ION Strategic Planning Committee
Identification of New Session Topics and Session Chairs
June 2000

Background:

Concern has been expressed that the ION needs to invest in some original session topics and should not just repeat what has been done in prior years. Also, it is important to attract new participants to the role of session chair/co-chair.

At the last ION Strategic Planning Committee meeting in January, it was recommended that the Technical Area Representatives work with the conference General Chair and Program Chair to provide guidance on selection of timely session topics. Also, a recommendation was made to reach out to new candidates for session chairs, while maintaining a balance with session chairs who provide name recognition. Session chairs should provide a broad representation across government, academia, and private industry, as well as the ION regions and international representation. A matrix will be developed reflecting the above criteria to provide guidance to ION Program Chairs in the selection of session chairs/co-chairs.

Identification of New Session Topics:

The ION Technical Area Representatives (air, marine, land, and space) are familiar with emerging technology within their respective areas and are the best candidates to provide assistance to the ION General and Technical Program Chairs in selection of session topics for the ION conferences. We need to recognize that successful sessions at ION have typically been based on subject areas that are or will be very well funded and this also must be taken into consideration in the selection of session topics.

Session Chair Diversity:

The Technical Area Representatives also are most likely familiar with the people who are working in areas of emerging navigation technology who may not be familiar with ION, but would like to become involved and chair a session. Also best paper award winners from the ION GPS conferences should be considered as new session chairs or co-chairs for the upcoming sessions on that topic.

Guidelines for Selection of Session Chair/Co-Chair:

• Representation from each ION Region
• International Representation
• University, Government, and Industry Participation
• Well-Known People (name attraction) paired with newcomers - Always want to attract younger people as session chairs/co-chairs
• Appropriate Gender Diversity

Example Session Chair Matrix:

Session	Eastern Region	Central Region	Western Region	Intrn'l	University	Gov't	Private Industry	Well- Known to ION	New Comer
A1 Chair		♦			♦				♦
Co-Chair	♦					♦		♦
B1 Chair			♦				♦	♦
Co-chair				♦		♦			♦
A2 Chair			♦		♦			♦
Co-Chair		♦				♦		♦
B2 Chair	♦						♦		♦
Co-Chair			♦		♦			♦
Total	2	2	3	1	3	3	2	5	3

Note: Each Row Should Have Check Marks in Three Columns

ION Conference Committee

In order to implement these ideas, it is recommended that an ION Conference Committee be formed consisting of the ION Conference General Chair, Program Chair, and eight Technical Area Representatives and chaired by the head of the ION Strategic Planning Committee (ION Executive Vice President). This effort will assist the ION in continuing to produce a good technical program and help maintain or increase conference attendance into the future.