TAMbassadors Call

[Luciana]

Are TAM attendees subject to confrontations from religious protestors, like at the reason rally?

This has never happened at any TAM. So, no, not all.

The way the DelMar has been mentioned in a few posts, it seems like it may have a frat house atmosphere. Is this true?

Haven't been to the South Point, and I'm not sure what a frat house is. Is it a loud place, full of out-of-control drunkards? Hm. I highly doubt it. In general, skeptics are on the shy side of the spectrum.

Are attendees as argumentative in person as they can get on the forum?

Absolutely not. And that's a very firm NO! In fact, most people are just glad to meet each other there, and years-long feuds are promptly forgotten. It could be that some resentment lingered, but if it happened, it wasn't obvious. In fact, most realize that those conversation lose much of their importance when they're in a social setting. No time or inclination for google-checking or hair-splitting. If anything, when a conversation starts to get serious, most people would change the subject. Seriously, no one goes to TAM to discuss gun control or free will. It just doesn't happen, thus arguments never really get serious.

 

[Horatius]

The way the DelMar has been mentioned in a few posts, it seems like it may have a frat house atmosphere. Is this true?

I wouldn't say "Frat House", I'd describe it more as a "Drinking Skeptically/Skeptics in the Pub" that never quite stops.

Are attendees as argumentative in person as they can get on the forum?

Some of us have on-going rivalries that we play to (Damn you, Hokulele!), but they're usually for fun. If you want an argument, you can almost always find one, but you also have the option of just hanging out.

 

[SkepticScott]

I'm sorry I've been out of touch, I've had a pinched nerve which has cut back on my recreational computing. We will have 200 "First TAMmer" buttons again for first-time attendees that wish to wear them. I think this is a good idea and it looks like it will work. Until I recover I will appeal to do more except offer encouragement, but it looks like you're doing fine.

 

[AdMan]

Given there will be no volunteers this year, I think the TAMbassador idea makes even more sense. I am sure the event staff running the show will be very professional, but they will have little if any TAM experience. So are we moving ahead with this? What needs to be done?

 

[BrianEngler]

Given there will be no volunteers this year, I think the TAMbassador idea makes even more sense. I am sure the event staff running the show will be very professional, but they will have little if any TAM experience. So are we moving ahead with this? What needs to be done?

I agree but think we need some buy-in from JREF leadership. By that I mean acknowledgement not necessarily financing. I haven't seen any indication of that, and thought Scott could help since he used to lead volunteers. If not, is there anyone else connected with staff who could find out if the concept has their support? Otherwise we're just a bunch of vigilantes. Not that that wouldn't have some effect, but it wouldn't reflect as well on JREF and TAM as an official effort would.

 

[saganite]

I'd be happy to step up and volunteer to have the buttons made. The one complication is that I won't be arriving in Vegas until Thursday, but I could mail them out to TAMbassadors beforehand.

I agree but think we need some buy-in from JREF leadership. By that I mean acknowledgement not necessarily financing. I haven't seen any indication of that, and thought Scott could help since he used to lead volunteers. If not, is there anyone else connected with staff who could find out if the concept has their support? Otherwise we're just a bunch of vigilantes. Not that that wouldn't have some effect, but it wouldn't reflect as well on JREF and TAM as an official effort would.

I used to have a good rapport with the JREF staff, in the Phil Plait era, but recently the only staff member I've been in contact with is DJ and he's difficult to communicate with. The last email I wrote him, a couple weeks ago, was to tell him my reaction to the comments he made in the infamous Rebecca/Skepchick/women at TAM exchange and how conflicted it made me feel about supporting the JREF. He didn't acknowledge it. If I emailed him now to be rah-rah about TAM it would be kind of weird, so perhaps someone else can step up there.

 

[Allecher]

Perhaps the buttons could be shipped directly to South Point and one of us who arrives Tuesday or Wednesday can pick them up there?

I sent a quick note to DJ yesterday to see if he was aware of this discussion, but like saganite I don't usually get a response from him. Sigh.

 

[bumlet5]

Or I could just come get them from you the weekend before or as I leave town Tuesday.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Perhaps the buttons could be shipped directly to South Point and one of us who arrives Tuesday or Wednesday can pick them up there?

I sent a quick note to DJ yesterday to see if he was aware of this discussion, but like saganite I don't usually get a response from him. Sigh.

I've discovered over the past several years that DJ is very uneven in responding to emails.

 

[saganite]

Or I could just come get them from you the weekend before or as I leave town Tuesday.

