Hi folks: This message has been circulating on FB for much of the day but there are lots of folks here not in the same circles. This is mostly a FYI, More Information Coming Soon message. I’m not the leader of this group but have been sort of the… stirrer? Instigator? The group working on this has about 55 members.
We’re circulating this now in part to let you know that a CFP is coming, and if you’re trying to decide what to do about attending CCCC or coming to Milwaukee for other reasons or whatever, this might be an option.
–Seth
Seth Kahn <herecomestrouble1208>
We* (almost!) want you to propose a talk/panel/session/activity/meeting for Free 4Cs 2027! [As of last night, we have a name. CFP should be out early next week.] In the meantime, we want to get this info circulating so you know whether our event is something that does what you want/need it to. Our main goals/priorities are–
1. Alternate conferencing to gather, grieve, be angry, and plan for the future.
2. Inviting member groups (caucuses/ SIGs/SGs) to have their meetings/sessions offsite if you prefer or need the space.
3. Protesting the NCTE’s de-charterings of the CCCC’s, a 70+ years old stalwart of the rhetcomp field.
4. Providing a CV line / use for professional purposes for funding and other such matters.
In short, we are asking people for proposals and will supply acceptance letters and a program that documents participation (for people who want/need that).
The CFP will, I think, answer a lot of other questions about formats, our ethical commitments, and what we hope our outcomes will be. Feel free to ask for those, but I’ll ask in advance not to be irritated if I respond to something by saying "Hang tight for the CFP and see if that answers the question." Also understand that we have space reserved and some virtual capacity; if the response to the call is overwhelming, we’ll try as hard as we can to support as many people as we can, but we can’t promise that for everyone.
We expect some people will attend both this event and CCCC. Part of the proposal process will ask about that, just so we know for planning/space reasons about how many people we expect any given slice of time.
*Given the conversation about the Organization Formerly Known as CCCC authorship of their statement, I’ll just say right now that people will get to decide for themselves whether they announce their participation in the planning group. Until people have a chance to indicate how comfortable they are being named, I’m not going to take that choice from them.
Seth Kahn (he/him/his)
Department of English
West Chester University of PA
"Let’s save pessimism for better times." –Eduardo Galleano