Newcomers' Orientation Committee (March 2010)

Chair: Paul M. Puccio, Bloomfield College

April 2008 Update:
The Newcomers’ Orientation Committee is happy to provide events and resources to welcome new CCCC attendees and members. At the 2008 convention, these include: an orientation on Wednesday at 5:15 PM, at which “still-comers” will help newcomers navigate the program and locate resources relevant to their interests; a breakfast on Thursday morning, when CCCC officers will join us in welcoming our newest colleagues to the convention; a Welcome Station, where long-time CCCC members will be available to meet and greet newcomers, and to help them with practical concerns about the convention as well as broader professional concerns; and a think-tank on Saturday morning, at which newcomers will have an opportunity to develop ideas for papers and sessions for CCCC 2009, and to meet other newcomers, as well as established scholars with similar interests. Members of the Committee (identified with special ribbons) will also be circulating throughout the four days of the convention, eager to meet and offer support to newcomers.

Committee Charge:
This committee is charged with the following:

To guide members through the workings of the organization and help them derive the best of CCCC conference for their interests, through the Newcomers Welcome, the introductory sessions, the Mentoring Booth, and the like.
To coordinate conference mentoring activities, assess them, and propose activities for the next conference (this would include identifying people to carry out activities, such as reception, publishing panels, events for first-time attendees, etc.).
To develop welcoming activities for PEP participants especially.
To continue to assess the effect of committee efforts and to work with CCCC program chairs to design new efforts as needed.