This is the tenth and last message in a series of "Denver Firsts" messages, wherein we highlight the many elements of the ARLIS/NA Annual Conference in Denver May 1-5 that we believe to be innovations in the ARLIS conference experience!
Denver First
Mountain West organized conference: ARLIS/MW was established in 1996 by librarians from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Prior to 1996, the chapter was the "ARLIS/Arizona Chapter", established in 1978. So this conference is not just a Denver First, but a Mountain West First!!
We as a chapter have thrown ourselves into providing a learning experience that is also enjoyable. We have tried to consider things big and small -- from water in your registration pack to that big D.A.M. party! Individuals in the chapter and beyond the chapter have contributed unique touches to enhance the conference experience. You will find an ARLIS Membership table in the exhibits, and job postings in the hospitality area. Throughout you will see the unique conference logo designed by students at the Art Institute of Colorado as part of a contest sponsored by Mountain West chapter.
We look forward to seeing you in Denver! You are why we did it!
*This posting on behalf of the Denver co-chairs (Peggy Keeran and Tom Riedel for Local Arrangements and Jeanne Brown and Mary Graham for Program) and the entire Conference Planning Advisory Committee whose brainstorms resulted in many of the approaches we are calling Denver Firsts!
Previously entries in the Denver First Series:
1. Complimentary breakfast at the membership meeting: With signing up for lunch or dinner no longer an extra step, ARLIS/NA members can eat and meet at the same time! We hope this Denver First will result in increased attendance at the Membership Meeting!
2. Meet the Vendors program: Some folks, even long-time members, are a bit shy with vendors, or don't know what to talk about. This Denver First offers the opportunity to visit exhibitors accompanied by old hands in the exhibits, and be personally introduced to the exhibitors who contribute their time and support to our annual conference.
3. Virtual posters: ARLIS/NA is borrowing an idea from our ALA Art Section and Instruction Section colleagues -- the virtual poster session. Three session moderators have agreed to complement their physical session with online posters, allowing wider participation and contribution of topics in this "Denver First."
4. Speakers at Leadership Breakfast and Membership meeting: Stimulated by the anticipated evolution of the structure of ARLIS/NA, the Leadership Breakfast and the Membership Meeting will both feature organizational speakers in a Denver First. Check the program for speaker details.
5. Web 2.0 kiosk: Located in the Exhibits, this Denver First has members helping members with technology one on one. A team put together by Rebecca Cooper will be available Sat. and Sun. mornings to assist anyone interested in trying out various pieces of Web 2.0 technology.
6. Blog: Access ARLIS-L postings about the Denver conference as well as submit comments or start a discussion on this Denver First at http://arlisnamw.wordpress.com/. In addition, this is the access point for the virtual poster sessions!
7. No conflict time for exhibitors: The Grand Hyatt Denver presents a unique challenge to the perennial goal of having strong attendance in the exhibits -- there is a hotel side where the exhibits and the plenary speakers will be located, and there is an adjacent convention center in which most sessions will be located. In a Denver First, one and a half hours on Sat. and Sun. have been designated "exhibits no conflict times." See you all at the Exhibits!
8. ArtTECHtonic: This Denver First is a series of webcast interviews on a variety of "tech" topics. This approach is organized by Sarah Falls, who will be in the Exhibits area Sat afternoon to discuss the webcasts with attendees.
Caveat: we have not done historical research in the archives, so this represents our collective memory only!
9. Committee and other meetings interwoven through the conference instead of all on the day before the conference starts: Rather than require that all members contributing their time on committees show up to the conference early, this experimental approach allowed chairs to poll their members for optimal meeting times throughout the conference. This Denver First has the potential to change the way we in ARLIS/NA approach meetings -- or not!