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Convention Alley - the 2008 HP event
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| Another Keynote Presenter Joins Convention Alley 2008! |
[23 May 2008|06:30pm] |
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Travis Prinzi will be adding two presentations to our line-up, bringing our total of keynote presentations up to 5. Mr. Prinzi has an M.A. in Theological Studies and is currently working on his M.S.Ed. in Secondary English Education. He presented at Prophecy last summer and will be speaking at Portus later this summer. He's also working on a book and is excited to be joining the world of published Harry Potter analysis. We're very pleased to be able to add Travis to growing schedule of events!
"Quills, Queries, and Quests: Literacy Learning in the Wizarding World"
When the term "literacy" is used in popular discourse, it most frequently refers simply to "the ability to read and write," and in education, it follows that becoming "literate" involves a process of rote repetition in order to get down basic "facts" and "skills" in order to become "literate." Literacy, however, is far more complex than that simple definition, and more than that, all constructions of literacy are inherently political. This presentation examines literacy in the Harry Potter series. Defining literacy as "changing participation" in a sociocultural setting, we will examine Harry and Muggleborns as outsiders to the dominant discourse; the way education is framed by Hogwarts teachers; the "Ministry-approved, theory-centered" curriculum of Delores Umbridge; the student subversion in the form of Dumbledore's Army; and finally, Albus Dumbledore's lessons with Harry as an example of an Apprenticeship model of literacy learning.
All keynote presentations and meals are included in when you register for Convention Alley 2008. To register, visit our website: http://www.conventionalley2008.org/
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| Convention Alley 2008 Announces Guest Speakers |
[15 May 2008|12:00pm] |
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Convention Alley 2008 is delighted to announce its guest speakers for this year’s event!
John Granger will be presenting “Unlocking Deathly Hallows: Five Keys for a Greater Appreciation of the Last Harry Potter Novel” on Saturday evening. Mr. Granger is the author of a number of books based on the popular Harry Potter series, some of which are used in classrooms across the continent. He has also been a featured speaker at numerous Harry Potter conferences.
On Friday evening, Dr. Karen J. Kebarle will offer her keynote presentation: “If Rowling says Dumbledore is Gay, is he Gay?: In other words, what do we do with Rowling’s interpretations of her own books?” Dr. Kebarle is presently writing a book called “Is Dumbledore Gay?”. Karen has a Ph.D. in English, has taught on the college and university level and has been a presenter at three previous Harry Potter conferences.
We invite you to join us for what are going to be some very interesting discussions at Convention Alley 2008. Remember that registration for the event includes both keynote presentations as well the regularly scheduled programming and all meals. We look forward to seeing you next month!
Sheryll Townsend
For the Convention Alley Planning Committee
http://www.conventionalley2008.org/
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| Calling all fanfic authors! |
[02 May 2008|05:59pm] |
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Are you a fanfic author looking for a new forum for your story? Come and read to a captive audience! Convention Alley 2008 will be hosting an afternoon of fanfic reading and would like your work to be part of our event.
Do you have a story to share and aren't able to attend? You can designate someone else to read for you. Or you can ask us to find a reader for you. Yes, we'll even supply the reader if you give us permission to read the fic in your absence!
To sign up for reading your fic, to designate another attendee as your reader, or to request a reader for your story, please send us an email to convention_alley@yahoo.ca
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| Registration Update! |
[11 Apr 2008|07:50am] |
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Convention Alley 2008 is pleased to announce that we've done away with a registration increase. Everyone attending the event will pay the same rate of $300.00 (Canadian) for their registration.
How did we manage this, you ask? Will there be a decrease in quality of what's offered to you? Not at all! We've simply done some basic rearranging - changed some programming rooms, found unexpected resources to cut our costs. We're just passing it on to you.
So register now for a weekend of all things Harry Potter. Come out and discuss the topics that have kept us going over the years, meet up with some old friends or make some new ones.
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| Convention Alley 2008 Registration Deadline |
[28 Mar 2008|11:57pm] |
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Yes, this is the last chance to register for the lower price of $300 per person. As of midnight March 31, 2008 (EST) the cost of registration for this great event will increase to $350 person.
To register, go to http://www.conventionalley2008.org/ and click the "Registration" link to be taken directly to our secure registration website.
If you have any questions, feel free to drop us an email at convention_alley@yahoo.ca
Hope to see you there!
