2009 SACL Conference

[Justin McBride]

Mark,

Your plan sounds very much like what Bob and I looked at when we hosted the doin's down in Kaw City in 2005.  We blocked some rooms at a local Econo-Lodge, checked on the availability of nearby campsites for the adventurous, secured a van for shuttle service to and from the motel and the event (which I believe only one participant took advantage of), made sure we had all our presentation needs available (meeting space, projectors, screen, copier, stapler, etc.), got some donations on donuts and bottled water, made preparations for one big tribal feed on Friday night, and then just let everyone on the list know about it.  Then we sent out a batch of personal letters to Siouan and Caddoan tribes in Oklahoma to let them know what we were doing and how they might participate.  There were also a few day-of cosiderations, including drafting a sign-in sheet, getting a money box with change and receipts for collection of registration fees, arrangement of chairs, making copies of papers for those not in attendance, and requesting a tribal Elder to offer an opening prayer (which I completely forgot about until the absolute last minute).  In retrospect, I think we overplanned the event in general, but drastically underplanned the big tribal feed, which just happened to double as a retirement feast for Bob.  That dinner required assistance from the tribe's cook, her staff, the entire Cultural Committee, and our traditional servers.  This required a small giveaway, for which Bob had the ingenious idea of asking participants coming from far afield to donate swag from their affiliated institutions.  Very smart.  In the end, I never heard any complaints about the festivities.  So I guess it all worked out well.  That sounds about right, doesn't it, Bob?

I hope this helps,
-Justin

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark J Awakuni-Swetland 
  To: siouan at lists.Colorado.EDU 
  Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 1:26 PM
  Subject: 2009 SACL Conference



  Hello All, 

  I am seeking input from previous SACL Conference organizers. 

  Previously circulated information: Conference dates are set for June 11-14, 2009 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

  The Comparative Siouan Grammar Workshop is scheduled for Thursday-Friday, June 11-12. Johann and John are  organizing the sessions, etc. Catherine has offered to help co-ordinate things. 

  The General Papers Sessions are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14. Saturday afternoon is held open for a native language instruction focus, with invitations planned to being sent to the 4 Nebraska tribes (and others?) to participate. I will organize these sessions. 

  I am wanting to jump early on the budget and logistical issues. 

  From my limited experiences with prior SACC and Dhegiha meetings I recall that folks fairly well cover their own expenses for travel, room, & board. 

  Conference registration fees are minimal, and generally cover session break "munchies". 

  Conference attendance (presenters and audience) does not exceed 50. 

  Technology needs range from whiteboard/pens, through overhead projectors, to PowerPoint-capable computers and projectors. 

  Access to photocopiers, email, and internet are desirable, and local eateries should be close at hand. 

  For 2009: 

  I would like to be able to provide some level of fuel, lodging, and/or honorariums for tribal educators planning to present on Saturday, with an expectation of their coming in to town Friday night, and/or staying over Saturday night. 

  I would like to commission the local Lincoln Indian Club, an intertribal social group, to cook a Saturday evening meal and host a hand game at the nearby Lincoln Indian Center. 

  I would like to plan for an off-campus dinner at some restaurant on Wednesday evening for early-bird arrivals. 

  I plan to check into reserving a block of rooms for the conference at the downtown Holiday Inn. The University routinely uses this hotel. 

  I plan to check on availability of campus dormitory rooms, although there is much competition with summer "camps" using those facilities. 

  I expect any funding will have to come piece-meal from various departments, academic programs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Lincoln Indian Center,... and perhaps the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research. 

  I would anticipate we will meet in conference rooms in the Student Union. They are set up with all of the technology. I believe they require we use their catering service for beverages/munchies. 

  I would invite the UNL anthropology student organization to assist in the ground work during the conference. 

  I would like to organize a brief visit to the UNL Center for Digital Research in the Humanities at Love Library to meet the staff and look over the Omaha and Ponca Digital Dictionary project that would be ending its first year. 

  Can you all tell me what have been your experiences in terms of accommodations and actual expenses in past conferences? 

  Am I overlooking something(s) vital? 

  It would be swell if you could collect your thoughts and let me know in the next few days. 

  Many thanks, 
  Uthixide 


  Mark Awakuni-Swetland
  Assistant Professor of Anthropology
  and Native American Studies
  University of Nebraska
  Lincoln, NE 68588-0368

  http://omahalanguage.unl.edu
  Phone 402-472-3455
  FAX: 402-472-9642

  "Ttenixa uxpathe egoN" a biama, winisi akHa.
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