The upcoming Congress
Before I start, I would like to congratulate my friends Andrew Franklin and Dawn Xavier on their recent engagement. I'm really happy for you guys.
Well, this update has been a long time coming.
My work organizes every year the Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences, one of the largest gatherings of academics, with scholars from all over the world attending. During the Congress, a book fair is held. This is the largest multi-disciplinary book fair in North America. And as of last November, I am the coordinator of said book fair, incharge of every aspect of it. AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, we got that out of the way. :-) Actually, I really like the job. My previous post, as Programme officer (which I still hold), was sometimes slow. Certain periods of the year were dead, since academics have to go do their research to write their manuscripts and send them to me. So the position of book fair coordinator offers me new challenges and I really enjoy that.
Editors and university presses, whom I deal with through the Programme, have said numerous times that I do an amazing job at the Programme (they really do, I'm not just tooting my own horn here), and I tried to bring the same dedication to the book fair. I worked really hard so far and I beleive it will pay off as I was able to pull off a major coup. For the first time in 15 years, and for the first time in the history of the Congress Book Fair, french publishers will be present at this year's fair! For a few years now, delegates have been asking where the french publishers were, but they never came to the Congress when it was held outside of Québec. But I worked my ass off (and threw a good sales pitch, it would seem), and this year, some french publishers will be present under the banner of the Association nationale des éditeurs de livres (ANEL). So hooray for me!
Now the only downside to this year's Congress is it's location: York University in Toronto. From the very beginning, they have cost us nothing but headaches, and they are still doing so, 2 weeks before the start of Congress. The Federation (my work) and the host university are supposed to work hand in hand to make the Congress a success. But I, and my co-workers, have the impression that we are making plans and York agrees with them, only to change them on their own to suit themselves. To me, they represent the classic Toronto attitude: we are better than you. They are giving me the impression that they are saying "well, you people should feel priviledge that we are allowing you to use our facilities for your event." That's really the impression I am getting from them. The bookstore seems to beleive that they are the ones running the book fair and the events attached to it. We are not pleased about all this.
And I beleive that we are all looking forward to the end of Congress so we can put the York mess behind us. I am looking forward to next year's Congress, which will be held at the University of Saskatchewan. I'm excited about going there, as I've never been. Also, it will then be my second book fair, and I will have a better idea of what I'm doing.
I will try to post regular updates during the Congress, or if I can't during, then after.
There was not alot of explicit language in this post, and for those who wanted that sort of thing, I don't want to disappoint you:
Cocksucking, motherfucking Buffalo Sabres! Who the fuck ever heard of a little punk called Pommeville or whatever his fucking name is.
Oh well, the Sens beat themselves in my opinion. But that's a story for another time.
Well, this update has been a long time coming.
My work organizes every year the Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences, one of the largest gatherings of academics, with scholars from all over the world attending. During the Congress, a book fair is held. This is the largest multi-disciplinary book fair in North America. And as of last November, I am the coordinator of said book fair, incharge of every aspect of it. AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, we got that out of the way. :-) Actually, I really like the job. My previous post, as Programme officer (which I still hold), was sometimes slow. Certain periods of the year were dead, since academics have to go do their research to write their manuscripts and send them to me. So the position of book fair coordinator offers me new challenges and I really enjoy that.
Editors and university presses, whom I deal with through the Programme, have said numerous times that I do an amazing job at the Programme (they really do, I'm not just tooting my own horn here), and I tried to bring the same dedication to the book fair. I worked really hard so far and I beleive it will pay off as I was able to pull off a major coup. For the first time in 15 years, and for the first time in the history of the Congress Book Fair, french publishers will be present at this year's fair! For a few years now, delegates have been asking where the french publishers were, but they never came to the Congress when it was held outside of Québec. But I worked my ass off (and threw a good sales pitch, it would seem), and this year, some french publishers will be present under the banner of the Association nationale des éditeurs de livres (ANEL). So hooray for me!
Now the only downside to this year's Congress is it's location: York University in Toronto. From the very beginning, they have cost us nothing but headaches, and they are still doing so, 2 weeks before the start of Congress. The Federation (my work) and the host university are supposed to work hand in hand to make the Congress a success. But I, and my co-workers, have the impression that we are making plans and York agrees with them, only to change them on their own to suit themselves. To me, they represent the classic Toronto attitude: we are better than you. They are giving me the impression that they are saying "well, you people should feel priviledge that we are allowing you to use our facilities for your event." That's really the impression I am getting from them. The bookstore seems to beleive that they are the ones running the book fair and the events attached to it. We are not pleased about all this.
And I beleive that we are all looking forward to the end of Congress so we can put the York mess behind us. I am looking forward to next year's Congress, which will be held at the University of Saskatchewan. I'm excited about going there, as I've never been. Also, it will then be my second book fair, and I will have a better idea of what I'm doing.
I will try to post regular updates during the Congress, or if I can't during, then after.
There was not alot of explicit language in this post, and for those who wanted that sort of thing, I don't want to disappoint you:
Cocksucking, motherfucking Buffalo Sabres! Who the fuck ever heard of a little punk called Pommeville or whatever his fucking name is.
Oh well, the Sens beat themselves in my opinion. But that's a story for another time.
posted by Angry_Man at 4:11 p.m.
0 comments
