Today's Russian Lesson

[azriona]

First, I shall say that the Harry Potter conference was the most amazing experience ever. I want to go again, preferably tomorrow. As that isn't exactly an option, I'll have to wait around for my next chance

Comments

[sheryll]

No, tomorrow isn't an option for the next HP conference. However, those of us at Convention Alley are seriously considering doing it again. You up for another round? :-)

[azriona]

I am so there.

Assuming I'm not still here, anyway!

[sheryll]

We're talking 2 years from now at the earliest. How long are you going to be over there?

[azriona]

Two years, about. But then it's on to the next location, prolly, and no idea where that will be.

But if it's two years away - won't it be up against the Las Vegas convention? I thought that was scheduled for summer 2006.

[sheryll]

Hopefully the next location will be close enough for you to make it.

We'll definitely take other event dates into consideration and not plan something at the same time as another HP conference. We like the folks at Lumos (am a volunteer for that one) and don't want to take away from their event.

Since we operate outside the Board that oversaw Nimbus and it's subsequent events, we don't have any restrictions on when we can hold an event. We do want to be considerate enough to make sure we don't hold things too close to the HPEF events, but at the same time, we'll wait forever if we wait for a year that doesn't have another event.

[azriona]

...we'll wait forever if we wait for a year that doesn't have another event.

True. And goodness knows, there's half a dozen Sci-Fi and Star Trek events that take place in a single year, and they don't worry so much about competition.

But I've been thinking about those ppl who critized because CA was not meant for kids, specifically - what if there was a convention, or at least a day, that at least had a bunch of activities aimed at a younger crowd? Like, it would have the academic side for the adults, but enough kid-related activities to make it worthwhile as a more family type destination? Something like that could go up against a Nimbus (which is meant for adults only, or at least above 18) and not worry about competition, because it's aimed at different audiences.

[sheryll]

I like the idea of having something for kids. Our biggest problem with it is that any volunteer who works around children is subject to a police check. This isn't a huge problem or expense if the volunteers are Canadian residents, though the cost does add up if you have a large number of volunteers. It does present a large problem if the volunteers are not Canadian. And it also means we can't use last minute volunteers in those positions.

That said, it's definitely worth considering for next time. Perhaps there's some way to expand the Games Room into something that's got more childen's activities.

One of the other reasons it was initially ruled out is that we had originally considered holding the whole event at the Congress Centre (ruled out by cost factor). They don't generally approve children's events, as the noise factor can be disruptive to other events in the building. If we stick with the university, it's more of a possibility.

Hmmm.... lots of food for thought there. Thanks!

[azriona]

A police check makes some degree of sense, though. I wonder how you would do police checks on Americans, though - would you do that through the embassy, or maybe through an American police department? And if it's not terribly expensive, maybe make it something the volunteer has to provide in order to be allowed to work with the kids.

I kind of like the idea, now. Wish I were closer, so that I could help!

[sheryll]

I'm honestly not sure exactly who we would have to go through to do police checks on non-Canadian citizens. Definitely worth looking into to find out how feasible it is.

You don't have to be close to give us ideas and help with brainstorming. Of the core planning committee for Convention Alley, I'm the only one in Ottawa. The rest were scattered everywhere from the opposite coast of Canada, to Texas, California and Norway. We had lots of local volunteers, but no one else handy on the planning committee.

I was surprised to find how easy it is to do most things online. All my previous experience was with local festivals and events and involved tedious face-to-face meetings where people tried to talk over everyone else and less got accomplished than in online meetings.