Initial Publication Date: February 25, 2025

Committee Guidelines

Jump down to: Chair responsibilities | Committee members | Annual timeline

This page documents the guidelines for running an NAGT committee. In many cases, committees will have specific guidelines that apply to them as set out in the NAGT constitution and bylaws, their charge, or processes they interact with (e.g. awards, nomination).

Key Resources

Chair Responsibilities

Specific chair responsibilities are often set in the charge and tasks for the committee. In general, committee chairs are expected to:

  • Convene regular meetings of the committee membership
  • Ensure the committee has an adequate number of members
  • Onboard new members of the committee and train incoming chairs on their responsibilities
  • Report to the NAGT Council annually on committee activities
  • Maintain committee webpages (if applicable)

Committee Members

Adding Members

Individuals interested in joining a committee can self-nominate or be nominated by someone else using the committee position nomination form. The Executive Director's office will notify a committee chair when a nomination for their committee has been received.

The committee chair leads a discussion and vote of the committee to determine whether the nominee is approved to join the committee. The committee chair should inform the Executive Director of the committee's decision and the desired term or position, if appropriate. If approved, the nomination will be discussed and voted on by the Executive Committee. The Executive Director will inform the committee chair of the Executive Committee's decision. If approved, the committee chair is responsible for notifying and onboarding the new member to the committee.


If a nomination is declined, it is the responsibility of the committee chair to communicate with the nominee or nominator.

Committee members should maintain active NAGT membership in good standing.

Term Limits

Committees defined in the NAGT constitution and bylaws typically have special instructions for membership and term limits. Those committees are the Christman Award, Miner Award, OEST Award, Nominating, Shea Award, Investment, and Professional Development Planning committees.

All other committees have term limits defined when they are established by the Executive Committee. If no specific term limit is defined, the default is three years. Generally, terms will start and end in conjunction with the NAGT annual business meeting in September or October.

The President, 1st Vice President, and 2nd Vice President are all ex officio members of all committees.

Annual Timeline

In most cases, the annual timeline for a committee will depend on their charge and tasks. Committees can also refer to the NAGT meeting schedule for an overview of leadership meetings for the year. Awards committees should follow timelines determined by their awards cycle. Important dates and times committees should keep in mind:

  • September
    • September 1 - start of the new NAGT fiscal year
    • Last Friday of September - virtual awards ceremony
    • Committee Chairs meeting
    • Annual reports due
  • October
    • NAGT annual business meeting
    • Officer and committee member transitions
  • January
    • January 1 - new membership year begins
    • Professional development planning committee meeting
  • February
    • Awards committees chairs meeting
  • August
    • Professional development planning committee meeting
    • August 31 - end of fiscal year