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Lakeview College Summer Day Camps
Feedback Form
We hope your child’s experience at Lakeview College Summer Day Camp was awesome! Please help us continue to offer educational and fun summer day camps by completing this feedback form on behalf of your child and then leaving it with the camp instructor.
Lakeview College Continuing Education – Summer Day Camps
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Renfrew Island Writers
The Renfrew Island Arts Council is proud to present an evening of readings by our own Renfrew Island poets and writers.
Host: Donna Shaw
Gerry Donahue Short Story: Home Again
Wanda Sutton Five poems
George Ogilvie Short Story: Palmer’s Store
Tina Chow Three poems
Intermission
Pattie Lemieux Novel Excerpt: The Saga of Cedar Springs
Robert Lister Four poems
Emma Harrison Short Story: Roses in the Morning
Gail Leung Short Story: The Last Picnic
Renfrew Island has long been known as a haven for writers. In a recent survey, the Renfrew Island Arts Council determined that over 100 published writers live on the Island—that’s close to 10% of the adult population! This evening of readings by our local writers is the first of several that will be scheduled over the coming year. For information about tickets to upcoming readings, contact the Renfrew Island Arts Council at 206-555-2454.
Author Biographies
Donahue, Gerry: As a novelist, editor, teacher, and journalist, Gerry lives and breathes words. In 2012, he established the international literary journal Pacific Passages. His work has been published in several literary journals and his first novel, By the Beach, was shortlisted for the New Writers Award sponsored by the Arcadia Foundation. His second novel, Sunset Remedy, will be published in March 2018 by Blue Horizons Press.
Sutton, Wanda: Following a successful career in television production, Wanda writes fiction full time and has published poems and short stories in several literary journals. Wanda is president of the Renfrew Island Arts Council and an active member of several community groups. She and her husband and three boys live on a farm and raise llamas.
Ogilvie, George: George’s work has been dramatized on PBS and appeared in several literary magazines. His adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge was produced by the Tacoma Theatrical Society and was awarded Best New Play of the Year. George divides his time between Renfrew Island and Seattle.
Chow, Tina: Tina has taught Creative Writing at Seattle University for twenty years and delivers workshops and readings in schools and libraries across the country. She has written three picture books and ten novels for children. Two of her novels have won literary awards for excellence. The Best Night, her first novel for adults, will be published in May 2017.
Lemieux, Pattie: Pattie taught high school for thirty years in Denver, Colorado. When she retired, she moved with her husband to Renfrew Island where she has settled down to follow her passion and write fiction full time. Her work has appeared in several literary magazines and she has won the PBS Short Story Contest for her story In My Heart.
Lister, Robert: Robert studied writing at Montana State University and presents annually at Rancho Spa in Mexico and the San Francisco International Writers’ Conference. Robert grew up in Miami and moved to Renfrew Island a year ago. He loves writing and looking out to sea.
Harrison, Emma: As the director of the Renfrew Island Writing Collective, Emma helps writers find their voice. She has published four chapbooks and is the editor of Seattle Writes, an anthology of poetry and short stories launching in March 2017. Emma leads workshops on creativity and writing and is a frequent collaborator. Her writing appears in numerous US publications in print and online.
Leung, Gail: Gail is the author of Neon (stories, 2014), Best Days (novella, 2016), and The Octagon Mysteries (novel, 2017). The Octagon Mysteries won the New Writers Trust fiction prize. Gail teaches fiction writing online from her waterfront home on Renfrew Island.
Sponsors: Island Books and the Renfrew Island Journal
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses her characters and their situations to paint a vivid image of society in the early 19th century. At the same time, the norms and values which she presents bear remarkable similarities to our own world. Social norms are defined by Kane, Watson, and McTavish in Sociology and Social Value as “rules of behavior or standards of conduct that are socially established and accepted” (200), while a social value is defined as “society’s idea about what is right or wrong in a particular culture” (205). These terms can be used fairly interchangeably. They both mean basically the same thing, with norms being the actual behaviors that are dictated by values. Such norms and values are shown in a multitude of ways throughout Pride and Prejudice. There are norms associated with most every aspect of society, including the norms for class, money, gender, and marriage most commonly explored in Austen’s novels. Austen shows society’s values both through satire and through presenting what she considers to be the better alternative. The society of Austen’s time no doubt differs from today’s society in many ways; however, when the actual values of society are closely examined, it becomes apparent that there are some fundamental similarities.
