It has been a tradition for NSN to produce a single annual conference.  Although the conference site moves to different national locations, distance, summer scheduling, and expense have meant that typically no more than 15% of our membership can attend.  NSN has long wanted to explore other meeting formats and possibilities – and 2009 will therefore be the “Year of the Regions.”

 WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN

NSN will support one innovative event in each of our seven regions, with

• Funding (details below)
• NSN’s non-profit fiscal sponsorship for grant proposals and solicitation of (tax-deductible) donations
• Publicity (via the magazine, mailing lists, web, and e-mail)
• Use of NSN logo on promotional materials and web sites
• Registration assistance
• Technical assistance and ideas as appropriate (for podcasts, larger access via Internet, etc.)
• NSN staff and board presence (where possible)
• Opportunity to present results of the event on a panel at the 2010 national conference

 [Funding:  NSN co-sponsorship will provide 40/60 match funding for each event, up to a total contribution by NSN of $1000.  (For example, if the local sponsor provides $600, NSN will give $400. If the local sponsor provides $1500, NSN will give $1000... and so forth.)  If the event is financially successful, the revenues will first go to repay the local sponsor’s 60% contribution, and then to repay NSN’s 40% contribution; should net revenues exceed the initial funding, they will be divided between NSN and the local sponsor.  However, should the event’s revenues be too small to cover its initial funding, NSN will treat its contribution as an outright grant.  Thus NSN will share the financial risk involved in the production – and, if possible, will share some of the revenues.]

The Year of the Regions events, including the seven regional programs as well as special SIG programming, will be featured in all NSN publications and announcements throughout the year.

 

WHO MAY APPLY

Any group – regional, state, or local guilds, arts organizations, businesses, or ad hoc groups created just for this purpose – may apply for NSN Year of the Regions sponsorship, as long as the primary organizers are members of NSN.  (NSN Special Interest Groups are encouraged to produce their own regional events and will be supported by NSN staff and publicity, but since they are part of NSN, they are not eligible for this funding.)

WHAT KINDS OF EVENTS WILL BE SUPPORTED

As long as storytelling is central to the program, your creative imaginations can do the rest!  NSN will consider stand-alone events as well as innovative programs linked to established conferences or festivals.  Performances, brief and extended workshops, outreach events, collaborations, broadcasts, teleconferences, story slams – you name it!

 

HOW TO APPLY

E-mail a preliminary application letter to nsn.proposals@gmail.com by midnight (EDT), Wednesday, September 24, answering the following questions:

1) What is the title of the event?

2) What activities will it involve, and who will take part?  What do you hope to accomplish?

3) Where and when will it take place?

4) Who will be organizing it?  (give names, brief bios, and contact information)

5) Who are the local sponsors? (if different from #4 above)

6) In general, what is the event budget?  List expected expenses, revenue, and sources of revenue.

 

SUPPORT CRITERIA

The NSN Board will give preference to events that:

·        Represent innovative approaches to storytelling programming;

·        Are organized by communal efforts;

·        Encourage tellers to gather and develop professionally;

·        Support regions or populations underserved by storytelling programming;

·        Promote and advocate for storytelling;

·        Have potential to reach significant numbers of participants;

·        Present a plausible and viable budget.

 

NOTIFICATION

By October 15 applicants will be notified of the Board’s assessment of their proposals.  We may at that time be able to approve some applications; other applicants may be asked for further information so that a decision can be made by the end of the month.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, contact your NSN Regional Director:

Northeast:        Laura Packer, Laura.serena@mindspring.com

Mid-Atlantic:    Jane Crouse, crousej@comcast.net

Southeast:         Joseph Sobol, sobol@etsu.edu

South Central:   Roger E. Armstrong, wordweaver@arkansas.net

North Central:  Judy Sima, judy@judysima.com

Western:           Teresa Clark, tcnsn@q.com

Pacific: Michael D. McCarty, agriot@earthlink.net