The elected program chair (or designated person, if the program has co-chairs) serves on the REA Board of Directors during their tenure. That person reports program plans to the Board, which oversees and approves all aspects of the annual meeting: website, schedule, speakers, budget items, special arrangements and events, etc.
The Board sets and manages the program location and schedule, supported by the work of the Executive Secretary and Networking Coordinator. The program chair (or co-chairs) are consulted throughout the scheduling process but do not have final say, as the Board must ensure that some non-thematic elements (e.g. the Annual Business Meeting, board meeting(s), working groups, and committee meetings) have adequate time as well.
REA’s journal, Religious Education, ordinarily publishes two issues related to each annual meeting program: a pre-conference forum that includes a short essay by the program chair(s) and additional essays by several scholars reflecting on the theme, and a post-conference issue with papers from the conference selected by the paper proposal committee. The journal editor consults with the program chair(s) about potential contributors for the pre-conference issue.
The Annual Meeting is a line item in REA’s budget. The program chair(s) are encouraged to seek additional outside funding through grants or institutional support if they wish to exceed the amount set for their program year.
The program chair(s) work with Tenseg, our website developer, to create a meeting website, including graphics, text, resources, periodic updates, and information about the program. This process can begin as early as March of the year prior to the program (i.e., 16 months beforehand). Program chair(s) also need to provide the Networking Coordinator with promotional materials about the meeting for eREACH, REA’s newsletter.
It is your responsibility to secure speakers and communicate with them about expectations and compensation, subject to approval by the REA Board. For in-person meetings, the budget includes travel and lodging expenses for speakers, and the Executive Secretary will work with you to create contract letters outlining procedures for speakers’ payment, travel arrangements, and expense reimbursement.
The Executive Secretary, Networking Coordinator, and journal Editor are always available to answer questions and assist you with your responsibilities to create a successful and memorable meeting.