Proposal Deadline Reminder

Dear Colleague,

I wanted to remind you that now there are two days before the close of applications for our annual ISA convention in New York City. If you wish to participate, either by submitting a paper or panel proposal, you will need to do so no later than May 30th. We expect a huge number of applications and somewhat limited space, and therefore, we will not be able to accept applications after the deadline.

Please note as well that we have migrated to a new software system that will ultimately make it far easier than before for members to do a number of tasks, including updating their own information, applying for conferences and travel support and myriad other functions.  However, we are in transition, and you may find the new system....well, new. For example, you will need to either create a  "MyISA" account before applying to the program, or use the one you have created (over 2,000 of you have already created one over the last few weeks). This is critical to the system because it guarantees that we will have the most updated and accurate way of contacting you. In the past, people have actually made mistakes in entering their e-mail addresses or other information and we were unable to communicate with them after they submitted proposals.

Then, you will be able to submit either a paper or panel proposal. However, you will have to follow requirements. For example, if you are submitting a panel proposal, it will not allow you to enter TBA for an author or a discussant. This isn't a software issue. You were never allowed to do so previously, but we had no way of preventing it, and had to send it back to you later for another round. This time, it happens a bit better.

We recognize as well that the system, being used for the first time, may have hidden flaws. Therefore we are constantly monitoring both it and your e-mails and responding to those who need assistance, and making changes to the software when necessary. To date we have had roughly 200 panel proposals submitted, and only a small handful of requests for help, so we are crossing our fingers and believing that it is working well. Please have patience with us as you go through the new system; please ask for help when you need it; and please send us suggestions when you think they would help.

In any case, you can go to: http://www.isanet.org/newyork2009/ to look at the call for proposals, or to submit a proposal to the conference. And I urge you again to remember that the deadline expires on May 30th.

Thanks for your time and attention, and I hope you have a good summer.

With best regards,

Tom Volgy