Money and class had a very strong influence on what was deemed ‘proper’ during the 19th century. The higher one’s class and economic level, the more highly respected one would be in society. Darcy, with his £10 000 a year and landed gentry background, is the social superior of the Bennets, who make only £2000 a year and have connections to relations in the lower class. This social superiority is part of why Darcy initially considers Elizabeth to be an unsuitable match for him. In his first proposal to her, he asks her “Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?” (168). His words emphasize the marked difference in their social standing and clarify for the reader how undesirable a marriage between different classes were considered at the time. Darcy is, at this point, very much the product of his society. As Harold Renfrew states in his article “Social Norms of Jane Austen”, Darcy “cares deeply about his relationship to society; he is proud of his social standing and understands the limitations put on the free spirit by the demands of society” (55). Money gave a person power, and in many ways was considered the most important factor in a person’s social standing. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, for all her rudeness, is rich and therefore powerful and respected. The Bingleys, in spite of their comparatively low birth, have amassed a good deal of money which has allowed them to move up in society. A preoccupation with money, however, is certainly not unique to Austen’s time. Today, money still remains one of the primary indicators of a person’s place in society, and is often used to make over-generalized statements about people in the same way that Darcy looked down on the Bennets’ lack of wealth. For example, one of the foremost questions people ask each other when they meet for the first time is ‘what do you do?’ The other person’s answer provides numerous clues about the person’s wealth, status, and power. The person who answers ‘doctor’ is immediately seen as someone with more social standing than the person who answers ‘supermarket cashier’. People today respect people who are rich and who have ‘made it in the world’. Although at the time of Pride and Prejudice, money inherited from a rich, important family was considered preferable to money made through work or trade in the manner of the Bingleys, the great value placed on wealth has varied little.
People in the upper and middle classes were expected to behave in certain ways: namely, they were expected to be a lady or a gentleman. However, as Austen shows, being an aristocrat by no means guaranteed that one was truly a lady or a gentleman. Both ladies and gentlemen were expected to be considerate to others, respectful towards those less powerful than themselves, courteous, and in control of their manners and appearance at all times. Flaunting one’s power was seen as rude and arrogant, and control over outward emotion was imperative. One of the primary examples of how Austen shows the values associated with a gentleman occurs with regard to Elizabeth’s early reactions to Darcy. Although rich, Darcy’s behavior proves that money is not enough to ensure respect. In spite of the initial admiration he is given at the Longbourn ball, his popularity waned quickly:
He was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend. (14)
Darcy’s pride and his sense of superiority are considered rude and ungentlemanly behavior, and no amount of money or fine looks can save him from falling into disgrace with the people of Hertfordshire. Later, when Darcy first proposes to Elizabeth, she shocks him when she angrily exclaims that “had [he] behaved in a more gentleman-like manner” (168), then she may have felt concern in refusing him. She goes on to say that from almost the moment they met, “[his] manners [impressed her] with the fullest belief of [his] arrogance, [his] conceit, and [his] selfish disdain of the feelings of others” (168) and made him “the last man in the world whom [she] could ever be prevailed on to marry” (168). For Darcy, being told that he has not acted as a gentleman is a harsh shock, and he realizes that he must change his behavior. Later in the book, Darcy’s true nature as a gentleman is revealed when Elizabeth goes to Pemberley. His housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, describes him as “the best landlord, and the best master” (213), and she has nothing but praise for him. When Darcy arrives at Pemberley, he proves himself to be courteous and well-mannered, and Elizabeth is amazed at “his behavior, so strikingly altered” (216).
