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Return to AGM Home Page
PWAC AGM 2001: A Montreal Odyssey
REGISTRATION FOR NON-MEMBERS (click here to go to the PWAC-MEMBER registration page)
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- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
- REGISTRATION FORM FOR NON-MEMBERS
- ACCOMMODATION IN MONTREAL
- QUESTIONS?
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
EVENTS AND WORKSHOPSUnless otherwise indicated, all of the following events will take place at l'Hôtel de l'Institut de Tourisme et d'Hôtellerie du Québec in downtown Montreal, located in the heart of Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal near the Quartier Latin on St. Denis near Sherbrooke Street. The hotel-institute complex is beside the Sherbrooke Metro, steps away from St. Laurent Blvd. (also known as The Main), a short jaunt from the Prince Arthur Street restaurant and bar area, a healthy 20-minute walk from Old Montreal and from Montreal's famous bagel factories.
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
BUFFET LUNCHEON with guest speaker Ann DouglasAnn Douglas, PWAC vice-president, author of more books than you can count on both hands and mother of four, talks about "Making Big Money: How to Make a Six-Figure Income as a Freelance Writer in Canada."
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 7:00 PM
BANQUET at LE FRIPON with guest speaker David FennarioA buffet banquet on Place Jacques-Cartier in the "vrai coeur" of Old Montreal. Cobblestoned streets, stone buildings, an unbelievable ambiance... need we say more? Join us for fabulous French cuisine and a keynote address by David Fennario, noted Montreal journalist and award-winning playwright (Balconville), who will shake up the evening with a call to arms about "Telling stories others arenít willing to tell." David will use his fine story-telling techniques and wonderful sense of humour to give us at least a half-hour talk at the big dinner in Old Montreal. Not to be missed.
SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPSA variety of hour-long workshops will be held on Saturday, June 2, at 9:00 AM, 10:15 AM and 11:30 AM. Each workshop will be given twice. Participants may choose from a host of hot topics led by professional writers with hands-on experience, including the following:
BOOTING UP YOUR BUSINESS:
HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH PUBLISHERS & EDITORS
Tim Perrin (PWAC & ASJA member) and others
Afraid to ask your publisher to sign a contract? At a loss as to how to up your fees? Want to negotiate that e-rights clause out of your contract? When do you bite the bullet and when do you stand up for your rights? You can bet that this will be a lively discussion of doís and doníts with a lot of healthy suggestions on how to avoid the common pitfalls of negotiating payment and copyright with editors and publishers -- on-line and off.
MARKETING YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS
Hélèna Katz, PWAC member, freelance journalist, educator
Helena hosts a hands-on, practical workshop that has already earned accolades in Montreal and Eastern Canada. She will show participants how to write concise query letters that will grab editorsí attention. A firm believer that newspapers and cans arenít the only things that should be recycled, Helena will also offer tips on how to reuse research and stories to make more money.
FOOD WRITING THAT REALLY SCHMECKS
Speaker TBA
FROM SUPERMARKET CHECKOUT TO LOCKER ROOM:
HOW TO FIND STORIES ANYWHERE
Stephanie Whittaker, PWAC member, freelance journalist
Ever wondered how journalists who churn out regular columns and features find story ideas without getting stale? Take some tips from a journalist who uses every opportunity she can to find interesting stories and dish them up weekly to readers of The Gazette and the various magazines for which she writes. Stephanie Whittaker will teach you to mine your networks. A newspaper journalist since 1977, Stephanie has literally found her best stories during conversations in locker rooms, supermarket check-out counters, school plays, parties, doctorís office waiting rooms, on street corners while walking the dog and in sundry other places. Sheíll also teach introverts how to beat shyness while networking their way to fascinating stories.
THE TRANSITION FROM PERIODICALS TO BOOKS:
HOW TO WRITE A BOOK PROPOSAL
Ann Douglas, PWAC member, freelance journalist, prolific author
Have an idea for a book but donít know how to flesh it out on paper? Here's a hands-on guide to writing a book proposal that sells your idea -- from a successful and prolific author who knows how to do it! Ann Douglas shares her experience and offers tips on how to write a book proposal that will reel in a publisher for your book project.
DO's AND DON'Ts OF LITERARY JOURNALISM
Mark Abley, feature writer, The Gazette
Mark Abley, one of the most experienced literary journalists in Canada, will describe what works and what doesn't work in terms of profiling authors, writing book reviews and covering the literary scene. A former contributing editor of both Macleanís and Saturday Night, and a regular contributor to the Times Literary Supplement, Abley is now on leave from his job as a feature writer at The Gazette to write a book about threatened languages. He is the author of several books of non-fiction and poetry, including the bestselling Stories From the Ice Storm.
HOW TO COVER BUSINESS
David Yates, business editor, The Gazette
Canadian productivity is up and business is booming! David Yates, a seasoned journalist and editor of The Gazette's business section, talks about the stories that editors want to see and how to cover them. He offers constructive tips that you need to know to cover the corporate, small business and other business spheres.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
HOW TO JUGGLE MULTIPLE PROJECTS
Ann Searles, President, Institute for Business Technology
At times, the freelancer's life is like a circus performerís juggling act. You have to manage several projects -- and clients -- while still maintaining a balanced lifestyle (that includes family, exercise, a social life...). Ann Searles offers how-tos and other wisdom about the work side of this equation. An insightful look at how to organize yourself better than you already do.
