Examining the Process to Determine the Program for CEC's International Convention As Program Chairperson for CEC's 1988 Annual International Convention, I have had a unique opportunity to become familiar with the process used for determining professional sessions to be included. Most of the problems, suggestions for improvement, ideas, and criticisms related to the process used for selection of papers and other aspects of the annual convention reach the program chairperson. This commentary provides insight into the process and information that could be helpful to planning to submit a proposal in response to the annual Call for Papers. OVERVIEW OF THE PLANNING PROCESS The location of the annual convention is determined 5 years before the convention by the Executive Committee, but the actual work to plan the professional sessions begins about 2 years before the particular convention. The First Vice President is elected during the annual convention and takes office the following July 1st. The First Vice President, among other duties, serves as the Program Chairperson for the convention that will be held in the second year from when he or she was elected. During the convention preceding the convention for which the First Vice President is responsible, he or she meets with the Program Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC varies in size from year to year, but for the 1988 convention it consisted of 40 persons, 28 of whom were assigned a varying number of slots to fill. The PAC members have traditionally included a representative from each of the divisions, usually the president elect (there are currently 14 divisions); from the Office of Special Education Programs responsible for strands, crackerbarrels, and sessions; a representative of the exhibitors; the Student CEC Vice President for Programs; and chairpersons of most of CEC's standing committees. During the summer before the convention, papers submitted in response to the Call for Papers are sent by the Program Chairperson to the PAC members responsible to fill slots. The PAC members determine which papers to select and assign times and days for the presentations. The PAC members are also responsible for notifying the who had submitted the proposals of their acceptance and of the time scheduled. The Program Chairperson approves each of the sessions accepted and communicates this to CEC Headquarters staff who then work on the advance information and the myriad of other details that the staff handles. A rigid time schedule has been established over the years to accomplish the selection of the proposals by a PAC whose members are spread across the United States and Canada. The system depends upon the people on the PAC, the Program Chairperson, and the Headquarters staff doing their jobs and doing them on time. There are many opportunity for breakdowns. Some of the problems we experienced as we worked on the 66th Convention included packets of proposals intended for PAC members were lost/delayed in the mail; some were not notified that their proposals had been accepted on the intended schedule; and there were various deadlines missed which created extra work and concern. PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR THE 1988 CONVENTION The deadline to receive proposals was announced as May 30, 1987, and 997 proposals were received postmarked on or before the deadline. Of these proposals, 54 were returned because they listed presenters already included in a previously received The Call for Papers had clearly stated that persons submitting a proposal involving others should check to be certain that the individuals listed are not also committed to another program Failure to do so may result in delay of program approval or outright rejection of the proposal. Some sent more than one proposal, resulting in the return of all of their proposals other than the first one. …