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SWPA States

Congratulations if you have been accepted to give a presentation this year at SWPA! The following information should help you prepare for the conference.  There is information below regarding each type of session, handouts, and audio-visual equipment.


Talks
Talks are given in sessions hosting 4-6 talks (1-1.5 hour time slots). Each talk is scheduled for 15 minutes, including time for questions. The SWPA Program Chair creates talk sessions to host speakers covering related topics, and decides on the number of sessions and their topics. Members submitting to give talks that cannot be accomodated into a session because of number or topic may be asked to change their submission to a poster format.  Each talk session will be assigned a session chair.  This person will help coordinate equipment set-up in the room (but is not responsible for providing the equipment), and will help ensure that the speakers do not continue past 15 minutes.  See the Audio-Visual policy for information about projectors and other equipment.
 
Posters Sessions
Poster sessions are held in a large room with up to 30 posters. Often, poster sessions covering two related topics are held simultaneously in the large room for time efficiency. Poster sessions last one hour and 50 minutes and are scheduled on the hour. The extra ten minutes allows time for the previous presenter to remove materials and for the next presenter to mount materials. We ask that you are available in front of your poster for at least one of the ~two hours to discuss your work with people who come by.  If you will not be in front of your poster for the full ~two hour period, we suggest that you post a note on your poster so that persons who wish to talk to you about your work know exactly when you plan to be at the poster during the session.

The SWPA Program Chair creates poster sessions covering related topics. The Program Chair decides on the number of sessions and their topics after the period for submissions closes. The Program Chair assigns a poster board number to each presenter and strives to keep posters covering the same topic near each other.

SWPA provides poster boards (30 x 40 inches) and easles. Presenters must bring their own push pins with which to mount their poster materials. No adhesives that would permanently mar SWPA's poster boards are allowed. Presenters may bring their poster materials already mounted on their own poster boards. SWPA's easels will not accommodate extremely large poster boards, however.

Symposia
Symposia are multi-member talks organized and assembled by submitters themselves. Symposia typically last between one and two hours. Organizers should specify how long their symposium will run. However, the time allotted to the symposium will be solely at the discretion of the Program Chair. SWPA encourages members to create symposia.
 
Workshops (and CE  credit)
Workshops are sessions where SWPA members may receive instruction on a topic, technique, or innovation from other members or from invited workshop hosts. Persons who wish to have their workshop be part of the CE session program should indicate it at the time of submission.  Their workshop will undergo the APA workshop review and approval process.  If it is not accepted as part of the CE program, it may be accepted as part of the regular program.

For further information on submitting non-CE workshops e-mail SWPA's Program Chair, Jeanne Burdsal (jburdsal@cox.net)
 
For further information on submitting CE workshops contact SWPA's CE Coordinator, Larry Dilks (ldilks@mcneese.edu).
 
Research Competitions
All competition finalists will give an oral presentation of their project.  There will be separate paper sessions for the Graduate Student and Undergraduate Student Competitions.  Each presenter will have 15 minutes to talk, plus an additional 5 minutes for questions.  SWPA will have a computer and projector available for these sessions.  Please arrive to the session at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the first scheduled talk so that the moderator can organize the presenters and make sure everyone's presentation is loaded on the computer (if desired). 

Presenters will be judged on the quality of their presentation as well as the original written submission.  Winners will be announced (and checks distributed) at the business meeting on Friday evening.

 
Other Types of Session
Information exchanges are informal sessions such as conversation hours, meals, social hours, business meetings, and other similar gatherings. The Program Chair schedules information exchanges and attempts to meet the time and space requirements desired. In no case will SWPA be responsible for providing food, drinks, cash bars, or other amenities typically provided by the hotel. Members seeking such amenities should ask the Program Chair for the contact information for the hotel's meeting staff.

For further information on submitting information exchanges e-mail SWPA's Program Chair, Jeanne Burdsal.  SWPA is always receptive to innovative ways to add to its Convention's offerings. Members who would like to submit a presentation that does not fall neatly into any of the above categories should e-mail SWPA's Program Chair, Jeanne Burdsal (jburdsal@cox.net)


Handouts
As a courtesy to people who attend paper sessions, poster sessions, and symposia, presenters should have at least 25 copies of handouts or formal papers available for distribution.  Extra handouts can be placed on a table near the registration desk so that other conference attendees can pick them up.


Audio-Visual Policy
For those giving talks in paper sessions, please be reminded that due to budget constraints, SWPA will be supplying multimedia / powerpoint projectors for SWPA INVITED SPEAKERS and research competition sessions ONLY. If you desire to make a presentation requiring such a projector, we are recommending that you network and make your own arrangements for a possible projector with the other presenters in your session and your Session Chair.
 
SWPA Session Chairs and presenters can be found in the Convention Program, which is posted on the SWPA website prior to the convention.
 
Whether or not you are planning on a PowerPoint presentation, it is always a good idea to make and have on hand at your session handouts of your major Tables and Figures for audience members. Handouts can serve as a backup in case of technical difficulties; they should suffice if you are unable to come with a projector

The security and storage of any equipment brought to the meeting site are the sole responsibility of the individual bringing or renting the equipment for the meeting. SWPA is not responsible for the security and storage of equipment brought to the meeting site by private arrangement.
 
If you have any questions regarding this policy or need assistance procuring equipment, please contact SWPA Convention Manager Sherry Reisman (sherry@reisman-white.com).




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