OFFICE ERGONOMICS:
HOW TO DEAL WITH DAILY LIFE BEHIND A DESK
Leslie Larson, Ergonomist
An entertaining look at how you can avoid the pitfalls of modern life at the computer -- that all too sedentary life behind a desk. Leslie Larson reviews what you can do to keep fit and healthy without aches and pains.
CRITICAL REPORTAGE IN MEDICAL WRITING (Sponsored by Pfizer Canada Inc.)
Bruce Wilson, Phillipa Rispin, Marvin Ross
PWAC members and medical writers
Three top medical writers examine how to report on medical stories. A critical look at how to analyse what PR companies, scientists, health-care professionals and drug companies are telling you about their latest "breakthrough." The panel will discuss how to read between the lines, what questions to ask, where to find the unbiased information you need to research your stories, and more. A close look at how not to mislead or be misled by amazing medical advances -- and give seemingly unimportant stories their due. A thoughtful look at medical writing.
A WORD ON WEB WRITING
Speakers TBA
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REGISTRATION FORM FOR NON-MEMBERS(print out or cut-and-paste form)
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2001
Name ____________________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________
Phone _____________________________ E-mail ______________________________
Please check off which of the following events you will be attending:
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Friday, June 1
Luncheon with guest speaker Ann Douglas
Fee: $20 (must register by April 1; tickets not available at the door)
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Friday June 1
Evening Banquet with guest speaker David Fennario
Fee: $50 (must register by April 1; tickets not available at the door)
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Saturday Professional Development Workshops
Fee: $30 if you register before April 1; $35 at the door
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Please make your cheque payable to PWAC Montreal and mail to:PWAC 2001 AGM
159 Ruskin Drive
Beaconsfield, Quebec, H9W 2Y1
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ACCOMMODATION IN MONTREAL
RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION:
HOTEL DE L'INSTITUT DE TOURISME ET D'HOTELLERIE DU QUEBEC
The Hotel de L'Institut de tourisme et d'hotellerie du Quebec (ITHQ) is located in the heart of Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal near the Quartier Latin on St. Denis near Sherbrooke Street. The hotel-institute complex is beside the Sherbrooke Metro, steps away from St. Laurent Blvd. (also known as The Main), a short jaunt from the Prince Arthur Street restaurant and bar area, a healthy 20-minute walk from Old Montreal and from Montreal's famous bagel factories.
L'Institut de tourisme et d'hotellerie du Quebec is an educational institute for students training to work in the tourism industry. Here, Quebec students learn how to run hotels and inns, cook meals and serve customers, organize conferences, and more. The PWAC AGM 2001 plenary sessions, workshops and Saturday Professional Development Workshops will all be held at this site.
L'Institut runs a hotel, which is part of the same building complex. People who stay at L'Hotel will be able to walk indoors between meeting rooms and hotel rooms. There is a small 3rd floor lobby and bar in the hotel. All buildings in the ITHQ complex are wheelchair accessible. All meeting rooms and hotel rooms are accessible by elevator, escalator or stairs. All staff are bilingual.
ROOMS
The Hotel has 42 rooms (single and double) and two suites (one of which is reserved by the PWAC AGM Organizing Committee). PWAC has reserved all 22 double rooms. (We are hoping to take over the place!) Each double room (occupancy for two) has a private bathroom, two double beds, a desk, air conditioner, colour television, alarm clock, hair dryer, magnifying mirror, and automatic coffee machine with one envelope of coffee per day. Another 18 single rooms are available (although not reserved by PWAC).
COST
Double rooms: $69.50 per person (sharing a room) per night (includes breakfast)
Single rooms: $119 per night (includes breakfast)
Children under 12 stay free with parentsHOW TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
Book your room now! Plan to visit before or stay on after the AGM. At these rates, you can enjoy Montreal's bounty without breaking the bank. All reservations are to be made directly with l'Hôtel de l'Institut de Tourisme et d'Hôtellerie du Québec. Simply phone the following number to make a reservation by credit card: 1-800-361-5111. IMPORTANT: When making your reservation, please be sure to mention PWA0806, PWAC Conference 2001.
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UNIVERSITY OF QUEBEC AT MONTREAL (UQAM)
STUDENT RESIDENCES
A 12-minute walk from the main conference centre at ITHQ are the residences of the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM). The residences are located at St. Denis and Rene Levesque Blvd. ó about 10 minutes (walking distance) from Old Montreal, downtown and the conference centre (an uphill walk). The PWAC AGM 2001 committee has reserved two "Multi-8" residence apartments at this site.
A "Multi-8" is a two-level apartment with 8 single rooms (each with a single bed and small desk), 3 shared bathrooms and a common kitchen/living room area. The decor is somewhat rudimentary -- a typical university residence dormitory apartment, shared by 8 people -- and the single rooms are a bit cramped. (UQAM Web site: www.residences-uqam.qc.ca)
COST
Each person pays $34.99 per day to share the facility. (Does not include breakfast.)
HOW TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
Simply phone the following number to make your reservation by credit card: 1-877-987-6669. IMPORTANT: When making your reservation, please mention PWAC or the Periodical Writers Association of Canada.
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QUESTIONS?
PLEASE CONTACT:
The Montreal AGM Organizing Committee
Phone and Fax: 514-695-3543
E-mail: hlp@total.net