COMMITTEES
Serving on an NAES standing committee is excellent preparation for Board service, and offers a significant way to serve the organization. Nearly all of the standing committees need non-Board members to contribute. To inquire about serving on an NAES committee, please contact the chair of the committee in which you are interested.
Executive Committee
The four officers serve as the members of the Executive Committee. Except for the power to amend the Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, the Executive Committee shall have all the powers and authority of the Board in the intervals between meetings of the Board and is subject to the direction and control of the full Board.
Finance Committee
The treasurer is the chair of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures and the annual budget with staff and other Board members. The Board must approve the budget and all expenditures must be within budget. Any major change in the budget must be approved by the Board or the Executive Committee. This fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
Annual reports are required to be submitted to the Board showing income, expenditures and pending income. The financial records of the NAES are public information and shall be made available to the membership, Board members and the public. The Finance Committee is responsible for organizing a NAES audit every five years.
Conference Committee
Chaired by the Vice President, the Conference Committee develops bids for the annual conference and proposes to the Board locale and hotel sites for the National Conference. The Committee also develops plenary sessions for each upcoming conference that address relevant local and national issues. In consultation with the Board, the Committee also oversees the development of the annual conference theme and call for papers.
Fundraising & Membership Committee
This Committee is vital to the life and financial well-being of NAES and is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing all fundraising activities in support of the mission of NAES. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to developing strategies for fundraising, identifying and maintaining lists of potential sponsors/donors, annually soliciting sponsors for specific events/activities (e.g., conference), overseeing all interaction with donors/sponsors.
In addition, the committee will work closely with the Office Manager to oversee membership, prepare the annual membership renewal drive, and verify that the membership list is kept updated. It will also work with the media committee to ensure all publication materials are sent to members.
Awards Committee
This Committee oversees the organization’s two annual awards, student paper awards, and student travel awards. In the case of the Irby award, which is given to a NAES member who has achieved distinction in his or her own professional life and community, demonstrated commitment to the goals and ideals of NAES, and shown leadership qualities in the organization, the committee announces the nomination process, receives nominations, administers voting, and arranges for presentation of award at the annual conference. The Committee should confer with former Irby winners during the nomination process. In the case of the Pon award, the Committee works with the local conference’s community to identify the award winner and arranges for presentation of the award at the annual conference. The committee must also be in consultation with the treasurer regarding the financial status of the monies set aside for the two awards.
Media Committee
The Media Committee prepares, coordinates, maintains, and disseminates all information regarding NAES. Media include print, electronic, and social media designed to increase scholarly and public knowledge of NAES and Ethnic Studies. The flagship publication for NAES is its biannual, peer-reviewed journal, Ethnic Studies Review.
A collaborative editorial board oversees the production of the journal, and the editors, in conjunction with an advisory board, are responsible for ensuring the highest academic standards for publications. Members and the public are kept abreast of news and information regarding the National Association for Ethnic Studies via its newsletter, the Ethnic Reporter, which is published three times per year electronically.
Working closely with the Office Manager, the Media Committee manages the NAES website, the primary portal to information regarding the organization, and coordinates all social networking outreach (e.g., Facebook, Twitter).
Graduate Student Affairs Committee
Co-chaired by the Graduate Student Representative and a full board member, the Committee brings graduate student issues to the Board, coordinates graduate student panels, network activities for the annual meeting, and oversees communication among graduate student members. The Committee should include non-Board NAES members.
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