Today’s the last day of the conference, the second tutorial day. In other words: I’m on again. I’m writing this post this morning, as I won’t have a chance this evening: the day ends at 5:00pm, and my flight out of MIA is at 9:05pm (I get into LAX just around midnight, so I figure to be going to bed around 2:00am).
In any case, today’s the last tutorial day. I’ve seen all my instructors save one (the other problem child), and I don’t have his itinerary. I’ll trust that he will show. My larger concern is that attendance this year for Friday is so low, under 30 for 3 tutorials. I think part of this is due to bad publicity, and part due to having tutorials split over two days. We had significantly better attendance when tutorials were on Monday and Tuesday. I also think the ease of getting out of Miami is a factor that prevents folks staying that last day. In any case, we’re thinking of a different model for next year. So, I’d like your opinion:
I was also doing some musings on conferences themselves. I think there are two types of conference attendees. There are those who think the meat of the conference is in the sessions: they attend the sessions and studiously take notes; they read the proceedings in advance; they love the academic presentations and revel in the formulae. Then there are those who may attend some paper sessions, but find the real value of the conference is in the connections that are made: the relationships established with peers in the community, the discussions in the hall about what others are doing, the unexpected contacts that facilitate things. I tend to find myself in the 2nd category, yet I know many of my colleagues are more in the 1st. What do you think?
As for Miami Beach. When I got here on Sunday, I was pissed and hating this city. I’ve mellowed some, and not even from going to the beach (which I never really did — too windy this week). I’ve begun to figure out the lay of the land, although things are not signed as well as they could be for tourists. I now feel comfortable getting around the area between the airport and North Beach. The hotel has proven tolerable, but a bit pricey. It is likely we’ll be back here next year. After that, who knows? If we stay on the East Coast, I’m pushing for Orlando FL or Charleston SC. But I think we do better on the West Coast, and I think we should go to Anaheim. It is easy to get to, and it will draw people for the House of Mouse. Other West Coast cities that might be a draw are Monterey CA (but travel is a pain), or going back to San Diego. We’ve hit most of the rest of the easy ones (Vegas, Scottsdale/Phoenix, Tucson). Perhaps Dallas TX or Houston TX? Should be interesting.
Time to go finish packing. Hopefully my next update will be from my home computer, back in Northridge California.
