Convention Commmittee

The Convention Committee's role is to plan and execute the Annual Symposium/Convention held each year in the fall.  The Covention includes workshops, keynote lectures and a large tradeshow.

Committee Business

2011 Annual Report
2010 Annual Report

Upcoming Symposium/Conventions

Convention Volunteer Teams
To effectively execute the Annual Symposium/Convention the committee is broken down into volunteer teams.  Each team has a role to play.  The Convention Chair and NSH Meeting Manager ensure the teams work together to achieve the larger goals. Below is a description of our teams - if you are interested in getting involved please email the Convention Chair, Joanna Barton, joanna.c.barton@gsk.com.

Leadership Team - Coordinators

Workroom Operations Coordinator: The WOC is responsible for workshop signs, handouts, blue cards for traqcking contact hours and evaluations.  The WOC works closely with the Convention Assistants and Ambassadors to carry out these duties.
Workroom Equipment Coorindator: The WEC is responsible for working with speakers and vendors to acquire equipment and supplies for hands on wet workshops.  The WEC is also responsible for maintaining the convention inventory of supplies.  The WEC works closely with convention assistants and the On Site Exhibits Coordinator.
On Site Exhibits Coordinator: The OSE works as a liasion between the Convention Committee and the exhibiting companies.  The OSE spends several hours on the tradeshow floor talking to vendors - checking on their progress and participation in the show.  During these vendor visits the OSE facilitates the solving of any any issues the vendor might have. The OSE also assists the WEC with getting donated equipment from the vendor booth to the workroom for workshops.
Career Day Coordinator:  The CDC designs and executes the program for the student career day.  The CDC works with the WEC to request the needed supplies and equipment for the day.  Finally the CDC works with the local host contact to invite students to the event.

Program Team
The program team reviews submitted abstracts for the Convention, meets in January to discuss what was submitted and then selects the program.  The team reviews past evaluations and identifies trends in training to establish a framework for selecting the workshops.  In addition Program Team members audit workshops during the Convention to assure that guidelines and objectives are met.

Poster Team
The poster team reviews submitted abstracts for the Scientific Poster display determining if they are eligible for the show and discussin any needed changes to the abstract before it is printed.  During the Convention the Program Team reviews each poster and selects a winner in each category - Clinical, VIR and Vendor.

Workroom Team - Convention Assistants
Convention Assistants work during the Convention and serve the "everything" role on the Convention Committee.  They work closely with the Leadership Team of Coordinators to carry all of the tasks of the Convention - setting up workshop rooms, delivering/collecting handouts, processing blue cards, staffing the registration desk, and anything else that is asked.  They are essential to the onsite success of the educational program.

Registration Team
Volunteers on the Registration Team staff the registration desk.  They hand out badges, totebags and assist with any onsite changes, registrations or problems.

Ambassadors
Ambassadors staff the actual workshops during the Convention.  Their primary function is to "work the door" collecting blue cards for contact hours and distibuting handouts.  They ensure the only registered attendees participate in the workshop.  They also relay any issues concerning handouts, room set up or audio visual to the Workroom.

Local Host Team
The local host team is comprised of members from the host state.  They establish a PR table to inform attendees about the host city & all it has to offer.  They also organize & execute a community service project for attendees to participate in & give back to the local city.  Finally they work closely with the Workroom Equipment Coordinator to handle any supply or waste issues from our wet workshops and career day.