From: "Ruth Budge" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Whilst you're all thinking about convention planning, I'd like to tell you > about another aspect of this year's IOLI organisation.......... > What I received was a six-page questionnaire ->,.......... > 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............ > 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...... I'd like to comment on that. It is my understanding that the reason that we don't see a lot of our familiar favorite teachers is that (a) they didn't have the time to complete the forms, (b) they assumed that having taught at IOLI for decades, it was well known who they were and what they taught, or (c) they were offended by the requirement and threw it in the trash. I don't blame them for any of the above - particularly if they're Honorary Members of IOLI who were given that honor on the basis of their contributions to lacemaking!! This begs the question - did the committee members even know who they were? It would be a matter of curiosity for me to know the credentials of the conference committee members with regard to their experience in IOLI conventions specifically, and their awareness of the needs and wishes of the members of IOLI in general. Given the scrutiny they chose to apply to potential teachers, they surely wouldn't object to publicizing that information, if asked. Having said that (yes, I'm "underwhelmed" by the organization of this year's convention), I again stress that IOLI is about the organization, not the committee that organized this year's event. Whatever we do, we must be careful not to damage the structure of the organization. It seems to me there is still time for the organizers to issue a "mea culpa" and modify some things before the March 1 deadline. But I'm not holding my breath. If the organizers have to shell out huge amounts of money to cover shortfalls in revenue, then they will have the proof that their ideas weren't so hot after all. And I, for one, would be very upset if I knew that IOLI had to be liable for that... If the committee works without the consent or advice of the leadership, they should bear the burden of risk. If loads of young, employed, schedule-challenged lacemakers swarm to Harrisburg, we'll all cheer and embrace them! Either way, I think that organizers of the future will have a clear understanding of the needs and preferences of the members who patronize the conventions. I'm confident that IOLI leadership will make the changes which, as we will learn from this experience, must be made. I'm also confident that other groups who consider hosting IOLI in the future will continue to be open to the suggestions and lessons learned by other groups - as has been the practice for so many years prior to this one. Clay Clay Blackwell Lynchburg, VA - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
