Richard Mahaffey on thu 15 feb 07
I went to NCECA in Portland on the Thursday eveningof the event. I
could not see taking time off from teaching students so I decided to go
on Friday (no classes). I happened to get a room at the Clayart hotel
for Thursday evening and Friday evening.
I rode the elevator with several people from Clayart. They looked at
me with my suitcase but did not say a word. I wandered into the
clayart room and there were a few people in groups. No one said hello.
There were people running around with red feather boas who did not
acknowledge a fellow potter in the elevator or hallway.
It was not until I went into the bar to have a drink that I met someone
who would say hello. His name was Rog. We talked and I asked him if he
had plans for dinner. He said he did not, so I invited him to join me
and some students who had come for the whole conference. He seemed to
have a good time and I know my students all liked Rog alot.
The point of this story is to remind Clayart folks at NCECA in the
Clayart area that Clayart was founded so potters could talk to each
other.
Remember that and say hello to folks who do not have a badge ( because
they have not registered yet).
Talk to those you share the hall with because they might be shy and not
as experienced as you or I.
You never know who you might meet or what you might learn from them.
And please when you return tell us who had to work about what you saw
and learned.
Peace,
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma, WA
Rachel Campbell on tue 20 feb 07
Richard's story about NCECA struck a chord with me, and I wanted to chime i=
n to agree with his point-- but to give sort of the opposite point of view.=
=0A=0AI showed up at NCECA in Baltimore, totally psyched but completely shy=
and intimidated. (Those who know me would never believe it.) I found the=
clayart room and hung around the edges, pretty impressed by being in the s=
ame room as Mel and David Hendley and other such august personalities. I m=
ight very well have gone the entire three days without speaking to a soul. =
But Mayssan Shora Farra came in the room right about then and walked up to=
me with a great big smile and introduced herself, and then proceeded to dr=
ag me around the room to meet everyone else there. So instead of hiding out=
, I spent an awesome three days talking to amazing people and learning tons=
of stuff, and had a great time. =0A=0ASo, fwiw, I'm gonna try very hard n=
ot to be shy and to say hi to anyone I see... (It won't be too hard-- I'm c=
arpooling and rooming with Mayssan ;-) But for anyone who finds themselves=
on their own-- don't be afraid to take the first step yourself. It really=
is an awesome crowd, and that's all it will take!=0A=0ASee ya in Louisvill=
e! =0A:-) --Rachel, in Odenton, MD=0Ahttp://DownToThePottersHouse.com=0A=
=0A----- Original Message ----=0A=0ADate: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:59:18 -080=
0=0AFrom: Richard Mahaffey =0ASubject: NCECA a=
nd Clayart hotel and room=0A=0AI went to NCECA in Portland on the Thursday =
eveningof the event. I=0Acould not see taking time off from teaching stude=
nts so I decided to go=0Aon Friday (no classes). I happened to get a room =
at the Clayart hotel=0Afor Thursday evening and Friday evening.=0A=0AI rode=
the elevator with several people from Clayart. They looked at=0Ame with =
my suitcase but did not say a word. I wandered into the=0Aclayart room an=
d there were a few people in groups. No one said hello.=0A=0AThere were pe=
ople running around with red feather boas who did not=0Aacknowledge a fello=
w potter in the elevator or hallway.=0A=0AIt was not until I went into the =
bar to have a drink that I met someone=0Awho would say hello. His name was=
Rog. We talked and I asked him if he=0Ahad plans for dinner. He said he =
did not, so I invited him to join me=0Aand some students who had come for t=
he whole conference. He seemed to=0Ahave a good time and I know my student=
s all liked Rog alot.=0A=0A=0AThe point of this story is to remind Clayart =
folks at NCECA in the=0AClayart area that Clayart was founded so potters co=
uld talk to each=0Aother.=0ARemember that and say hello to folks who do not=
have a badge ( because=0Athey have not registered yet).=0ATalk to those yo=
u share the hall with because they might be shy and not=0Aas experienced as=
you or I.=0AYou never know who you might meet or what you might learn from=
them.=0A=0AAnd please when you return tell us who had to work about what y=
ou saw=0Aand learned.=0A=0APeace,=0ARick Mahaffey=0ATacoma, WA=0A=0A=0A=0A=
=0A=0A
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