FAQs Proposals

November 1, 2022.

GA members represent 16 stakeholder groups and are interested in every aspect of damage prevention, including:

• Locating issues and locator outreach
• RP1162 adherence/rewrite
• DIRT data collection and topics of annual report
• Hydroexcavation and other trenchless technologies
• Cross bores
• Virtual training
• CGA Best Practices
• Enforcement, exemptions and other safe digging law impacts
• Marketing and education
• Damage Prevention/Public Awareness Outreach
• Future of damage prevention
• Excavation issues and excavator outreach
• One call center operations, ticketing and technologies

The following information is required in order to submit a presentation proposal for consideration:

• Title of Presentation
• *Speaker/Presenter Information
• Presentation Description L
• earning Objectives
• Interactive Components
• Solutions
• Length of Presentation
• Track/Topic/Audience
• *Speaker Information Required: Name, Agency/Organization, Title, Email and 50-word bio

Well-developed learning outcomes are participant-oriented, observable, and measurable. Describe the skills, knowledge, and/or learning outcomes participants will be able to demonstrate as a result of this activity. (For example: At the culmination of this session, participants will be able to…) You should describe your learning outcomes using action verbs.

2022 CGA Conference & Expo attendees are seeking a collaborative, interactive experience. In the “Interactive Components” section, please describe how you plan to engage attendees in discussion, via live polling, live data pulls, situational modeling or other strategies.

There are three tracks that align with the CGA’s Strategic Plan:

• Education
• Information & Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Other

Presentations may only fall under one track each. Please select the track that best categorizes your presentation.

The audiences should indicate for whom the material is best suited.

When submitting a presentation, select one (1) primary audience for whom the material is best suited. Multiple secondary audiences can be selected if the presentation is applicable across many different job functions.

If your presentation covers multiple topics in detail, you may select all that apply.

You will have the ability to change, edit, or withdraw your presentation proposal until the deadline. If you are missing a required piece of information, you can save your work and log back in later to finish prior to the submission deadline. Please note: all proposals must be complete in order to be considered. Any proposals left “Incomplete” will not be considered.

All information should be created and saved as a word processing document (such as Microsoft Word) prior to beginning the online submission process. Information can then be pasted into the appropriate fields on the web. Click the ‘Save’ button at the bottom of each step to ensure the information is not lost. The speaker step saves automatically as you add speakers.

Online submission of proposals is required. Email submissions will not be accepted or reviewed.

Once you have finalized your submission, an email confirmation will be sent to you confirming receipt of the presentation proposal. Before you submit your proposal, please make sure all steps have been completed, including the last step of checking the box to finalize your presentation proposal.

All presentations are peer-reviewed by the CGA Conference & Expo Advisory Committee. Reviewers will consider the following:

• Does the topic address a contemporary law enforcement issue?
• Can the presented information apply to different-sized agencies and a diverse audience?
• Is the topic unique and information not available through other sources?
• Is the course description clear and concise? Can attendees easily tell what to expect by reading it?
• Are the learning objectives clear and can be met in the allotted time?
• Does the presentation support CGA’s high standards and reputation for the best conference sessions?
• Are the proposed speakers qualified to instruct the topic?
• If the presentation is focused on a specific audience, is there a proposed speaker from that audience? For example, is an attorney speaking in a Legal Officers workshop or a law enforcement officer speaking at an executive level session? The audience wants to learn from its peers and gain first-hand knowledge from those who have experienced the material or information presented.

Peer reviewers are assigned based upon track selection. Reviewers evaluate the submissions based upon quality and criteria noted above. Top recommendations will then be evaluated by CGA leadership to ensure the entire educational program is well-balanced. All submitters will be notified via email whether their presentation has been accepted or declined by December 2021.

Educational programming will be conducted Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 7 during the 2022 CGA Conference & Expo. Sessions begin as early as 9:45 a.m. and run throughout the day, ending as late as 4:45 p.m.
Submission of a proposal is a commitment that the speakers will be available to speak on any conference day and time as assigned by CGA staff. The CGA has limited options to accommodate speaker conflicts.

No, CGA does not allow the promotion of products and services during educational sessions. Speakers can talk about products and services that have been used to solve a problem or address the presentation topic. Whenever possible presenters should suggest alternative products and services as well. Solutions Presentation Theater workshops are available for the promotion of products and services in the Exposition Hall Sunday-Tuesday for current exhibiting companies.

Sessions are either 45 or 60 minutes long. In the Call for Proposals you must select the length of your presentation. This is purely for planning purposes and the CGA will assign session durations.

The submitter will receive notification October 2022.

CGA does not pay speakers or reimburse for travel or hotel expenses.

All session rooms will be set theater style to maximize seating. There may be a few rooms with limited classroom seating in the front of the room. A podium and head table for six (6) is standard in each room for presenters. Additionally, the following AV equipment will be set in each room:

• (1) computer at the podium
• Audio connection from computer (to play DVD/video)
• (1) wireless presentation mouse
• (1) podium microphone
• (1) table-top microphone for panelists
• (1) wired audience microphone with stand for Q&A
• (1) screen
• (1) LCD projector

Any additional requests will be considered at the discretion of the Conference Program Manager and the availability of such resources.

CGA members invest a considerable amount of time and expense to attend the conference. For these reasons, CGA works hard to ensure each and every event at the conference realizes its full potential. Our members expect:

• Presenters will prepare for their event prior to arrival.
• Presenters have a significant knowledge and expertise of the subject area and have sufficient presentation skills to effectively communicate.
• Presenters will engage the audience. The greatest success you can have is to inspire your audience, so they come out of the presentation buzzing with thoughts and ideas.
• Presenters will not engage in commercial presentations of their organization.
• Presenters will be conscious of the time limitation of their presentation.
• Presenters will not simply read directly from written statements.
• Presenters understand that materials provided for an CGA event become the property of the CGA Conference & Expo, for use in other educational activities of the association.