American Historical Association

Information for Speakers on the AHA Program

Session Guidelines

Most sessions last for two hours. Sessions in the two Friday morning slots are one and a half hours. Presentations, panelists’ remarks, and comments should conclude 30 minutes before the scheduled end of the session to allow for discussion with the audience.

Presentations should be delivered in an engaging, lively, and timely manner. The role of the presentation, whether describing new research or exploring a professional issue, is to stimulate discussion.

All presenters must get copies of their presentations to the chair and commentator a month in advance, to give them sufficient time to prepare their remarks. Presenters should also provide the chair with a short biography.

It is important that sessions conclude promptly. Remember that it takes approximately two minutes to read one page of double-spaced text. Chairs should warn presenters if their paper obviously exceeds the time allotted to it.

For further information, review the Annual Meeting Guidelines and the memo on time limits and other logistical issues.

Posters

Guidelines for poster presenters can be found here.

Presenters can begin setting up their posters half an hour before the start of the poster session.

Presenters are expected to remain with their posters to engage in discussion with the audience.

A.V.

Session organizers were required to indicate if audiovisual equipment would be needed when submitting the session.

AHA staff will contact organizers in the fall to confirm orders.

Please note that due to the high cost of rental, the AHA cannot provide computers for sessions. Those requesting computer projectors for PowerPoint presentations must supply their own laptop computers.

Mac users: Please let us know if anyone on the session will be connecting a Mac laptop or iPad to a LCD projector. We will request an adapter from the AV provider. However, because there several different types of Apple display ports, we strongly recommend that you provide your own adaptor.

Presenters may wish to arrive at the meeting room half an hour before the scheduled start of the session to check the equipment, which will be placed in the meeting room approximately one hour before the session is scheduled to begin.

Problems onsite? The staff in the AHA Headquarters Office, located in the Marriott’s Mardi Gras Ballroom F, can help. Workers in AHA tee shirts will circulate throughout the meeting hotels and check each meeting room to make sure that equipment is in working order, that rooms are at a comfortable temperature, and that water is available for the speakers. Feel free to flag them down if you have any problems or concerns.

Speakers on Affiliate Sessions

Affiliates are responsible for ordering equipment for sessions solely sponsored by the organization. Policies vary by organization, and some affiliates do not provide a.v. equipment for sessions. Please contact the organization sponsoring you session in advance to confirm whether equipment will be available.

Accessibility

Speakers should be aware that there may be a raised dais in larger meeting rooms. Please let us know if this would pose an obstacle. The AHA is committed to providing equal access to the meeting to all participants. If you need reasonable accommodations, please contact us with your request by December 15.

Speakers should engage the attention of listeners, including those with disabilities. Please review our guidelines for making your presentation access.