BLS Is Looking for Program Ideas for the CLA Fall Annual Meeting!

As many of you know, CLA solicits program proposals for the annual meeting and we in the BLS look to the standing committees for potential proposals.  We strongly encourage you to communicate with our recently appointed Vice Chair of Programs, Chris Passarelli or Elissa Miller (who is leading our section’s involvement with the CLA annual meeting) or Chris Hughes about your program ideas before submitting them.  They may have feedback that can change an “almost” accepted program idea into an accepted program. 

Below is the link to the CLA call for Proposals and form for submission of programs for this year’s annual meeting which is in September at the Universal City Sheraton, Los Angeles.   Liaisons, please share the link with your standing committees.  Programs are to be submitted online through the link but please make sure that you get a copy of or a summary of all programs submitted, even if you got initial feedback from ExCom members before submitting your proposal.  Information regarding program requirements, policies and the number of programs needed is in the link.

Some things to know:

• The submission period is about 21-30 days or when we receive three times the number of proposals than our planned programs (32). (In 2023, 113 proposals were submitted in 21 days)
• The data from the responses we receive will be collected in real time and monitored by CLA staff. 
• Review, vetting, and overall approval will be conducted by the CLA Programs Committee -Proposals and Speakers Subcommittees at or near the conclusion of the submission period.
• All who submitted a proposal will receive a communication whether their program is accepted or declined

Some things to keep in mind –

• Programs that are cross committee/cross section are more likely to be selected.
• Programs that have broad appeal are more likely to be selected.
• If the Program is not selected for the annual meeting, encourage the submitter to do a webinar.
• Programs with only one speaker are generally not selected.
• Sometimes, overlapping programs are submitted.  Please be flexible if you are contacted about combining or tweaking the programs or adding speakers.

Learn more and submit a proposal today.