ABANA Conference Division Report - Jan. 3, 2008
The Conference Division is hard at work on plans for ABANA's 2010 Conference. Thanks to all of you who have contacted the ABANA Board directly or responded to our on-line survey. Your input is the guiding force behind the planning of the 2010 ABANA Conference.
An overwhelming majority of ABANA members have asked us to make the conference more affordable (by reducing both the price of admission and the costs associated with attending the conference.) The conference committee has the following plans to achieve this objective:
1) LOCATION: The 2010 Conference committee is now researching more affordable, non-university locations to host the 2010 conference.
2) LODGING: We are working to find a location, which will allow on-site camping. We will also provide motel directions and will try to procure group discount rates for those wishing to stay in local motels.
3) FOOD: We plan to contract with on-site food vendors who will sell meals and snacks on-site. Conference attendees will be able to purchase what they want, when they want it from the vendors. People will also have the option of providing their own food or eating off-site at local restaurants.
4) TRAVEL: Sites under consideration are near a major airport and are centrally located, accessible by interstate, thus making travel to and from the conference easier and more affordable.
5) DEMONSTRATORS: More is not necessarily better! Past conferences have featured an overwhelming number of demonstrations going on at the same time. In 2010 we plan to reduce the number of demonstrators. Don't worry, we will still offer a diverse roster of top quality domestic and international demonstrators and multiple demonstrations to choose from throughout the day.
6) EXTRAS: We will eliminate extras such as tote bags, bumper stickers and lapel pins as part of the registration package. T-shirts and souvenirs will be available for purchase. Also, ABANA will not provide any hula dancers. (You'll have to do that on your own!)
At the request of the ABANA membership, we also plan to provide open forges, teaching stations and professional development lectures at the 2010 conference.
Attending the national conference is one of the great benefits of ABANA membership. Our goal is to host a 2010 conference, which will be exciting, educational and AFFORDABLE for our membership! Your input and assistance is always welcome.
4 comments:
When you have the auction please don't let Tim (last name? - one time ABANA board member) be auctioneer. He just takes TOO long with his comedy approach. Either keep it moving or you will lose potential bidders.
What is the procedure for volunteering to be a worker/gofer?
Glad you asked about volunteering. The best thing to do now is to contact Lance Davis
423-913-1015 lance-at-bentoaks-dot-org
or David Hutchison
410-310-3347
farmanvil-at-yahoo-dot-com
the ABANA Board members who are organizing the conference.
As far as the auctioneer is concerned, I'm sure that many people appreciate Tim's performance. I don't think the committee has picked an auctioneer. But the auctioneer -- whoever he is -- will need to spend some time explaining the work so that bidders can appreciate it. We hope to have the auction open to many around Memphis who are art patrons. We blacksmith's are so tight we squeak!
I hope the auction has good lighting and a clear sound system. At the Seattle conference, I could neither see the item clearly nor understand the current bid amount. Comedy is OK. It's all good fun for a good cause.
The Auction will be in the inside amphitheater seats 825 with sound and lighting. Thanks for your interest in the 2010 conference. Lance
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