Kirstee

From Ash and Flame - Thursday/Friday edition

2007-05-18T08:02:28Z

Welcome to the first on site edition of From Ash and Flame! We are all thrilled to be here in New Orleans, and we hope those of you with us are having a fabulous time! We're sorry the rest of you can't be with us, but we hope this brings a little of the magic to you.

Musical magic at the Rhythm Revue
By Genii Grimsley

The festivities began a little early for those who attended the pre-conference Rhythm Revue. The Phoenix Rising volunteers, staff and early registrants truly rang in the conference with some memorable events.

Karaoke was sung by all with a backdrop of the “Prisoner of Azkaban” film projected on a wall. Amber Charleville started off the party by singing a lovely rendition of Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.”

With the party in full swing, both costumed and non-costumed attendees were singing such classics as “My Sharona” by The Knack to hits such as “Bootylicious” by Destiny’s Child. There were several crowd favorites, such as Severus singing “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred as well as Lord Voldemort’s “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor.

Another of the crowd favorites featured Charleville and Rennie Guedel, who dedicated “Cold-hearted Snake” by Paula Abdul to the Dark Lord, much to his displeasure.

Of course, it was not just cosplayers who had all the fun. Anastasia sang beautifully to “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Starship. And karaoke is not complete without a rendition of the “YMCA” by the Village People. All had a great time and it was definitely the prelude to a wonderful conference.

Loud and Proud Houses
By Genii Grimsley

A new year at L’Universite des Arts Magiques was ushered in by Headmistress Victoria Dann on Thursday night at Phoenix Rising’s Overture Dinner.

Welcoming in the recently sorted students, the Headmistress gave a brief history lesson, to include house colors and mascots, of each of the four houses. Among the history lesson came the announcements of few tickets left for keynote speeches as well as the Rememberall Wall and Final Theories Wall being in the Room of Requirement.

Professor Dann then introduced the heads of houses. The head of Zodico house, Professor Christine Gengaro, went first declaring her house the loudest and rowdiest house and proclaimed that we would have an “awesome time.” She then sang the first verse of the Zodico house song, making her a bit of a tough act to follow.

Pontalbon’s head of house, Professor Marjorie Manifold, was obviously up to the challenge and welcomed all students, though she warned her house that, “Tricks shouldn’t be played in front of the press,” despite her house’s trickster nature. She also mentioned that any displayable streeler would gain house points.

Bellereve house proved that Zodico house was definitely not the loudest by cheering loudly and chanting “Bellereve” as Professor Roxanne Conrad stepped up to the podium. During her welcoming speech, she urged all students to donate to the New Orleans libraries that were decimated by Hurricane Katrina. Her parting words to us were read from a book, “Chapter 1… Writing is Magic.”

Finally, the Lumien head of house, Professor Michael Bolton, took the stage with a flourish of his pirate flag. He wondered why his house was stuck in a corner if Zodico house was supposed to be the loudest and the rowdiest. He challenged their claim by stating that his own house may have no charity, but was founded by a pirate.

With the feast over, several wizard rockers took the stage, which were followed up by the PotterCast. In addition, thanks to the Listening Library, every student received the ultimate surprise of the unabridged “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” on cassettes.

Professor Snape has... back? (He sung "Baby Got Back", anyway)

Zodico House cheer on Professor Gengaro.

John, Sue and Melissa of Pottercast entertain the crowd.

Fan appraise the works in the Gallery

How to Spend Your Time at Phoenix Rising.

2007-01-15T10:31:36Z

As Unofficial Chair of Squee, I get to chat to a lot of conference attendees during the lead-up to Phoenix Rising, and over time, the most common question I've received from first time conference-goers is, 'What happens at a Harry Potter conference?' With thousands of conference hours logged between us, the Phoenix Rising staff have put together a few of our best tips, tricks and hints to get the most out of your conference experience.

Of course, your Phoenix Rising experience is completely up to you. You can choose to do one event a day, or you can choose to schedule every thirty second block of your day. Don't forget to take some time out to sightsee along the streets of New Orleans, though, and to have at least one fabulous local meal.

Programming:

1. The programming starts each day at 9am (except Sunday, when you can sleep in till 11am!), so you've got plenty of time for breakfast. Head down to Café du Monde for a café au lait and beignets, or stumble down to the Sheraton lobby and the onsite Starbucks. No matter the time, you're sure to find a fellow fan looking for coffee and canon discussions. You'll need your strength for the day ahead!

2. We'll be releasing the complete schedule within a couple of months, and you'll be able to tentatively plan which presentations you'd like to see in advance. All of the traditional presentations will be held on site in the Sheraton's conference rooms, so you won't have far to travel between sessions. In addition, there's at least a five-minute break scheduled between each session to allow you time to move.

3. Read over the presentation summaries before you leave for New Orleans (Accepted Proposals here: http://www.thephoenixrises.org/programming/accepted/), but don't be too rigid about changing your plans. You might meet a fellow Crookshanks fan who's doing a presentation you hadn't planned to see, or hold a spontaneous roundtable over lunch.

4. The more formal, or traditional, a presentation is, the less interaction you may have with the presenter. It's the presenter's choice as to whether they allow time for discussion or questions, but don't let this get you down! Provided they don't have another presentation to get to, most presenters love their topic and will be happy to talk to you after their presentation. If you're after a more interactive session, a workshop or roundtable provides a more intimate setting so that you can really get into the topic with the presenter and fellow attendees.

5. Don't forget to make time for the Gallery! Some fantastic art by Harry Potter fans will be on display, and many of the works will be up for auction after the Coda Breakfast. You will also be able to view the illustrated stories created by members of the Paintbrush and Quill Society, who have taken on a pre-conference collaboration as part of their registrations, as well as art created specially for the conference.

6. Some people take notes, some people use laptops, some people just sit there and soak it all up. Feel free to do whatever you want, so long as you respect the presenter's wishes. We do ask that you turn cell phones off during presentations, and while pre-mobile babies are welcomed, we also ask that you respect the presenter and other audience members if your baby becomes unsettled.

Costumes:

1. You don't have to wear a costume if you'd prefer your everyday Muggle wear. But if you do want to wear that perfect Dedalus Diggle hat, you're more than welcome!

2. Make sure you test your costume beforehand, though. It's all well and good checking yourself out in the mirror in six inch stilettos, but have you tried walking in them?

