[meteorite-list] Educational presentations at Tucson?

[almitt2 at localnet.com]

Hi Michael

I think your idea has merit but Doug points out some good points. What 
I would suggest if you were able to arrange this, first, I'd have 
presentations and talks more during the evenings after dinner time. 
Second, if you were to have a list of topics that were going to be 
addressed along with a time line, well ahead of the Tucson Show, so 
people could attend areas they were interested in. Maybe post the 
topics a week ahead of time before the show and post them again just 
before and during the show, I think you would get a steady group of 
people that would attend.

Things like this cost money, but a fee to cover and off set costs would 
be fine as long as it wasn't too much or you would loose people. 
Perhaps a fee for each talk people want to attend. You might also offer 
some refreshments for a modest fee to off set the costs. I'd see if you 
couldn't get a hotel to donate a room for the talks. This could be all 
or part of the cost of the meeting room.

I wouldn't appreciate dealers making an info commercial but if they 
gave solid science type of program, then fine. I have organized sizable 
conventions before (over 300 attendees) and it can be a lot of work but 
there is a lot of great scientist that are in the area or attend and I 
am sure that some of them would be glad to offer informative talks for 
the troops during the show. Good luck and hope you are able to succeed! 
Best!

--AL Mitterling
Mitterling Meteorites


Quoting Michael Doran via Meteorite-list
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>:

> In my previous life as a systems librarian at a university, I 
> regularly attended conferences and user group meetings.  An
integral
> aspect of these conferences/meetings were educational presentations

> done by attendees. It occurred to me that presentations are
something
> that might enhance the experience of attending the Tucson Show.  
>
> For example, while I know that there's nothing I can teach the old 
> hands, there are a number of things I'm figuring out as a newbie
that
> I think would be of interest to other newbies.  Here are examples
of
> presentations I would be willing to do, if the opportunity
presented
> itself:
>
> 1) Meteorite collection development plans: what they are and why
you
> should have one
>
> 2) Meteorite storage and display solutions for small (< 40
specimen)
> collections
>
> And as an *attendee* I would really be interested in presentations 
> from people doing actual meteorite science about the work they are 
> doing (geared towards an educated lay audience).  Also, I would be 
> interested in presentations from dealers about various aspects of 
> meteorite acquisition, classification, and preparation.
>
> To make this work would require:
>
> A meeting room
> --------------
> A meeting room at one of the main meteorite venues at the Tucson
Show
> that for certain times/days could be devoted to presentations.  The

> room would need to have a basic presentation set-up: a speaker's 
> table and/or podium with a way to connect a computer to a projector

> and chairs for the audience.  The Tucson show lasts two weeks, but
I
> would anticipate that the presentations part would only be for one
or
> maybe two days.
>
> Organization
> ------------
> Someone to:
> - Put out a call for presenters, and
> - Based on response, determine how many time slots were needed, and
> - Assign presentations to time slots in schedule and notify
presenters, and
> - Put out a presentation schedule with titles/abstracts prior to
Tucson show
> - Prepare meeting room for presentations
> - Assist presenters with use of meeting room equipment
>
> While the organization of this could be done by volunteers (I would

> be willing to volunteer my time), reserving a meeting room would 
> incur a cost.  Perhaps the IMCA would have funds in their budget to

> subsidize this and would consider taking this on. Another option 
> would be to charge a nominal registration fee to attend this 
> "seminar" portion of the show.  Again, I think this would only last
a
> day or maybe two.
>
> If you think this idea has merit, I have some questions for you...
>
> As an attendee, what topics in meteoritics and/or meteorite 
> collecting would you be interested in learning about?
>
> Would you consider being a presenter?  If so, what topic(s) would
you
> consider doing a presentation on?
>
> Would you be willing to pay a registration fee to attend a short 
> meteoritics/meteorite collecting seminar during the Tucson show?
>
> If you would rather respond directly to me rather than the list, I 
> can compile/summarize those responses for the list.
>
> Thank you,
>
> -- Michael
>
> ps I've spent a fair amount of time going through the Meteorite 
> Central list archive.  I've not seen any proposals like this, but 
> it's possible I have missed those threads.  If so, I would
appreciate
> hearing about any "lessons learned" from previous attempts.
>
> Michael Doran
> Fort Worth, TX
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