Sheryll Townsend
CA 2008 Planning Committee Chair
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| Last call for CFP submissions |
[14 Mar 2008|11:21am] |
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Yes, that's right, the time has come. Submissions for the Convention Alley 2008 CFP must be in by the end of the day tomorrow. I know you've got that idea just itching to be presented, so now is the time.
Send us your ideas for papers, panels or round table discussions. Submissions should be sent to convention_alley@yahoo.ca
There's still lots of discussion to be had and we look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas!
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| Extended Deadlines! |
[15 Feb 2008|08:32pm] |
Convention Alley 2008 will be extending the deadline for the Call for Papers until March 15, 2008. If you had the idea rolling around but never quite got around to getting a proposal together, now is the time! Please email proposals to convention_alley@yahoo.ca
In conjunction with the extended CFP deadline, we will also be extending our early registration deadline until midnight March 31, 2008.
Any questions relating to programming or the CFP can be addressed to convention_alley@yahoo.ca. General questions can be posed here to sent to hpottawa@yahoo.no
Hope to see you all soon!
Sheryll Townsend
Chair
Convention Alley 2008
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| Registration Now Open! |
[26 Nov 2007|08:57pm] |
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WE HAD SO MUCH FUN THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN!
Convention Alley is pleased to open the doors for registration for our 2008 event in Ottawa, Ontario. Like our last event, this one will be held at the University of Ottawa. Dates for the 2008 event are June 19-22. Yes, you asked for a longer event and we're happy to comply with your request.
Registration for this event is $300 for early registration, going up to $350 on April 1, 2008. This registration fee includes all daytime programming, most meals, all keynote events, a conference t-shirt and, if possible, a copy of the conference proceedings on arrival. All funds are in Canadian dollars.
Attendees must be at least 16 years of age. Those between the ages of 16 - 18 must attend with a parent, legal guardian or adult chaperone who must remain at the conference site or be within phone contact at all times in case of emergency. Please note that those accompanying minors must, if not the parent or legal guardian, provide a signed and notarised letter of consent.
Please visit our website for more information and to register for the event!
http://www.conventionalley2008.org/
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| Updated Information on Ordering Convention Alley Proceedings |
[13 Aug 2004|10:33am] |
Here is updated ordering information for those unfortunate souls who were unable to attend the wonderful event that was Convention Alley, but who would like to order a copy of the printed proceedings (titled The Laurentian Letters):
The proceedings are $30.00 CAD plus shipping. Shipping costs vary by location and are as follows:
Within Canada, $8-$14 CAD (please e-mail the Convention Alley programming committee at: convention_alley@yahoo.ca for an exact price for your location)
To anywhere in the United States:
$19.00 CAD for delivery within 4-6 business days
$11.40 CAD for delivery within 1-2 weeks
$8.50 CAD for delivery within 3-4 weeks
To anywhere outside of Canada or the United States:
$23.95 CAD for delivery within 1-2 weeks
$10.70 CAD for delivery within 1-2 months
If you are interested in ordering a copy of the proceedings, please choose which shipping option you’d like and send a check or money order made out to "Convention Alley" for $30.00 CAD plus the cost of that shipping option, along with your name and mailing address, to the following address:
Convention Alley
Box 36058
1318 Wellington St.
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 3A0
Canada
The check or money order can be in any currency. However, since we will need to wait for the funds to clear before we can mail the proceedings to you, it would expedite your receipt of the proceedings to send the funds in Canadian currency (as funds in a currency other than Canadian usually take about 20 business days to clear). Unfortunately, Convention Alley cannot accept credit cards.
Phyllis Morris
2004 Convention Alley Planning Committee and Programming Co-Chair
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| Convention Alley Wrap-up Report |
[08 Aug 2004|02:27pm] |
The Laurentian Normal School of Consolidated Magicks, disguised as the University of Ottawa, played host last weekend (July 30 – August 1, 2004) to Convention Alley, Canada's first Harry Potter conference for grown ups. Spawned by interest from members of the Yahoo discussion group HPforGrownUps, a team of dedicated volunteers brewed an exciting mix of formal and informal activities to celebrate the birthday of the JK Rowling's beloved hero, Harry Potter. Over 130 people came from far and wide for Convention Alley, including as far away as Norway, Germany, Portugal and Australia.
