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Arizona Convocation 2008

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The tenth annual Arizona Convocation was held in Tucson, March 2 & 3, 2008. Nearly 200 librarians, archivists, historians, and museum and arts professionals from around the state attended. 91% of participants who completed evaluations reported that they learned something new that would help them do their job better. 94% reported that they met people with whom they will collaborate.

The Arizona Convocations were begun in 1999 to build collaboration and partnerships among libraries, archives, and museums and to preserve Arizona’s cultural heritage. Convocations include speakers, panels, and valuable networking opportunities which:

• strengthen programs that support Arizona’s cultural resources
• share information and encourage collaborative projects, including exhibitions, collections, preservation andArizona Centennial events planning
• promote public access to Arizona collections

Turtle Award
Each year the Director of the State Library, Archives and Public Records presents Turtle Awards to recognize individuals or organizations who cherish Arizona’s rich cultural heritage and who have supported the agency’s efforts to accomplish its mission. The award’s name derives from the similarity of the agency’s logo to the shape of a turtle. The recipients, like the award’s namesake, have helped the agency move forward through extra effort – perhaps even by sticking their necks out.

GladysAnn Wells presented Holly Henley with an award for staff excellence due to her wonderful tireless work in Early Literacy and as the Manager of the Carnegie Center. An award for support and continual collaboration with the State Library went to Alyce Sadongei from the Arizona State Museum.

AGENDA     Back to Top

Sunday, March 2, 2008
6:00	Evening Program and Dinner Welcome & Awards – GladysAnn Wells, Director, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
7:00	Keynote Speaker – Jeff VanderMeer: Eureka!: Epiphany, the Imagination and You

Monday, March 3, 2008
9:30	Welcome and Recap – GladysAnn Wells
9:45	Group Workshop – Jeff and Ann VanderMeer: Creating the Secret Life of Arizona
11:30-12:30	Networking Lunch
12:45	Plenary Speaker – Sal Acosta: Hispanics in Arizona: The History Continues
2:00	Special Panel Presentation – Downtown Tucson’s Rio Nuevo Project
2:45	Chocolate, Coffee, and Closing Remarks

 

SESSION INFORMATION:     Back to Top

KEYNOTE: Jeff VanderMeer

“Eureka!: Epiphany, the Imagination and You”

Jeff VanderMeer gives you a behind-the-scenes look into a novelist and short fiction writer’s processes and techniques—and how you can apply these processes and techniques to your own problem-solving and creative enterprises.

Jeffrey VanderMeer is an American writer, editor and publisher. He is the author of the best-selling City of Saints and Madmen. He has won two World Fantasy Awards, an NEA-funded Florida Individual Writers’ Fellowship, and, most recently, the Le Cafard cosmique award in France and the Tähtifantasia Award in Finland, both for City of Saints. Novels such as Veniss Underground and Shriek: An Afterword have made the year’s best lists of Amazon.com and Publishers Weekly, among others. The Thackery T. Lambshead Pocket Guide to Eccentric & Discredited Diseases may be his most famous anthology.

Recently, VanderMeer began to experiment in other media, resulting in a movie based on his novel Shriek that featured an original soundtrack by rock band The Church and a Play Station Europe animation of his story “A New Face in Hell” by animator Joel Veitch.

In 2003, VanderMeer married Ann Kennedy, then editor for the small Buzzcity Press and magazine the Silver Web. Ann VanderMeer is currently the editor of Weird Tales magazine, and a respected anthologist and publisher. Work from her press and related periodicals has won the British Fantasy Award, the International Rhysling Award, and appeared in several year’s best anthologies. Ann was also the founder of The Silver Web magazine, a periodical devoted to experimental and avant-garde fantasy literature. The VanderMeers live in Tallahassee, Florida.

WORKSHOP: Jeff and Ann VanderMeer

 “Creating the Secret Life of Arizona”

Any state is the sum of its people. In this workshop, you will partner up to create a secret life for Arizona, using a combination of in-workshop research and your own imagination. Fun and informative, playful and yet useful, this workshop led by Jeff and Ann VanderMeer will show you paths toward greater diversity of thought and idea as Arizona prepares for its centennial commemoration.

PLENARY: Sal Acosta

“Hispanics in Arizona: The History Continues”

PLENARY: Sal Acosta – Powerpoint

Read Sal Acosta’s paper on Hispanics in Arizona

“Hispanics in Arizona: The History Continues”
This presentation updates the chapter “Hispanics in Arizona” that appeared in Arizona at Seventy-Five: The Next Twenty-Five Years in 1987. The history of Hispanics in Arizona has received increased scholarly attention, particularly in the form of dissertations from doctoral students throughout the country. Such research has thus allowed the author to answer the questions that appeared at the end of the original chapter, specifically regarding local histories (such as the life of Hispanics in Phoenix), immigration, politics, and labor.

Sal Acosta, a doctoral student in the Department of History at the University of Arizona, is currently writing his dissertation "Crossing Borders, Erasing Boundaries: Inter-Ethnic Marriages Among Mexicans in Tucson, 1854-1930." Mr. Acosta received a Master’s degree in Mexican American Studies in 2004 and has taught courses in Latino studies, Mexican American history, and contemporary U.S. history. 

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Downtown Tucson’s Rio Nuevo Project

Learn more about Rio Nuevo by visiting the website

Six years ago, Tucson voters approved a $124 million plan to bring life and dollars to downtown. Rio Nuevo is helping bring new attractions, housing, commercial development, and restaurants to Downtown Tucson as well as preserving and enhancing the already important art and historic elements of the Heart of the City.