3. Pack a travel sewing kit – needles and thread, safety pins, spare buttons, and spare sequins/feathers/adornments. Or at the very least, a stapler and duct tape will keep you looking magical!

4. Be sure to remember that New Orleans is a southern city, and will have very warm weather in May. The Sheraton and all our event locations (bar Quidditch) are air-conditioned, but you may need to walk between them. Your full woolen school uniform may be authentic, but authenticity won't stop you overheating. Layering your clothes – costumed or Muggle – will also help when moving from the warm outdoors to the cool indoors.

5. Don't be afraid to let someone know that you love her costume! Many costumers spend hours, weeks and even months on their costume, and compliments are always appreciated! Some people will even stay in character while they're in costume, and will generally be happy to play-act with you. However, if you'd like a photo, don't forget to ask whether the costumer minds.

Meeting People:

1. So you've come to Phoenix Rising not knowing a soul. Maybe you're in a new city. Maybe, like your dedicated reporter, you're in an entirely new country. You don't want to be a wallflower, but you can't imagine that all those laughing, fun-loving groups of people could be interested in meeting you. Well, I can tell you from very happy experience, that yes, that group of people would love to meet you. Go and introduce yourself – after all, they're at the conference for the same reason as you: Harry Potter!

2. You're at the Overture Dinner on Thursday night, you've been seated with your housemates, and your friends are on the other side of the room. Will you sit and stare at your (admittedly wonderful) meal, or will you start discussing House Point strategies with your Housemates?

3. You've met your Housemates, and your roommates, and those people you sat with during the first presentation, but what you're really longing for is a good, long discussion of your favorite ship. Heading along to a Rendezvous (http://www.thephoenixrises.org/events/lagniappe/rendezvous.html) is the perfect opportunity. Organized by other attendees, a Rendezvous will generally take place in a local café or restaurant, so you can eat, theorize and socialize all at once. Make sure you check the link above for times and dates, as well as whether the Rendezvous organizer requires an RSVP.

4. A great way to meet people (and one that I can personally vouch for!) is to volunteer. There are tons of opportunities, such as volunteering with our Programming team to supervise a programming room, or signing up with Security to become a Prefect. You'll get to meet fellow volunteers, see a little of what goes on behind the scenes at Phoenix Rising, and all attendees who volunteer before Phoenix Rising will also be invited to our (now sold out) Rhythm Revue karaoke party on Wednesday night!

Quidditch:

1. Quidditch is more fun than you can imagine! Our version unfortunately does not use brooms, and the Snitches don't fly unassisted, but there is something irresistible about playing Quidditch on the banks of the Mississippi River.

2. Professional Quidditch players will be playing in the Riverside Quidditch Classic. Your registration in the classic will guarantee your team at least three games, and each member will receive a personalized team jersey. Quidditch rules are available here (http://www.thephoenixrises.org/events/quidditch/), and we encourage all Quidditch players to begin their training early!

3. If you're playing, make sure to bring a hat, comfortable running shoes and sunscreen. We'll be supplying players with water, sports drinks and snacks. There are no hard and fast rules about Quidditch clothing, although of course professional players will want to play in their team shirts! I'd recommend shorts or track pants to complete your kit, but if you'd like to play in the traditional full robes, you may. Please remember, though, that Quidditch is an outdoor sport, and New Orleans will be very warm in May.

4. House Quidditch will be run between professional matches, and involve teams from Lumién, Pontalbòn, Bellereve and Zodico. You can sign up for House Quidditch during registration, for no extra cost, although team spaces are nearly filled, and extremely limited!

General Tips:

1. Make sure to wear your conference name badge at all times. This is your pass into all programming and events, and it lets the staff and volunteers allow you into the sessions. If you're attending a special event, the ticket will be in your registration bag, and you'll need this ticket to enter the event.

2. Don't be afraid to change your plans. The best fun can come from a spontaneous idea or meeting.

3. Anything can happen when you put 1000 Harry Potter fans together – random Death Eater attacks, hallway duels, class photos and more. Keep your eyes open, but if you miss something, check it out in the next morning's newsletter – From Ash and Flame.

4. If you have any questions or concerns on site, you can speak to one of our Prefects, who will be able to help you out. You can also speak to our Information Desk, who can put you in contact with Phoenix Rising staff or volunteers if necessary.

5. Above all, have fun!

Whether you're a conference novice or expert, feel free to share tips and hints in the comments!

phoenix_kirstee @ 2007-01-04T22:53:00

2007-01-04T11:53:50Z

Welcome to From Ash and Flame, and welcome to 2007! It's looking like a big year in Harry's world – a movie, a final book (hopefully!), and of course, Phoenix Rising!

From Fan to Fandom

Phoenix Rising is pleased to present the From Fan to Fandom Challenge! As part of our fandom showcase, which includes events such as Artists and Authors Night and the Keynote Presentation Transformation: From Fan to Fandom, this challenge is centered around the wonderful creativity of the Harry Potter fandom.

The prompt for all participants is the same, but the challenge is divided into three divisions by medium. The Sugar Quill, one of the Harry Potter fandom's first fanfiction archives, welcomes entries from fanfiction authors. FictionAlley, a repository of fanfiction, fanart, discussion and more, encourages artists to show their skills. The Leaky Cauldron, the premier Harry Potter news site, hosts essayists and their work.

For the prompt, A Phoenix Moment, and rules, please go here: http://community.livejournal.com/fromashandflame/17625.html

Keynote Presentations

All of Phoenix Rising's Keynote Presentations are selling out quickly! To let you know where we are, there are fewer than one hundred tickets still available for Transformation: From Fan to Fandom, a panel at the Aquarium of the Americas featuring noted fandom academic Henry Jenkins, as well as Harry Potter website founders Melissa Anelli (The Leaky Cauldron), Simon Branford (FictionAlley) and Jennie Levine (The Sugar Quill). Additionally, Transformation: From Influence to Inspiration, the Keynote Presentation featuring Dr. Anne Hiebert Alton, has fewer than fifty tickets still available. This presentation also allows attendees private access to the Musée Conti Wax Museum, featuring historical exhibits and a "haunted dungeon." Finally, if you’re interested in a squashy, purple sleeping bag, you should purchase one now. We only have 20 left to sell! For more information on all the Keynote Presentations, please see http://www.thephoenixrises.org/programming/keynotes/ or to purchase tickets to any of our events or a sleeping bag, please visit http://www.thephoenixrises.org/registration/.