The weekend was an opportunity to get to know one another, putting faces to the names we've chatted and debated with so often online. Through dinners in the historic Byward Market area, local activities such as Ottawa's Haunted Walk tour, and late-night social gatherings, attendees were able to finally meet face-to-face with people they may have known for years through the internet, and to meet with the conference's many presenters and session coordinators. An eclectic mixture of academics, professionals, and avid fans delivered a wide assortment of papers and panel topics to keep attendees buzzing with discussion and speculation on the next books in the series. These included: "A Deeply Horrible Person: The Unlikely Redemption of Severus Snape", "Harry's International Readers: Global Understanding or Culture Shock", and "Let's Chat About the Rat: The Enigma That is Peter Pettigrew".
Saturday evening's gala birthday banquet was the highlight of the weekend, featuring keynote speaker Steve Vander Ark, creator of The Harry Potter Lexicon, an encyclopedic website often visited by JK Rowling herself. His thorough knowledge of the Harry Potter series and the fandom that surrounds it, made for a most lively and entertaining analysis of the author, the series and the fans who love them.
Sunday's luncheon featured another keynote speaker, Dr. Judith Robertson, an associate professor at the university of Ottawa, and a silent auction. Convention Alley's partner for the silent auction was ALSOCares, a local literacy organisation that helped us raise over $1100.00. After satisfied attendees headed for home, the volunteers gathered for a thank you pizza party before hitting the road themselves.
We're pleased to know that the conference was as enjoyable for the organizers as it was for the attendees. Although this was meant to be a one-time event, local support and international interest has us considering a repeat performance. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Convention Alley website for memories, updates and information on informal local gatherings.
The organisers would like to thank everyone who helped make Convention Alley a rousing success – attendees, sponsors, businesses and, most of all, our dedicated team of volunteers.
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| Call for Convention Alley website submissions |
[08 Aug 2004|02:24pm] |
Hear ye! Hear ye! Convention Alley needs your help!
We've just returned from the conference and I'm sure we're all still buzzing. Sheryll, Phyllis and all the volunteers put together a fantastic event. There were many hugs and memorable moments, as well as amazing presentations and tons of things to do. Phyllis and I spent part of Monday morning talking about all of this and we came to an agreement.
Convention Alley can't stop here. There were all sorts of people who forgot to bring cameras, those who misplaced others' phone numbers and emails, and generally just had a lot to say about the conference. So I'm pleased to say that CA will be collecting all of these things and more in order to keep up communications and provide a memorable online keepsake.
Things that you may submit include, but are not limited to: essays, poems, quotes, pictures and contact information. We also plan on setting up some new forums specifically for people that were involved in Convention Alley to keep in contact. Rest assured that personal contact information will not be made publicly available. Any of the above information can be sent to: autumnal_hedge @ yahoo.com (without the spaces). Word documents and .jpg files are preferable for ease of use on our part. Attachments are welcome. Please include the subject line "Convention Alley" and, if you like, include what type of things you are submitting. I'm happily expecting many items and I'm sure you all look forward to seeing them.
With Best Wishes,
Autumn, Co-Leader for Decorations, Convention Alley
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| Convention Alley Registration Closes Tomorrow! |
[19 Jul 2004|02:43pm] |
Just a reminder that on-line registration closes tomorrow, July 20th, for Convention Alley, the HPfGU-sponsored conference for grown-up Harry Potter fans to be held at the University of Ottawa from July 30-August 1, 2004. There will be no on-site registration available for this conference.
Extra tickets for the birthday banquet featuring keynote speaker Steve Vander Ark on Saturday, July 31st and the luncheon featuring guest speaker Dr. Judith Robertson on Sunday, August 1st are available, but must be purchased by tomorrow, July 20th.
Everything you need to know about registering for the conference and/or purchasing additional banquet/luncheon tickets may be found here: http://www.conventionalley.org/registration.html .
We look forward to seeing you at our magical event - only 11 days to go!
~Phyllis Morris
2004 Convention Alley Planning Committee
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| Convention Alley Proceedings Available for Sale! |
[13 Jul 2004|11:49am] |
The Convention Alley Planning Committee is pleased to announce the availability of our conference proceedings for sale starting on July 30, 2004. The printed proceedings (a compilation of the papers presented at Convention Alley) will be available at a cost of $30.00 Canadian (which is currently equivalent to $22.75 American) plus applicable taxes and shipping fees.
We are excited to be able to make the Convention Alley proceedings available to those unable to attend the conference, as well as to those attending the conference who would like to take home additional copies. If you would like to order a copy of the proceedings, please send an e-mail with your name and mailing address to: convention_alley@yahoo.ca.
