Sponsoring An Observer

IFIP21
WG2.1 has an _observer_ category of participant, among
others. An observer is typically a researcher of at least postdoctoral
status, whose work is of interest to the group; the intention is that
they might subsequently be invited to become a member. Each observer
has a member of the Group as a sponsor; the sponsor's responsibilities
are set out in the following message, sent on the observer's
invitation.

<blockquote>
Dear _MEMBER_,

Following your proposal, _OBSERVER_ has been invited as
observer for the next WG2.1 meeting in _PLACE and DATES_.
Are you prepared to act as their sponsor?

The Group's convention is that sponsoring members should make sure that
new (and indeed old) observers understand what is expected of them in
a Working Group meeting.  In particular, new observers should be aware
of the fact that observers are supposed to participate, that the
typical style of conference presentation is not appropriate, that the
topic of their proposed presentation should be within the scope of the
Working Group, and that the Group has a peculiar scheduling procedure
for presentations.
This information is contained in the information package observers
receive with the invitation, and can also be found 
[[http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/work/jeremy.gibbons/wg21/wg21-scheduling-procedure.html][on the web site]]. 

We expect sponsoring members to verify that the observers sponsored by
them are aware of these conventions, and to give them any further
information, advice or guidance that they may be able to use to their
(and our) advantage.  We want to attract the best people in the field,
in the expectation that they can contribute to the focus activities of
the Group; this requires that they have the right understanding of
what is considered a valuable contribution, and what is not.

It is appropriate and desirable that the sponsoring member actively
engages with the observer to achieve this goal. This might involve the
sponsor shepherding the observer's preparation before a meeting,
especially concerning the appropriate choice of topic and manner of
presentation, and corresponding constructive feedback during the
course of the meeting.

_SIGNED_

</blockquote>





-- Main.JeremyGibbons - 05 May 2010