Vendors

During Phoenix Rising, our Vendor Room will give you the opportunity to purchase merchandise, gifts and souvenirs from our vendors and sponsors, including Harry Potter merchandise, general wizarding supplies and costumes, writing and artwork, and items unique to New Orleans. We are pleased to announce there are only five places left for vendors, so if you run a business, have something to sell, or know of a business that would be perfect for Phoenix Rising's vendor room, please visit http://www.thephoenixrises.org/support/vendorroom/index.html for more information.

Our confirmed vendors include Whimsic Alley and Fairy Tales and Dragon Scales. More information on these vendors is available at http://www.thephoenixrises.org/support/vendorroom/vendors.html. We have many more vendors waiting in the wings, and Phoenix Rising will include them on the website as soon as they finalize their vendor reservations.

Houses

By now, most attendees who have registered for Phoenix Rising should have received a House welcome letter from a faculty member of L’Université des Arts Magiques. (If you did not, please first check your bulk mail and spam folders. If you have not received the email, please contact registration@thephoenixrises.org. If you registered during December or January, you will receive your sorting shortly, if you have not already.)

A number of L'Université's students have been diligently reviewing their House histories – http://www.thephoenixrises.org/connect/l_universite/houses.html – and during their research a few members of Pontalbòn House have discovered a previously unknown ghost wandering the dorms.

Group spokesperson Emily, who has clearly passed her N.E.W.T.s, says, "The Pontalbòn ghost is known as the Unknown Architect. He died in a fight with a gargoyle and now the gargoyle and Architect are destined to guard the school together, until they can agree on a few stylistic questions. I tried to get some more information out of him, but the gargoyle was sneaking around the art supplies room with a brush and a bucket of gray paint. The Unknown Architect ran off to protect the Gallery before I could ask anything else."

Many of the buildings around New Orleans built from the mid 1700s to the mid 1800s are attributed to an “unknown architect.” Emily hopes their research at L'Université's famous library will bring recognition back to the true genius behind these buildings – the Unknown Architect. For more information, or if you'd like to help Emily and her fellow scholars with their research, please visit the Pontalbòn chat community at pontalbonhouse.livejournal.com.

Downloads

If you'd like to show your House Pride around the internet, make sure to visit http://www.thephoenixrises.org/connect/downloads/ for avatars and desktops featuring the L'Université des Arts Magiques House crests.

Meeting Attendees

Are you heading to Phoenix Rising and not sure that you'll know anyone on site? Do you want to chat about your plans before you arrive, or want to exchange the perfect gumbo recipe? Phoenix Rising has lots of different ways for you to meet other attendees before you arrive! Check out the "Meet and Connect" section of our website for more ideas - http://www.thephoenixrises.org/connect/meet/ - as well as the links below.

Our message boards are available at http://www.thephoenixrises.org/forum. There, you can ask all sorts of questions about Phoenix Rising in the Questions forum (I'm afraid we can't tell you the meaning of "Deathly Hallows" – although we can probably make something up!) You can find travel partners or roommates, or just chat about everything and anything on our Off-Topic board.

If you'd like to chat with your housemates, you can find them on the message boards at http://www.thephoenixrises.org/forum/index.php?board=7.0, or at the individual House LiveJournals:
lumienhouse
pontalbonhouse
bellerevehouse
zodicohouse

PhoenixChat is the official off-topic LiveJournal, where you can chat about anything and everything with the Phoenix Rising staff and attendees. It can be found at [Bad username: âphoenixchatâ], and membership is open to everyone with a LiveJournal account, which are free.

Finally, if you’d like to chat with other attendees in a more traditional way, you can sign up for Phoenix Post during registration. The mailing address of a fellow Housemate will be emailed to you, and a third Housemate will receive your mailing address. You’ll then have two attendees to correspond with before meeting up in New Orleans, should you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

My presentation was accepted, so why isn't it up on the accepted proposals page?

We only publish accepted proposals once all of the presenters for each proposal have registered and paid, because that confirms for us that you're committed to attending and presenting. If you have registered, your proposal might be waiting for some editing and formatting behind the scenes before it can be published, which may take another week or two. Your patience is appreciated!

Do I have to tell you about my tickets or other presentations as presenter conflicts? What about Rendezvous?

Nope! We'll check your keynote tickets, professional Quidditch status, and any other presentations when we schedule you. Additionally, no presentations will be scheduled across from keynote lunches, which helps us avoid most of the conflicts. We want to know if you have jury duty, a court date, a wedding, or a paper to give at another conference during the same time period, though. Unfortunately, we can't take Rendezvous into account as we make the schedule – we can only guarantee not to schedule you in two places at once and to accommodate as many of the pre-requested audio-visual needs as possible.

Can I still submit art for the gallery?

Yes, if you know the secret link: http://www.thephoenixrises.org/submissions/exploratory/. The absolute last day to submit art – whether it's your version of Ron's knit cap, stills from your fanfilm, costumes for display only, a scale model of Hagrid's hut, or your original drawing of Oliver Wood – is January 19, 2007. If you are a fanartist who has a digital piece that you are unable to print and ship to the conference, please write us at gallery@thephoenixrises.org to chat about options.

Do you still need artists for the Paintbrush and Quill Society?

Yes! There are still some very creative and very, very patient authors waiting for a collaborator. If you'd like to pinch hit through drawing, painting, photography, illuminations, needlework or some other medium that could become part of a book and can complete your project on a timeline, please use the Change My Registration option to add it as a lagniappe.

As always, if you have any questions or queries about Phoenix Rising, please contact us at help@thephoenixrises.org.

phoenix_kirstee @ 2007-01-04T22:48:00

2007-01-04T11:49:19Z

LIVEJOURAL

Welcome to From Ash and Flame, and welcome to 2007! It's looking like a big year in Harry's world – a movie, a final book (hopefully!), and of course, Phoenix Rising!

From Fan to Fandom

Phoenix Rising is pleased to present the From Fan to Fandom Challenge! As part of our fandom showcase, which includes events such as Artists and Authors Night and the Keynote Presentation Transformation: From Fan to Fandom, this challenge is centered around the wonderful creativity of the Harry Potter fandom.

The prompt for all participants is the same, but the challenge is divided into three divisions by medium. The Sugar Quill, one of the Harry Potter fandom's first fanfiction archives, welcomes entries from fanfiction authors. FictionAlley, a repository of fanfiction, fanart, discussion and more, encourages artists to show their skills. The Leaky Cauldron, the premier Harry Potter news site, hosts essayists and their work.

