Information for Speakers
Making the Commitment to Serve
Generally speakers are invited to serve on the panel for a three year term. Invitations to serve are made in the spring of each year. We need the following items from each speaker soon after they agree to serve (by June 1st at the latest):
- a high resolution image of your head and shoulders
- a short biography (up to 100 words)
- the titles and short descriptions of three presentations/sessions/lectures that you are prepared to offer (up to 30 words for each title and short description)
Notification of a Pending Request
A request for a speaker begins when a host institution submits an on-line request. When completing the form the requesting institution is asked to state their goals for a visit as well as their speaker and scheduling preferences.
After a request has been submitted the Executive Director's office will send an email notification to the requested speaker. This notification will include the host institution's goals and scheduling preferences. The speaker is asked to let the Executive Director's office know if they would like to proceed or decline the request. If the host's first requested speaker declines the Executive Director's office will notify the host's second requested speaker. During this stage we ask that the speaker communicate with the Executive Director's office rather than the host institution.
Scheduling the Visit
The Executive Director's office will send a email notification to the visit coordinator at the host institution after a speaker has agreed to accept a speaking engagement (this message is cc'ed to the speaker). This notification will ask the coordinator to contact the speaker to set a visit schedule and to arrange details. With the exception of informing the Executive Director's office of the visit dates there is no need to include the Executive Director's office in communications regarding the visit details.
Preparing for the Visit
We ask the you to work closely with the coordinator at the host institution to plan the visit. During the planning process we ask that you do your best to meet the host institutions goals for the visit. We also ask that you be proactive and encourage the host institution to take maximum advantage of your expertise. We ask the host institution to advertise the presentation(s) to other geoscience educators in the vicinity and to return an evaluation of the visit.
When the visit dates are set you can proceed with your travel plans. In most cases NAGT will reimburse you for round trip travel costs to the host institution. Occasionally a host institution invites more than one speaker in a given year. In cases like this the host institution is responsible for the speaker's travel costs and the speaker will be so informed.
Please take a few minutes to talk about NAGT sponsorship of your visit and include these slides (PowerPoint 952kB Feb21 08) in your presentation. They include some graphics and general information about NAGT and the Distinguished Speakers Series. If your visit is co-sponsored by "Deep Earth Academy and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership" we ask that you recognize them too.
Note that the host institution will cover the costs of food, accommodation and local travel, photocopying of workshop materials, and the cost of a substitute, if you are a high school teacher.
During the Visit
We appreciate your help in bringing NAGT and its role in making your visit possible to the attention of the audience. The Distinguished Speaker series is one of NAGTs strongest programs and is made possible in large part by NAGT member dues. Frequently these audiences include graduate students, teachers and others who are not members of NAGT. We encourage you to take a few minutes to tell them about the benefits of NAGT membership and the Journal of Geoscience Education. We will send some membership brochures to the host institution. These brochures should be available to your audience. You can also direct prospective members to our website for additional information.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns that arise during you visit.
Following the Visit
In most cases NAGT will reimburse you for your round trip travel cost to the host institution and pay you a $250 honorarium. Occasionally a host institution invites more than one speaker in a given year. In cases like this, budget constraints prevent NAGT from paying travel costs and an honorarium, however, NAGT expects the host institution to do so. The host institution will pay your local food, accommodation and travel costs, the costs to photocopy workshop materials, and the cost of a substitute, if the Speaker is a high school teacher.- Submitting your NAGT Travel Reimbursement Request: Please complete this EXCEL spreadsheet (Excel 12kB Apr10 09) for your NAGT reimbursement request. If this is the first time that you are requesting payment from NAGT since 9/1/2007 you will also need to submit an IRS W-9 form along with your reimbursement request. Further information about our reimbursement request process, including a link to the IRS site where you can download the W-9 form, is available at: http://nagt.org/nagt/organization/trav-reimburse.html. Please note that we will need receipts for your RT airfare and any other expenses that exceed $50.00.
- Honoraria: Please note that you may be obligated to pay income tax on honorarium income.
NAGT will issue checks from travel reimbursements and honorariums within 2 to 3 weeks after receiving supporting documentation.