Minutes June 2006 Steering Comm (and follow-up with President Fred Barton)

Bright Ideas Steering Committee Meeting
Convener: MSU Conference Coordinator Janet Swenson (jswenson@msu.edu)
June 14, 2006
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
(follow-up meeting with Fred Barton, MCTE President, July 11, 2006)
In attendance: Lori Yegge, Jason Wirtz, Sue Steffel, Marilyn Wilson, Amy Huntley, Joy Durding, Collin Craig, Rachel Foreman, Julie Achterberg, Nancy Tucker


I. Introductions
a. Introducing ourselves
b. Revising the agenda

Working Agenda

II. Defining our work and purpose
a. Who is the primary target audience? Who are the secondary audiences? Do we plan to make any changes in primary or secondary audiences?

Fewer competing conferences 25 years ago; we tended to get secondary teachers from the area. The number of teachers attending has fallen off, but there has been an increase in the number of English Education students from around the state. We have tried to populate the steering committee with more elementary teachers, but haven’t been as successful as we would like. El ed teachers tend to go to MRA.

Do el ed teachers see the spring conference as applicable to their interests—or too dispersed to meet their needs?

We need more elementary presenters if we are to be appealing to other elementary teachers?

If pre-service teachers have a good experience, they will come back.

We need to increase the number of in-service teachers.

[per Fred: there are about 400 members of MCTE]

GOALS: Increase the number of in-service teachers, keep a good balance between pre- and in-service teachers, increase the number of elementary-level teachers, although due to competition for their conference attendance, they may remain a secondary audience. (Highest count over last several years has been 600; last year was about 300. The last conference was in direct competition with MRA. Avoid Easter, CCCC, Spring breaks, MRA—see conflict scheduler with State of Michigan for any potential conflicts on April 14, 2007. Check on some parent teacher conference schedules. End of university semester is in early May. Should we check on a Friday?

NEXT STEPS: gather data on various locations (availabilities/prices/rooms-ballroom, 27 sessions for whole day, about 4 rotations,, book room, lunch, ); Survey Monkey – get to know more about teachers and conferences

i. Given the primary and secondary audiences, should we attempt to expand the Steering Committee to be more representative of these audiences?

[republish list of 10 largest districts; think about rural and suburban district representation – maybe get rural representation through the counties; become additionally targeted in asking whether they are meeting their needs; do we have a database of past attendees? Last year’s attendees – Did you enjoy the conference? What do you want to see this year? We should build and track from this point? Pin—show us where you’re from colors (show elementary, middle, secondary, post-secondary)?

Do attendees see the conference as an opportunity to network? Lunch is a good opportunity for this. Alumni of…meet in this spot…$5 off if you bring a team of three or more

We’ve done strands, but not formalized…could have focused topics at lunch tables….roundtables [box lunches?] that are focused on themes—grants, publication opps, summer workshops,

Lunch needs to be FUN! Storyteller – Yams & Mules; Sara Holbrook; Poetry Alive; Open Mic – Teachers as Writers

b. What do we understand to be the primary purpose of the Bright Ideas Spring Conference? What do we understand to be secondary purposes? Do we want to delete, amend or add to those purposes?

Primary purpose: Professional network and some stuff along the way; “Best practices”; acceptable to have some “dud” ideas—something I can use next week; new ways to examine practice;

Teachers are tired…they want to be there for something they can do next week—not major revisions to practice; after folks get professional development hours will they return? They want practical ideas

Last year only four people applied for CEUs, 1st, 2nd and 3rd year teachers were picking up 5 hours of needed PD hours;

Many teachers are just becoming mothers; issues of too many demands – Friday does have some advantages – not more time away from child.

Hybrid – Computers & Writing as example

Friday & Saturday – workshops on Friday (digital storytelling, website development, etc); conference on Saturday; or pre-conference workshop or opt for the afternoon in a workshop;

Pre-conference workshops – do they require conference registration?

Conference charges – too much, too little (does charging too little suggest that we’re not worth much?)

Best idea our school had last year – poster session? Students have expressed interest in poster sessions – we would have to invite these because not many folks have submitted these in the past


c. What conference structures have we used in the past? Do we wish to delete, amend or add to those structures?
d. What situations do we need to have in our peripheral vision as we set about conference planning (budgetary concerns, space concerns, etc.)

III. Conference site
a. Should we continue to use the Union? Continues to be the best price; we will lose two technology classrooms that will be given to other depts.; we can use the sunporch; we can use the Purdue room on the 4th floor; the ballroom is still available (the keynote has been in the parlors) [1000 maxs out the Lansing Center] Check with Union; Erickson created security and food issues; union is convenient to Grand River—people try to help

b. What restrictions does this create for us?
c. What inherent opportunities does it create?

IV. Conference focus
a. Theme?
b. Keynote? (share cost with someone else? $1500) Ernest Morrell was great; big name will get us more people; Jeff Wilhelm drew a big crowd – ran over (back up plan for running over); Christopher Paul Curtis was a big draw; author might be better known to in-service teachers;
c. Laurie Halse Anderson;
d. Chris Crutcher; (maybe bounce between English educators and YA authors);
e. Veronica Mars creator – Rob Thomas former English educator; Rats Saw God;
f. Sleeping Bear Press local;
g. Jack Gantos – Hole in My Life;
h. Tom Romano,
i. Jeff Daniels – moviemaking in the classroom – workshop tie-in [Rose theatre in Chelsea]; doing promote Michigan ads, promoting Michigan schools/teachers—does he work with Chelsea teachers?
j. Bill Strong
k. Mitch Albom

Anderson, Crutcher, Daniels
Crutcher, Daniels, Romano
Romano, Daniels (might draw an eclectic crowd)
Daniels,, Anderson, Strong
Daniels, Anderson, Crutcher, Gantos (any seem like a decent idea)
Daniels (moviemaking and digital storytelling)
Daniels, Anderson, Romano
Daniels (only person I know on the list)
Daniels, Anderson, Thomas
Daniels, Anderson (journalism background; book made into movie; digital storytelling)

Late Adds: Walter Dean Myers

Check Michigan celebrities
Governor’s office or Hollister – Michigan connections

Daniels (10), Anderson (6), Crutcher/Romano (3), Strong/Ganto/Thomas (1)

THEME: Storytellers in a Media Age (theme needs to be direct and vague – should there be a colon?)


[MCTE Executive Board – 30-some people; September next meeting, then October Conference, then November meeting, then January meeting]

V. Conference Tasks: What would we add to these?
* Prepare a conference budget. (look for one in Marilyn’s files!)
* Set the schedule for completing tasks leading to the conference.
* Negotiate contracts with site.
* Recommend and correspond with keynote and luncheon speakers/entertainer
* Prepare and distribute call for proposals (if concurrent sessions)
* Arrange for evaluation of proposals - Set the flow of the conference and plan the program.
* Correspond with proposers
* Create data base of accepted proposals/assigning days/times/rooms
* Create program - Prepare session descriptions from selected participants
* Create conference website
* Recruit and train conference staff/volunteers.
* Manage conference crises.
* Develop session and conference evaluations.
* Ensure bills are paid.
* Develop conference notices, brochures, and registration forms.
* Communicate with conference registrants.
* Order conference supplies, materials, and equipment; work with suppliers.
* Prepare name badges, signs, banners, and the program book.
* Order room setups for workshops/sessions.
* Handle logistics for VIPs.
* Recruit and train conference staff/volunteers.
* Process conference registrations in the office and onsite.