Call for Session Proposals: Archives New Orleans 2013

Joint Annual Meeting of the Council of State Archivists and the Society of American Archivists

August 11 – 17, 2013

The Council of State Archivists and the Society of American Archivists convene the 2013 Joint Annual Meeting from August 11 to 17 in New Orleans (NOLA) – one of America’s most culturally rich, diverse, and resilient cities – situated on the banks of the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico.  CoSA and SAA are thrilled to return to the City of Saints and to share in NOLA’s heroic recovery. We invite and encourage you to propose sessions that will be of interest to the profession or volunteer to share your own knowledge and expertise as a presenter.

Proposal Evaluation  

Session proposals are welcome on any aspect of archives practice—local, national, and international—and its intersection with other professions and domains. Proposals will be evaluated on the strength of the 150-word abstract, the diversity of the speakers and their experience, and the completeness of the proposal. Session proposals should incorporate one or more of the following:

• Inclusion of diverse perspectives and initiatives.
• Relevance for the broad range of CoSA and SAA members and other interested attendees.
• An intention to address the impact of the given topic for CoSA, SAA, and/or the archives profession.

The Program Committee invites SAA committees, sections and roundtables and CoSA groups to endorse program proposals. Each group is invited to endorse up to two session proposals.  Please note that endorsements are one factor among many considered during the process of developing the meeting program and do not guarantee acceptance.

Session Formats

The Program Committee encourages submission of proposals that may include, but are not limited to, the following formats:

• Traditional. Open session (i.e., unlimited attendance) of 90 minutes, consisting of two or three fully prepared papers of 15 minutes each and a comment-and-discussion period. Please do not propose sessions of more than three presenters. A chair is not required for this format; chair duties may be performed by one of the speakers.  Paper titles are required.
• Work in Progress. Open session of 90 minutes, consisting of two presentations of 15 minutes each, describing ongoing research topics and including at least 60 minutes for feedback and discussion. Paper titles are required.
• Panel Discussion.  Open session of 90 minutes, consisting of a panel of three to five individuals who informally discuss a variety of theories or perspectives on the given topic. A moderator or commentator is recommended. No paper titles are required.
• Workshop. Limited-enrollment session of 90 minutes, usually designed to teach or refine skills. No paper titles are required.
• Seminar/Roundtable. Limited-enrollment session of 90 minutes, usually designed as a directed discussion among attendees sharing a common experience or preparation.
• Special Focus Session. Open session of 60 minutes designed to highlight innovative archives or records management programs, new techniques, and research projects, or brainstorming/incubator sessions. Audience participation is significant. No paper titles are required.
• Lightning Talks.  Up to fifteen lively and informative 5-minute talks in a 90-minute Lightning Talk session format (or up to ten 5-minute talks in a 60-minute session). The session chair secures commitments from speakers and compiles all presentation slides to ensure timely speaker transitions. Proposals in this category must specify the chair and may suggest up to four recommended presenters (Speakers 1-4). All presenter commitments should be secured soon after the proposal is accepted.
• Poster Presentation. Report in which information is summarized using brief written statements and graphic materials, such as photographs, charts, graphs, and/or diagrams mounted on poster board. Presenters will be assigned a specific time at which they must be with their poster to discuss it with attendees.

Reminder for Proposal Submitters and Session Participants

Archivists and records managers who participate in the program must register and secure institutional or personal funding. Participants who are not archivists or records managers, or who are from outside the United States and Canada, may be eligible for complimentary registration upon request. CoSA/SAA cannot provide funding for speakers, whether they are international, non-archivists, non-records managers, members, or nonmembers.

Proposals for the 2013 Joint Annual Meeting are due by October 8, 2012 (deadline extended from October 5)

Please note that the Program Committee will not consider proposals received after the deadline. For additional information, see “Instructions for Completing the Session Proposal Form” or contact 2013 Program Committee co-chairs Robin Chandler, Nancy Lenoil, and Laura Tatum at conference@archivists.org.

See also: 2013 Call for Pre-Conference Workshop Proposals