~Phyllis Morris
2004 Convention Alley Planning Committee and Programming Co-Chair
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| Upcoming Convention Alley Registration Deadlines |
[28 Jun 2004|08:46pm] |
Just a reminder that there will be no on-site registration for
Convention Alley, the HPfGU sponsored conference for grown-up Harry Potter fans to be held at the University of Ottawa from July 30-August 1, 2004. Online registration paid by credit card will close on July 20th. Payment by check or money order from outside of Canada must be received by July 1st, and Canadian checks/money orders must be received by July 10th.
In addition, extra tickets for the birthday banquet featuring keynote speaker Steve Vander Ark on Saturday, July 31st and the luncheon featuring guest speaker Dr. Judith Robertson on Sunday, August 1st are available, but must be purchased by July 1st.
Everything you need to know about registering for the conference and/or purchasing banquet/luncheon tickets may be found here:
http://www.conventionalley.org/registration.html .
Abstracts for the programming sessions have also been uploaded and may be seen here: http://www.conventionalley.org/programming.html .
In addition, the Convention Alley planners are pleased to announce the availability of Convention Alley merchandise at Café Press. Visit this link to shop for t-shirts and other fun products:
http://www.cafeshops.com/conalley .
~Phyllis Morris
2004 Convention Alley Planning Committee
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| Upcoming Deadlines and Update on Auction |
[09 Jun 2004|04:46pm] |
There are some upcoming Convention Alley deadlines we would like to remind you about:
(1) The form to reserve a room at the University of Ottawa residence must be received by the residence by June 30, 2004.
(2) The vendor agreement is also due by June 30, 2004. For more
information on becoming a Convention Alley vendor, please visit: http://www.conventionalley.org/vendors.html .
(3) The deadline for sponsors to have their advertisement included in the conference programme is June 30, 2004. For information on available sponsorships, please visit:
http://www.conventionalley.org/sponsorships.html .
We also wanted to update you on the silent auction to be held at the conference. The auction will benefit ALSOcares, a small non-profit community family literacy program in the Canadian communities of Lowertown/Sandyhill/Vanier. ALSOcares provides a Reading and Parents Program for families with children under 6 years of age that is designed to improve literacy for both the children and their parents. Items to be auctioned include a quilted wall hanging by Nancy Carstensen and some of the many gorgeous conference decorations. We are still seeking additional donations for the auction to benefit this worthy cause. If you are interested in contributing, please contact the Convention Alley Planning Committee at: hpottawa@yahoo.no.
Thanks,
Phyllis Morris
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| Convention Alley in the Chicago Tribune! |
[09 Jun 2004|04:44pm] |
Convention Alley was mentioned in an article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune about the appeal of the Harry Potter series to grown-ups. Here's a quote:
"Last summer's Potter conference -- named Nimbus 2003 after Harry's first broomstick -- was so successful that another adults-only Potter weekend, this one called Convention Alley, is planned for July in Ottawa, Ontario."
Here's a link to the complete article (you'll need to register to view it, but registration is free):
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-040603dpallages,1,2923951.story
~Phyllis
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| Convention Alley goes to the ballgame! |
[05 May 2004|08:25am] |
Last year the Ottawa Lynx Triple A baseball team held a Harry Potter day before the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Given the success of that event, they will be holding another Harry Potter day on May 30, 2004, just before the release of the Prisoner of Azkaban movie.
Here's where you come in. They've asked Convention Alley to help them find some people to take part in this event. HP fans, ideally fans willing to dress up and help them have fun. There will be games and prizes, though those will most likely be geared toward the children in the stands.
If you're interested in joining some of the Convention Alley volunteers for the afternoon, we'll happily welcome you on board. Those interested in donning robes or hats, waving wands or just coming to enjoy the ballgame are all welcome to participate. Your children and friends included!
Free admission, however, is NOT part of the package. Should enough people be interested (20 or more), we will receive discounted tickets. Regular ticket prices range from $7.00 - $11.00. Discounted tickets range from $5.50 - $8.50.
Interested parties should contact Amanda at bluerain22@yahoo.com . Tickets will be purchased 2 weeks prior to the event, so sign up now!
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| Convention Alley Programming Schedule Posted! |
[27 Apr 2004|11:37am] |
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The Convention Alley Planning Committee is pleased to announce the creation of the programming schedule for the very first conference devoted to grown-up Harry Potter fans to be held in Canada. This event, sponsored by the Harry Potter for Grown-Ups literary discussion group, will be held at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario, from July 30 to August 1, 2004.
