And another Anime North is done and over: and of course, I did a lot of my career events. Here's a roundup, and some observations of the State Of Progeekery that I got from there.
Community
Convention Idea: Resource Lists
The roundup of convention resources is here.
So what happens after that big panel, workshop, whatever at your convention? Do people just take away more than just memories (if they can remember much after a wild convention)? It's always important in your career-oriented panels to have something to take away.
There are many things I like to add to such events, but one of the simplest, most space-efficient, and effective is a resource list.
That's it. Just make sure your panels or workshops have, if appropriate, a page of resources handed out, that contains things like:
- A list of useful websites.
- A list of "must-read" books that fit the subject of the panel or workshops.
- A list of schools or institutions providing appropriate classes.
- A list of professional associations, meetup groups, or online groups that people may want to join.
One page of information may be all you need to make sure that the attendees keep using and building on what they've learned.
And, for a bit of branding, make sure it has information on the convention and the person that presented the panel or workshop. It helps you stay memorable . . .
– Steven Savage
Why Local Politics Matter When You Relocate
Right now there's a lot of talk about Arizona's recent immigration laws – as well as additional laws and policies following it. To summarize as easy as I can:
- The governor signed a bill that extended police power to detain/question people over citizenship with reasonable suspicion. The interpretation of this – and some potential modifications – make it more complicated. The law is quite controversial as it seems to invite profiling (though people I know in Arizona says it's less change than people may think).
- A bill that would limit ethnic studies (and oddly lump it in with other things)
- An education department policy on teachers with accents that could lead to teachers being fired or limited in teaching. I find this ridiculous as I live in an area with tons of accents.
Yes, if you read about these laws, you'd get the impression that there's some racial and ethnic animosity here. I sadly come to the same conclusion, am sure that this is going to be a giant political powderkeg, and that there will be much fallout in the future.
But ask yourself this (before I turn this into a Frustration Friday), would you have heard of this if it wasn't national news? I don't think you would.