[SCMSL] URGENT -- SCMS CONFERENCE CANCELLATION

[Oliver Dew]

I agree that an impromptu KinemaClub would be wonderful.

The biggest problem would be that any venue we did find could be  
subjected to the exact same pressure that Josai was. So to avoid  
creating the same problem again I reckon we'd have to stress that a)  
we're KineJapan/KinemaClub, and not SCMS and, b) our meeting would be  
much, much smaller than SCMS.

How many participants would we be looking at though? I was looking at  
the SurveyMonkey website they used, and with a free account you can  
get up to 100 responses. So, just to get the ball rolling, to see if  
it is even worth approaching venues, how would people feel about a  
survey just for KineJapan subscribers? How would the list-owners feel?  
I'm probably already treading on people's toes.

Oliver Dew






On 13 May 2009, at 19:01, Dolores Martinez wrote:

> I had booked a complicated trip in order to be in Korea in June for  
> another conference (they're paying for this one) and so had arranged  
> a longer stay in Japan, rooms at Waseda, a lecture at the University  
> etc.  So I am trying to decide how to play this one.  If KineJapan  
> members are there or determined to go, we could try meeting.  But  
> would any university be worried about our presence?  It would be  
> good to know.  Dr Lola Martinez
>
> 2009/5/13 Roger Macy <macyroger at yahoo.co.uk>
> Well, I am pretty dismayed by the reaction of many SCMS members.   
> The burden of additional precautions at the personal level was  
> surely manageable.  I'm sorry for those whose careers are affected.
> Even if I wanted to cancel my flight, I don't think this would be  
> grounds for claiming on a personal insurance.  Presumably, the sub- 
> set of SCMS members who are either already in Japan, or have other  
> commitments in Japan with family, friends and colleagues, is more  
> strongly represented on this list ?
> Are there circumstances in which we can meet ?
> Roger
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark Roberts
> To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 3:57 AM
> Subject: FYI: [SCMSL] URGENT -- SCMS CONFERENCE CANCELLATION
>
> Very unfortunate news.
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: SCMS Membership List <scmsl at lists-cmstudies.org>
>> Date: May 13, 2009 11:36:39 AM JST
>> To: "scmsl at lists-cmstudies.org" <scmsl at lists-cmstudies.org>
>> Subject: [SCMSL] URGENT -- SCMS CONFERENCE CANCELLATION
>> Reply-To: scmsl at lists-cmstudies.org
>>
>> Dear Colleagues:
>>
>> It is with a very great regret that we are announcing the  
>> cancellation of the SCMS conference in Tokyo scheduled for May  
>> 21-24, 2009.
>>
>> Late last week we learned that the Government of Japan and the  
>> Chiyoda District Government had requested that Josai International  
>> University cancel the conference due to concerns about containing  
>> the H1N1 ("Swine Flu") virus.  That request, and the conditions  
>> that were subsequently imposed under which the conference might  
>> occur, resulted in daily discussions among the officers of SCMS,  
>> members of the Board of Directors, the Society's legal counsel, and  
>> representatives of Josai.
>>
>> We have determined that proceeding with the conference under the  
>> conditions ordered by the government presents too many risks for  
>> our members and the Society.  These include the personal risks to  
>> individual members (including possible quarantine, additional  
>> expense, and considerable stress), potential liability to SCMS, as  
>> well as pressures on the Society's small infrastructure.  Moreover,  
>> the survey conducted yesterday (564 of 748 registrants replied)  
>> indicated that almost one-third of those responding chose to  
>> withdraw from the conference.  Many of those who said that they  
>> would still attend indicated that they would do so out of a sense  
>> of obligation or said that they would spend minimal time at the  
>> conference.  It was also clear that some registrants who did not  
>> respond to the survey, but who communicated in other ways, were  
>> waiting for more information before making a decision.
>>
>> We are extremely grateful for the efforts of JIU, on behalf of  
>> SCMS, for negotiating with the national and local governments to  
>> create conditions under which the conference could move forward.   
>> But it is clear that members felt that those conditions would not  
>> be conducive to a satisfactory conference experience.  The high  
>> cancellation rate - with more likely - presented us with a depleted  
>> program rather than the robust intellectual and social experience  
>> our members have come to expect of the SCMS conference.
>>
>>     * You are urged to cancel your hotel reservations and flights  
>> immediately, unless you plan to travel to Japan for pleasure.  You  
>> should contact your airline to arrange for credit on your airfare.   
>> We will be working with Japan Travel Bureau to reduce or eliminate  
>> hotel cancellation penalties.
>>     * Conference fees will be refunded, or individuals may request  
>> that their registration fee be used for the 2010 conference in Los  
>> Angeles.  More details will follow.
>>     * We are working on plans to retain as much of the Tokyo  
>> conference as possible as a part of our Los Angeles conference.  We  
>> will provide more information as soon as possible.
>>     * We will be creating a forum on the SCMS website for  
>> individuals to register their comments.
>>     * If you have already arrived in Japan and need assistance,  
>> please contact the SCMS office staff as soon as possible.  Others  
>> can expect their e-mail messages and phone calls to be answered in  
>> the order that are received as soon as the staff can respond.
>>
>> This has been a severe trial for the SCMS leadership, and we  
>> realize that the uncertainty caused by this global health situation  
>> has created great confusion and anxiety among our members.
>>
>> We are extremely disappointed that we have had to make this  
>> decision, especially in light of the tremendous amount of planning  
>> and work that our members, the SCMS staff, and our exhibitors  
>> committed to this conference.  Again, we offer our heartfelt  
>> gratitude to the Chancellor of Josai and Josai International  
>> Universities, Dean En Fukuyuki, Shinozaki Kayo and the rest of the  
>> staff at JIU who generously offered his or her services above and  
>> beyond any duties, responsibilities, or obligations and on top of  
>> their already considerable responsibilities at JIU.
>>
>> We are saddened that we will not be able to meet in Tokyo, but when  
>> the dust settles, we look forward to a combined Tokyo/Los Angeles  
>> conference to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary, which will  
>> represent the very best of who we are and what we do.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Patrice Petro, President
>> Anne Friedberg, President-Elect
>> Stephen Prince, Past-President
>> Eric Schaefer, Secretary
>> Paula Massood, Treasurer
>> Scott Curtis, Member of the Board
>> F. Hollis Griffin, Graduate Student Representative
>> Michele Hilmes, Member of the Board
>> Priya Jaikumar, Member of the Board
>> Victoria Johnson, Member of the Board
>> Charles Wolfe, Member of the Board
>> Michael Zryd, Member of the Board
>> _______________________________________________
>> SCMSL mailing list
>> SCMSL at lists-cmstudies.org
>> http://lists-cmstudies.org/mailman/listinfo/scmsl_lists-cmstudies.org
>
>

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