Orientation Guidelines

Interest groups provide support for SAEM members sharing a common academic interest. Membership is voluntary, and the chair is elected by the membership of the Interest Group.

Development/Membership/Dues

Any SAEM member may initiate the development of an interest group by sending a letter to the SAEM office. The letter should identify the name and purpose of the interest group, list proposed activities, and include the names of 10 SAEM members who support the development of the interest group.

A minimum of 20 dues-paying members is required to maintain an interest group; however, interest groups will be given up to two years to reach that minimum number. Interest groups are considered "provisional" during this start-up period. Provisional status ends when the group reaches 20 dues paying members. Interest groups may not be in provisional status for more than two years. If twenty members have not joined the interest group by that time, it will be dissolved.

Interest group members must be members of SAEM. SAEM members may join as many interest groups as they wish. Interest group dues are $25 per member per year per interest group. Dues notices for interest groups are sent to the entire SAEM membership with the annual dues mailing; however, members may join an interest group at any time.

All dues revenues are directed to the SAEM general account. Interest groups do not maintain separate accounts. Dues are used for the general administrative support of the interest groups. Requests for funding of interest group projects and activities must be submitted to the Board of Directors through a project proposal form.

Interest Group Objectives

SAEM's mission is to improve emergency care by promoting the development of research and education in emergency medicine. The primary goal of interest groups is the sharing of information and expertise in areas of mutual interest relating to academic emergency medicine.

Unlike committees and task forces which have assigned objectives approved by the Board of Directors, interest groups usually develop their own objective(s). These objectives should advance the Society's mission. The sole objective of an interest group may be to bring like-minded researchers and educators together for a collegial discussion each year at the SAEM Annual Meeting. Interest groups may also wish to develop more ambitious objectives, but are not required to do so. In some circumstances, the President may request that interest groups take on certain objectives, or respond to specific requests in the interest of the Society.

Immediately following the SAEM Annual Meeting, each interest group chair must submit the interest group's objectives for the coming year to the SAEM office for distribution to the Board and the membership through publication in the SAEM Newsletter and web site. While not common, an Interest Group may also submit additional objectives at other times during the year. In particular, objectives which would result in the development of a manuscript or position statement for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or any other "product" must be submitted to the Board well in advance of the initiation of the project.

Proposed objectives that require funding, administrative support, or SAEM endorsement must be approved by the Board of Directors. For such objectives a project proposal form must be submitted and the Board of Directors will provide a written response within 60 days. SAEM prioritizes funding and resources to accomplish committee and task force objectives first, but is also committed to supporting interest group activities. It is expected that Project Proposal Forms will be submitted for projects that the Board has already been made aware of, and initially approved, via the submission of the Interest Group's objectives.

Meetings

Interest groups are expected to convene annual business meetings during the SAEM Annual Meeting. The SAEM Program Committee and the Board of Directors encourage interest groups to convene their meetings at times that will not conflict with educational/research sessions of the Annual Meeting, such as early morning, during lunch time, late afternoon, or evening. Each interest group may schedule up to two hours for their annual business meeting. These meetings may include elections, discussion of proposed objectives, status reports, guest speakers and lectures, or general discussion between the members of the interest group. Content of didactic sessions is at the discretion of the interest group. However, if the interest group wishes to have the these didactic sessions published in the on-site program or the SAEM Newsletter, the interest group agenda and description of the meeting must be submitted to the Board of Directors for review/approval, just as the other components of the Annual Meeting are reviewed and approved. The deadline to submit an agenda/description to the Board is usually around March 15. In accordance with SAEM's policies about commercial sponsorship, these sessions or the speakers may not receive directed sponsorship funding. SAEM does not accept corporate funds or sponsorship for educational sessions or speakers at the SAEM Annual Meeting. SAEM accepts only unrestricted educational grants.

Interest groups may also meet at the ACEP Scientific Assembly, SAEM regional meetings, or other conferences. The SAEM office will assist in the scheduling of meetings upon request.