Hi Bosco Now that the dust is settling over the Goan Convention held in Toronto, I'd like this opportunity to make some observations please:
1. I was simply unaware that there was so much tension and animosity re local politics, over the Convention that, for my money, was definitely a great success. OK, on hindsight (that is always so easy of course) there were things that were I a convener, I might have done differently such as avoiding parallel events as far as possible, so that, keynote addresses did not clash with workshops and thus reduce numbers at the keynotes. I might also have started the programme with an opening address by the convener on the first early afternoon or just prior to lunch, clearly defining the aims and objectives and intended outcomes for the Convention, some info on the physical layout of the Convention Centre with an emphasis on the location of restrooms etc, that is, after the registration requirements, and informal introductions took place. 2. After each keynote, rather than having questions and answers, I would have preferred the large group to break up into small informal groups, of say ten or so, to discuss the keynote in some depth and summarise a few key points and questions arising for the whole conference group to comment on collectively reasonably soon after. Such collective written info of points, using whatever technology is available, can also help the person writing a full report/evaluation of the entire conference proceedings later on. 3. A simple questionnaire re the event as a whole, at the end of the proceedings would be useful too. I assume there wasn't one. Unfortunately, I had to leave soon after the informative and enjoyable keynote address on Goan music by Francis Rodrigues. 4. Getting local people to attend an international conference is always difficult and perhaps one open free session to attract more local attendance might have been a consideration. The presentations by Wendell and Dean might have suited this purpose rather well especially as they followed each other. 5. In my experience, the best discussions among participants generally take place informally when a bar is open till late and situated within the precinct and geographically at the heart of conference proceedings. I appreciate that, this can be difficult in Canada because of the tight drinking laws, especially in educational institutions. However, this is quite unlike the situation at UK conferences and perhaps the organisers of the next Convention in the UK might bear this and other points above for consideration. However, I am rather wary of the tensions already becoming evident in London over the next Convention that, I for one, would like to see bi-annually rather than annually, not withstanding the pittance provided by the Goa Government to encourage an annual event! 6. I would definitely have liked to have dedicated time for the vexed issue of Goanet moderation by a Convention organised by GNAT. Nevertheless, I am pleased that, you and I were able to have a cordial discussion from the start and to the very end when you made time for a discussion with me on Goanet moderation. I appreciate that, you in particular, as well as Mervyn did try to find such time for this important issue despite the huge demands on you as well as Mervyn on other pressing matters like ferrying VIPs, the tiatro and mando groups to and from the Convention. a) I believe that, you appreciated my and several other people's major concern that, when a post is rejected, a simple reason has to be provided as is indeed provided for within Goanet 'rules' and is within the rubric. b) That the rejection term "inappropriate" is wholly inappropriate and meaningless as it could have a thousand or more interpretations. I noted your concern that a simple explanation for a rejected post could generate a further debate but i) I did not consider this a sufficient reason not to provide a simple reason for a rejection of a post and ii) I stated that, the moderator would normally have the right to curtail any emerging debate following a rejection when a reason was provided initially. In short, I hope I conveyed the view that a rejected post, without the briefest of an explanation, was truly unbecoming of Goanet/GNAT. c) You informed me that there were now several moderators within the general membership and that you yourself have not been at the helm of Goanet moderation since last April. Unfortunately, there was no time to discuss this startling info, when I am sure most of the membership were informed recently, that you, Viviana, Herman and Frederick were those who controlled moderation of posts. This new info from you raises questions about the 'training' if any, of moderators from all and sundry and also as to exactly who moderates the moderators as is normal in all moderating circumstances in my experience of moderation and to my knowledge of such situations. d) I had provided Herman, via Goanet, (copied to you and several others needing to know), when I discovered he was back at the helm, a number of suggestions regarding streamlining Goanet moderation better than it is at present. This included the suggestion that posts could be numbered for the simple reason that a specific rejected post cannot be identified easily when the subject line may run for weeks at a time. I had also indicated that care ought to be taken when a post was declared "inappropriate" when it was indeed already in the archives! These proposals did not appear on Goanet, as intended by me, and draws me to my final point that constructive criticism is valuable to any organisation and that Goanet needs not shy away from such criticism. Indeed, I am heartened that, the particular criticisms of Eugene Correia, who attended the Toronto Convention, did appear on Goanet in their fullness, even though I disagreed with much of Eugene's critique and said so, even if briefly. Oh yes, just one final observation! I was somewhat 'disappointed' that even when Kevin was ever so close to a 'much able and competent' Catholic Monsignor, with clearly a strong direct link to the Almighty, no less, better weather was not in the offing or possible at the otherwise wonderful Convention--deserving much congratulation for the successful outcome of so much hard work by the entire Convention team. Kind regards Cornel PS On this side of the 'pond' we tend not to use the term "convention" and tend to use the traditional term "conference" instead. Understandably, I am sure I have used the terms interchangeably above.