In Austen’s world, merely being born an aristocrat does not make someone a lady or a gentleman. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a prime example of the ill-breeding that can be found in people of high class and wealth. She is a very rich, upper-class widow who owns a great deal of land and who has a great deal of power over her tenants. Her behavior, however, is not at all befitting of a lady. She is rude and inconsiderate, as she proves when Elizabeth visits her and later when she tries to force Elizabeth not to marry Darcy. When Elizabeth visits Rosings, Lady Catherine talks constantly and “in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to having her judgment controverted” (145). She exerts firm control over her tenants, and she spends a great deal of time telling them how to run their households, as can be seen when she “enquired into Charlotte’s domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great deal of advice, as to the management of them all” (145). Austen satirizes Lady Catherine by presenting her unpleasantness in a near-comical manner. Mr. Collins, too, is certainly not a gentleman. While he attempts to act in a courteous manner, he evidently has very little grasp on the nuances of society, as can be seen when he introduces himself to Mr. Darcy and is ridiculed for doing so by the rest of the party. He is a figure of constant mockery, and the other characters in the novel look down upon him. Elizabeth is quite horrified by his mangled attempt at proposing to her, when he proves himself to be inconsiderate of her feelings and lacking any understanding of how to act towards a woman. He goes as far as to remind her of her father’s eventual death, claiming that she should marry him for that reason, and he dreadfully misinterprets her refusal to marry him as her “wish of increasing [his] love by suspense” (101). He also constantly flaunts his connections to Lady Catherine and he spends a great deal of time talking about how much money she has. On the other side of the spectrum, however are the Gardiners. The Gardiners are from a low-class background and they live in a trade district of London. In spite of their low birth, however, they prove to be among the most admirable characters in the book. They are both kind-hearted and well-mannered, and when Lydia runs away, Mr. Gardiner does his best to assist the Bennets. Mr. Collins, on the other hand, merely sends a letter telling them that “the death of [their] daughter would have been a blessing in comparison” (262) and blaming the Bennets for Lydia’s poor upbringing. The Gardiners act almost as surrogate parents for the Bennet daughters, and prove to be just and reasonable people. When Darcy meets the Gardiners at Pemberley, he is forced to rethink his former belief in the “the inferiority of [Elizabeth’s] connections” (168), since in spite of their low-birth he can plainly see the inherent goodness of manner that the Gardiners possess. The way in which Austen presents her various characters, and the ways in which other characters relate to each other, shows the conflicting values of her society. On the one hand, money is prized above everything and people from the lower-classes are looked down upon. On the other hand, a truly gentleman-like nature and a caring disposition are often prized above wealth.
The behavior that was expected of women was very specific and highly stressed. Many conduct books that described the proper behavior for women were published in the late 18th century, and continued to have an impact on the women in the early 19th century. The Bennets are even shown to own a copy of James Fordyce’s Sermons for Young Women, when Mr. Collins reads a passage from the book in volume 1, chapter 14. Here, again, we see conflicting values. As the New Literature Edition of
Pride and Prejudice states, “[the sermons’] lessons are pointedly and disastrously ignored by the one character who needs to listen” (385). This person is, of course, Lydia Bennet, who could in fact do with a few lessons in propriety. On the other hand, as the book continues to state, “Austen, like many writers of her day, was clearly skeptical about the authoritativeness of conduct-book stands of femininity” (385). Education for young women at the time was usually minimal. They were taught “needlework, hand writing, enough music to be able to sing and play, some drawing, and vague notions of history and geography”. For women educated at private seminaries, “the prime object was to instill Decorum, Manners, and Deportment”. The emphasis on proper manners in Pride and Prejudice is evident, and can be seen at the Netherfield Ball when Elizabeth is embarrassed by her mother’s and younger sisters’ improper behavior: “To Elizabeth it appeared, that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit, or finer success” (95). Certainly, Lydia’s disgraceful behavior shows the norms and values of the time. In running off with a dishonorable man such as Wickham, she brings shame to her entire family. Sexual relations out of wedlock were taboo at the time; Fordyce, in his Sermons, speaks of the suffering parents feel “when a daughter…turns out unruly, foolish, wanton; when she disobeys her parents…; when she throws herself away on a man unworthy of her…”. Mr. Collins’ reaction, as stated earlier, would not have been uncommon at the time, especially among clergymen.
