My fellow organizers can share some takes on the Fringe Cafe and aesthetics. I will be at the AOM, and seeing aesthetics folks get together is nice.
One recommendation for the Fringe was to become a division, so that is not an idea without legs. 95% of us voted that we get the other 5% to do all the paperwork.
The Fringe got.... discontinued... not renewed... lost our lease... There was no ax, it's just that no one told us where the next Academy was... a polite un-invited.
Actually, I had a long talk with Ken Smith about it all... he was nice...
One account is that we grew TOO FAST. In New Orleans, we stole the show. Tom Cummings was so kind, and gave us sooo much space and time (the scarce resources of a conference). Then some "real" divisions asked, "Who in the heck are they and why do they get a ballroom for a week?" Not fair. And it wasn't fair... we had it too good. Our list of presenters was stellar (some real fancy pants folks) and the rooms were often packed.
So, we had to become legit (if we had the interest) or go away. We died out... some of us literally... at it seemed a good time to go. We tried to remind ourselves that Michael Dawids (one of the founders) always said, "If we are still doing this in 3 years... it will be sad." (we will have stayed too long and not moved on to the next thing...). After Michael died, we were still there... and it might have been too long.
Can't some things go away and still leave us richer?
Hans
|