Types of Convention Sessions

• Regular Sessions
• Special Topic Sessions
• Seminars
• Forums
• Special Events
• Affiliate Organization Sessions

• Sessions at the convention are arranged by RMMLA discussion groups, individual members, members of the Executive Board, affiliate organizations, and committees of the Association.

• There are five types of sessions: Regular Sessions, Special Topic Sessions, Forums, Special Events, and Affiliate Organization Sessions.
  1. Regular Sessions. Regular sessions encompass the primary scholarly and professional interests of Association members.
  2. Special Topic Sessions. Special topic sessions are organized by members to exchange ideas on topics of limited scope. The Program Committee of the Executive Board reviews all such session proposals and selects those to be held at the convention, based on the rationale for the session and space available.
  3. Forums. Forums are meetings on topics of broad general interest to members.
  4. Special Events. Special events, including readings, films, performances, etc., may be proposed by members for consideration by the Executive Board.
  5. Affiliate Organization Sessions. Learned societies and professional organizations that have been granted affiliate status may each organize one 90-minute session at an RMMLA convention, but may be granted additional sections for a business meeting or other, as space permits, outside of the normal convention session hours. Affiliate organization sessions and social functions that are listed in the convention program are open to all persons registered at the convention, unless otherwise noted in the program.

• Regular sessions are open-topic sessions lasting ninety minutes at which members present scholarly papers on topics related to teaching and/or research in languages, literature, film, and/or culture.

• Each regular session has a presiding officer called a Chair, as well as an Alternate Chair who will assume the duties of the Chair if the Chair must resign for any reason.

• Any regular session that does not convene for three consecutive years will be struck from the roster of regular sessions. It may be reinstated upon written request by ten current members of RMMLA.

• To establish a new regular session of the RMMLA convention, members should first propose a special topic session of the same name to the Executive Board. After three consecutive years of successful meetings of this special topic session, a petition for permanent status should be addressed to the Executive Board. The petition should include a statement of purpose, a rationale for making the session a regular session, and the signatures of at least ten current RMMLA members in support of giving the session ‘regular’ status. The Executive Board will vote on this request at its spring or fall meeting or via electronic means.

• Members in good standing may propose one Special Topic Session per year for listing in the Call for Papers that is published in mid-November. A session title, a short description of the topic, and the contact information of the proposed chair is to be sent to the Executive Director by November 1. A rationale citing the nature and validity of the topic and why it does not replicate existing sessions should also be included. The RMMLA reserves the right to edit the topic description submitted for inclusion in the Call for Papers.

• All special sessions must be approved by the Executive Board based on the rationale and the availability of meeting space. The Executive Board approves the special topic sessions and the Executive Director informs the session chair of that decision prior to the printing of the Call for Papers (mid-November).

• Pre-arranged special sessions may also be assembled by a member and submitted in full to the Executive Director by March 1 of the year in which the convention will be held. The proposal should include program copy showing the names of the chair, presenters, and discussants, along with their academic affiliations and presentation titles. Session chairs should include in their proposal only the names of panelists who have formally agreed to participate in the session, contingent upon its approval. The chair must obtain these tentative commitments from panelists before submitting the proposal. The packet must also include a brief abstract of each paper. A rationale citing the nature and validity of the topic and why it does not replicate existing sessions should be included. Sessions may not include more than two participants from the same institution unless the institution is the focus of the session itself. Chairs of pre-formed special topic sessions will be informed of the Executive Board’s decision on its inclusion in the program by mid-March, also dependent upon suitability of topic and available meeting space.

• Seminars are 90-minute, pre-formed meetings of 8-10 members, presenting on a single topic of scholarly interest. Seminars may include up to three scholars from the same institution and up to half of the presenters may be graduate students.
• In a seminar, all presenters submit their completed paper to one another approximately one month in advance, so that everyone will be prepared to discuss the issues presented in the papers. In each group, 2-3 presenters are paired up, serving as primary respondents for the other(s). At the convention, each presenter is given no more than 5 minutes to give an overview of his/her paper to the group and audience. The chair of the session then guides the discussion and/or serves as the repondent. Members of the audience are also encouraged to participate in the discussion. Seminars are usually scheduled on either the Thursday or the Saturday morning of the convention.
• Generally, no more than four seminars are arranged for a convention. The Executive Director and the Program Committee are responsible for approving seminars for each year’s convention. Formal proposals for a forum should describe in detail and in a brief abstract the topic and nature of the proposed forum, include biographical information on its participants. If the proposed seminar entails the payment of honoraria or expenses for speakers or special equipment, an estimate of such costs should also be provided. The deadline for submission of proposals is March 1. Members will be notified of the decision on their proposals by March 15.

• Forums are large public meetings on topics of broad general interest.

• In addition to the main session of ninety minutes, a maximum of two related workshops may be organized to treat specialized aspects of the general topic.

• Generally, no more than six forums are arranged for a convention. The Executive Director and the Program Committee are responsible for approving forums for each year’s convention. Formal proposals for a forum should describe in detail and in a brief abstract the topic and nature of the proposed forum, include biographical information on its participants, and explain the number and purpose of related workshops. If the proposed forum entails the payment of honoraria or expenses for speakers or special equipment, an estimate of such costs should also be provided. The deadline for submission of proposals is March 1. Members will be notified of the decision on their proposals by March 15.

• Members may propose special events, including readings, films, performances, etc. The Executive Director, with the assistance of the Program Committee, reviews all requests and makes a decision on their inclusion based on cost, space/time available, and appeal to membership.

• Outside sponsors of special events (corporate or institutional) may be sought for special events, and indeed, may be desirable to help defray the potential costs of the event.

• The deadline for RMMLA Secretariat receipts of all requests for special events is March 1 of the year in which the convention will be held.

• Department chairs and job applicants are welcome to use the annual convention as a convenient occasion for scheduling job interviews. The Association does not, however, have sufficient administrative personnel to be involved in the scheduling or arrangements of such interviews.

• Affiliate organizations may each hold one session, not to exceed ninety minutes, at the Association’s convention.

• Affiliate organizations may also request to hold another, possibly a business meeting or other, to be scheduled outside of the normal convention hours, and as space allows.

• Individuals in the affiliated organization who participate in the convention must be current members of the RMMLA and must pay all applicable convention registration fees.

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