Marriage was a crucial aspect of a woman’s life, and was indeed the only reputable way that she could live. Wade states, “A respectable young woman could have no profession except matrimony. Girls were expected to marry as soon as possible after they made their debut into society in their late teens”. There is a constant emphasis on marriage placed in Pride and Prejudice. The famous opening line of the book, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (1) sets up this theme, which proves to be one of the central aspects of the novel. When Mr. Bingley first arrives in town, Mrs. Bennet’s primary concern is arranging for him to meet her daughters in the hopes that one of them would catch his eye. The numerous balls that the characters attend are designed largely for men and women to meet and interact in an environment that was appropriately chaperoned and controlled. Lydia and Kitty speak of nothing but meeting handsome men – particularly soldiers – and making themselves look as attractive as possible. James Thompson says, “Prospective mates are chosen as if they were objects, as if marriage itself is not a relation between people, but rather assumes ‘the fantastic form of a relation between things’” (155). Yet, as Austen shows, women nonetheless were relatively free to pick and choose the man they preferred among those considered worthy. Thompson goes on to say that “…in Austen, marriage is never fully represented as an institution, but rather is represented only as an individual practice…” (156). Elizabeth is, after all, was allowed to refuse Mr. Collins. While her father probably could have forced her into the marriage had he wished it, her choice in the matter remained an important factor. Austen considers Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s love to be ideal – unsurprising, considering that they are the protagonists, and the story revolves around their love. On the other hand, Charlotte Lucas’s marriage of necessity to Mr. Collins would have been common of the time, since pragmatic concerns for survival must sometimes overcome romantic wishes. The main tragedy in the match is considered by the other characters to be that she will never be truly happy in her marriage, but even Elizabeth, with her idealistic views of love, understands why Charlotte married Mr. Collins. Therefore, Austen shows how views of marriage in the early nineteenth century could be contradictory, sometimes revolving around love and sometimes being a matter of pragmatism.
To a modern reader, the world of Jane Austen often seems very foreign, old-fashioned, and different from today. This is an understandable reaction, considering the differences in lifestyle and the comparative freedoms of our time. However, at the core, it seems that many things remain nearly unchanged. Women’s roles have undoubtedly changed, with women gaining much more freedom with regard to occupations, behavior, and legalities. However, there is still a great deal of social pressure exerted on women to be attractive and to find a man. The media constantly pushes an ‘ideal’ female body, and if a woman does not live up to that standard then she can have difficulty starting a relationship. The emphasis on marriage may be less today, but a woman is often still expected to marry and have children, and if she does not, then she is often pressured by her peers. Although the expectations of proper behavior and manners are more relaxed today, politeness, courtesy, and consideration of others’ feelings are still deemed essential in everyday life. These values are in many ways universal. Although they have been expressed differently throughout the ages, they have always existed in some form or another. Certainly, rudeness and impropriety have never been ideals. Therefore, while Pride and Prejudice certainly shows the society and lifestyles of its time, the novel serves also to depict moral and social values that continue to be relevant today.
In the appropriate area of the table below, enter your name and write a description (up to 200 words) about the skills you’ve practiced while completing the Team Project. List a selection of the skills you used to create the document, then comment on any challenges you experienced with specific skills and how you solved them. For example, if you experienced difficulties while editing a clip art object, describe the issues and what you did to fix them.
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Social Awareness in Fan Communities
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Abstract
Media fan communities based around a shared interest in a media text such as a television show, film, or even video game frequently initiate a broad range of fan-driven charity efforts. The traditional stereotype of the fan as a passive viewer and social outcast fails to take into account the many ways in which fans actively engage with media texts. By forming communities, fans not only come together to discuss their favorite films, books, and television shows, they also provide support for one another and strive to make a difference in society at large. Many fans have been inspired by a media text’s themes or messages to form campaigns and charities for various cases.
This paper examines several instances in which fans have come together to fight for a cause and contribute to a charity. The paper concludes that contrary to popular belief, fans are not socially isolated or out of touch with reality, and in fact are using their interests to make a real difference in the society in which they live.
Fan communities exist both online and offline to bring like-minded people together. Fan communities allow members space (whether physical or virtual) to discuss their favorite media texts and to participate in a wide variety of fan activities. These communities can also serve as complex social networks that allow fans to seek support and form close-knit bonds with fellow fans. These relationships can transcend the show, movie, or event that initially brought them together. As in traditional communities, fans will often overcome their differences and unite when threatened by an outside force or when there is an opportunity to make a difference in the “real” world. Fan-organized charity campaigns and events have become increasingly common, yet they have received little academic attention so far. The concept of the ‘active fan’ has gained widespread recognition, but studies of fan action and participation usually concentrate on the ways in which fans interpret and reinvent media texts, particularly through fan fiction writing. Fan interpretation is undoubtedly important to an understanding of fan cultures, but it can be taken further and applied to fan charities. With reference to theories of fan communities and fan productivity, I will argue that the stereotype of the isolated fan out of touch with society can be further discredited by taking into account the ways in which fan communities enable fans to take action both within their fandom and in society at large.
