Information Sheet For New NCTE Standing Committee Members – Appendix K

The letter of invitation to serve on an NCTE Standing Committee described the basic function of your standing committee and outlined some of your responsibilities.  This page provides more information on membership.
 
Standing Committees deal with some enduring and substantial concern or problem within the profession—research, censorship, teacher preparation, etc.  Standing Committees, like commissions, are continuing groups with members appointed by the Standing Committee Chair. 
 
Responsibilities of Standing Committee Members
Standing Committee members are required to attend the convention meetings during their three-year terms and are also urged to attend the convention meeting immediately preceding their terms. Because Standing Committee service is valued as a major Council role, members must resign from NCTE activities or decline invitations that involve conflicting obligations (e.g., membership on regular committees).  Standing Committee members are expected to respond to correspondence from the Chair, who will gather ideas from committee members and follow through with projects. Finally, under the direction of the Chair—each Standing Committee has one annually recurring project— develop two concurrent convention program sessions that deal with the committee’s area of concern?
 
Executive Committee and Staff Liaisons
Every NCTE Standing Committee and Commission has an Executive Committee Liaison and a Headquarters Staff Liaison. The Executive Committee Liaison helps to bring the group’s points of view to the Executive Committee upon request, and interprets Executive Committee actions to the Standing Committee.  The Staff Liaison monitors substantive aspects of commission work but is predominantly responsible for helping with logistics and providing information.
 
The underlying theme of the above paragraphs is the importance of Standing Committees to the Council.  In each Standing Committee, expert scholars, researchers, and teachers provide direction for the Council’s activities with regard to a major concern or problem in English Instruction.  Within this broad common goal, various kinds of differences exist within Standing Committees.  There is often a wide diversity of viewpoints.  As a consequence, the leadership and membership of a Standing Committee at a given time might emphasize a different aspect of the group’s functions.  But diversity of viewpoint and differences in working style are not incompatible with the smooth and efficient functions of Standing Committees.   Historically, the Council’s strength has been derived from the fact that it is a forum for exploring diverse ideas and taking actions on the collective insights of leaders in the profession.  As a Standing committee member, you are now a more vital part of that forum.
 
If you have any questions, contact your Standing Committee Chair, Executive Committee or staff liaison officer listed at the bottom of your invitation letter.