Duties and Responsibilities of Section Managers

The six Section Managers, together with the Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, Past Chair, Test Materials Advisor and Membership Chair, form the working group that runs the affairs of the Section.

Informative and interesting programs are the backbone of the Section, and the most important responsibility of a Section Manager is to arrange at least one meeting program each year.

At a Section planning meeting held shortly after the new board takes office on July 1, the Chair, who in the Detroit Section also functions as Program Chair, will discuss program ideas with Managers and set up a schedule of meeting topics and dates and the Manager responsible for each.

Managers may be assigned to coordinate meetings even if the program topic is not in a Manager’s particular area of specialization. Appropriate assistance should be sought from, and given by, other officers and Section members during the meeting planning process.

Note that for online-only meetings, some of the following steps won’t be necessary (venue, restaurant, etc.).

Steps involved in arranging a program include:

• Arrange for the speaker(s). Make sure they are aware of SMPTE guidelines. Obtain a summary description of the program and a biography of the speaker. SMPTE provides a form for this purpose.
• Arrange for the meeting venue and refreshments. Get a map to the location and check details such as parking, access and security. Determine A/V requirements and arrange for them if needed.
• Locate a restaurant in the near vicinity of the meeting venue and make reservations for the managers’ dinner. Make sure the speaker knows that he/she is invited to dinner as a guest of SMPTE.
• Communicate all details of the meeting to the Secretary/Treasurer in time to be included in the meeting notice.
• Keep the Section Chair informed of details and status. Assist with setup, hosting and cleanup at the meeting.
• Write a brief meeting report describing the highlights of the technical program for inclusion in the Secretary/Treasurer’s meeting report, which is published in the SMPTE Journal.

Managers will also be asked to participate in planning of any special events, such as regional conferences or joint meetings.

Timetable for arranging meetings

 

By 3 months before meeting	Confirm topic and speaker with Chair
By 2 months before meeting	Confirm with speaker; provide speaker with Speaker/Presenter Information Sheet and ask to have it returned along with a description of the program by 1st of the month before the meeting (eg Oct. 1 for November meeting) Have venue established Update Secretary/Treasurer & Chair
By 1 month before meeting	Receive Speaker/Presenter Information Sheet and program summary; forward to Secretary/Treasurer Obtain speaker’s mailing address and forward to Secretary/Treasurer so a meeting notice can be sent Get directions (and map, if needed) to venue Make dinner reservations (see note below) Get all information to Secretary/Treasurer and Chair
Week prior to meeting	Reconfirm arrangements with speaker and venue
Day of meeting	Reconfirm restaurant reservations Meet speaker; if he/she attends dinner, introduce to group Introduce speaker at meeting Sign thank-you letter (see Chair)
Within week following meeting	Submit meeting report to Secretary-Treasurer

Restaurant selection information

Dinner prior to SMPTE meetings is open to all and, unless the restaurant provides separate checks, is normally no-host, meaning the check is divided equally among those attending. The speaker is included in the tally and his/her dinner is paid for by SMPTE, through the Secretary/Treasurer.

Select a restaurant that is close to the meeting venue, can provide a fairly quiet place for a party of 12-15, and has a reasonably-priced menu with a variety of items. If in doubt about restaurants in the area, ask your contact at the venue to suggest a place, or ask another officer or manager for ideas. You might want to ask the restaurant to fax you their menu, visit its website, or even visit in person, to help you decide.

Initially make the reservation for 12, give your name and phone number, and have them note the group name, SMPTE, on the reservation. Tell them that the count will probably vary and that we may pick up a couple more (or a couple fewer).