Guidelines for Host Country
Choice of Country:
- Representatives from at least three countries may have the opportunity to host the SIGNIS Asia Assembly.
- From the three offers the officers of SIGNIS Asia Board will make the final decision on who will host the SIGNIS Asia Assembly.
Flights and Local Transportation in Host Country:
- Countries wishing to host the SIGNIS Asia Assembly (SAA) must have regular international flights and easy access to airports and city.
Entry Visa for Delegates and Participants:
- Visas to enter the country should be easily available.
- An invitation letter by email and postal mail should be sent to the delegates/participants needing entry visa to enter the territory of the host country 3 months before the scheduled SAA Assembly. For formality sake, the invitation letter should state that the host country will pay all the expenses of the delegate/participant during his/her stay in the host country.
- There might be cases where the invitation letter is not substantial. In such case and additional legal documents like company registration or income tax may be required for visa application. These should be readily available as supporting documents for the delegate/participant upon request.
- In extreme cases when a supporting documents is needed to meet the deadline of visa application, the host country must send the document by a courier company e.g. DHL. Such expenses will be borne by the delegate/participant requesting the documents.
Coordinator:
- A local SAA coordinator/chairperson must be appointed by the host country, to liaise with officers of the SIGNIS Asia Board. This person must have a fair knowledge of management with an understanding of SIGNIS orientation.
- To provide support staff/volunteers to help the various team during the Assembly. (The teams include; Host SAA Website, Welcoming, Entertainment/Culture, Study Days, Business Day, Secretariat, Fundraising, Meals, Hotel, Documentation, Transportation, Mass, Ticketing, City/Country Tour, Local Guest Invitees, Local Media/Press Liaison, SAA publications and Marketing, Exhibition and Shows).
- To brief the local Bishop in charge of Social Communication and local Church authorities about the Assembly. The coordinator is be conscious of NGO’s and other religious and secular Institutions involved in Social Communication in the Country. They should be invited to participate in the Assembly as presenters, observers and guests.
Secretariat:
- Press release should be prepared.
- Schedule of SAA (large sized) should be displayed in the meeting room.
- Nametag (containing name, country, designation and photo if available).
- Printed documents (list of participants and statements) should be distributed to participants.
- 10-minute film on SIGNIS Asia to popularize SIGNIS Asia is to be played, if available.
- Group dynamics (getting to know to each other should be done with a game or exercise).
- A mini exhibition (where productions, booklets and other materials can be showcased by members)
- Specific time and discussions should be allotted for exclusive screening of productions by member countries.
- With audience research, programs granted by Propaganda Fidei can be displayed.
- Daily update to be done via Facebook & Website during the SAA.
Facilities:
- To maintain a full-fledged secretariat during the entire SAA with adequate facilities such as phone, fax, projectors, photocopy, machine, SLR/video cameras, computers/printers with internet connections.
- The seminar centre must be located in a fairly quiet location, equipped for conferences with air-conditioned facilities.
- Hotel/Lodging to accommodate at least 60 participants (single and double occupancy rooms).
- A minimum of two LCD projectors with laptop/DVD players must be provided with an acceptable sound system for presentation and screening.
- A minimum of 4-5 common computers with internet access for delegates/guests to check their emails during break time.
- Where possible the meeting room to be equipped with Wi-Fi for easy internet access for delegates/participants having laptops.
- Happy hour which provides some snacks and drinks shall be held.
Costs:
- Must be able to provide decent board and lodging for US$30 –US$40 per day per delegates/participants.
- May charge a registration fee of not more than USD $50, as a subsidy for seminar kit, local transportation, visits to exposure sites and incidental expenses.
- Subsidies for Host Country amount up to US$ 2,000.
- Host may request for an extra-ordinary study days for SAA (travel and honoraria for resource person/s only) subject to application and approval from SAB/SAA/Brussels from the previous year’s budget.