A common stereotype of fans is that they are passively enslaved to an escapist fantasy, have lost their sense of reality, and are social outcasts who are unable to function normally in society. This stereotype has been challenged in fan studies, with theorists such as Joseph Donnelly (2001) and Gary Inglewood (2005) reformulating the fan as an active participant who interprets a media text to suit his or her desires and social values, and as a member of a wider community that creates an alternative social network (Ogilvie, 2010, p. 28). According to Robert Janzen, media use is “an occasion for learning social mores while also providing a means to participate in the wider society”. This function of media text is demonstrated by the formation of fan communities. By coming together in communities, fans are not just sharing their ‘geeky’ enjoyment of a television show or a movie, nor are they participating in a socially isolating activity when they discuss their interests online. In their study of The Bronze, an online community of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (WB, 1
9
97-2001; UPN 2001-2003) fans Gates and Ogilvie found that the “site was a place for much more than fan interaction” (p. 28). Although fans came to The Bronze because of their interest in Buffy, they ultimately stayed for “the relationships developed over a year-long period” (p. 28) and increasingly the site became more about the community and the people in it than the show itself. Their study indicates the strength of the social bonds, as community members frequently came together to support each other, and they note that the community members “came together online in a way that actually strengthened their offline social skills”. Fan communities, both online and offline, in fact have much in common with ‘traditional’ communities: a sense of belonging, a support system, and a social network of people ranging from close friends to sworn enemies.
Fan communities can be very fragmented and there tends to be a lot of drama and arguing in fandom as a whole; however, in certain situations fans will overcome their differences and unite. This can happen on a small scale within a particular established community, as in the case of The Bronze where the members were generally close already and therefore primed to provide support. On a larger scale, an entire fandom may unite, and sometimes even many different fandoms will come together. This often happens when a fandom is threatened. One of the most common threats to television fandoms is the cancellation of a favorite show. Cancellation affects all fans of the program, and as such many of them will come together to fight for their show – sometimes successfully, usually not. For example, the cancellation of the cult hit Farscape (SciFi, 1999-2003) resulted in a massive letter-writing and advertising campaign by fans, which eventually led to a concluding mini-series being produced. While an argument could perhaps be made that fans are serving no truly useful cause by fighting for a television show, these campaigns are significant for a number of reasons. First, as stated above, they position the fans as active and discerning consumers who are specifically concerned with reviving a certain show which they hold in high esteem for its intrinsic qualities rather than because of blind devotion. Campaigning for a favorite television show may seem irrelevant to non-fans (the ‘it’s just a TV show, why do you care so much?’ argument), but by doing so, the fans are actively involving themselves in the production of the show and expressing their desire to see quality (in their eyes, at least) programming continue on television. Second, these campaigns are increasingly doubling as a means for doing charity work. When Angel (WB, 1999-2004) was cancelled abruptly, fans predictably hastened to write letters and donate money for advertising of the show. What was interesting and notable about the save Angel campaigns was that fans donated money not just for the show, but also for charity. In March 2004, the Save Angel campaign[footnoteRef:1] organized a blood drive in the name of Angel, and in May 2004, the Saving Angel campaign[footnoteRef:2] donated $13,000 to the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). Although they were trying to save their favorite show, the fans also wanted to help those in need by donating their money and blood. The campaigns may have failed to resurrect the show, but no fan could consider them unsuccessful given the contribution they made to society. [1: http://www.saveangel.org] [2: http://www.savingangel.org ]
Fan charity campaigns, such as Save Angel and Saving Angel, bring some new dimensions to established fan culture studies. Fan culture theorists have suggested that fans engage with the social issues within media texts, and “[Iris] Barton notes that fan activity often enables social behavior that leads to political and social action” (Ng, 2011). Fan activity, especially the writing of fan fiction, can be used by fans to express their own social values and beliefs in relation to the media text. Furthermore, Gary Inglewood argues that fandom can be seen as “a form of cultural creativity” that allows fans to “interact with (and across) the boundaries between ‘fantasy’ and ‘reality’”. Inglewood also states that fans do not use media texts as escapism but as a way to actively engage with the real social issues within the texts. This argument is particularly useful in regards to fantasy and science fiction television, which is popularly thought of as pure escapism. Davida Warren argues that fantasy television “promotes an engagement with cultural notions of what is perceived as reality” (p. 7).
