The young writer Brain’s Trust was asked to comment on Sunshine Coast’s Jesse Moore’s recommendations as to a 2022 ZOOM conference - his paper was in the light of initial discussions of a New Zealand based conference on Saturday 10 Sept.
Jesse Moore submitted
We could definitely do smaller zoom groups for the conference, I think they would work best as a 30 minute or so catch up and get to know each other session that follows a main conference video.
The main conference video could include the awards, a few guest speakers who submit video presentations.
I think there’s a way we can package all of this content in advance and then send it out on the chosen conference day to the writers and then schedule the local zoom meetings for appropriate times in each major time zone rather than individual countries.
Responses
Josh Taylor - the president elect of the upcoming NZ Entity - equally concerned about travel into NZ. Josh is the Kiwi young writer coordinator, a Christchurch young writer and a solicitor.
Mussita Ng - Kiwi administrator - In addition to those affected by the mandates, there will be restrictions to the number of people that can gather under the different light settings.
For gatherings that include everyone (vaccinated and unvaccinated) - red (25 people) and orange (50 people) and green (100 people). Another thing to keep in mind as this will affect a conference too. I like Jesse’s idea, and agree with Russell and Rebecca.
Russell Modlin - I like Jesse's idea of pre-recorded content and maybe small "breakout" sessions. Personally, I would still be hesitant to fly anywhere at the moment. We also have to be mindful there are, most likely will be, people who are not able to fly due to mandates.
My opinion varies as much as the information we are bombarded with on news feeds, chat groups etc about what may or may not happen in the future. I would hope to play in the AFL National Masters Carnival and I hold the same opinion as above. I may or may not even be able to compete.
Awards video - run the annual awards on video as last year.
Rebecca Moore asks we return to this in June post Federal election – agreed.
New direction
The Brain’s Trust has illustrated several outcomes
First - while ever Covid has such a hold, it seems likely that having people travel across the world for a one day young writer conference is not viable.
Second - ZOOM technology allows other alternatives to be explored.
Third - this technology can link young writers together wherever they are
Fourth - Where mission finance is limited this seems a way around this
Fifth - there can be separate video sessions – fellowship, plenary’s, awards ..
Reflections
To date the young writer conferences have been held in Melbourne (twice), Sydney (twice), Sunshine Coast, Tweed Heads / Gold Coast (twice), Christchurch, Wellington.
Young writers over these past years since 2013 have attended from
Australia
New Zealand
Canada
USA
Papua New Guinea
India
England
France
In 2020 the conference was a combined Gold Coast attendance and ZOOM - the Zoom attendance came from - Nigeria, New Zealand, Australia, ambique, SE Asia.
The 2022 conference on ZOOM in sections is something we have exercised previously. The subject by the Brain’s Trust will be taken up in June again.
Brain’s Trust
Australian - Sam Gillespie (Chair), Rebecca Moore, Wes Tronson, Cartia Moore, Russell Modlin
New Zealand - Mussita Ng, Esther Koh, Josh Taylor, Grant Harris
Internationals - Josh Robbie (South Africa), Ashea West (New York), Rose-Ann Durant (West Indies)