Proposal and Regular (non-late) registration deadlines have been extended to May 15.
And in case you haven’t seen it yet, visit the conference website at www.sfra2010.ning.com. Rather than a static site, this year’s conference web presence is a social network designed to allow attendees (and those considering) to join, network before during and after the conference, and collaborate in the construction of the conference. Sign up even if you are not sure whether you’ll attend!
The 2010 Science Fiction Research Association (www.sfra.org) conference theme, “Far Stars and Tin Stars: Science Fiction and the Frontier,” reflects the conference’s venue in the high desert of Carefree, Arizona, north of Phoenix. The frontier, the borderland between what is known and what is unknown, the settled and the wild, the mapped and the unexplored, is as central to science fiction as it is to the mythology of the American West.
International Guest Scholar Pawel Frelik: “Gained in Translation: Dispersed Narratives in Contemporary Culture”
Guest Scholar Margaret Weitekamp: “Ray Guns, Play Sets, and Board Games: What Space Toys Say About the Frontier”
Guest Scholar/Author Joan Slonczewski: “Tree Networks and Transspecies Sex: Biology in Avatar”
Submissions are invited for individual papers (15-20 minutes), full paper panels (3 papers), roundtables (80 minute sessions), and other presentations that explore the study and teaching of science fiction in any medium. Proposals that engage the conference theme are appreciated, but all proposals will be considered.
Paper and other session proposals should be 150-250 words. Paper panel proposals should include the proposals of all three papers and a brief statement of their unifying principle. Include all text of the proposal in the body of the email (not as an attachment). Please be sure to include full contact information for all panel members and to make all AV requests within each proposal.
In addition to traditional paper panels, the conference will include several “Year in Review” sessions in which a small panel will present observations about the most significant texts in a given area before inviting audience discussion. Individual panels will cover SF Scholarship, SF in Print, SF Film, SF Television, SF Games. Anyone interested in serving on one of these panels should contact the Conference Coordinator.
For the first time, SFRA 2010 will offer three pre-conference “Short Courses” the morning of the conference’s first day. One will examine teaching science fiction in higher education, one will provide interested scholars a primer on studying digital science fiction, and the third will offer students (and anyone else interested) an orientation to science fiction scholarship.
The conference is open to other non-traditional programming suggestions that take advantage of an in-person gathering of science fiction scholars.
E-mail submissions as attached files by April 30, 2010 to Conference Coordinator Craig Jacobsen: jacobsen at mesacc dot edu
Ongoing submission acceptances will be issued to better allow presenters to plan.
The conference will run June 24-27, 2010. Visit the conference website at www.sfra2010.ning.com. Rather than a static site, this year’s conference web presence is a social network designed to allow attendees (and those considering) to join, network before during and after the conference, and collaborate in the construction of the conference. Sign up even if you are not sure whether you’ll attend.
Always wonder what it was like to help make a conference come together? It’s not too late!! We are still looking for a few good people… Five positions are open! Come join a fun team of people and see what it’s really like to make ICFA happen. May 1st is the deadline and it’s just around the corner!
Two board positions are open and applicants can forward a cover letter and CV to President Jim Casey at jcasey@highpoint.edu for review at the annual Board meeting.
* Registration and Membership Coordinator
* Tech Gnome
Three division head positions are open and applicants can forward a cover letter and CV to Sherryl Vint, 1st Vice President (sherryl.vint@gmail.com).
* International Fantastic
* Horror
* Science Fiction Lit
Apply this week!!
After five years of much-appreciated service as Horror Division Head, Stephanie Moss is stepping down. The IAFA board, on behalf of the entire IAFA community, thanks Stephanie for her dedicated work supporting horror scholarship at ICFA.
Based on data available last year, the IAFA board had decided to discontinue the Horror Division at the conclusion of Stephanie’s term. Given new information, the board will reconsider this decision at the June meeting. The board now expects to re-institute the Horror Division on a trial basis and, should this occur, the new Division Head will serve for the trial period.
The IAFA is now accepting applications for the position of Head of the Horror Literature Division.
