[grc] Some thoughts about the GRC Conference

[Michelle Bradley]

Organizing a GRC needs to be project managed, like any other big project.

As I had told Donna awhile back, for this process to work right, we 
should know the dates and location of the next GRC prior to the ending 
of the current one.

The locations chosen should be fairly inexpensive, have access to 
sufficient amenities (not everyone will want to camp), be in a community 
that is safe, accessible to nearby air transportation and in an area 
inviting to minorities (including non-Christian religions, sexual 
orientation and gender identity)..

For example, I would not attend a GRC in certain high-crime areas such 
as Detroit.  I will also be less likely to attend a conference in the 
deep south or in Texas outside of the Austin or Dallas area.   I am 
personally economically boycotting the Houston area due to the outcome 
of the HERO vote.

When I went to Palenville, I fell in love with the Catskills area.. Eva 
and I will be possibly going back there for a vacation in the spring.

I will be more than happy to serve on a GRC steering committee as I do 
have process and project management experience.

=m



On 12/19/2015 9:10 PM, Frieda Werden wrote:
> What about asking organizers of previous conferences to write informally to
> this list about what they did and what resources were most important to
> them, and then setting up a wiki or a simple page where these can reside
> for later reading.  I think many of the previous conferences have had some
> kind of web page, and we could add links to those.
>
> I'm supposed to take a one-day Wordpress class in January, so hopefully
> I'll be able to help with that if nobody more experienced steps forward.
>
> On Sat, Dec 19, 2015 at 5:58 PM, Ursula Ruedenberg <ursula at pacifica.org>
> wrote:
>
>> The GRC was established as a tradition, not a corporate entity and does not
>> exist as part of any other group. Many have supported and furthered the
>> tradition. The tradition is passed from autonomous group to autonomous
>> group. What I am suggesting is that we pass on a bit more formalized
>> information based on past experience, and resources along with the
>> tradition.
>>
>> GRC is not part of NFCB. Pacifica has had affinity to the GRC for many
>> years and stepped up in 2014 - when it looked like two years might go by
>> without a conference - by allocating staff time to organizing the
>> conference in Ames. Within my capacity as Pacifica's affiliate network
>> manager, I continue to allocate time to contribute, as many station staff,
>> volunteers, and other individuals have done, but the nature of the
>> conference is such that each conference is autonomous.
>>
>> Do we see a future for such an experiment in collaboration and is it
>> possible to build a body of resources to facilitate such a tradition? Could
>> be fun.
>>
>> Ursula
>>
>> On Sat, Dec 19, 2015 at 5:16 PM, Michael White <michael.white at gemair.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Is the GRC separate and distinct from the other entities?  I don't think
>>> of it as being supported by Pacifica, for example.  What about NFCB?
>>>
>>> My reason for bringing that up is that a corporate memory can be helpful
>>> for these kinds of processes.  Also, if an enduring structure exists, and
>>> is not too onerous, then there is the potential for creating a funding
>> body
>>> / mechanism.  E.g. the GRC fund you mention.
>>>
>>> Michael
>>>
>>> Quoting Ursula Ruedenberg <ursula at pacifica.org>:
>>>
>>> I'd be interested in hearing from folks who would find it worthwhile to
>>>> take a look at how to support the GRC conference process.  It is such a
>>>> valuable thing - that conference. Conversation snippets of this have
>> been
>>>> occurring at recent conferences between various people. I see a number
>> of
>>>> things that warrant some thought:
>>>>
>>>>   - body of resources that can be gathered & passed on to the next host
>>>> (such as boilerplate docs, sample budget, GRC fund, sponsor contacts,
>> best
>>>> practices & sample task lists, etc.)
>>>>
>>>> - check list of things to consider when stations thinking about hosting
>>>>
>>>> - some best practices for the decision-making process for where the
>>>> conference goes next (such as communication, courtesy & inclusion shown
>>>> towards new stations and minority groups, clear public articulation of
>> the
>>>> decision process, etc.)
>>>>
>>>> Maybe there are some considerations I haven't thought of; this is just
>>>> what
>>>> I have noticed in my recent involvement.
>>>>
>>>> I  feel the value of us and the conference deeply -  means so much to
>> me.
>>>> So I am looking to stimulate this step towards supporting the
>> conference.
>>>> I have a conference call line and can offer this as a place to meet. I
>>>> would ask you to post here if you can see your self contributing to
>> such a
>>>> building conversation or just if you think it is a good idea.
>>>>
>>>> Best wishes,
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Ursula Ruedenberg
>>>> Pacifica Affiliate Network Manager
>>>> 510-812-7989
>>>> pacificanetwork.org
>>>>
>>>> <http://www.facebook.com/PacificaRadioNetwork>
>>>> <https://twitter.com/RadioPacifica>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ursula Ruedenberg
>> Pacifica Affiliate Network Manager
>> 510-812-7989
>> pacificanetwork.org
>>
>> <http://www.facebook.com/PacificaRadioNetwork>
>> <https://twitter.com/RadioPacifica>
>> _______________________________________________
>> grc mailing list
>> grc at maillist.peak.org
>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
>>
>
>