November 5, 2011 – To view the 2012 workshops, please go to the next headers below this one (that’s Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday followed by 2012 Descriptions).

You will see several click-through headers.  If you want to know about the Friday workshops, click on Friday and you will be taken to a detailed page which describes everything going on that day.

The basics of that info are now in the printed brochure (printed November 1).  This is available both by mail or as a download (see left-hand side of main Web menu).

The printed registration form (showing the prices you pay to attend the program) is also included in the brochure.  You have to “carefully” select your desired programs – the ones you want to pay for and attend – because virtually everything on the workshop program is “elective” – this means that you pay for only what you want to attend – there is no one single workshop price for the whole Conference – in fact, some guests only register for Thursday + Sunday then just socialize with their organic friends the rest of the time.  That is perfectly fine with the organizers – there is absolutely no shortage of exciting things to do at Guelph during this show in-between workshops.

To see the rich and varied history of this Conference, view the PAST CONFERENCES link, where the PAST PROCEEDINGS link is listed.  You can read up on the history of the last 10 years of this Conference – this is a ready-made archive and an historic record of how the organic info stream has evolved over the last decade !

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How do these workshops happen, how are they designed, who chooses them, how are the speakers picked? Annually, we get an overwhelming response.  This year, by the March 15, 2011 deadline, we got at least 35 separate workshops proposed + dozens of other ideas which we were able to build into a large, 34-workshop program. Thanks to everyone who submitted an idea.

BUT THOUGH WORKSHOP SUBMISSIONS FOR 2012 ARE CLOSED… you can still phone the Manager to discuss an idea for future 2013 programs.

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So, looking very far ahead to the 2013 program:

Workshop Proposals for 2013 must be mailed by the 3/15/12 deadline to Conference, Box 116, Collingwood, ON, L9Y 3Z4. Or, FAX the proposal to FAX (705) 444-0380. Or E-Mail the proposal to organix@georgian.net – with any workshop submission, be sure to include your full contact info including address and phone #.  The Manager can be reached at (705) 444-0923.

It is important to submit by the March 15, 2012 deadline because the Committee needs these proposals for its annual spring planning meeting. At that meeting (early April, 2012) about 95% of the 2013 workshop program will be decided:
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PREPARE & SUBMIT YOUR 2013 WORKSHOP PROPOSAL FOR THE 32nd ANNUAL CONFERENCE • LATE JANUARY, 2013

This is the format/explanation on how to propose or offer a workshop for the 2013 Guelph Conference program – held late January, 2013 at the U of Guelph.

• We’d appreciate getting the BASICS from you before considering the proposal •

1. Name of workshop (or a choice of 2 or 3 names – please keep it simple, creative & interesting)

2. Suggested speaker (or speakers) – (A) is it a single person presenting, or is it (B) a 2-person talk or (C) a larger panel. If it’s a larger panel, who are the other suggested panelists? – we need those names because you must know who they are!

3. Duration – 1.0-hour, 1.5-hour, 2.0-hour or longer, i.e. 3.0-hour or is it a major seminar which might run for greater than a 1/2-day program (limited space for this)

4. Difficulty or involvement level of the subject you are proposing – e.g……. is it only for novices, or is it introduction, intermediate, advanced, expert, etc.

5. Description – try to describe your proposed presentation in 25-50 words (100 maximum). Provide the 5W’s – who-what-where-why-when….. and how?

6. Target – is it ‘certified organic growers,’ or urban consumers, market gardeners, crop researchers, media, student WWOOFers, suburban 10-acre landholders, 500-acre transitional growers, herbalism students, urban highrise farmers, or who? Or, is the target “general” – which appeals to all Conference guests?

7. Does your proposal fit into a “theme” of workshops? If so, give the ‘proposed titles only’ of the other 2 or 3 workshops which might fit into that theme.

8. Please provide any other comments on why your proposed workshop is necessary, significant, important or that it provides a new focus or will generate new interest at the Conference. The proposal must be short and clear vs. vague.

9. Final note: we generally don’t do promotions for products, businesses or particular belief systems without offering opposing or other views. If the Guelph Conf. Committee likes your idea but feels this idea is too specific to your personal business/enterprise, we may propose a panel containing differing views to yours.

The Guelph Conference gets literally hundreds of workshop ideas every year. Most of what we receive are just idea/concepts or eco-snippets without any structure or strategy behind them. This makes it difficult for the Conference organizers to arrange a solid title for the workshop or to even try slotting it into a coherent 2-workshop or 3-workshop theme. Thus, if you can propose a catchy title and a solid speaker, this is seen as well thought out and more likely to be chosen. Please respond as soon as possible because right after the 2012 event, we will be in ‘workshop selection mode’ for the 2013 workshop program. This happens every year where people send in their proposals in July – so, with regrets, many will be disappointed by not following the submission schedule.

IF SUBMITTING A WORKSHOP PROPOSAL – BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, FULL MAILING ADDRESS, PHONE, FAX, E-MAIL + OTHER CONTACT DATA SO WE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

Latest proposal date: March 15, 2012

Tomás/Conference Manager
(705) 444-0923 •• organix@georgian.net •• or FAX TO: (705) 444-0380

•••

SUGGESTION – here is a simple way to plan a workshop and get involved in a future Conferene workshop program:

1. attend the 2012 Guelph Conference and write down all your ideas for topics which you did not see covered or which ‘need expansion’

2. right after the end of the Conference, lay out your best workshop idea(s)

3. send your concise proposal in to the Conference Manager by mid-March, 2012.

Literally anyone can propose a workshop for this Conference because  we offer space for both experts and novices and we will accept your idea as long as it’s novel, timely and interesting !

Finally, remember that Guelph is your mid-winter organic experience so come and discuss your best ideas and let everyone know about them.