Convention Alley will feature presentations by fans from both the academic and non-academic worlds. Subjects of discussion include how the series is able to overcome culture-specific limitations to appeal to readers from around the world; J.K. Rowling's transformation of Harry from a fairy tale hero into a resentful teenager in The Order of the Phoenix; and analyses of characters in the Harry Potter series, such as the inscrutable Professor Severus Snape and the traitorous Peter Pettigrew.
The complete programming schedule may be found here:
http://www.conventionalley.org/programming.html
Directed discussion groups and two guest speakers will complement the formal programming sessions. Steve Vander Ark will present the keynote address "The Hidden Message: It's All About Lee Jordan" at Saturday's birthday banquet. His address will discuss some of the problems of overanalyzing the Harry Potter books, and he will offer suggestions on how to distinguish red herrings from true clues. Steve is the creator and editor of the Harry Potter Lexicon website, a comprehensive reference tool on the Potterverse extensively used by both fans and scholars.
Dr. Judith Robertson will present "What Happens to Our Wishes:
Magical Thinking in Harry Potter" at the Sunday luncheon. Her
presentation will focus on the elements in the Harry Potter series that make these books so vividly compelling to young readers. Dr. Robertson is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa, and has written over twenty articles and chapters that have appeared in peer-refereed sites in children's literature, English education, curriculum theory and teacher education.
For more information or to register for the conference, please
visit: http://www.conventionalley.org/ .
Phyllis Morris
2004 Convention Alley Planning Committee
and Programming Co-Chair
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| Convention Alley Early Registration Ending Soon! |
[14 Apr 2004|10:37pm] |
There are only two weeks left to register for Convention Alley at the early registration price! Convention Alley will be held at the University of Ottawa from Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 1, 2004. Registration provides admission to all of the daytime programming sessions, light refreshments at Friday's meet and greet, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday (with guest speaker Judith Robertson at Sunday's luncheon), Saturday evening's birthday banquet
(with keynote speaker Steve Vander Ark), admission to the Prisoner of Azkaban movie on Saturday evening and admission to such areas as the vendor marketplace and games room. In addition, registration covers the cost of producing the conference proceedings (a compilation of the papers presented at the conference), a copy of which will be provided to each participant on Friday.
Registering on or before April 30, 2004 costs $200.00 Canadian, while registering on or after May 1, 2004 will cost $250.00 Canadian. Please note that the cost figures are listed in Canadian dollars. While the conversion is subject to change depending on the value of the Canadian dollar, $200 Canadian currently equals approximately $151 in American dollars (for registrations before May 1, 2004), and $250 Canadian currently equals approximately $189 in American dollars (for registrations between May 1, 2004 and July 1, 2004).
We'd like as many participants as possible to attend for the lower price, so please don't delay! For more information, or to register, please visit: http://www.conventionalley.org/ .
~Phyllis Morris
2004 Convention Alley Planning Committee
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| Convention Alley Accommodations |
[02 Apr 2004|04:57pm] |
We have reserved rooms in the residence at the University of Ottawa for the nights of Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31. The residence has rooms for sharing for $110.88 (Canadian*) per night plus 12% tax. The rooms have two double beds and can accommodate up to four people – each additional person is an extra $10 per night. There are also lower-cost residence options available. Please click the following link to the university website for photos of the rooms: http://www.uottawa.ca/services/matmgmt//hospitality/summer.html. The residence reservation form may be found at: http://www.conventionalley.org/Residence%20Reservation%20Form.pdf. Please note that the reservation form needs to be printed, filled out and mailed back directly to the University of Ottawa, and must be received by June 30, 2004.
We have also compiled a list of places to stay while attending Convention Alley if you would rather stay somewhere other than the residence (or if you are coming to Ottawa early, as the residence is fully booked the night of Thursday, July 29). The alternate accommodations list may be viewed at: http://www.conventionalley.org/altaccom.html. Please note that this is an unofficial list, and is provided for informational purposes only - the accommodations listed are not endorsed by the Convention Alley organizers.
~Phyllis Morris
for the 2004 Convention Alley Planning Committee
*Prices are quoted in Canadian dollars. While the currency conversion is subject to change, the $110.88 Canadian per night for the two-bedroom unit currently converts into approximately $83.60 in American dollars.
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