For the prompt, A Phoenix Moment, and rules, please go here: http://community.livejournal.com/fromashandflame/17625.html

Keynote Presentations

All of Phoenix Rising's Keynote Presentations are selling out quickly! To let you know where we are, there are fewer than one hundred tickets still available for Transformation: From Fan to Fandom, a panel at the Aquarium of the Americas featuring noted fandom academic Henry Jenkins, as well as Harry Potter website founders Melissa Anelli (The Leaky Cauldron), Simon Branford (FictionAlley) and Jennie Levine (The Sugar Quill). Additionally, Transformation: From Influence to Inspiration, the Keynote Presentation featuring Dr. Anne Hiebert Alton, has fewer than fifty tickets still available. This presentation also allows attendees private access to the Musée Conti Wax Museum, featuring historical exhibits and a "haunted dungeon." Finally, if you’re interested in a squashy, purple sleeping bag, you should purchase one now. We only have 20 left to sell! For more information on all the Keynote Presentations, please see http://www.thephoenixrises.org/programming/keynotes/ or to purchase tickets to any of our events or a sleeping bag, please visit http://www.thephoenixrises.org/registration/.

Vendors

During Phoenix Rising, our Vendor Room will give you the opportunity to purchase merchandise, gifts and souvenirs from our vendors and sponsors, including Harry Potter merchandise, general wizarding supplies and costumes, writing and artwork, and items unique to New Orleans. We are pleased to announce there are only five places left for vendors, so if you run a business, have something to sell, or know of a business that would be perfect for Phoenix Rising's vendor room, please visit http://www.thephoenixrises.org/support/vendorroom/index.html for more information.

Our confirmed vendors include Whimsic Alley and Fairy Tales and Dragon Scales. More information on these vendors is available at http://www.thephoenixrises.org/support/vendorroom/vendors.html. We have many more vendors waiting in the wings, and Phoenix Rising will include them on the website as soon as they finalize their vendor reservations.

Houses

By now, most attendees who have registered for Phoenix Rising should have received a House welcome letter from a faculty member of L’Université des Arts Magiques. (If you did not, please first check your bulk mail and spam folders. If you have not received the email, please contact registration@thephoenixrises.org. If you registered during December or January, you will receive your sorting shortly, if you have not already.)

A number of L'Université's students have been diligently reviewing their House histories – http://www.thephoenixrises.org/connect/l_universite/houses.html – and during their research a few members of Pontalbòn House have discovered a previously unknown ghost wandering the dorms.

Group spokesperson Emily, who has clearly passed her N.E.W.T.s, says, "The Pontalbòn ghost is known as the Unknown Architect. He died in a fight with a gargoyle and now the gargoyle and Architect are destined to guard the school together, until they can agree on a few stylistic questions. I tried to get some more information out of him, but the gargoyle was sneaking around the art supplies room with a brush and a bucket of gray paint. The Unknown Architect ran off to protect the Gallery before I could ask anything else."

Many of the buildings around New Orleans built from the mid 1700s to the mid 1800s are attributed to an “unknown architect.” Emily hopes their research at L'Université's famous library will bring recognition back to the true genius behind these buildings – the Unknown Architect. For more information, or if you'd like to help Emily and her fellow scholars with their research, please visit the Pontalbòn chat community at pontalbonhouse.livejournal.com.

Downloads

If you'd like to show your House Pride around the internet, make sure to visit http://www.thephoenixrises.org/connect/downloads/ for avatars and desktops featuring the L'Université des Arts Magiques House crests.

Meeting Attendees

Are you heading to Phoenix Rising and not sure that you'll know anyone on site? Do you want to chat about your plans before you arrive, or want to exchange the perfect gumbo recipe? Phoenix Rising has lots of different ways for you to meet other attendees before you arrive! Check out the "Meet and Connect" section of our website for more ideas - http://www.thephoenixrises.org/connect/meet/ - as well as the links below.

Our message boards are available at http://www.thephoenixrises.org/forum. There, you can ask all sorts of questions about Phoenix Rising in the Questions forum (I'm afraid we can't tell you the meaning of "Deathly Hallows" – although we can probably make something up!) You can find travel partners or roommates, or just chat about everything and anything on our Off-Topic board.

If you'd like to chat with your housemates, you can find them on the message boards at http://www.thephoenixrises.org/forum/index.php?board=7.0, or at the individual House LiveJournals:
[Bad username: âlumienhouseâ]
[Bad username: âpontalbonhouseâ]
[Bad username: âbellerevehouseâ]
[Bad username: âzodicohouseâ]

PhoenixChat is the official off-topic LiveJournal, where you can chat about anything and everything with the Phoenix Rising staff and attendees. It can be found at [Bad username: âphoenixchatâ], and membership is open to everyone with a LiveJournal account, which are free.

Finally, if you’d like to chat with other attendees in a more traditional way, you can sign up for Phoenix Post during registration. The mailing address of a fellow Housemate will be emailed to you, and a third Housemate will receive your mailing address. You’ll then have two attendees to correspond with before meeting up in New Orleans, should you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

My presentation was accepted, so why isn't it up on the accepted proposals page?

We only publish accepted proposals once all of the presenters for each proposal have registered and paid, because that confirms for us that you're committed to attending and presenting. If you have registered, your proposal might be waiting for some editing and formatting behind the scenes before it can be published, which may take another week or two. Your patience is appreciated!

Do I have to tell you about my tickets or other presentations as presenter conflicts? What about Rendezvous?

Nope! We'll check your keynote tickets, professional Quidditch status, and any other presentations when we schedule you. Additionally, no presentations will be scheduled across from keynote lunches, which helps us avoid most of the conflicts. We want to know if you have jury duty, a court date, a wedding, or a paper to give at another conference during the same time period, though. Unfortunately, we can't take Rendezvous into account as we make the schedule – we can only guarantee not to schedule you in two places at once and to accommodate as many of the pre-requested audio-visual needs as possible.

Can I still submit art for the gallery?

Yes, if you know the secret link: http://www.thephoenixrises.org/submissions/exploratory/. The absolute last day to submit art – whether it's your version of Ron's knit cap, stills from your fanfilm, costumes for display only, a scale model of Hagrid's hut, or your original drawing of Oliver Wood – is January 19, 2007. If you are a fanartist who has a digital piece that you are unable to print and ship to the conference, please write us at gallery@thephoenixrises.org to chat about options.

