[grc] Future Conferences, doodle doc - and whose safety?

[Michelle Bradley]

No location is 100% safe but when you are trying to attract people to 
come to an event, they have to be able to come to a place that is 
attractive.  I only mentioned Detroit because when I mentioned to family 
that there's a possibility that we may have a conference in Detroit, 
there were major concerns expressed about my safety especially 
considering the mainstream perceptions of the area.  I apologize to 
anyone who may have been offended by that call out.

Everyone's case is different.

Did you know there are still places in this country that I can be 
arrested for using a public restroom?

Driving across the country, I was almost arrested in Arkansas for 
"driving while trans".  (They claimed I had a fake ID)

Before I go into a community, I have to do a lot of research to assure 
that I will make it home.  I had very good luck at the three GRCs that I 
have been too (Urbana, Ames and Palenville)..

I only mention this because there are some out there who won't attend if 
they don't feel safe there.  This includes people of color, people of 
non-Christian faith and those in the LGBTQI.

Like with any convention, if you want all-star attendance, location is 
key.  It must be easily reachable, have basic amenities and should be 
walkable if possible.    This is one of the things that hurt 
Palenville.  I stayed in one of the few hotels that was nearby the 
location and I still needed to use a car as it was several miles away.   
Ames had nearby accommodations and there was hourly ground 
transportation to DSM airport and fairly reasonable ground 
transportation within town.

Offer up a good location and give plenty of notice, people will come.

=m



On 12/22/2015 2:42 PM, Tom Voorhees wrote:
> Remembering a GRC at WORT in Madison, I share Michi's safety concerns, Max
> from WRIR Richmond Va was attacked for his wallet in the late evening.
> Tom.
>
>> On Safety: I think the sense of safety comes with a sense of
>> accessibility. To be able to set down a "home-base" for attendees is
>> crucial.In my view, the host station and it's location should be
>> accessible (nearly 24/7) during the conference as one qualifier when
>> assessing whether a station can/should host.
>> We can all set our GPSs to that location, knowing, if we get lost,
>> side-tracked or stranded, we know someone will be there.
>> For those who have attended these conferences, we all know, the formal
>> workshops, training, etc. happens during most normal business hours, but
>> so many informal, but very informative meetings, chats workshops happen
>> "after hours" too.
>> I can recall nearly every GRC I've attended, and co-hosted/organized,
>> there were just as many happening after hours...I clearly recall a
>> late-night impromptu Rootbeer Float and Tech in with Petri in Ames, we
>> were up to the wee-hours of the morning...and another late-night teach in
>> with Peyton Wimmer and Ursula hosting the 3rd "Managing Chaos" workshop,
>> because just the two classes weren't enough... Urbana/Champagne's doors
>> were open for late-night guest-spots on-air, DJ practicum, and re-caps of
>> the conference, etc.
>>
>> Donna DiBiancoStation Start-up Specialist
>> 503-960-1068
>> http://grc2015.net/
>>
>> www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dibianco
>> www.facebook.com/communityradiogoddess
>>
>> On Sunday, December 20, 2015 4:44 PM, Ursula Ruedenberg
>> <ursula at pacifica.org> wrote:
>>
>> I was told my last post did not go through - this has been happening a
>> lot
>> so I am re-posting. My apologies if it repeats -
>>
>> I am glad to hear there is interest in some discussion for building some
>> GRC resources. How about a conference call in mid January? I could put
>> together a doodle doc and post a link here.
>>
>> Of course I respect all opinions and they should be heard. Having said
>> that...about safety...a relative term so which relative is safety being
>> applied to? We hosted a conference in Ames Iowa and the folks from
>> Detroit
>> came and most (if not all) were people of color, as were a host of others
>> who came from Portland, Peoria, St. Loius, etc. Was Iowa likely to seem
>> safe, known as one of the whitest state in the US?
>>
>> Who gets to define safety?
>>
>> Conference in Detroit, Greenville MS, Peoria, South Bronx - I am there if
>> invited.
>>
>> -- 
>> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> grc mailing list
>> grc at maillist.peak.org
>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
> _______________________________________________
> grc mailing list
> grc at maillist.peak.org
> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc