FAN Conference 2022 Wednesday to Saturday, September 21 – 24

Norwood Inn, Winnipeg, Manitoba 

The FAN Conference 2022 Committee is working diligently behind the scenes to prepare an awesome in-person conference in Winnipeg, September 21- 24, 2022. The Committee will keep you updated each month in the FAN newsletter. Here is our first update.

The FAN Conference 2022 Survey results showed that the members want: an in-person conference; a shorter period of time as we no longer need a full day for the AGM; and worries about COVID addressed. So Manitoba has booked the Norwood Inn located in the centre of Winnipeg known as Old St. Boniface. The hotel is newly renovated, sporting modern bedrooms and elegant décor throughout the hotel and conference rooms. The ho- tel diligently follows COVID precautions and only vaccinated people can enter the building. It will be a real treat to attend this venue. Check it out – www.norwood-hotel.com.

One of the big questions for the FAN Conference 2022 Committee was whether to offer the conference both in-person and by Zoom. The answer is that the committee will only be providing an in-person experience. The reason for this is many faceted. One of the biggest reasons being that the committee is planning non-Zoom type activities such as tours, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, etc. that do not transfer to Zoom easily. Other reasons are that the cost is prohibitive to hire broadcasting professionals needed to do both types simultaneously and that all that technology may reduce the quality of the in-person experience. However, Zoom is a brilliant technology for gathering FAN members who are spread out all over Western Canada. So… let’s use Zoom for what it is best at and meet in-person for what we can’t manage to do through Zoom!

One of the best items at any FAN Conference is the Artist Presentations. What about all those great Artist Presentations? Are people who don’t attend the conference going to miss out? Here are the suggestions:

First, the committee is suggesting that Artist Presentations that work well through Zoom, such as Power Point presentations, be done throughout the year at regularly scheduled FAN Zoom Meetings (currently the second Tuesday of the month). Each Artist Presentation is extremely motivating and perhaps that motivation would be better spread throughout the year, instead of all bunched up into a few days during a conference. (I know I would appreciate each presentation more, and wouldn’t be quite so overwhelmed if they were spread out!) Per- haps each month FAN could have three or four presenters? That way we could see many Artist Presentations through the year, and no one will miss out on the wonderful FAN membership benefit that Artist Presentations provide.

Second, the committee is hoping to have an in-person conference that is different from what is presented on Zoom. We hope to tour and experience fibre connections in Winnipeg. We also want to get FAN members to present longer demonstrations, hands-on activities and mini-workshops. The Committee has decided to reserve Artist Presentations at the conference to ones that have a component that does not easily translate through zoom. These types of activities will require more time, possibly a half-hour to hour each. Of course, if we lengthen the amount of time each person gets for a presentation during the conference, there will be fewer people able to present. But if we do Power Point presentations through Zoom during the year, it will give us time to really get our hands dirty at the conference!

So be thinking about your own Artist Presentation for 2022. Would you want to do a demonstration, activity or mini-workshop at the Conference, or a Power Point presentation through FAN Zoom? What would be your preference? If you want to do your Artist Presentation through Zoom, Thelma suggests you work up your PowerPoint presentation to be about 20-30 minutes long and choose what month you would like to make your presentation, then contact Thelma Newbury.

If you are hoping to present at the conference, refine your presentation and fill it out on your registration form (to come out in spring 2022).

If you have any comments regarding the FAN Conference 2022: Prairie Mosaic, please email: fanconference2@gmail.com