The SOF Conference Committee has set a May 15 deadline for new proposals for the upcoming in-person Annual Conference scheduled for Ashland, Oregon this coming September 21-25.
Approximately 18 speaker/panel slots will be available in Ashland ranging from 20 to 45 minutes each. A first call was made in January with nine proposals accepted by the Committee.
Those already accepted include, among others, proposals from Bonner Cutting on a de Vere-related family portrait, Michael Delahoyde on Taming of the Shrew, James Warren on Percy Allen’s almost-forgotten early contributions to Oxfordian studies, and a group proposal from Michael Dudley, Catherine Hatinguais and Bill Boyle about a campaign to change Library of Congress subject headings as they relate to the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
A proposed panel discussion called “Filming the Authorship” was also accepted and will feature filmmakers Robin Phillips, Cheryl Eagan-Donovan, Lisa and Laura Wilson and, with a little luck, Anonymous director Roland Emmerich. The panel will be hosted by Don Rubin.
With nine slots still to fill, though, there is ample opportunity for all SOF members to submit a proposal with a one-page outline. The proposal can take the form of a formal paper, a discussion topic, a panel or even a possible short performance connected to Oxford and/or relevant aspects of the SAQ. Please make the connection clear in your proposal.
As well, it may be possible to be a speaker even if you cannot attend the conference in-person. The Committee is at this time investigating having part or all the conference done with an electronic hook-up so presentations can be videoed in advance.
It may also be possible for those not attending in-person to participate electronically. Depending on costs, anyone from North America intending to participate this way may be asked to pay a small charge. Those from outside North America may be able to opt in electronically for free. All this is still being discussed.
Those who submitted proposals in the first round and did not get a commitment, please note that your proposal is still being considered. Please do not re-submit such proposals unless the core has significantly changed.
All proposals should also include a 3-4 line bio of those to be involved. Please note that new SOF speakers may be asked to submit their entire paper in advance of the conference and/or a 3-5-minute video of their presentation.
Submissions should be sent – as soon as possible – to Conference Committee Chair, Don Rubin (drubin@yorku.ca). All submissions will be acknowledged with decisions made on or about June 1.