The Division Head creates and publicizes the CFP for his/her Division, collects and accepts paper proposals, creates paper sessions, helps to create panels and coordinates all Division programming with the 1st Vice President for scheduling. This Division is responsible for all papers and panels on horror literature in English (the International division handles non-English works; works in media other than print are handled by the relevant media division).
Qualifications include current membership with IAFA, knowledge of the field of horror literature (primary texts and criticism), frequent and dependable internet access, comfort working with computers, organizational skills and the ability to work as part of a group. It is preferable that candidates have some history with the conference and thus are familiar with its structure. Candidates must be willing to begin transition work immediately and must attend the annual conference in March during the years of tenure as Division Head. Responsibilities also include attending the Division Heads meeting at the conference and responding to any problems at the conference, such as filling in as moderator if need be and the like.
If you’re interested in taking on the work of SF Division Head, please contact Sherryl Vint, 1st Vice President (sherryl.vint@gmail.com), with a brief statement about your interest in and qualifications for the job. The IAFA board of directors will consider all applications for the position.
The deadline for applications is May 1, 2010; a decision will be made by June 2010.
The IAFA is now accepting applications for the position of Head of the Science Fiction Literature Division, effective immediately.
The Division Head creates and publicizes the CFP for his/her Division, collects and accepts paper proposals, creates paper sessions, helps to create panels, selects and runs the SF Theory roundtable reading and coordinates all Division programming with the 1st Vice President for scheduling. This Division is responsible for all papers and panels on science fiction literature in English (the International division handles non-English works; works in media other than print are handled by the relevant media division).
Qualifications include current membership with IAFA, knowledge of the field of sf literature (primary texts and criticism), frequent and dependable internet access, comfort working with computers, organizational skills and the ability to work as part of a group. It is preferable that candidates have some history with the conference and thus are familiar with its structure. Candidates must be willing to begin transition work with the current Division Head, Sherryl Vint, immediately, and must attend the annual conference in March during the years of tenure as Division Head. Responsibilities also include attending the Division Heads meeting at the conference and responding to any problems at the conference, such as filling in as moderator if need be and the like. Division Heads hold office for a term of 3 years (with a probationary first year) with the possibility of renewal for a second 3-year term.
If you’re interested in taking on the work of SF Division Head, please contact Sherryl Vint, 1st Vice President (sherryl.vint@gmail.com), with a brief statement about your interest in and qualifications for the job. The IAFA board of directors will consider all applications for the position.
The deadline for applications is May 1, 2010; a decision will be made by June 2010.
After six years of much-appreciated service as IF Division Head, Dale Knickerbocker is stepping aside to allow someone else the opportunity. The IAFA board, on behalf of the entire IAFA community, thanks Dale for the hard work that he has done establishing the IF Division as a vibrant part of the ICFA.
The IAFA is now accepting applications for the position of Head of the International Fantastic Division, effective immediately.
The Division Head is the person who sends out paper calls for his/her Division, collects and accepts paper proposals, creates paper sessions, helps to create panels, and passes the work s/he’s done on to the 1st Vice President for scheduling. This Division is responsible for all aspects of the fantastic arts originally produced in a language other than English, in any medium.
Qualifications include current membership with IAFA (at least a couple of years’ experience with the organization so you have some understanding of how things work at the conference), easy and dependable internet access and comfort level with computers, organizational skills, the ability to work as part of a group working together on the ‘big picture’, a willingness to work through the transition with the previous Head beginning this fall, the ability to attend March conferences while you hold the position and to attend the Division Heads’ meeting run by the 1st VP at the conference, plus, of course, the time to do the work involved. Knowledge of the field of fantastic literature in a language other than English is required. Division Heads hold office for a term of 3 years (with a probationary first year) with the possibility of renewal for a second 3-year term.
If you’re interested in taking on the work of IF Division Head, please contact both Sherryl Vint, 1st Vice President (sherryl.vint@gmail.com), and Dale Knickerbocker, outgoing IF Division Head (knickerbockerd@ecu.edu), with a brief statement about your interest in and qualifications for the job. The IAFA board of directors will consider all applications for the position.
