Whilst you're all thinking about convention planning, I'd like to tell you about another aspect of this year's IOLI organisation.
About 14 months ago, an American member suggested that I should put my name forward as a standby teacher at this convention. A teacher who had been asked for a very specialised subject was known to have serious and ongoing health problems, and it was thought a backup would be a wise thing. I contacted the relevant person and explained what had been suggested to me - she agreed it sounded a good idea to have a backup and forwarded me the forms to fill in. What I received was a six-page questionnaire - easy ones included "are you currently a member of the IOLI?"; "List dates and class subjects if you've been an instructor at previous conventions"; "List, by order of preference, no more than five techniques/mediums in which you teach". Then the forms moved onto questions such as: "Write a biographical statement AND attach a current resume outlining your lace or fiber-related activities"; "Tell us about yourself and your lace-related/textile experience. How many years have you been teaching organised clases (i.e. conventions, conferences, workshops etc., planned by an organised group)? In what lace, needlework or related organisation do you hold membership or have certification?". A slide, lecture or other presentation was required from the tutor to help in the selection process, as well as 2 - 3 photos/slides of current work pertaining to their proposal for promotional purposes. And finally, a paper copy of the proposal description and biographical statement AND the same on disk. Oh! and I forgot! Names of two referees if you have not taught at an IOLI Convention - difficult for a non-American, because anyone who could vouch for my credentials in this field would themselves be unknown to the Keystone Lacers and there would themselves need to be checked out. My conservative estimate of the time it would take for me to fill in the form was probably 3 days - in reality it'd probably take longer - by the time I'd prepared all the necessary submissions. I'm *not* criticising the committee for checking out the credentials of would-be tutors, especially those not known to them, but I am critical of the way it was done. Even tutors at previous IOLI conventions assured me that there has never been such an intensive application form for tutors before, and nearly gave up as a result. At the time, in addition to upheavals in my private life such as my Father's health dramatically deteriorating, I was preparing to teach the same course for another Guild, and I became thoroughly discouraged by the amount of time and effort required just to apply to be a *standby* tutor, so decided not to bother. It felt to me as if the organising committee had a member who was used to finding executive staff for a large million-dollar company, and hadn't been able to adapt to playing a part in what is, after all, a group of amateurs enjoying a hobby. And that last comment is in no way downplaying how large that group may be, how many people attend the IOLI convention, how much organisation the convention takes or how much financial juggling is required to make the convention budget balance. I know just how much work goes into organising these things - I've been involved in similar projects myself. But part of the skill in such organisation is to make everyone feel welcome to take part, in whatever capacity, not to make people feel as if they've got to jump through so many hoops that they give up before even trying. Ruth Budge (Sydney, Australia) http://personals.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Personals New people, new possibilities. FREE for a limited time. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
