Let my start by saying that I've really been enjoying your posts. I'm really quite sad that I couldn't make it to caller school or convention, but your posts have almost made it feel like being there... especially your insights from caller school.
As for the question of holding convention on Easter Weekend, what's done is done for 2009, but that doesn't make it any less of a mistake. That was a decision that was made probably even before I started dancing, but if anyone asked me I would advocate that the IAGSDC make it a requirement that convention be either July 4th or Memorial Day, preferably the former. For two reasons... the most practical is that it puts it out of sync with the other conventions... DC will be nine months after Cleveland and 15 months before Chicago. There are logistical reasons why that is a problem.
The second is that it may have the effect of excluding some people who are religiously observant. Some people might think that is a good thing, but I'm not even religiously observant myself and I find it a bit inconsiderate. Statements like, "For every person who can't make it, I'm sure there's someone who can," don't really seem very inclusive. Can we afford not to try to be as inclusive as possible.
I know that big holiday weekends can make the siting of the event more difficult and might lead to some compromises in location, but there are always alternative locations -- like Santa Clara. And that might also be a way in future of avoiding $200 hotel nights. Not everyone in our community makes a six-figure salary.
I'm sure that DC is going to be a wonderful event and everyone will enjoy visiting our nation's capitol, in spite of the date. I really appreciate the hard work of volunteers that goes in putting on an event like that.
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Date: 2007-05-26 03:16 pm (UTC)As for the question of holding convention on Easter Weekend, what's done is done for 2009, but that doesn't make it any less of a mistake. That was a decision that was made probably even before I started dancing, but if anyone asked me I would advocate that the IAGSDC make it a requirement that convention be either July 4th or Memorial Day, preferably the former. For two reasons... the most practical is that it puts it out of sync with the other conventions... DC will be nine months after Cleveland and 15 months before Chicago. There are logistical reasons why that is a problem.
The second is that it may have the effect of excluding some people who are religiously observant. Some people might think that is a good thing, but I'm not even religiously observant myself and I find it a bit inconsiderate. Statements like, "For every person who can't make it, I'm sure there's someone who can," don't really seem very inclusive. Can we afford not to try to be as inclusive as possible.
I know that big holiday weekends can make the siting of the event more difficult and might lead to some compromises in location, but there are always alternative locations -- like Santa Clara. And that might also be a way in future of avoiding $200 hotel nights. Not everyone in our community makes a six-figure salary.
I'm sure that DC is going to be a wonderful event and everyone will enjoy visiting our nation's capitol, in spite of the date. I really appreciate the hard work of volunteers that goes in putting on an event like that.