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Annual Meetings Board (AMB)

The Annual Meetings Board (AMB) coordinates the planning of scientific programs and the technical sessions for the APS annual meeting.

Charge

• ​Pro-actively consider and propose innovative scientific programs to: 
  

• support and promote the achievement of APS’s strategic goals;

• provide members with the most current and accurate information on topics of timely importance;

• meet the needs of APS members while appealing to new audiences.

• ​Explore new opportunities for continuing education, professional development, outreach, and collaboration within APS. 

• In the case of meetings held jointly with other professional scientific societies, collaborate in the development of common objectives and joint activities. 

• Coordinate with APS Committees in the development of their meeting-associated sessions and provide assistance in the development of new venues/platforms for those programs. 

• Utilize​ APS members that are subject matter experts as an important resource in identifying and planning sessions. 
  

• Handle requests from individuals and groups fairly and equitably through the proposal process. 

• As requested, assist in coordinating meeting and course-related activities and objectives from various branches of APS governance.

• AMB will assure optimum balance between subjects in the program and equitable distribution of financial support for the program as it develops the format and schedule of events for the APS annual meeting. 

To carry out its responsibilities, the AMB shall be comprised of the following:

• Dire​ctor 
  

• ​​Director-Elect (when applicable)​

• APS President-Elect
  

• APS Vice-President

• Six Member Representatives from the following areas: Biology of Plant Pathogens, Diseases of Plants, Epidemiology/Ecology/Environmental Biology, Molecular/Cellular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Plant Disease Management, Professional​ism/Outreach /Service

• APS Senior Councilor-at-Large (advisory role only, ex-officio, non-voting)
  

• Director serves a three-year term and may be reappointed to serve a second three-year term.
  

• Director-elect appointed by APS Council during the last year of the current Director’s term. The Director-elect shall be an APS member who has previously served on the AMB, has experience and interest in scientific programs, including short courses and workshops, meeting planning, and education. The Director-elect serves a one-year term for onboarding prior to moving up to the Director position.
  

• Member Representatives are formally appointed by a majority vote of the AMB to serve a three-year term. Members may be reappointed to serve a second three-year term. 
  

• Directors and Members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms.​
  

General Responsibilities of the Director

• Facilitate communication and coordination amongst AMB members, Council and Staff.​ 

• Consider issues and recommend policies related to identification, planning, coordination, implementation and financial aspects of sessions and workshops. ​​

• Develop ideas for supporting and promoting APS’ key strategic goals through scientific programming. 

• Inform APS Council of AMB activities. 

• Coordinate with APS PRESS regarding publication issues, including the “first right of refusal” policy for APS annual meeting symposia. 
  

• Coordinate the appointment of the AMB members. Provide APS Council with recommended Director-elect candidates when applicable, for Council's Director-elect appointment.

• Coordinate planning of the I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium in cooperation with the host committee. 

• Tasks an individual to record meeting minutes who will then provide their draft to the Director to be disseminated, approved, and archived.​