Do you still need artists for the Paintbrush and Quill Society?

Yes! There are still some very creative and very, very patient authors waiting for a collaborator. If you'd like to pinch hit through drawing, painting, photography, illuminations, needlework or some other medium that could become part of a book and can complete your project on a timeline, please use the Change My Registration option to add it as a lagniappe.

As always, if you have any questions or queries about Phoenix Rising, please contact us at help@thephoenixrises.org.

phoenix_kirstee @ 2006-10-10T02:57:00

2006-10-10T03:02:04Z

Welcome to the October issue of From Ash and Flame! We have witches, werewolves, zombies and trolls galore – or at least, we have Friday the 13th and Halloween all in one month!

Programming

Over the last few weeks, we've posted a number of very detailed posts regarding programming, presenting, and the submissions process. A question and answer guide is available here: http://community.livejournal.com/fromashandflame/7362.html. Additionally, our most recent entry with topic suggestions and collaborator requests is here: http://community.livejournal.com/fromashandflame/10440.html.

The submissions deadline for presentations is November 1 – just a few short weeks away. If you've been considering submitting, whether it's a presentation, a roundtable, a fanfiction reading, fanart, or anything else you can think of, now's the time! More information about programming of all types, including the submissions system, is available at http://www.thephoenixrises.org/programming/, and you can always e-mail us at programming@thephoenixrises.org.

__________________________________________

Houses

L'Université des Arts Magiques is pleased to announce that their administrative staff have finally found their way through the Writing Department, and have allowed Phoenix Rising and the Heads of House to begin distributing sorting results. All attendees will receive a welcoming letter from their Head of House: Professor Roxanne Conrad, Bellereve House for writers and readers; Professor Christine Gengaro, Zodico House for musicians and those who love music; Professor Michael Bolton, Lumién House for filmmakers, actors and tellers of tales; and Professor Majorie Manifold, Pontalbòn House for artists, architects and designers.

If you registered prior to September and you haven't received your letter, please check your spam or bulk mail folder; if it isn't in there, please e-mail us at registration@thephoenixrises.org with your username and e-mail address. If you registered during September or October, your results should arrive quite soon.
__________________________________________

HP Humor, Tickle Me Harry and Phoenix Rising Haunted Halloween Challenge

As part of Phoenix Rising’s fabulous showcase of the Harry Potter fandom (the main feature of which is Artists and Authors Night), we are co-presenting a series of challenges across our incredible fandom. LiveJournal communities [Unknown LJ tag], [Unknown LJ tag], and Phoenix Rising will come together for this one special month to present you with the funniest fanfiction challenge this side of Halloween.

A fanfiction contest with the theme or prompt of 'Haunted Halloween', the Challenge will see the winner, selected by a panel of judges, awarded a $25 LiveJournal gift certificate. For more information, please see the post at http://community.livejournal.com/fromashandflame/9914.html or visit either of the two communities involved.
__________________________________________

The Quidditch Pitch and Phoenix Rising - The Magic Behind the Masque Challenge Results

The challenge co-sponsored by The Quidditch Pitch and Phoenix Rising, The Magic Behind the Masque, is now closed, and we're pleased to report that author Modestyrabnott was the winner. Find out more and link to all the fanfiction produced for the challenge on The Quidditch Pitch at
http://thequidditchpitch.org/thepitch/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=64. Modestryabnott will receive a $25 gift certificate from Anytime Costumes and a custom banner made by dream_wia_dream. Congratulations!
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PotterCast

We're pleased to announce that PotterCast, the award-winning Harry Potter podcast produced by The Leaky Cauldron, will be recording a special live edition during the Thursday Overture event. Following a Southern-style, buffet dinner that includes fried chicken, barbequed ribs and fried catfish, PotterCast will take place in the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton New Orleans. All attendees are invited to this special event. The evening will also feature the opening of the Gallery and the Vendor Room.

PotterCast joins SpellCast as an official podcast of Phoenix Rising. SpellCast will take place during Saturday evening's Artists and Authors night and will feature fanfic readings, fan interviews, and more!
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Quidditch

All supporters of the Betas Anonymous Punctuation Pixies are encouraged to head over to the Quidditch Department – http://www.thephoenixrises.org/events/quidditch/teams.html – for your icons and desktops featuring the new Pixies logo. The Bayou Quidditch League is pleased to have one team finalized, and is not surprised that the Punctuation Pixies were the first to complete the requisite forms. The League does suspect the Pixies of stealing the other teams' forms, but this, of course, cannot be verified.

There is also a strong rumor that the Pontchartrain Pirates will be the next team to enter the competition for the Delta Cup. We're sure that they'll be submitting their forms just as soon as they're finished stashing what's left of the rum.
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Terminus

Narrate Conferences, with a characteristic love of forward planning and spreadsheets, has announced Terminus, a Harry Potter conference, to be held at the historic Hilton Chicago Hotel, August 7 –11, 2008. For more information, please see the Terminus LiveJournal at http://terminus2008.livejournal.com.
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FAQ

Are there types of programming you won't accept?

We accept all sorts of presentations, from papers to films to discussions and beyond. We have sample presentation styles on our Elements page – http://www.thephoenixrises.org/programming/academic/cfp/elements.html – but you are welcome to propose something that goes beyond what we have listed. Otherwise, we do have a restriction on the presentation of any material considered NC-17, and will of course not allow any presentation that infringes on another's trademarks or copyrights. This is not meant to restrict topics, even those dealing with sensitive material; an analysis presented in a thoughtful manner can certainly take on a mature topic. If you have any questions about whether or not something might be inadmissible, please e-mail programming @ thephoenixrises.org.

Can I wear my costume to Phoenix Rising?

Of course you can! We welcome costumes at all of our programming and events, and our masquerade ball practically requires them! You may wish to bring Muggle clothes, however, as some of New Orleans' more upscale restaurants do have a dress code. Many of our attendees will wear street clothes rather than costumes. Costumes are never required.

Please feel free to e-mail help @ thephoenixrises.org with questions.

Programming Special Edition

2006-08-23T11:50:16Z

A note from Kirstee, Chair of Communications:
This is the transcript of a chat that I had with Hallie, one of Phoenix Rising's lead event organizers. We know that making proposals to be part of conference programming can sometimes be confusing or scary, so we wanted to shed some light on the process through a question and answer session.

