees for all accepted submissions MUST BE PAID no later than November 10, 2004. Failure to pay these fees by November 10, 2004 will result in deletion of the submission from the program.

CHAIRS

Individuals who would like to serve as Chairs and/or Discussants should send requests to:

Dr. Howard Van Auken
Iowa State University
300 Carver Hall
Ames, IA 50010

Phone: 515-294-2478
Fax: 515-294-2534
Email: vanauken@iastate.edu

Please note that the applications for Chair and/or Discussant positions MUST be in writing, and may be mailed, faxed, or sent via electronic mail. No applications for positions will be accepted by phone. In order to ensure attendance, all chairs must pay all Conference fees by November 1, 2004.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES

DEADLINE for all papers, workshops and symposia: August 13, 2004.
Acceptance Notification for all submissions: October 15, 2004.
Final submission for inclusion in Proceedings: November 1, 2004.

NOTE: No paper, workshop, or symposia will be published in the proceedings without an abstract, and in the case of papers, an abstract and an executive summary.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

For USASBE membership information contact:
Joan Gillman, Executive Director, USASBE
975 University Avenue, Suite 3260
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: (608) 262-9982 Fax: (608) 263-0818
Email: jgillman@wisc.edu

For SBI membership information contact:
Dr. Kirk Heriot, SBIDA VP-Marketing & Membership
Western Kentucky University
Department of Management
1 Big Red Way
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Phone: 270-745-4343 Fax: 270-745-6376
Email: kirk.heriot@wku.edu
www.smallbusinessinstitute.org