[Bookstoprisoners] National Books to Prisoners Conference (inUrbana?!)

[Suzanne Linder]

Another topic that I think we could say something about and learn something
about is the relationship of Books to Prisoners organizations to other
prison activism.  I know that when I was interviewed by the BTP folk in
Canada, they were having all kinds of tension in their organization about
the limits and boundries of the work they do.  Mercifully, we don't seem to
have the same kind of conflict that they described but I think that there
are always more demands on our BTP than we necessarily want to meet.  Our
decision early on to have our primary mission be sending books to prisoners
has really helped us when other opportunitites (Prison Arts Festival, John
Howard, CUCPJ events, etc) come up.

That's a long way of suggesting a panel of people from different BTP
organizations that discuss the scope of their work.

Jay, you mentioned to me last night that the last conference was able to
secure money to help with airfare for some presenters.  I wonder what
resources we could tap into around here?  If we talked to the Center for
Democracy in a Multiracial Society (who fund the Prison Arts Festival and
the Education Beyond Bars project), I wonder if they might give us a small
grant.  There are probably some other options as well.  If we could raise
$1500-2500 we could give grants of $250 to help defray the cost for some
attendees.  This is something I would be willing to work on--with help from
others!

Suzanne

On 5/15/07, Jay Schubert <jay.schubert at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Deb, do you think you could pull off a presentation / panel on how to
> select, market and account for sales of donated books.  I don't think it's
> something that many organizations are doing, but would probably be
> interested in hearing more about.
>
> So far no date, just an idea...  I was imagining late fall or early next
> spring.  It sounds like there are several of us who would be interested in
> supporting a conference.  In my mind, the biggest challenge would be
> planning enough valuable forums to make the people on the East & West coasts
> want to come to Champaign / Urbana for a weekend.  One thing that's been
> said so far on the national list is that the last conference focused too
> much on 'how to start a new btp organization' and didn't offer enough to
> well established groups.
>
> In response to people who have replied to this email so far, and off the
> top of my head, these are some topics that I think would attract attendance
> nationally.  Of course some of us could share our experiences with these
> things, and there are many projects that have been around for quite a long
> time that could probably also contribute.  Curious what you could add to, or
> think of these:
>
> Winning Grant Money for your BTP organization
> Marketing donated books to finance shipping
> Working with Jails (special guest Nancy Griffin?)
> Working with Prison Mail Rooms (could we get a mail room supervisor
> /worker to sit on a panel?)
> Publishing inmate art & writing
> Building a new BTP Program
> Increasing Volunteerism
> Cultivating book donations
>
> - Jay
>
> On 5/15/07, Sand and Sea Sells Used Books Etc. < sandncsells at ameritech.net>
> wrote:
> >
> >  WOW! What a great idea Jay!  Of course we could pull it off! I think it
> > would be perfect and loads of fun.  Just think of the networking!  I'll do
> > what I can from making/setting up food type stuff to helping do seminars,
> > organizing programs, or whatever needs doing.  First on the agenda would be
> > to set a date that the IMC is available.  We may also want to get the family
> > room for some smaller workshops.
> >
> > I hope it isn't going to be too soon (like next month).  We have a lot
> > of prep work and cleaning to do!
> >
> > Deb
> >
> > Deb Sanderson
> > Owner/Buyer
> > Sand and Sea Sells Used Books Etc.
> > www.sandncsells.com
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >  *From:* Jay Schubert <jay.schubert at gmail.com>
> > *To:* BTP <BooksToPrisoners at lists.chambana.net>
> > *Sent:* Tuesday, May 15, 2007 12:38 PM
> > *Subject:* [Bookstoprisoners] National Books to Prisoners Conference
> > (inUrbana?!)
> >
> > All,
> >
> > There has been some recent discussion on the national books to prisoners
> > email list about doing a National Conference.  Apparently there was one in
> > 2003, and it sounds like it was successful and groups from several cities
> > might be interested in attending another one.
> >
> > Naturally, I feel like our IMC is the best place to hold the next
> > conference.  I'd like to get a read on how others in our group feel about
> > this.  I've only started gathering information about the last conference,
> > but I'd like to know A.)  If you'd like to see it happen  B.) If you think
> > we could pull it off  C.) What kind of support YOU might be able to provide
> > in the event that we decide to propose hosting the next conference here.
> >
> > If you think that (under the right circumstances) you might be able to
> > help by hosting one or two visitors for a weekend, organizing and holding a
> > forum on a particular topic, or could help in some other way, I'd like to
> > know.  Again, I'm just brain storming here and of course haven't committed
> > to anything, but would like to open the topic for discussion before some
> > other BTP group announces they'll be hosting the conference and we miss our
> > chance.
> >
> > --
> > Jay
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
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> >
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>
>
> --
> Jay
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