For many theorists, then, media is seen as a means through which fans can actively deal with social issues in the real world by engaging with and reinterpreting a text. Fan charity is noteworthy because it takes this engagement a step farther. In fact, the proliferation of fan charities suggests that fans are in fact taking that next step. Having considered, discussed, and perhaps reinterpreted the issues being put forth in a media text, fans are now trying to go out and do something about them. Warren’s argument that fantasy texts allow fans to engage with social issues is particularly noteworthy, considering that many fantasy-based fandoms have been heavily involved in charity works. Ng makes a brief reference to fan charities in the Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001) fandom: “Xena fans use the Web to move beyond talking about a favored television program to putting ideals espoused by the program into practice” (Ng, 2011, p. 60). Fan charities are often related to the issues raised in a certain text. For example, writer Joss Whedon is well known for his belief in gender equality and his portrayal of strong female characters in his three television series (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly). When Firefly/Serenity fans decided to start a series of charity screenings of Serenity in 2006, Equality Now was a logical choice. Fans of Firefly (many of whom also admire Whedon’s other work) were inspired by Whedon’s portrayal of gender equality and therefore sought to do something about real gender inequalities in the world. Since 2006, these screenings have raised several hundred[footnoteRef:3] thousand dollars for Equality Now. Another example can be seen in the Harry Potter fandom (more a literary than a media fandom, but the same ideas still apply given the huge online fanbase). In 2002, The Leaky Cauldron[footnoteRef:4], a well-known Harry Potter news website, organized the first “Get a Clue” fundraiser which raised $24,000 USD for Book-Aid International. In subsequent years, they have organized several more fundraisers and to date have raised more than $35,000 USD for Book-Aid.[footnoteRef:5] These fundraisers again indicate how fans put their fannish interests into action. The Harry Potter novels are well known for their effect on youth literacy[footnoteRef:6], and many fans consider literacy to be an important issue. These fundraisers therefore allowed fans to put their beliefs to good work by donating money to promote literacy across the world. [3: http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com] [4: http://www.leakynews.com] [5: http://www.leakynews.com/#static:charity] [6: In July 2006, the Kids and Family Reading Report (in conjunction with Scholastic) published the following evidence:
51% of Harry Potter readers ages 5-17 years old say they did not read books for fun before they started reading the series.
65% say they have been doing better in school since reading Harry Potter and 76% of parents agree.
(http://www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/readingreport.htm)]
It is important to note briefly that fan charity is not necessarily tied to a single fandom, nor does it always arise from fan engagement with a text’s issues. In recent years, Livejournal communities such as fandom_charity[footnoteRef:7] and blood_for_fic[footnoteRef:8] have emerged in response to disasters such as the tsunami in South Asia in December 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. The fandom_charity community has since branched out from its initial purpose as a tsunami relief fund and now provides fans a method to contribute to any charity of their choice. These communities allow fans to request fan fiction or fanart in return for a charity donation. This gives fans a fandom-related reason to donate: people often say that they should give to charity but never get around to it, and these communities give them inspiration to finally do so. They also provide fans who cannot afford to donate a way to help out by writing fan fiction in exchange for someone else donating. [7: http://community.livejournal.com/fandom_charity/] [8: http://community.livejournal.com/blood_for_fic/]
Fan communities provide fans with a space to come together and interact with the outside world in a way that counteracts the common stereotypes of fans. By coming together to help each other out and take action in various ways, fans experience a sense of pride in their community. Fans are not in any way isolated from the social world or out of touch with reality. Through their fandom, fans can make a difference, whether it be on a small scale (helping out a fellow fan) or a large one (helping to end inequalities and injustices in the world).
9
Introduction
The Pacific Rim Nature Club would be delighted to host the Earth Wise Conference on beautiful Cedar Island, just a twenty-minute ferry ride from Brentwood Bay, just outside of Victoria, BC. Cedar Island is well known for its world-class nature preserve (the Pacific Rim Reserve), glorious beaches, forest trails, and friendly community. The Pacific Rim Nature Club believes that Cedar Island would be a magical place for the Earth Wise conference.