How To: Programming Special Edition

Click to jump to a section:

Be Part of Programming

How Programming is Chosen

Academic Submissions (papers/lectures, panels, workshops, roundtables, and the like)

Exploratory Submissions (art gallery and creative things for Artists and Authors Night: fanfiction readings, fanart portfolios, and drabble/sketch/beta reading/art critique booths)

Presenter Requirements

How to Prepare Your Proposal

Early Decisions

Previously Presented Programming

Idea Exchange

---------------------------

Be Part of Programming
Kirstee: Hi! I heard you had a bit of time to chat with me about programming, so I'm going to blitz you with all sorts of questions, especially since I know Phoenix Rising is hoping to get a variety of proposals of all sorts from fans, and also on fan topics.

Hallie: Sure. Ask away.

Kirstee: First of all, how can I become part of programming?

Hallie: Well, we do organize some programming as a conference –- we arrange for keynote speakers, for example, and we choose some overall themes. and we set the overall structure so that we can have large-scale events like Artists and Authors Night. We also arrange challenges, games, and other informal activities, and though we don't organize meetups, we have a program called Rendezvous to help you connect with others who share your passion.

That said, most of the programming that you'll find at Phoenix Rising will be proposed by fans, professionals (teachers, lawyers, librarians, businesspeople, and so on), academics, and casual fans of the Harry Potter series.

Kirstee: Okay. I'd like you to have a roundtable on Remus, and a workshop on writing –-

Hallie: (Laughing.) Actually, I don't choose the programming. I oversee and support the programming volunteer staff, and I answer big conference questions and stuff, but I don't have a hand in selecting which submissions we'll include in the final schedule from the submitted proposals. It would be accurate to describe me as an observer who hangs around to make sure things stay on track and that we hold up the educational part of our purpose. So I can't be bribed, and you can't get accepted just because I like you. To explain further, I can't have an undue influence on the process, and I can't bring bias into it.

How Programming is Chosen

Kirstee: How does it work, then? Who chooses which proposals are accepted and which ones are inclined?

Hallie: We have a set of vetting boards on the website. (Well, most of them; we still have some biographies to collect.) That's one of the elements we take from the academic arena: a jury of your very qualified peers, diverse in their backgrounds and interests, and a mix of people who are familiar with this sort of thing and who are new to it, evaluate all of the proposals and choose which ones to accept. Each of the boards includes people who represent different academic and fan interests, and we think this is the best way to create a fair method for selecting programming. No one person has the entire vote on a presentation –- you are accepted or declined by a board.

So, yeah, we base this part of the conference programming on an academic model, even though we do also incorporate aspects of professional, media, and fan conferences too.

Kirstee: Is there a best sort of presentation to have? Is a paper the best thing, or a workshop, or...

Hallie: It's not quite that simple. In fact, we have two different submission systems:

an Academic Submissions System for papers, panels, workshops, and roundtables (of all kinds -– those academic, fannish, professional, and craft-oriented)
and an Exploratory Submissions System for Artists and Authors Night, for submitting things specifically for that event, such as fanfiction readings and fanart portfolios, booth staffing applications, and for the art gallery, which will be displayed for most of the conference.

Kirstee: Can you give me an overview of the different types of submissions? There are so many!

Hallie: There are! That's on purpose, because we want you to have a lot of options.

Academic Submissions

First, and most formal and traditional, are papers. You can submit a paper on your own or one that's co-written. This seems to work best for analyses where you want to sketch out your theory, and in an academic setting, you usually read or paper (or lecture, if you're comfortable with that) for about 15 to 20 minutes, and leave a few minutes for questions or discussion following that. Of course, if you're an experienced lecturer, you might want a longer time slot.

Another thing about paper submissions is that you can, as an individual, join with others to propose a pre-empaneled set of papers, if you really want to ensure that they'll be scheduled together back to back. In your time block, you can all take turns reading and taking questions, and of course you can ask questions of each other.

Kirstee: So –- does that mean there's no tracking? [Note: Tracking refers to grouping a type of programming in one room, whether it's a series of presentations on a TV series or putting academic analyses in one room and business-related topics in another.--Ed.]

Hallie: Oh, well, that's complicated.

We do get a lot of proposals that you could look at and right away say that's academic, that's fan, that's professional, that's creative, but that doesn't mean that the topics submitted in each area flow logically. We're also actively encouraging people in the different groups to share knowledge. I mean, as phoenix_amy noted the other day, the fans win at analysis, hands down. The straight academics win at the big picture and putting it in the context of their fields. The professionals and creative folks know how to apply and transform their topics.

So, the chance to teach someone or to learn from them, and just to get different perspectives, is a big part of this conference, and that's not even getting into how a lot of people are both professionals and fans, or academics working the creative fields, or some other crossover combination that gives them an unusual perspective. We do try to schedule topics into a logical flow in a room, but we definitely want to avoid marginalizing or isolating topics. There's no "kiddie table" here.

Scheduling is also complicated by things like room size, audio-visual availability, presenters with multiple presentations (because you don't want to schedule them across from themselves, and you want to give them time to breathe), and so on. Also, we know that when you make a proposal, you probably know how you can best get the information across, so we don't usually ask you to combine with someone else or change your format, though we from time to time have to impose a shorter time limit for very long presentations.

Since all of Phoenix Rising's scheduled programming is going to be on two adjacent floors in a single hotel –- and connected by escalators and a bank of elevators that also go directly to the guest rooms -– we think it will be easy to move from room to room to catch presentations that interest you.

Kirstee: So back to programming, then. There must be other types of presentations.

Hallie: Yes. Our online system is set up to take discussion panels, too, so those can be next. If you're more interested in talking about a topic with a few other interested parties before an audience, a discussion panel might be the way to go. You can take questions from the audience if you want, but the focus is on the discussion between panelists. These are particularly suited for talking about different viewpoints or experiences, come to think of it.

There's also the roundtable discussion option. These are meant to be intimate discussions that mirror the discussion section that would go with a college class. In nearly every case, these will be scheduled in rooms that can only hold about 30 people, because they're participatory, and if you have a big group, you don't get to hear from everyone. This is the only presentation style where we didn't build in a collaboration option, by the way, though it's possible to propose a jointly moderated roundtable. The reason for this is that it's hard for the discussion participants to know which moderator to follow, and it's actually something we've had a lot of negative feedback on [the jointly moderated option].

