The Society provides funds for program enhancement as an incentive to attract speakers for the Annual Meeting, thereby improving meeting content and attendance.  PEFs are used to enhance the educational content of the Annual Meeting program and have certain restrictions on their use, as detailed below. 
 

PEFs are classified as honoraria and in most cases will not meet the total expenses of the recipient.  Annual Meeting registration fees are automatically deducted from the PEFs. The remaining funds may be used for travel, lodging, and other expenses.

Once PEF funds have been completely allocated, sections have the option to utilize their ESA budgeted funds to support or enhance a particular symposium if they so desire.  However, the rules on eligibility for PEF funds must apply. 

Eligibility

·         PEFs may not be disbursed to any ESA member residing in North America except for current or former ESA members who are invited symposia speakers at the Annual Meeting, who are emeritus status or retired, and do not have outside funding to cover travel to the Annual Meeting. Emeritus status refers to those who are not deriving income from entomological-related consulting or similar types of employment.

·         Qualified ESA members are eligible for PEF funds only once during any 3-year period. 

·         PEFs may be used to attract scientists from other disciplines and may be used for non-ESA members, either North Americans or internationals, who are not entomologists and who would not otherwise participate in the Annual Meeting.

·         Non-ESA members devoting more than 50% of their research, teaching, extension, or administrative time to entomological topics would normally be expected to be ESA members, and therefore, cannot be eligible for PEFs. 

Requesting and Determining Distribution of PEF Funds

• All requests for PEF funds must be conveyed to Program Co-Chairs through the Convex system. 
• The Program Co-Chairs will determine the distribution of PEF funds and will notify the Symposia Organizers of their decisions.
• Symposia organizers will notify the recipients.
• All decisions by the Program Co-Chairs are final.

Final Distribution of Funds

• Prior to the Annual Meeting, PEF Authorization Forms will be forwarded to Symposia Organizers by the Program Co-Chairs.
• An Authorization Form must be completed by each recipient, signed by the Symposia Organizer and returned to one of the Program Co-chairs before the close of the Annual Meeting.  All receipts must be attached by the recipient.
• Program Co-chairs must co-sign each Authorization Form and return it to the ESA office within two weeks after the Annual Meeting.
• The ESA office will issue and mail checks to the recipients.
   

Updated January 8, 2010