This sounds find, except for the accommodation.
There will also be a question of cost to consider, I mean for the speakers.
I know that these days contributors are often expected to pay their fares,
etc etc., but we have never worked that way. So it would mean probably
restricting non-local speakers to not speaking earlier than a day-return
ticket would permit, unless we want to pay their accomm. This will increase
the fee we charge. And would we expect BASA C'ttee members to pay their own
fares & accomm?
If we are on a campus, presumably there are canteens so we would not have to
bother about lunch. Or are they not open over the weekend?
I am all for exapnding our concerns beyond those listed in the petition
signed by people a the conference. And, I doubt a two-day meeting, unless
those who can afford to would want to join with the local event, if that
takes place.
It is quite unlikely that we can do more than outline the conference in the
Sept. Newsletter, and call for speakers. Actual froms cld go out in the Dec.
issue.

Marika
.......................




>Dear all,

As you will hopefully recall, at the AGM the idea of having a major
education focused conference in 2005 was discussed.  Carolyn Abel offered
to see if she could negotiate the conference happening at University
College Northampton.  This she has been working on, and has successfully
done on our behalf. We can have the dates 9/10 April, but without
residential accommodation on campus (because students are still in rooms).
However, local B&Bs are quite reasonable, and lists will be available from
tourist information (which we can circulate).  UCN will provide free
day-time accommodation, and will allow us to use an outside caterer for
lunches (we might also consider a conference dinner some where?). College
will provide tea/coffee supplies, hot water urns and crockery (£2 per
head). We can use the best conference rooms, in Cottesbrooke building
(including lecture theatre, large room for refreshments, and as many
classrooms as we need).  There is a proposal to run another conference
locally on teaching BH in schools and if that goes ahead we intend to
dovetail with this event, at least for one day.

Please can people contact me and Carolyn with ideas for speakers and
comments on the structures of the day around papers, discussions of best
practice and workshops for discussion and the development of ideas for
teaching packs etc.  However, I think we would hope to expand beyond
schools and also include issues of further education - looking at Master's
courses, numbers of people doing PhDs and what they are researching, what
is taught a degree level etc. Also if people would be happy to lead a
workshop or two please let us know.

I think we should aim to have details of the conference + registration form
ready to be sent out with the September Newsletter. If people have
suggestions of other places to advertise please let me know.