Page 49 - Summer 2024 EDM Today

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presentation for an extra fee and was perhaps the single
HOW DO EDUCATIONAL
largest EDM audience I have spoken to.
CONFERENCES HAPPEN?
For those of you who have never given a formal presen-
THAT DAY WAS SPECIAL
tation before, and I suspect that would be most of you, it
allows me to address our readership about how such an
On that day, everything seemed special. Although I had
event occurs, especially from “behind-the-scenes,” which
made this same presentation many times previously, this
will follow within its own chapter. First, let’s examine how
was the very first time I was making an entirely electronic

an EDM conference works.
presentation using a computer. I’ll explain.
This was the mid-90s and PowerPoint presentations were
THE STEERING COMMITTEE
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becoming the norm and I, too, had to conform. Having
previously done the same presentation from 35mm slide-
When a sponsoring entity decided to hold an event or
shows and mylar overheads, the convenience of a mouse
conference, a Steering Committee was selected. This was
click on a computer became obvious and I spent hours
a small group of industry experts who were charged with
scanning my slides, incorporating animations and text-
selecting other industry experts to write and speak.
builds to accentuate items I could not otherwise do within
a static slideshow or overheads. Much better.
The Steering Committee of the sponsoring entity would
send out a “Call for Papers” to industry experts for written
essays on specific subjects such as: electrode selection,

dielectrics, tooling, recast, filtration, wire choices, etc.

SPECIAL
If someone was interested and wanted to participate, they EXTRA
would submit their formal written presentation, which What made this
particular conference
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was to be generic and free of sales for consideration.
extra special for me
Acceptance of a Paper was accompanied by a handshake
was the debut of my
understanding and obligation for the writer to personally
hardcover, “The EDM
present their Paper at the planned event.
Handbook,” published
by Hanser Gardner
All the Papers from the accepted speakers were assem-
Publications. In
bled, collated, printed and bound as “Conference Proceed-
addition to their con-
ings” and presented to each attendee as they checked in
ference proceedings,
so they could follow along, take notes and keep for future
each attendee re-
reference. I have a copy somewhere and recall it was 8” x
10” and almost 1” thick. Substantial.
book upon entry for
them to follow along
LOGISTICS ceived a copy of my
with my new animat-
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ed presentations.
Any airfare or transportation expenses to and from an
event were assumed by both the guest speakers and
(The story of how
attendees, as well as their meals and lodging (whether
“The EDM Handbook”
personally, or expensed to their company). However,
came to be written, edited, printed and delivered
discounts for both speakers and attendees were offered
might be worthy of another tale. There was much more
at specific hotels, restaurants and transportation services

pressure and drama involved in my last sentence than
in coordination with the conference.
one might expect.)
Logic: The high concentration of like-minded attendees
showtime. Not by a delivery truck (part of the book print-
exchanging ideas while relaxing and chatting in their
same lobby bar or local restaurant added intrinsic and
ing story), but in my Editor’s small overladen 4-door coupe,
arriving in a smoking, fall-apart style not unlike the police
even memorable and long-term value to the event. Many Ex.: The newly printed books arrived only hours before
EDM people met other EDM people in these strategically
car in the Blues Brothers movie). Hilarious.
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centric, after-hour, “mixers” and “hospitality suites.” In this
scenario, many expanded their mutual networks and pos-
LUNCHTIME
sible new opportunities with many business cards being
exchanged and friendships started.

Everything worked fine and ran seamlessly with my first-
time electronic presentation, and I was quite pleased with
All of this strategically arranged interaction is only part of
the morning’s results. Lunch for attendees was included
the conference Steering Committee’s planning.
in the conference, but was a short walk away to numerous
choices of nearby Navy Pier eateries.
ON THAT DAY
Besides serving on Modern Machine Shop’s EDM Confer-
security guard locked it from the outside and we all went
to lunch, which I particularly enjoyed where I got to meet
ence Steering Committee for this event, I was also quite I was the last one out of the conference room when the

privileged to be a Featured Speaker on the first day pre-
and chat with many in my audience, one-on-one.
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senting “The Fundamentals of EDM.” This was an all-day
(Continued on next page)
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EDM Today, Summer 2024 Issue