Meeting Categories and How Meetings Are Counted
This page includes information about meetings, meeting categories, and how meetings are counted.
Meeting categories and sub-categories
Administrative: meetings of the Section/Chapter/Affinity Group Executive Committee to discuss unit administrative matters (e.g., elections, Section functions, activity planning). Sub-categories are:
- ExCom
- Officer Training
Professional: meetings to enhance professional development (such as continuing education, a speaker discussing the current job market, preparation of resumes, etc.). Sub-categories are:
- Continuing Education
- Professional Development
- Industry Relations: meetings and activities with local industries (e.g., a tour)
- Professional (Other)
Technical: meetings of a technical nature specific to the needs of the unit, or of interest to the members. Society Chapters must hold and report a minimum of two technical meetings annually in order to qualify for the rebate. Sub-category is not applicable.
Non-Technical: generally meetings of a professional nature. Sub-categories are:
- Social
- Awards Dinner
- Pre-University Activities – Teacher–In-Service Program, a science fair
- Non-technical (Other)
How meetings are counted
If a Section or Chapter or affinity group meeting is reported more than once, and the date, location, type of meeting, and number of attendees are the same, it is considered one (1) meeting, and the duplicate meeting reports are deleted from the records.
Regardless of the length of a meeting (whether 1 hour, 8 hours, or longer), for reporting purposes, it is considered one (1) meeting. There may be several speakers and topics; however, they would be considered 'sessions' of the same meeting. To be considered separate meetings, the type of meeting, the location, and/or the number of attendees must vary. For example: If a Unit meeting begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM, even though there are several speakers and topics, it is considered one (1) meeting.
Occasionally, Section Meetings are followed by Chapter/Affinity Group meetings, or are joint meetings of one or more Subunits. In those instances, the meetings may be reported individually by the Section(s) and Chapter/Affinity Group(s) and can be counted as a separate meeting for each of the Subunits.
If a Unit Executive Committee holds an administrative meeting, followed by a general technical or non-technical meeting, the meetings can be reported individually and will be counted as two (2) separate meetings.
Section, Chapter, and Affinity Group meetings should be held within the geographic boundaries of the Section.