Anyway, roundtable discussions, in my experience, seem to go more smoothly when the moderator comes prepared with a lot of open-ended questions on a topic, and has an interest in the topic, but maybe not one that overrides their ability to let the discussion go where it needs to, whether they agree or not. It also seems to help if you can, as moderator, mostly ask questions and get the participants involved in the discussion, rather than steer the discussion they way you want it to go.

Kirstee: In other words, you might have a better time if you twist a friend's arm to submit a roundtable discussion about Stan Shunpike, if you're obsessed with him, so you can spend your time waxing poetic instead.

Hallie: Probably. As long as you have sufficient interest, at least. If you're not at all interested in Stan Shunpike, then you might want to look into Ollivander. I'm generalizing here, of course. It's possible to lead a roundtable about a topic that you're very interested in.

Anyway. Then there's the workshop option. Workshops are meant to be how-tos, hands-on, participatory... If you have something to teach, something that an attendee could sit in on and take away to do on their own, some way to help others in their craft of (for example) writing or art, a workshop might be the right option. We do try to limit the room capacity on these where possible, though not to the extent that we do with roundtables, and not in such small rooms. Think up to 100, maybe, for now. Ideally, the workshop leader or leaders can get around the room, facilitate discussion, and help people out if necessary.

Finally, we did create an "other" option, so that you could combine styles and create new ways of working with your audience. Maybe you'd like to have a panel discussion and then each panelist will split off and moderate discussions with a small group in the same room, or maybe you plan to hold a workshop and then have a set of pre-empaneled readings to wrap things up. There's a lot of flexibility in there.

Kirstee: And that's the Academic Submissions System?

Hallie: Right.

Exploratory Submissions

Kirstee: But there's also the Exploratory Programming Submissions System.

Hallie: Right again. For Phoenix Rising, programming is a huge part of our pre-New Orleans work, so we've split our work into two areas. One, the Academic Programming, coordinates all of the presentation proposals, the vetting process, and all of the correspondence that goes with that.

The other is the Exploratory Programming, which takes a more hands-on, immersive approach to educational programming. That team creates and coordinates things like writing and art challenges, games, the Remembrall Wall for exchanging fond memories related to Harry Potter, a Quest called the Horcrux Hunt –- things that you can drop in on to experience a little bit of the Harry Potter series or to use a different part of your brain in an informal setting. Exploratory Programming does, however, coordinate one important scheduled event: Artists and Authors Night.

Artists and Authors Night is an evening devoted entirely to the creativity of the online fandom. This is when we'll have our Wireless Web Network, and any online group or site that is a Phoenix Rising sponsor –- as long as we still have space –- will be provided with a table that they can use to meet with their group members and potential group members, hold their own challenges, and so on. It's when we'll hold organized Drabble and Drawble times, our official meet up for the registrants who have participated in the Paintbrush and Quill Society artists-authors collaboration (we still need artists), and we will probably ask a few fan-oriented presenters to go on this night, too, if what they're presenting on is directly related to fan creativity. (And don't think that it's just writing or art-oriented; I'm totally waiting for a knitters' presentation, for one!)

One of the things I look forward to the most is the fanfiction readings, fanart portfolios, and creativity booths. And that's where the Exploratory Programming submissions system comes in.

You can submit your fanfiction, either a single story, a bunch of short stories, or excerpts from one or more longer stories to read before an audience. If you're selected to read, you can read and discuss your fic or take questions, too.

A new thing we're trying out with Phoenix Rising is fanart portfolios. You can submit up to thirty of your pieces, and then bring them in (or show them with a computer) to an audience. We think it's a good way to show off your collection all at once, and gives you the chance to chat with people about your art without needing to put together a big talk, though we're sure the audience would love to hear commentary like what inspired a picture or what sort of media you used to create it.

If you have skills in beta reading, critiquing art (always the hardest booth to staff), drabbling, or sketching, you should apply to be a booth staffer! We're going to keep the booths open throughout the evening, and we're probably going to have staffers stay at a booth for an hour each to write or draw for other attendees, or to help them with their writing or art. And no more than an hour –- really. I've heard stories about people staffing their booth for hours after the fact, and while on the one hand I was amazed and touched and impressed, I was also HORRIFIED, because that wasn't supposed to happen! That doesn't sound like fun, in any case. So, yeah. Working on making booth staffing something that you don't have to sell your soul to participate in.

And the last thing that's sort of outside all of this is the art gallery. You can be accepted to the art gallery and have your work displayed even if you aren't able to attend (whereas with all the other presentations you have to be registered by a certain date to be included, or name a proxy to cover your presentation). We really want the gallery artists to come to Phoenix Rising, though, if they can, because alicey is working on a fabulous display, and one of our first events includes the opening of the art gallery, so it would be awesome to have the artists on hand to say thanks, and to get to talk to them about their art, and to appreciate what they've created.

Presenter Requirements

Kirstee: Speaking of participating, you have to submit a proposal for a paper, or fanfic or fanart, or some art for the gallery, or a booth staffer application, to be considered. Can anyone submit, or do you have to be in college, or a professor, or have so many reviews... All right, I do know the answer to this one, but I want to hear it again anyway.

Hallie: And I don't mind repeating it. The only requirement we have to make a proposal is that you be eligible to attend the conference, meaning that you'll be at least 18 years of age on the first day of the conference, or at least 14 with a registered chaperone. Many submitters have some other qualification to present, whether it's a Ph.D. or extensive fandom knowledge or a published book or years of teaching or...you get the picture. But I've known people with a Ph.D. to read their fanfiction while down the hall someone in their first year of college read an awesome formal analytic paper, so there you have it. And, quite honestly, the vetting boards are really interested in what you have to say, not who you are.

Kirstee: (Joking.) I'm not guaranteed a slot because I'm an oldbie?

Hallie: Nope, sorry!

This might be a good time to interject that what you've heard is true: It has to be submitted to be considered. It's not uncommon to hear someone unhappy that a conference program didn't include much (or any) on a particular topic, and then find out that little or nothing was even submitted, much less accepted.

How to Prepare Your Proposal

Kirstee: I know you don't make any decisions, but can you give me some tips on how to get my proposal accepted?

Hallie: Sure! At least, I can tell you what I've noticed from observing various vetting boards in action and serving on them in the past.

First, make sure you have all your materials together before you make a submission. Read the instructions carefully. If you're not sure about what information you need, ask programming@thephoenixrises.org. We don't bite. In fact, we appreciate having the opportunity to help you clarify the submissions process before you get stuck or frustrated.

