I have read with interest all the discussions on lace conventions.
Travel costs are the big thing that stand in the way of attending any
convention this applies to the US as well as Australia where distances
are very similar. And yes we have the same requirements as well. I've
been a member of the Australian lace Guild for over 30 years and only
managed to get to my first 'convention' 2 years ago. It was within
driving distance. In the early 1990's there were conventions within
walking distance from my home but I couldn't go.
The main reasons were financial and family; conventions were held in
school holidays and I was a teacher with 3 children. When the children
were finally old enough to be left for a week it was cost that kept me
at home. But at the same time I could afford to attend week long
Physics, Science and History of Science conferences not only due to tax
concessions and support from my employer, but these academic conferences
always gave a variety of accommodation options and food could be
obtained from a variety of outlets. The registration costs included the
cost of key note speakers. I sometimes brought my kids with me and they
were made welcome, my daughter was often singled out by a key note
speaker during breaks and on one occasion the Governor General
approached her and chatted to her during the welcome reception.
As a family we regularly attended caving conferences because
accommodation costs were kept down; we either camped or the conference
was held in a sport and rec grounds where we stayed in cabins or it was
held in some variety of community facility and we stayed in a hotel or
motel AND there were activities for non-cavers and children. Often these
activities arose spontaneously but non-cavers and kids were welcome! I
used to make lace or stitch while my husband attended the lectures and
workshops and the kids did their thing with the other kids. We all kept
an eye out for the children and some of the mums with young children
organised their own creche.
This year I ran a patchwork workshop for non-caving partners, it was a
great success with even more non-caving partners attending than in
previous years. This conference was held in a Catholic Retreat Center
that had a variety of accommodation options which included camping,
apart from workshop facilities for the conference, we also had access to
the swimming pool and other facilities which included common rooms and
rec rooms.
Lace conventions rarely make partners welcome and children are never
seen. If I could have brought my husband and kids to a lace 'convention'
I would have gone.
As far as staying in a venue that includes the meals this is a hit and
miss affair. To be totally blunt I hate boarding school food!!!!!! While
there is lots of it, it is boring and done to a price and hence the
quality is not always there. Yet I have been to functions at boarding
schools where the food has been simply great. It depends on how much you
are prepared to pay for food.
Anna in a sunny Sydney
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