Advice on conference?

[lexanryan]

How bad does it look to not go to a scheduled conference presentation? I didn't pay the registration fee yet and I don't think (although not too sure) a conference program has been created as of yet.  I listed the conference and paper title on my CV that I sent to grad schools under "future conferences."  Advice? 

Comments

[caernarvon]

Well, have you contacted the chair of the panel to let them know that you won't be attending? No-showing a panel without advanced warning is not a good way to ingratiate yourself within the community of academics.

If you're not going, you're going to have to remove the conference and paper from your CV.

Really, it is somewhat bad form at the very least. You put your paper out for a CFP and it got accepted for the conference, if you can afford to go, then you should

[lexanryan]

Great thoughts.
Just wanted to add to my original message: the Association that was hosting the conference decided to back out completely, and another association/organization decided to take over. I'm not affiliated in any way with this other association and so that is why I want to back out. Any advice?

[caernarvon]

Why would you back out of a conference if it's being held by another association? You don't have to join the association to present a paper (although you may have to pay a little more to attend as a non-member).

If I could afford to go to the conference, the only reason I could see for backing out based off the conference shifting from one organizer to another would be if the new organizer is someone/something you feel that you could not be associated with in any way (eg. Conference shifts from being hosted by "Society for History and Science international" to "Society for the preservation of Adolph Hitler and propogation of Eugenics")

[historychick49]

You don't have to join the association to present a paper

Actually, that depends on the conference (and association). Several CFPs that come through the medieval history listserv I'm on require that you be a member by the time you present (though you don't have to be to send in a paper). But the OP didn't say anything about that, so I'm guessing it may not be the case here.

[tisiphone]

Uh, you really should go. Whether the conference program has been printed or not, you've taken a timeslot someone else could have had, and you've publicized that you're going to be there presenting.

[brittdreams]

You should go. But, if you can't, you should see if someone else can read your paper. I'll be doing this at our national meeting in April because my dear friend can no longer intend (comps). So yea, that should be your backup plan. And, as caernarvon said, if you're going to back out, you need to let the organizers, other presenters in your session, and session chair know ASAP. Or, you know, fulfill your commitments and go.

[rusleeping]

Yes to brittdreams and to caernavron.

First, see if someone else is going who can/will present the paper.

If not, then contact the division head (preferably) or session moderator, and inform that person you must unfortunately withdraw your paper. Then remove it from your CV.

The fact that a different association is taking over the conference is immaterial unless they jacked up the registration price or changed the dates.