Next, have a trusted friend or beta reader go over your submission. One glaring typo probably won't kill you, but a sloppy submission won't impress the board. They have no way of telling whether you're a good public speaker, or whether you're good at leading a discussion, or anything else, but they can tell if you're not prepared at the time of submission.

If your submission includes a bio, use that space to explain why you're a qualified or interested person to give the presentation. Note what you're interested in, what you've studied, or how you've been involved with the topic. Information like studying gender issues at Imadeitup College, is the owner of a forum dedicated to the discussion of Aberforth Dumbledore, is the author of seventeen stories about Snape, is interested in house-elves as a metaphor for bellhops, or teaches a unit on Harry Potter at Muggle Middle School every spring goes in here. Stuff like has three children, enjoys mountain biking, and craves chocolate more than Remus Lupin probably doesn't. Bios should be in third person, but we'll edit them for you if they're not (and we often edit for space reasons anyway).

Then there's the summary. It should be a short blurb that describes what you're going to do, and it should let the audience know exactly what you're going to focus on. You don't need to tell people to come; they'll attend if they're excited about your topic. Unlike a fanfiction summary, this shouldn't be just a teaser with "Read on to hear the ending!" tacked on. I'm not great at summaries, but here's a sample:

Cho Chang is one of the most hated characters in fandom, both because she wouldn't date Harry (and then she would), and because of her friendship with the traitorous Marietta Edgecombe. Are her actions any more reprehensible than those of well-loved characters of her generation, like Ginny and Hermione? Does she deserve her status as hated character due to canon and fan interpretations? In this roundtable, we will discuss these questions as well as Cho Chang's purpose and future in the series.

And someone can totally steal that summary, if they want. And that also leads into the abstract part of the proposal, which is where a lot of people go wrong.

Your abstract is the short version of your presentation. It's the whole thing in a 500-word (or fewer words) nutshell. The biggest mistake that submitters make is treating their abstract like it's a summary. They'll spell out what their argument is, and then fail to include the supporting evidence, or their sources, or how they're going to prove their theory when overwhelming evidence to the contrary exists. Or, they'll put everything out there and say something like "...and all of these pieces of evidence let us draw conclusions about Book Seven" –- and then they don't say what the conclusions are. Spoil the vetting board about your presentation. They need to know that you have a thoughtful conclusion instead of 45 minutes of great material followed by 5 minutes of crackpot ideas.

Also, the vetting board wants to know that you have a clear plan. No "maybe we'll do this, or maybe someone in the audience will suggest something, or if you want, I could...". Bring a completed abstract, not your first draft. Your paper doesn't have to be complete, and you don't have to know exactly what's going to happen every second of your workshop, but the more information you can provide, the better. Oh, and the board doesn't care what you're going to wear, either, since that comes up pretty regularly. Costumes, professional clothes, casual wear -– as long as it doesn't violate any laws, go you.

Another place where presentations sometimes go wrong is that they can be infringing, but we'll usually contact you if we see this. Taking on a topic, even one that's sensitive, can be done as a study, and that prevents a lot of infringement. Oh, and we don't accept NC-17 programming, but again, it's a matter of how you present your topic, not the topic of the presentation. If you're not sure whether your proposal includes NC-17 material or not, you can always contact us. We're happy to help hash out subtleties before you submit.

Kirstee: Does all of this work for the Exploratory Programming submissions, too? The fanart, fanfic, and booth applications? And the gallery?

Hallie: Pretty much, yeah. You still want to put together a polished proposal, even if you don't need to include all of the information I just talked about. For fanfiction, make sure you've checked your piece over carefully; the vetters will choose readings that represent as many styles, characters, themes, and ships as possible. For fanart, both for the gallery and for a portfolio showing, check your rating (here, as with the fanfic -- and the other presentations -- nothing over an R) and that you're not using a disallowed file type, since the vetters need to have the ability to open your files to check out your art.

For the booth applications, the beta reading and art critique applications include some samples to go over and give feedback on. Thoughtful responses to the samples to be critiqued show the vetters that you have the skill to work with people who want your opinions face to face. For the drabble booth, pick out some drabbles that represent your flexibility, since you never know that you'll be requested to write on the spot. For the sketch booth, we really do want to see what you can sketch on small pieces of paper or conference badges in just a minute or two, so line art or other simple pieces are great for this.

Early Decisions

Kirstee: I notice there's an early decision option if you get your proposal in by September 1, 2006. How does that work?

Hallie: That's specifically to help people whose employer or university has a conference attendance assistance program, and specifically for when the presenter needs to know in the early fall that they have a conference coming up so they can get funding for registration or travel.

In general, the boards don't start making selections until just before or after the submission deadline (November 1, 2006), so if you don't have a legitimate and verified early decision request, you won't hear back by September 10, 2006; you'll be considered a regular decision.

That said, we try to notify accepted presenters as soon as the board makes the decision so that they can take care of registering and making travel plans, so it's pretty likely that you'll know about your submission before December 1, 2006.

Previously Presented Programming

Kirstee: What's your policy on presentations that have been given at other conventions?

Hallie: We don't have an official policy. This is actually a tricky question to answer, because it's only really starting to come up now that there have been other conventions, conferences, symposia, and books published.

On the one hand, at every gathering there are going to be new people who have never heard your presentation before, or who have never had the opportunity to think about or discuss topics that in some circles have been talked about to death ages ago. So if you have presented something elsewhere and want to present the same thing again, feel free to propose it.

On the other, of course, is the fact that there are attendees who have been present at nearly every Harry Potter conference –- and the world isn't standing still. If you have a previously presented proposal, can that become five minutes of background for part two? How about a different angle? A different format? Something that connects your ideas to themes in our call for papers? Or something else entirely new? There are all sorts of things that have never been a topic, and all sorts of perennial favorites, like Snape, that beg for new presentations that appeal to newbies and oldbies alike.

Idea Exchange

Kirstee: One last question from me and then I'll post this and open it up to everyone. I have some ideas for presentations, and I'm also interested in finding co-presenters. Do you have any resources for that?

Hallie: Absolutely. We have a forum on our message boards for posting things programming-related, and coming up shortly, we're going to host an idea exchange here on fromashandflame. If you want to drop off an idea or summary, or pick up one that someone else doesn't want, feel free to do so on the forums or in the upcoming idea exchange posts.

Kirstee: As always, comments are welcome here, and you can e-mail programming questions to programming@thephoenixrises.org, and general questions to help@thephoenixrises.org.