Guidance for CSVHFS Poster Authors and Tabletop Displays

The 2020 Central States VHF Society, Inc. Conference will provide the opportunity for members of the VHF/UHF/Microwave and Weak Signal Communities to show off topics of interest including:  experimentation, design and construction, testing, etc. via posterboard presentations and tabletop displays.  Posters and table-top displays will be available for viewing all day Friday and Saturday of the event.  Obviously, you do not have to be present when the Posters and Displays are available. But you should expect to answer questions and have discussions regarding your displays.

 SOLICITATION AND TOPICS

Topics similar to those being sought for Proceedings articles and presentations, both technical and non-technical in nature, are being solicited for the Conference's posterboard presentations and tabletop displays.  Sometimes a good topic may not have enough meat for a full presentation or paper but is still of great interest to others. Perhaps your local club had a big operating event that would be of interest to or inspiration for others in the Society. A successful (or not so successful !) Rover operation could pass along useful ideas (and pitfalls) to others.

You might have photos and examples of a recent construction project of yours.  Also, physical items for display as show-and-tell may be included with a poster as a table-top display.  While the room containing posters and table-top displays will be monitored by event staff, CSVHFS, the Conference sponsoring organization, or venue cannot be held responsible for loss or damage.

If you are a good teacher, consider covering some basic, yet important, VHF/UHF topics such as the various modes of VHF/UHF propagation. Many of these VHF/UHF themes can be reviewed (or taught, if you will) via poster sessions or table-top displays. Such displays can then be used again in subsequent years in your own clubs. They also make excellent items to take as a part of a visit to other clubs when explaining weak-signal VHF/UHF to others.

SUGGESTED MATERIALS

Tri-Fold poster boards, such as those used by students for science fair projects, are available at most office supply stores.  The recommended board is “Elmer’s Display Board Plus,” which is 36″ high x 48″ wide. Some stores may not carry Elmer’s but they should carry an equivalent.

Posters will be displayed on table-tops. This permits any show-and-tell to be placed in front of the poster to enhance the presentation. If your poster will not stand by itself on a table, you will need to provide an easel.

LAYOUT

Remember, the poster needs to tell the whole story… usually you won’t be there to explain what’s missing. Try to use a simple “story-telling” format, starting in the upper left corner. Go across and down the tri-fold; or down and then across to the center board. Like-wise on the center board; go across and down or down
and then across to the right-side tri-fold and end up your display in the lower right corner.

Posters will be viewed from a much larger distance than a printed page, so you need to use larger than usual type sizes. Typically, printed pages use 10 pt or 12 pt fonts. For a poster, consider using nothing smaller than 14 pt, or maybe even 16 pt type. Make titles and headings even larger: say 24 pt. Keep titles and headings simple. Pictures, maps, and charts are naturals for Posters. So are physical things that illustrate what your Poster is talking about. The front center (between the “wings” of the Poster) is a natural for placement of such additional items.

KEY SUBMISSION DEADLINE

  • The deadline for NOTIFYING us that you will have a poster at the conference is Monday, July 1, 2020 !

  • BRING YOUR POSTER WITH YOU when you come to the Conference. This gives you additional time to prepare a Poster as opposed to a paper for the Proceedings. (The deadline for Proceedings submissions is TBD, 2020.)

COORDINATOR

  • Donn Baker, WA2VOI
  • email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Snail mail: 3128 Silver Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN 55418-2426