Workshop and Education Session Presenter Guidelines
ACNM will develop a Speaker Management Web site to collect and manage all forms and information for education session and workshop speakers. The primary/submitting author is responsible for supplying all needed information for the Speaker Management Web site. The login will require the e-mail address used in submitting the original session abstract. If you do not have this information or require assistance, please contact us at acnmmeeting@courtesyassoc.com.Please use the checklist below to ensure that you have not missed any important steps in preparing for your presentation at the ACNM 56th Annual Meeting & Exposition. Most items listed below can be completed using the Speaker Management Web site.
1. Complete the speaker agreement
2. Complete conflict of interest and financial disclosure forms
3. Update session information: summary description, objectives, add co-presenters, bios, etc
4. Complete honorarium paperwork, if appropriate
5. Register for the meeting
6. Complete travel and hotel arrangements
7. Prepare your presentation.
8. Submit your final presentation
9. Create a back up for your presentation.
At the Meeting
10. ON-SITE: Check in at registration AND the speaker-ready room
11. Give your presentation.
1. Complete the Speaker Agreement
The Speaker Agreement is your formal confirmation to ACNM that your session will be presented at the 55th Annual Meeting and Exposition. In completing the agreement, you acknowledge that as the primary/submitting author you assume responsibility for decisions related to the session and communication to and from co-presenters.
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2. Complete Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Forms
The American College of Nurse-Midwives is a provider and approver of continuing professional education for certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives. We are required to obtain full disclosure from all individuals in a position to influence the content of a certified activity, within the past 12 months. This includes financial relationships of a spouse/partner.
For more information on ACNM's Policy on Identification and Resolution of Conflicts of Interest, please click here [pdf].
For more information on ACNM's Policy on Attendance by Commercial Supporters, please click here [pdf].
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3. Update Session Information
Session information updated in this section of the speaker management tool will be used for all promotional and on-site materials, including the final program. Please be sure to update session overviews, add co-presenters and their professional designations/certifications, modify objectives and add biographical information. This is the information that will be used by meeting organizers to introduce your session.
The meeting organizers may edit session descriptions for grammar or stylistic reasons, but content and substance edits will not be made. Please be sure that your materials are proofed prior to your upload.
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4. Complete Honorarium Paperwork, if appropriate
Please review your particular workshops or educational session to determine honorarium offerings. It is the responsibility of the primary/submitting author to discuss these offerings with co-presenters, if appropriate, and to determine how to best utilize/share the offerings. In general, most presenters have an option of a cash payment (only one person will receive the check) and/or some level of complementary registration or housing. If the primary/submitting author designates a co-presenter for registration honorarium, that co-presenter will receive an email with information on how to register.
You will also have the option to donate your honorarium back to the organization, or use it to sponsor a student.
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5. Register for the Meeting
All presenters must register for the meeting. If you are the sole presenter for your session, and you select a registration option as one of your honorarium offerings, you will be automatically directed to a registration page pre-loaded with the appropriate discounted rate. If you do not opt to receive a discounted registration as part of your offering you will be expected to complete a standard registration. If co-presenters are eligible, you will be asked to submit contact information for that person and he or she will receive an email with specific registration instructions. All other co-presenters should register independently.
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6. Book Your Travel and Make Your Hotel Reservations
Book early to receive the best rates on travel and to ensure a room at the conference hotel. A block of rooms has been reserved for ACNM Annual Meeting participants at the Marriott Rivercenter and Riverwalk hotels at a special conference rate.
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7. Prepare your Presentation
Acceptable formats for Presentations: Since education sessions will be projected electronically, we encourage you to use Microsoft PowerPoint. Below are tips to apply when creating your PowerPoint slides. These guidelines will result in easy-to-read, attractive, and valuable presentations!
General Guidelines
- Keep it short and simple
- Cover only one main idea per slide
- Use large type (Sans Serif, for example, Arial)
- Do not use all capital letters
- Use eight words or less per line
- Simplify charts
- Label graphs clearly
- Round numbers
- Reduce the number of captions
- PowerPoint slides should serve as an overview of your presentation content, so limit the text to bullet points that support what you are saying.
- Create an outline what of what you want to say before beginning.
- If not using a pre-programmed template, use a dark background with light text.
- Create a title slide that contains the title of your presentation and your name, title, and affiliation.
- Type should be sized in 30 to 36 point for headings and at least 24 point for body copy
- Use five or fewer words for each title.
- Use 20 or fewer words per slide.
- Double space between bullet points.
- Do not use all capital letters.
- Be aware of copyright laws.
- Use one main idea per visual.
- Charts, graphs, and diagrams should be as simple as possible for ease of viewing and comprehension.
- Make sure visuals are in the proper sequence. If you need to refer to the same slide at different points in the presentation, make a duplicate slide.
- Practice your narration and anticipate questions that may arise.
- Only use a pointer when you need to emphasize a point; avoid swinging laser pointers at the audience.
8. Submit your final presentation
ACNM requests that all presenters prepare PowerPoint slides for their visual presentations. Please be sure to grant permission for recording your session, if appropriate. You do not need to submit a hard copy of your slides and you do not need to bring a computer onsite, as all presentations will be pre-loaded onto the meeting computers.
You must upload a copy of your presentation directly onto the Speaker Management Website so that your presentation can be accurately loaded onto the computer in your presentation room. Please do not bring your presentation for uploading at the time of your presentation as it may waste valuable presentation time.
If you need to make changes to your presentation after you have submitted it to the Speaker Management Website, you may do so directly on the Speaker Management Website.
Late changes to your presentation can be made onsite ONLY in the Speaker Ready Room prior to the start of your session.
Workshop Presenters ONLY: We will contact you directly about print materials that may need to be duplicated for your courses, or other publications and special requests.
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9. Create a Backup Copy of Your Presentation
We recommend you bring at least two copies of your presentation on a memory stick to the meeting in case there is a problem with the uploaded presentation.
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10. ON-SITE: You Must Check in at both the Conference Registration Desk AND Speaker Ready Room.
When you arrive at the hotel, please check in promptly at the Conference Registration Desk located in the Marriott Foyer to receive your materials.
You must check in at the Speaker Ready Room At least three (3) hours prior to your session to ensure that your presentation is complete and no additional information is required. If you have made any changes to your presentation you can upload your revised presentation onto the conference computer in the speaker ready room. This will ensure that the correct presentation is ready for you when you are slated to speak!
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11. Give Your Presentation
In order to maximize the success of the presentations, we are offering this guide as a reference to ensure the readability and effective organization of your talk.
- Prepare your presentation in advance so that your ideas are logically organized and your points clear.
- Give an opening statement to acquaint the audience with the nature and purpose of your presentation. Speak slowly and clearly. Word choice should be simple: use active words and short sentences.
- Speak clearly into the microphone and toward the audience. If using the microphone clipped to your lapel, it is difficult for the audience to hear if you turn your head away from the microphone. If you need to see what is on the screen, have copies at the podium.
- Be considerate of other speakers and the audience by staying within your allotted time. The time allotted for your presentation includes 5 minutes for discussion and change-over to the next speaker.
- Take time to rehearse your presentation. If your presentation runs longer than the allotted time, eliminate the least essential material and rehearse again.
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Again, we are delighted that you are taking time out of your busy schedule to present at the ACNM 56th Annual Meeting & Exposition! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at ACNMmeeting@courtesyassoc.com or 202-973-8667.