CONVOCATION EXHIBITORS

Arizona Historical Society
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Arizona State Museum
Diocese of Tucson Archives
Flandrau The University of Arizona Science Center
Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation
Pima County Public Library
Postal History Foundation
SIRLS, The University of Arizona
Tucson Pima Arts Council
The University of Arizona Libraries

ARIZONA HISTORICAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERS

Paul Allvin, Associate Vice President for Communications, The University of Arizona
The Honorable Ken Bennett
Robert Booker, Executive Director, Arizona Commission on the Arts
The Honorable Jan Brewer, Arizona Secretary of State
Jean Calhoun, Director, Land and Water Conservation
John Driggs, Chairman, Phoenix Heritage Commission, Tovrea Castle Project
Ann Dutton Ewbank, Education Liaison Librarian, Arizona State University West
Margie Emmerman, Director, Arizona Office of Tourism
James W. Garrison, State Historical Preservation Officer, Arizona State Parks
The Honorable Terry Goddard, Attorney General
The Honorable Tom Horne, Superintendent, Arizona Department of Education
Hartman Lomawaima, Director, Arizona State Museum
Catherine L. May, Senior Historical Analyst/Archivist, Salt River Project
The Honorable Ruth V. McGregor, Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court
Steve Rizley, Vice President and Region Manager, Arizona Cox Communication
Don W. Ryden, Architect, Ryden Architects
Noel J. Stowe, Professor of History, Senior Director/Public History Program, Arizona State University
Ken Travous, Director, Arizona State Parks
The Honorable Steve Tully, Gordon & Rees, LLP
Dora Vazquez, Director, Boards and Commission, Office of the Governor
Beth Vershure, Executive Director, Cahava Springs Conservancy
GladysAnn Wells, Director, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Anne Woosley, Ph.D., Executive Director, Arizona Historical Society
Juliana Yoder, Executive Director, Arizona Humanities Council

2008 CONVOCATION COMMITTEE

Convocation Committee

GladysAnn Wells, Director and State Librarian, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Joan Clark, Deputy Director of Operations and Planning, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Jane Kolbe, Director of Library Development, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Carol Tapia, Administrative Assistant, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Sarah Weber, Special Events Coordinator, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records

COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS:

Regarding Jeff VanderMeer, Keynote Speaker
“Very enjoyable. Informative and entertaining.” “Fun, engaging.” “He was very interesting and entertaining. The stories were good to hear, makes you think how you can write your own story.” “I found Jeff's presentation on Sunday evening to be very valuable. I found Jeff's presentation to be both entertaining and valuable. It was refreshing to hear someone outside the library/archives profession, and someone deeply engage in the creative process, share with us how they approach the creative process. Sunday night's dinner and our table were excellent.” “Fun and really placed things in a new light.” “Very interesting speaker. Food for thought.” “Wonderful examples he gave.” “Thought-provoking, applicable to any walk of life.” “A mix of humor and good info. Well done!” “Inspiring way to think about what we do – from a more creatively charged point of view.”

Regarding the Group Workshop, Jeff and Ann VanderMeer
“Good way to speak with others.” “It helps to get to know others and able to collaborate. Makes you know you can also write a story.” “Very interesting way of getting creative juices going.” “Not a creative writers but it did open my eyes and mind to different thinking.” “Energizing. Great to hear everyone’s comments.” “Really gave us the opportunity to be creative.” “Fun way to learn more about AZ history while networking with new contacts!”

Regarding Sal Acosta, Plenary Speaker
“Very interesting and informative to know. Makes you want to check into your own race.” “Very informative!” “Lots of interesting information.” “Great research.” “Wonderful.” “Was unaware of mine’s dual wage systems.” “Terrific presentation. Extremely relevant and useful.”

Regarding the Rio Nuevo Panel Presentation
“They are able to work with all the key people around Tucson even the Native Americans.” “Tucson has always led the way in culture. Phoenix could learn a lot.” “Huge undertaking and exciting.” “Very useful for local residents. Thank you.” “Enjoyed very much.” “Nice vision – Hope they can really do it. Would like to hear them address some of the challenges they have faced.”

Overall Convocation Comments
“Met people I would not have otherwise had the opportunity.” “One of the primary benefits is opportunity to learn from other participants.” “I have attended every Convocation. This was by far the best! Loved the activity w/Jeff VanderMeer. I feel so energized by his ideas. Thank you!” “Convocation was obviously well-organized. As a participant, I was impressed with how smoothly everything went. Obviously someone had done a great deal of work to have the event run so smoothly. Congratulations to the State Library for another success.” “Hispanics in AZ lecture extremely useful for services in libraries.” “I met others with similar goals to network and collaborate with. I learned more about creative thinking in problem-solving. I learned more about the Rio Nuevo project and other resources.” “I learned that I could make up a story and every story has people behind it and Arizona has a rich and varied culture.” “What a fantastic gathering – very organized, friendly, educational and inspiring! I met and re-met folks from all over the State, loved the networking opportunities and out-of-the-box creativity to take back to my work processes.” “This was my first AZ Convocation, and I was quite impressed. Efficient use of time, helpful and informative sessions, and engaging speakers. The food was delicious and plentiful. The organizers treated us as professionals in every way. I look forward to next year’s gathering.”

Arizona Convocations: building collaboration between libraries, archives, and museums to support preservation of Arizona’s cultural heritage and to promote resource sharing

Sponsored by:
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and supported, in part,
with funds granted by the Library Services and Technology Act,
administered by the Institute of Museum and Library

For Additional information on the 2008 Convocation, please contact:

Sarah Weber
Special Events Coordinator
Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records
Carnegie Center
1101 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

 

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