Cedar Island offers a unique experience to delegates that is very much in keeping with Earth Wise’s mandate of promoting and celebrating the natural environment in British Columbia. The principal venue we propose—The Pacific Rim Lodge—is a rustic getaway right on the waterfront. The Lodge has recently been renovated to a high standard of comfort while still retaining a lovely “summer camp” feel. Delegates can stroll to the beach, soak in the hot tub, take a walk into quaint Welcome Cove where the ferry docks, and hike the numerous woodland trails.
Following are details related to the Pacific Rim Nature Club’s bid to host the Earth Wise conference.
Facilities
Accommodations
Pacific Rim Lodge would be the principal venue for the conference with additional venues used as needed to accommodate delegates. The Pacific Rim Lodge accommodates up to 50 people in 25 guest rooms. All the guest rooms can accommodate up to two people. Costs are as follows:
22 rooms with twin or double beds $140
1 Junior Suite with one queen bed $175
1 Superior Suite with 1 queen bed $200
1 Cottage with 1 king bed and kitchen $250
When a majority of the rooms in the Pacific Rim Lodge are booked, the meeting rooms and other facilities are included at no extra cost. The Lodge contains the following venues for meetings:
· One very large room that can accommodate up to 140 people and can be divided into two rooms for breakout sessions
· One suite that can accommodate 20 people
· One board room that can accommodate 20 people
Additional Accommodations
In addition to the accommodation offered at Pacific Rim Lodge, delegates can choose from the bed and breakfast establishments listed below, each of which is within walking distance of the Pacific Rim Lodge.
Accommodation Rooms Cost Contact
Seaview Bed and Breakfast 3 $200 250-555-7899
Evergreen Bed and Breakfast 5 $200 – $235 250-555-1266
Pacific Sands Bed and Breakfast 4 $160 250-555-3466
Westview Bed and Breakfast 4 $125 – $165 250-555-1800
Lighthouse Point Bed and Breakfast 4 $210 – $340 250-555-1276
Seastrand House 4 $250 250-555-9340
Laurel Hideaway 4 $150 250-555-8823
Heron Point Guest House 4 $145 – $235 250-555-5789
Oceanview Hideaway 4 $190 250-555-8723
Catering/Dining Facilities
The Pacific Rim Lodge can provide catering for the entire conference—up to 140 people seated at tables. We anticipate the following schedule for food service:
· Friday Reception: Reception hosted by the Pacific Rim Nature Club held at the Cedar Island Community Hall—a stunning venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The reception will include a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, and musical entertainment. Following the reception, delegates who are staying on Cedar Island can either go to one of the five restaurants on the Island or arrangements can be made for a buffet dinner at Pacific Rim Lodge.
· Saturday Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the Lodge
· Saturday Lunch: Buffet lunch at the Lodge
· Saturday Banquet: Banquet at the Lodge
In addition, the Lodge can provide snacks during breaks. Delegates who go to other venues for breakout sessions will also be provided with snacks arranged through one of the local cafes.
Meeting Venues
As noted above, the principal meeting venue would be at the Pacific Rim Lodge, which can accommodate up to four breakout sessions—one large room divided into two that can accommodate up to 70 people each and two rooms that can accommodate 20 people each. In addition, Seastrand House (a five-minute walk) can accommodate a meeting of up to 30 people and the Cedar Island Community Hall (a 15-minute walk or short bus ride from the Lodge) can accommodate up to 75 people.
The venues available on Cedar Island are not conventional hotel meeting rooms. Delegates may need to move around to different locations. However, we feel this activity is part of the charm of coming to Cedar Island for the Earth Wise conference. A shuttle bus will be available as needed.
Audio/Visual Equipment and Internet
The Pacific Rim Lodge has free Wi-Fi throughout the facility. In addition, the Lodge has two 50″ TV screens, a large pull-down screen, and a sound system. The Pacific Rim Nature Club can provide two projectors at a nominal additional charge.
