Committees   

Committee Name: Program Committee

Purpose: Organizing the Annual Meeting of the International Neuroethics Society

Composition and Terms: The Program Committee is composed of 6 members, one of whom will serve as the Chair. Each member serves at least a 2-year term, but no more than 4 years. The current chair should be a member of the Neuroethics Society and should have served on the conference program committee in the previous year.

Duties and Responsibilities: The program committee is responsible for the content and execution of the annual meeting. With respect to content, members of the committee are responsible for identifying suitable topic areas, soliciting speakers, reviewing symposia and topic suggestions and abstract/poster submissions from the Society’s membership. With respect to execution, members of the committee are responsible for identifying a suitable venue, managing event advertisement/promotion, media outreach, website design (incl. registration and payment logistics), site logistics (program printing, signage, caterer contact, registration desk, poster boards, AV, etc.), and accounting.

Timeline: Ideally, there should be an 18-month timeline leading up to the meeting, in order to secure speaker commitments early. With one committee and 12-months intervals between meetings, that means that for about 6 months of the year, the committee will near the end of preparing one annual meeting and begin planning the next annual meeting. Committee members are expected to participate in monthly hour-long conference calls, and to work on assignments between conference calls. The chair is responsible for developing a timeline, using the template below as guidance:

·         18-12 months ahead of meeting: solicit proposals for panels and presentations from the membership; discuss suitable themes, topics and speakers; identify a suitable venue. Apply for funding for student/speaker travel or other types of financial support. Develop website. Set pricing structure and deadlines.

·         12-9 months ahead of meeting: contact and obtain commitments from potential speakers. Begin sending notes to membership regarding meeting registration and abstract submission deadlines. Begin advertising the meeting. Order supplies for goody-bags, contact potential publishers and journals for material and display items.

·         9-6 months ahead of meeting: finalize contracts for venue, caterer, and posterboards. Have the early registration deadline during this period.

·         6-2 months ahead of meeting: Send reminders to membership. Collect abstract submission and screen for quality and content. Prepare edits of non-native speaker submissions. Write program and other materials.

·         2-0 months ahead of meeting: print posters and signage; arrange for shipping to venue. Conduct  advertising and media outreach.

Report to: The Chair of the Program Committee will report to the Executive Committee and/or the President of the International Neuroethics Society.

Committee:  Communication and Outreach Committee

Purpose:  To promote Society activities; to provide direction, set priorities, and devise strategies for the growth of the Society and the Society’s interests, including but not limited to the newsletter, the website, the membership and potential membership, and other entities such as like a blog, a discussion forum, etc.  

Composition and Terms: The Communications and Outreach Committee is composed of 7 members, one of whom will serve as the Chair. Two members will serve on each of the divisions of the committee below with a chair who will coordinate.  Each member serves at least a 2-year term, but no more than 4 years.

Divisions within the Committee:

1.  Website

2.  Newsletter

3.  Communication with current members and recruitment of new members.

4.  Communication with other organizations and the press.

Duties and Responsibilities:  Specific duties and responsibilities within the divisions will be developed by committee members in coordination with the Executive Committee and the Governing Board.

Report to: The Chair of the Communication and Outreach Committee will report to the Executive Committee and/or the President of the International Neuroethics Society.

Committee:   Nominating Committee

Purpose:  The Nominating Committee will select members to replace those Board members whose terms expire.  The terms of five of the 14 members of the Board of Directors will expire at the end of February, 2012.

Composition and Terms:  The Executive Committee will appoint a chair and two additional members to the Nominating Committee.  The other four members of the Nominating Committee will be elected by the membership, by electronic means.  Only members are eligible and they “run” for the Nominating Committee either by nominating themselves or being nominated by another member and agreeing to run.  Each nomination will need to be seconded by at least one member.  Terms are for two years and in staggered order,

Duties and Responsibilities:  The Nominating Committee will be asked to suggest new members of the Board of Directors to replace those who have resigned, let their membership lapse, have had their terms end, or have otherwise left the Board.  They should recommend at least twice as many possible members as there are openings and should take into account the needs for balance in the membership of the Board of Directors.  They will not be asked to nominate anyone for a particular office.  The Executive Committee can add nominees in exceptional circumstances.