Winter 2001 p. 3

VASTA’s Conference 2001:

The Windy City Welcomes Shakespeare

by Eric Armstrong: Director of Conference 2001-2002

VASTA’s 15th Annual Conference will be hosted by Roosevelt University in Chicago on August 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2001. It will immediately follow ATHE’s conference. This year’s conference focuses on Shakespeare, and our presenters will be Catherine Fitzmaurice, Roger Gross, and Jan Gist. More details about the specifics involved in each Guest Artist’s workshops will follow in the next Newsletter. No doubt it will be an exciting opportunity to delve deeply into all that Shakespeare can offer in terms of voice, verse, and using the language. Kate DeVore returns to lead “Things That Work” and we’re hoping to continue the late night cabaret tradition, plus have a lecture from Dr. Robert Bastien; other exciting presentations are still being negotiated.

Accommodations are not yet finalized, but we are getting close to an arrangement. The first option is more expensive than our university residences for housing. This year, we have secured accommodation at the Congress Plaza Hotel, located right across the street from Roosevelt. Rooms will cost $109 per night as a single or double (that’s $54.50 each).

If you want to go with three people, they can add a cot for $25 (or $44.67 each!). The second option is even less expensive, in Chicago’s brand new Hostelling International, also just across the street from our host university. The cost is about $26 per person, but it is in a hostel—rooms are shared with bunk beds for 6 to 10 people. (If you find a roommate, you may be able to share a smaller room for two!)

We have booked accommodation at the Plaza Hotel as of the Saturday night so that people can take advantage of cheaper flights on over a Saturday, and get a chance to see some world-famous Chicago theatre. Roosevelt University’s cafeteria will be available for cash and carry dining, but so too will the restaurants of Chicago’s South Loop area.

The VASTA Board and I are hoping that you will join us this summer for Conference 2001. Please book the dates in your agenda now! There will be another update on the conference in the next Newsletter, and a flyer will be also be mailed to you this spring. I look forward to seeing you all, and hearing your wonderful voices.

Announcing New Membership Categories

Reported by Mandy Rees, California State, Bakersfield

During a recent revision of the VASTA By-Laws, the Board of directors established a new set of membership categories.

These categories are:

1. Individual Membership. The majority of the members will fall into this category. Voting privileges are granted. This replaces the former division of “Voice/Speech Professional” and “Affiliate.”
2. Student membership. For those currently enrolled in training programs. Membership dues are set at a reduced rate. Voting privileges.
3. Honorary Membership. These members are awarded membership recognizing their uniquely valuable contribution to the field of the professional voice and speech training. They do not pay dues, and they have voting privileges.

Organization Membership. A new option! This category was especially designed for training programs which may hire several part-time instructors, though it is available for any organization. This institution receives copies of the Journal and the Newsletter, which are shared among interested parties. These members do not have voting privledges. One person from the organization will receive the “member rate” for conference registration.

Why the changes? The Board of Directors discussed at great length the purpose of VASTA, and renewed its belief that at its core, VASTA is a service organization, not a certification board. The classification of “Voice/Speech Professional” could imply that a person had met certain criteria specified by VASTA, and of course, VASTA is not in the business of monitoring or judging members’ credentials. The Affiliate category, meant especially for directors, acting and movement trainers, required full dues but denied voting privileges. It also created a sense of “us” and “them” which the Board did not find useful. It is the hope that the “Individual Membership” category will be more inclusive, and invite more people into our organization who are interested in the study of voice.

Tell a friend about VASTA

Membership Categories

1. Individual Membership: Has voting privileges, receives the VASTA
   Newsletter, the Voice and Speech Review, the Membership directory, and upon request the Suggested Model for Evaluation for Tenure and Promotion and Guidelines for Training. Eligible for reduced VASTA Conference fee. Annual dues $65.00
2. Student Membership: Currently enrolled in a training program. Receives same benefits as above. Annual dues $35.00
3. 3) Organizational Membership: Receives all publications listed above. No voting privileges. One person from the organization is eligible for reduced VASTA Conference fee. Annual dues $65.00

To join VASTA, log on to vasta.org; print out the application, fill out, and mail with dues (US currency only) to: Lisa Wilson, 1535 S. Florence Ave., Tulsa, OK 74104. VASTA membership year is dated from the date of receipt of dues to the same date of the following year.

© Copyright 1987-2002 Voice and Speech Trainers Association, Inc.