Guidelines for Plenary Session
Speakers and Moderators

As a plenary session speaker, you might find the following helpful in organizing your thoughts as you begin planning your remarks.

As in everything, good planning is the key to success. Before you begin preparing your remarks, be certain that you have a clear understanding from the session organizers about the following questions.

• What is/are the overall goal(s) or purpose(s) of your talk in the context of the plenary session?
• How will your talk be relevant to actual current needs of the participants?
• What can participants take away from the session that is practical and applicable to their work at their respective ERCs?

These questions will be addressed in the advance communications you will have with the session organizer.  Please feel free to contact him or her at any time.

As you begin to prepare your remarks, consider the following:

• If you focus on problems or challenges, try to provide the audience with suggested solutions, strategies, or critical issues that must be addressed to reach a solution.
• Try hard to adhere to your given time parameters.  Participants consistently place high value on the active participation, critical thinking, and creative exchange of ideas that occurs in the discussions periods that follow the presentation(s).

Taking responsibility for the following will also help ensure a successful, high quality session and positive meeting experience for all.

• Please submit an electronic copy of your presentation by December 19, 2009, so that it can be posted on the Annual Meeting website in lieu of handouts
• Check in with the session organizer once you arrive at the meeting. You can agree to get together at the meeting registration desk at a given time, for example.
• Be prepared to start on time.  Go to the plenary meeting room at least fifteen minutes in advance of when the session will begin.
• Be prepared for the unexpected.  Presentations will be preloaded, but bring your presentation on a jump drive to the meeting room with you anyway.

If you have any questions about content, please contact Kate Ryan, 262-334-3844.

As a plenary session moderator, you might find the following helpful in preparing to lead your upcoming plenary session.

• Familiarize yourself with the goal/purpose of the session, the major topics and the amount of time allocated to each of the speakers.
• Review the bios of the plenary speakers and prepare to make very brief introductory remarks about each of them.
• Seek out your presenters in advance of the session in order to meet them and address any last-minute questions or concerns.  Arrange to be in the meeting room at least fifteen minutes in advance of the session.
• Start the session on time. 
• Participants traditionally find great value from participation, critical thinking and the creative exchange of ideas at the ERC meetings.  Help each presenter adhere to their time parameters so that there will be sufficient time for audience interaction and discussion.
• Regarding comments or questions from the floor, ask participants to use a microphone.  If one is not available, repeat the question before a presenter begins to respond.
• Wrap up the session on time.  Thank the presenters for their contributions.

If you have any questions about content, please contact Kate Ryan, 262-334-3844.