The deadline for applications is May 1, 2010; a decision will be made by June 2010.
Call for Candidates: IAFA Chief Technology Officer (a.k.a. Tech Gnome)
Board Position: Chief Technology Officer
Effective: post-conference 2010, transition to start immediately
Term: 3 year appointment, renewable at the President’s discretion
Following the recent IAFA elections and the transition of Jim Casey to the role of President, there is now a need for a new Chief Technology Officer (Tech Gnome), who will be appointed by the President, after formal discussion and majority vote of the other elected officers.
The Chief Technology Officer works with the Conference Chair to manage conference AV needs on-site and will provide primary support and maintenance for the IAFA’s online resources, such as the registered domain name (IAFA.ORG), the websites (IAFA, JFA, etc.), and the organization’s email discussion lists (IAFA-L, DIV-HEADS, IAFA-BOARD, JFA-STAFF, etc.). The Chief Technology Officer is responsible for technology acquisitions and advises the President and Executive Board on policy matters relating to information technology.
The time required for the position is hard to quantify as the duties vary depending on the time of year. Obviously there’s a fair bit of work before, during, and after the conference and the candidate must be available before the annual conference for technology set-up and immediately after the conference for technology take-down.
In addition, the Chief Technology Officer is a voting member of the Board and must be available to attend IAFA meetings. During the conference, the IAFA Board meets on Wednesday evening, and holds a business meeting, usually on Thursday just before dinner. The other commitment is the annual meeting, which takes place over a weekend, usually in late-may/early June, in Florida; the expenses for this meeting are covered by the IAFA Board.
Interested candidates should forward their application package (a cover letter and CV) by May 1st, 2010 to incoming President Jim Casey at jcasey@highpoint.edu for review at the annual Board meeting.
Graham J. Murphy
Call for Candidates:
Registration and Membership Coordinator
Board Position: Registration and Membership Coordinator
Effective: post-conference 2010, transition to start immediately
Term: 3 year appointment, renewable at the President’s discretion
The conclusion of ICFA-31 will also mark the completion of Stacie Hanes’s tenure as Registration/Membership Coordinator, a position appointed by the President, after formal discussion and majority vote of the other elected officers.
This officer oversees the operation of the IAFA membership and the ICFA registrations, corresponding with members regarding their membership dues and payments, taking in membership and registration fees, collecting and verifying accurate membership and registration statistics and accounts of tickets, and distributing registration packets and badges as well as tickets for luncheon and banquet programs at the conference. Fee structures and forms for membership, established by the Executive Board, are administered by the Registration/Membership Coordinator. This officer also oversees the maintenance of membership mailing lists, and preparation of copy for the annual Directory. The Registration Coordinator is appointed by the President after formal discussion and majority vote of the Board.
In addition, the Registration and Membership Coordinator is a voting member of the Board and must be available to attend IAFA meetings. During the conference, the IAFA Board meets on Wednesday evening, and holds a business meeting, usually on Thursday just before dinner. The other commitment is the annual meeting, which takes place over a weekend, usually in late-may/early June, in Florida; the expenses for this meeting are covered by the IAFA Board.
Interested candidates should forward their application package (a cover letter and CV) by May 1st, 2010 to incoming President Jim Casey at jcasey@highpoint.edu for review at the annual Board meeting.
Graham J. Murphy
If you are coming to ICFA from Europe, don’t forget the ESTA form. The link can be found here.
On to Orlando.
Take care,
Graham J. Murphy
Thank you to those candidates who participated in the most recent IAFA elections. As reported on the listserv by Mike Levy, Immediate Past President, the votes cast were the following:
For President
Jim Casey 34
P. Andrew Miller 1
Susan George 1
Elvis 1
For First Vice President
Sherryl Vint 19
Judy Collins McCormick 18
For Public Information Coordinator
Crystal Black 25
Aidan-Paul Canavan 9
Valorie Ebert 3
Congratulations to those members who will be the new faces to the IAFA Board when ICFA-31 concludes.
Graham J. Murphy