NAGT Officers: Roles and Responsibilities
NAGT is, for the most part, a volunteer organization. It is run by the Executive Committee that includes a president, first vice-president, second vice-president, past president, secretary/treasurer, editor of the Journal of Geoscience Education, executive director, executive representative, and six councilors-at-large. For specific information about each of these positions, please see the NAGT Constitution, ARTICLE 5.
The Executive Committee conducts the official business of NAGT. This includes such activities as long-range planning for the organization, oversight of its publications, assisting regional sections in planning and executing their activities, managing the budget, planning and executing activities at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America and other meetings, interacting with other organizations, and many other related activities.
The President and Vice-Presidents serve 1-year terms. The Secretary/Treasurer and Councelors-at-Large are elected for 3-year terms. Responsibilities include:
- Attendance at the annual fall business meeting. This meeting is held in conjunction with the national GSA meeting each fall. This meeting consists of several parts, including:
- Saturday morning: Council planning meeting (Executive Committee members)
- Saturday afternoon: Council meeting (Executive Committee + representatives of regional sections and committee chairs)
- Sunday noon: NAGT luncheon (awards presented, first vice-president takes over as president)
- Monday morning: Executive Committee Meeting
- In addition, each Executive Committee member is expected to spend some time manning the NAGT booth in the Exhibits Hall.
- Attendance at the annual mid-year meeting (typically held in May).
Liaison duties: Each member of the Executive Committee is a liaison for a regional section of NAGT. The type of work this involves for the liaison depends on the level of activity in the section. Tasks may involve communicating with a vibrant section or trying to resurrect a non-functional section.
Officer tasks: Much of the work of NAGT is performed by the Executive Committee. Therefore each member of the Committee will take on tasks to perform between meetings depending on the interests, abilities of the Councilor and the needs of the organization. Members should decide what area(s) of NAGT's functions and outreach they are interested in and volunteer in those areas.
Communication: Much business is transacted between meetings via e-mail communication, so electronic conversations go on throughout the year.
Semi-annual report: A written report of each Executive Committee member's activities and accomplishments between meetings is submitted approximately two weeks prior to each meeting. These reports are distributed prior to the annual and mid-year meetings so that all Executive Committee members are up-to-date and ready for discussions at the meetings.
Meeting technical sessions: NAGT sponsors education-related sessions at GSA and other professional meetings. Executive Committee members are encouraged to contribute session ideas. For GSA the proposal deadline is in mid-January.
Funds are available for each councilor to support attendance at the two meetings. Funds are also available for functions associated with liaison responsibilities.