A little bit out of your way, but a perfect excuse for a pre-TAM celebratory visit! I'm fine with either suggestion, so bumlet5, either you can come by and pick them up, or I'll just mail them to the hotel so they'll be waiting for you when you arrive on Tuesday.

 

[Baloney]

...recently the only staff member I've been in contact with is DJ and he's difficult to communicate with. The last email I wrote him, a couple weeks ago, was to tell him my reaction to the comments he made in the infamous Rebecca/Skepchick/women at TAM exchange and how conflicted it made me feel about supporting the JREF. He didn't acknowledge it.

I've discovered over the past several years that DJ is very uneven in responding to emails.

I agree! I wrote him an email a couple weeks ago to ask about posting to youtube a video of Randi and haven't heard back yet. I'd speculate he's just busy with JREF and TAM chores -- and probably buried under a virtual pile of vehement hate-email. It might be a good idea to route a message/question through someone you know will see and pass along the message; or just call the JREF office.

I'm sorry I've been out of touch, I've had a pinched nerve which has cut back on my recreational computing. We will have 200 "First TAMmer" buttons again for first-time attendees that wish to wear them. I think this is a good idea and it looks like it will work. Until I recover I will appeal to do more except offer encouragement, but it looks like you're doing fine.

Is there a chance that more "First TAMmer" buttons may be needed? If so, what's limiting factor on making more?

 

[HawaiiBigSis]

I think the brightly colored buttons should say:

got
?

That would help with people who don't know the point of the target.

 

[Allecher]

I see where you are going with that, but at a skeptics conference "Got ?" could describe everyone.

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Given there will be no volunteers this year, ...

Huh? What do you mean?

Oh, I see. Full coverage by the rent-a-staff. Hmm.

~~ Paul

 

[idoubtit]

Women first TAMmers

I volunteered on Twitter to meet up with any FirstTAMmer women who are feeling nervous. Made a direct connection with a Dutch woman who was obviously a bit rattled due to the high drama. I will meet up with her on Wednesday, hopefully, to show her where everything is. I would hope that others might do the same (women showing women around, just to be clear here).

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Baloney]

I volunteered on Twitter to meet up with any FirstTAMmer women who are feeling nervous. Made a direct connection with a Dutch woman who was obviously a bit rattled due to the high drama. I will meet up with her on Wednesday, hopefully, to show her where everything is. I would hope that others might do the same (women showing women around, just to be clear here).

Any thoughts on this?

Maybe it would be a good idea to route all newcomers to a single point on Thursday morning? Perhaps wherever the TAMbassabors are huddled?

 

[Wowbagger]

[table=head]Name|Days Attending|Preferred "On-Call" day|Experience|Willing to wear a shirt for one day|Comments
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos|Wed-Mon|Any|1--9|yes
Brian Engler|Tues-Tues|Any|6,7,8,9|Absolutely;1 or more if needed|Used to run similar conferences
Bumlet5|Tues-Mon|Any|6,8,9|yes
Allecher|Wed-Mon|Any|8,9|sure|
Wowbagger | Wed-Early Mon| Any |3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and London 2010|Yes, but I'd rather have just a button| My 10th TAM-branded event
AdMan | Late Tues-Mon | Any|8 - 9 inclusive |Why not|
zooterkin|Tues-Mon|Any|8, 9, London 2009 & 2010|Yes|
Luciana|Wed-Sat| Any|1, 2, 3, 4, 6|Only the button|Twitter in English: @lnery_en
Kil|Wed-Mon|From Thursday morning, any|4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9|Sure|This will be my 7th TAM
Hokulele mom|Wed pm on
Saganite|Fri-Mon|Any|5, 6, 7, 8, 9|
[/table]

 

[Kochanski]

I volunteered on Twitter to meet up with any FirstTAMmer women who are feeling nervous. Made a direct connection with a Dutch woman who was obviously a bit rattled due to the high drama. I will meet up with her on Wednesday, hopefully, to show her where everything is. I would hope that others might do the same (women showing women around, just to be clear here).

Any thoughts on this?

You can send them to the forum table, there will likely be at least one women at the table most of the time and since that is where they get the First TAMMER buttons they will get a greeting from friendly females.

 

[Allecher]

I quickly checked the names on the Tambassador list and 5 are female. Any first Tammers (or multi-tammers) who feel uncomfortable should be able to find one of us pretty easily. I cannot speak on behalf of men on the list but I have personally met all but one of them and I trust them all enough to put my name on the Tambassador list with theirs.

 

[idoubtit]

I will do that. And, if anyone hears of another firstTAMer woman who wants a tour beforehand, like on Wednesday, or just wants to meet someone to hang with, I'm game.