Access and Travel
Getting to Cedar Island is half the attraction of any visit to the Island. The Queen of Georgia from Brentwood Bay outside Victoria runs almost hourly beginning at 5:00 am with the last ferry leaving Cedar Island at 10 pm. The ride is just twenty minutes past some of the most breathtaking marine scenery in western Canada. Delegates who live in Victoria can easily commute to Cedar Island for the conference events. A walk-on passenger pays $9.10 and a passenger with a vehicle pays $32.65. We recommend that delegates walk onto the ferry instead of bringing cars. Parking is limited near the Lodge and in Welcome Cove. The Pacific Rim Nature Club can arrange to pick up people who need assistance. The Lodge also provides a shuttle service.
Special Events
Opening Reception
The Pacific Rim Nature Club proposes a cocktail reception with cash bar and appetizers at the stunning new Cedar Island Community Hall. The Hall overlooks a stunning view of the southern Gulf Islands and the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. The Hall can accommodate up to 110 people for a reception. A local band will perform.
Activities
The Pacific Rim Nature Club will also organize additional activities, depending on the preferences of the delegates.
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Conclusion
Cedar Island is a special place. The people who live here love to share the island with visitors. Every weekend, notices for nature walks, concerts, art openings, garden walks, plant sales, and other community events crowd the bulletin boards. At the same time, Cedar Island is a great place to just relax and enjoy the view. Delegates looking for a lively night life won’t find it on Cedar Island. What they will find is a level of tranquility and quiet that has become all too rare in our modern lives.
The Pacific Rim Nature Club welcomes the opportunity to host delegates from all over British Columbia. Delegates will experience the unique charm that has made Cedar Island a magnet for environmentalists and nature lovers from all over the world while also enjoying the opportunity to network with fellow delegates in surroundings that are truly spectacular – rain or shine!
The Intensive French Program offered by the New York Language School prepares students for study, travel or business in the French-speaking world. This program is designed for professionals and students who need to communicate in French with colleagues, instructors and clients. The program trains students to an advanced level of French proficiency in conversation and an intermediate level in written French. The program culminates with a one-month stay in France. Students then have the option to stay in France to take further training or to travel.
Upon successful completion of the New York Language School program, graduates receive a certificate recognized as equivalent to 15 credits at the university level.
Admission Procedures
Applicants must have an intermediate level of French for acceptance into the program. This level is determined during an interview with the Program Coordinator and completion of a one-hour written exam. In addition, applicants must have completed high school. Upon acceptance into the program, a non-refundable $700 administration fee is payable.
To apply for the program, call the New York Language School at (212) 555-5577.
Program Content
The New York Language program is divided into two 3-month terms followed by one month in France for a total program length of nine months.
Term 1
Term 2
Intermediate Conversation
Advanced Conversation
Reading Comprehension I
Reading Comprehension II
French Business Writing
Living and Working in France
French Creative Writing
French Cooking
French History
French Literature
Course Descriptions
Intermediate Conversation: Ask questions, give simple descriptions, use present tense, use past tense with avoir.
Reading Comprehension I: Develop grammar skills, understand travel documents and newspaper articles.
French Business Writing: Study typical business situations and develop business correspondence in French.
French Creative Writing: Develop a flair for French through writing short vignettes, poems, and stories in French and through study of selected French literary classics.
French History: Learn about French history from Neolithic times to the present.
Advanced Conversation: Express yourself easily, use all the main structures and tenses in French accurately, develop good aural comprehension.
Reading Comprehension II: Develop grammar skills, read and understand business contracts, read and understand journal articles and books.
Living and Working in France: Understand French regulations, identify job opportunities, learn French geography and culture.
French Cooking: Learn French cooking (in French) from a French chef.
French Literature: Review French classics.
Study Trip to France
Following the completion of Term 2, students fly to Paris and embark on a one-month stay in France that includes one week in each of four locations:
Week
Home Base
Highlights
1
Paris
World class museums, French cafes, walks along the Seine
2
Blois
Chateaux of the Loire Valley
3
Sarlat
Prehistoric sites and medieval towns in the Dordogne
4
Avignon
Sun, scenery, and the sweet life in Provence
Project Summary
In the appropriate area of the table below, enter your name and write a description (up to 200 words) about the skills you’ve practiced while completing the Team Project. List a selection of the skills you used to create the document, then comment on any challenges you experienced with specific skills and how you solved them. For example, if you experienced difficulties while editing a clip art object, describe the issues and what you did to fix them.
Team Member 1
Name
Description
Team Member 2
Name
Description
Team Member 3
Name
Description