SA Assembly Duration:
- The SIGNIS Asia Assembly is usually held for 7 days inclusive of arrival and departure dates. (Exceptions apply to those arriving and departing from countries with no daily/direct flight. They might arrive/depart one day early/late.)
- 2-3 study days; 1 excursion day and 1-2 business meeting days. 1 day arrival and departure respectively.
OPTIONAL:- Screening Committee (SC)
The SC is composed of two elected officers plus the SA Secretary. In addition, the Secretary General or President of SIGNIS World joins the SC. The team composed of FOUR officers usually arrive three days before the Assembly to screen project proposals for Asia Region. The Host country should prepare the accommodation of the team and a quiet room to work undisturbed during those three days. All expenses of the SC during the three days is paid by SIGNIS Asia Secretariat. The accommodation of the SIGNIS World representative is paid by Brussels.
All project requests documents (hard copy) submitted to the two SC members, except the original documents submitted to the SIGNIS Asia Secretary MUST be burnt or surrendered after the screening process is complete, in the presence of one SC member and one SIGNIS Asia Board member.
(Note: Updated to Online process)
Gratis for two SIGNIS world representatives at SAA:
- As a sign of hospitality, the Host Country is requested to waive the registration fee, board and lodging expenses of two (2) official representatives from SIGNIS World; namely the President and the Secretary General.
- The President and the Secretary General however, pay their own air-travel expenses to join the assembly as a sign of support and solidarity to SIGNIS Asia.
Documentation: (Video/Photographs/Transcribe):
- The Host country must document by video and still photographs the highlights of the proceedings of the SA Assembly. It is encourage to document from the start of the Study Days to the end of the Business Days (5 days).
- The host country is to document/transcribe the proceedings/lectures of the Study Days. If a native language is used as the medium, the host country is to translate to English.
- The host country is expected to compile and edit the video images, participants data, study days documents, country reports, powerpoint presentations and any other relevant information into one DVD and distribute to the participants after the closing of the SAA.
(Note: online distribution)
Publicity: (Media/Press Liaison)
- In order to raise the profile of SIGNIS in the secular media, the Host Country must arrange a press conference at the opening/daily/closing of the SA Assembly. The officers of SIGNIS World/Asia must be notified at least one day in advance.
- A SIGNIS Asia Assembly online registration blog/website must be created by the host and linked to the SIGNIS Asia website. All important information about the country, airport, maps, tour, assembly program and other announcements should be posted in this separate website and updated promptly.
Eucharistic Celebrations:
- A daily Eucharist celebration (morning) must be arranged whenever possible. Where possible a quiet place (room) for meditation needs to be set up for delegates/participants/guests.
Formalising of Host Country: Host Country must submit the following to the SIGNIS Asia Board/Secretary –
BEFORE hosting the Assembly:
- Formal letter to the SAB accepting to host in their country with the guideline set by the SAB.
- Host chairperson to write a formal letter notifying the local Social Communications Bishop and Local Bishop with a cc to SAB.
- Duly filled Study Day grant form (only if subsidy is requested/ approved from SAB/SAA/Brussels)
Documentation Archive:
Host Country must submit the following to the SIGNIS Asia Board/Secretary –
AFTER hosting the Assembly:
- Applies only if Study Days was conducted in host country: An Audited expense sheet with original receipts and payments – to be submitted within 90 days after the Assembly.
- Video edited master copy of the event of not more than 50 minutes in duration. (Note: Online distribution)
- Still photographs of the entire Assembly, including group photograph to be saved. (Note: Online distribution)
- A complete list of mailing address, email and telephone of delegates/participants/guest/observers. (Note: Online distribution)
Special Note: SIGNIS Asia Assembly can be managed and concluded within three/four days of Business Meeting & Members sharing without Study Days.
The host country is encouraged to find sponsors, benefactors through creative ways to add to the fixed registration & board and lodging fees collected from the delegates/participants.