Program Committee

Program

The responsibility of the program committee, under the general direction of the board, is to plan and carry out a program of activities in consonance with the purposes of the chapter and the desires of the members. Planned activities should be appealing to the members so they will want to participate and keep up their memberships.

Both long- and short-range planning is required. Long-range planning entails the development of a schedule of activities for a full year. Short-range planning involves the development of detailed plans and arrangements for individual activities.

The program committee should inject imagination and variety into its schedule of activities. While most often members might prefer a monthly dinner or luncheon meeting with a guest speaker, offering something different from time to time is advisable. There are many possibilities. See Chapter 7 for suggestions.

One of the committee’s most important functions is to obtain interesting speakers for meetings. Here, even more than in the planning of chapter activities, variety is the key to success. Virtually any topic would be of interest to chapter members if a knowledgeable and gifted speaker presented it.

To obtain good speakers for chapter meetings, the program committee should recognize that adequate lead time is essential. Few spellbinding speakers are available at the last minute. Also, there should be sufficient time, once an individual has agreed to speak, to publicize the event in order to ensure a good turnout. An invitation to speak should be extended at least two, and preferably three, months before the date of the event.

Every now and then an individual who has agreed to speak at a chapter meeting cancels at the last minute. The committee should always have at least one potential speaker in reserve, someone who has agreed to speak on short notice if a need arises. A chapter member with some unusual expertise might fill this role nicely.