Sub com on systems; from Paul Porter

Michelle, You may know all this stuff, but I don't know that other members of the subcommittee do, so I'll ramble on...

Here is my understanding of how the system works in getting a symposium together at the Tri-society meetings: In general the symposium topics are proposed one year in advance by one or more individuals at the respective Division meetings each fall during the Tri-society annual meetings. The division chairs work with the people proposing the symposium topics in helping coordinate the dates and times (with other divisions and their symposia). The people proposing the symposium are given a sizeable amount of leeway (in terms of number of speakers, length and format of presentations, length of symposium, etc.). My understanding is that the Tri-society does want to limit the number of symposia sponsored by each division to 3 or less (but this can fluctuate some) each year. (A division can co-sponsor numerous symposia.) The division chair usually doesn't turn away any proposed symposium topics, and in fact, is more than willing to work with those people proposing the symposium. Sometimes potentially good symposia never materialize because of lack of follow-through by those proposing the symposium [or symposia or symposiums??]. Attached is a Word document of the ASA Division A-8 (Integrated Agricultural Systems) symposia since 1998. I was involved, with Jane Sooby (OFRF), in organizing the Organic Ag symposium in 2003 in Denver. We broke the symposium into 4 part over 2 days, and involved about 35 presentations (27 oral and 8 posters). It was a learning experience. Below you ask "Who among us is interested in using the outcome of the round table discussion to draft the symposium proposal?". I am (especially if a good team is identified). I will be Chair of A-8 in 2006, and therefore responsible for coordinating all the presentations and symposia sponsored by the division that year. Hope this is helpful.

Paul PorterUniv. of Minnesota612-625-6719pporter@umn.edu