No, of course it was not you.



At 04:25 PM 10/2/00 -0400, you wrote:
>I do hope that wasn't me Steve. I do recall though that we have tried some
>version of this -- all remaining papers get put on tables by registration.
>
>Personally, I would still like to get away from the hauling paper around
thing.
>It is a pain to bring and a pain to take home (as you lug things up into the
>overhead bin). I have this problem at all conferences I go to (accountants
seem
>to still do this too). My sense of this discussion is that we all are of a
>common mind that there has to be a better way today, Ginny. It is just a
matter
>of fine tuning the various suggestions to make them practical.
>
>Sally
>
>Steve Dow wrote:
>
>> Several years ago I suggested to one of the top ALSB executives that we
>> totally change the system of distributing papers.  (She totally ignored my
>> letter.)  All of the other professional academic organizations I am
>> familiar with do not call for handing out papers in the room right before a
>> presenter begins.  The obvious problem is that those in the room who don't
>> want a copy are handed one anyway and many of those who do want one are not
>> in the room at the time of the presentation.  Instead, these other
>> organizations distribute papers by selling them (for $1 each) during the
>> course of the meeting in the same room where the books are displayed.
>> Presenters bring 25 copies and at the beginning of the meeting put them in
>> the sales room on long tables.  Proceeds from the sales go to the general
>> fund of the organization.  This way people who don't want a copy will not
>> get one put into their hands; people who do want a copy do not have to be
>> in the room when the presentation is made.  They can pick one up during the
>> course of the meeting.  Unless there is a terrible fear of trying something
>> new (and this seems to be a serious problem for academic types), I suggest
>> that we try this for the next meeting.  I should add that the suggestion of
>> having the papers on-line is a great idea also.  It could be done instead
>> of or in addition to a paper sales room.
>>         Steve Dow
>>
>>  At 02:36 PM 10/2/00 -0500, you wrote:
>> >I need some reactions from people who are most likely to be
>> >interested in this question -- which is likely to be the subscribers to
>> >this list.
>> >
>> >At the Baltimore meeting a couple of people suggested that we try
>> >some better way to handle the on-site distribution of papers. That is,
>> >our current procedure is that everyone brings 25 hard copies
>> >(minimum) to the paper session and distributes them to the
>> >audience. This is, of course, never the exact number needed. Then
>> >each of us accumulates papers, reads some of them, is attracted to
>> >the rest, and then realizes in horror that they won't all go in the
>> >suitcase. Then they go into the trash can in the hotel and we try to
>> >remember to e-mail the author for a copy. Or we forget it and go
>> >home and start teaching.
>> >
>> >Would this work? Every presenter brings ten copies of the hard
>> >copy paper plus 15 diskettes containing the paper. Those who really
>> >want hard copy -- or who use an operating system that is impossible
>> >to use with the author's diskette -- get hard copy. Everyone else who
>> >wants one gets a diskette. Additional diskettes could be made.
>> >Untaken diskettes can be reused.
>> >
>> >One obvious drawback is the risk of viruses, but if the author brings
>> >the diskette he or she is likely to be careful not to infect colleagues.
>> >Those who do not trust the fates can take hard copy.
>> >
>> >Another drawback is that perhaps not enough people can get hard
>> >copy. Is ten the right minimum number?
>> >
>> >Finally, some people may not want to bring the paper in electronic
>> >form, in which case they can bring 25 hard copies.
>> >
>> >I won't make a major change like this without a good deal of input.
>> >What is your reaction to the idea?
>> >
>> >Ginny Maurer