A Word from Wes Fryer: Workshops and More

I serve as an education advocate for AT&T in Oklahoma to provide FREE professional development for teachers on a variety of topics including DIGITAL STORYTELLING.

I have been working in the past year with Mike King of Enid Public schools and others on the Oklahoma Digital Centennial Project, which is providing 3 day workshops for teachers on the use of digital tools to help students become oral history archivists and digital storytellers. We've partnered with the Oklahoma Heritage Association and will be offering a facilitator training at their Oklahoma City facility in October, one at UCO in Edmond in November, and one in Altus in December.

Please let everyone you know in Oklahoma interested in storytelling, the centennial, preserving Oklahoma's history through the voices of its people, and digital storytelling/podcasting about this project. The website where people can get more info about the project and apply to participate is:

http://www.enidk12.org/~itdepartment/odcp/

Please keep me in the loop about future workshops, festivals, or events related to storytelling or digital storytelling. My free workshop curriculum and resources related to digital storytelling is available on:

http://teachdigital.pbwiki.com/digitalstorytelling

Wes
-- Wesley Fryer Director of Education Advocacy (PK-20) AT&T Oklahoma
Phone: 405-319-6267 Fax: 405-291-1163 Email: wesley.fryer@att.com Web: www.speedofcreativity.org Skype: wfryer

PARACON 2007: Storytelling of a different kind

Some of Oklahoma's "ghost hunters" will be gathering for workshops, tours, and tales of the dark in the 3rd annual "PARACON 2007" in El Reno, Oklahoma. Not traditional storytelling but might be a venue for someone to develop.....
3rd Annual- PARACON-2007
"100 Years of Haunting History" Sep 29, 2007 - Sep 29, 2007 Historic Elk's Lodge El Reno, Oklahoma United States
http://events.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.detail&eventID=369233.5086

EL Reno, OK : Tales & Stories

Tombstone Tales - October 18, 19 and 20, 2007
Located at Fort Reno. Admission is 5-10 dollars. Historic re-enactors portray individuals interred at the Fort Reno Post cemetery between 1874 and 1948. Chuck wagon dinner followed by guided walks through authentic 19th century encampments. Hours are 9am-4pm. Contact Fort Reno Visitors Center by phone at 405-262-3987 or by mail at 7107 West Cheyenne or by email at info@fortreno.org. Visit their Website at www.fortreno.org

Ghosts of Fort Reno Tours - March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, and October 20, 2007
This event is located at Fort Reno in El Reno, OK. Reservations are available and cost is $5 a person. By lantern light, hear stories of restless spirits of the old post, along with some of the unsolved mysteries and murders that occurred here. Event hours are 8:30p.m. Contact: Fort Reno Visitor Center by phone at 405-262-3987 or mail at 7107 W. Cheyenne or email info@fortreno.org. Visit their website at www.fortreno.org

CONFERENCE & EVENT BOOTH TIPS

Wear comfortable, yet dressy shoes and dress in layers (a jacket is perfect to dress up your look and provide warmth in case it is too cool in the venue).
Take along plenty of working pens, pencils, note paper, and business cards.
If selling: make sure you have sufficient change, receipts, tax information, etc.
Take more flyers, brochures, etc. than you will need.
Utilize images – have 1-3 dynamic, colorful photos blown up and attach to foam board (enlarge at Kinko’s for about 30.00 each). Attach Velcro and use the curtain as a ready made display area.
Be approachable. Look up as people approach, smile, and be ready to engage in light banter or a full-blown “sales moment”.
Create a checklist of “talking points” explaining what is unusual or unique about your product (i.e., why should I buy?). Slant it to the audience of the event. Storytellers might have sheets for “Storytelling & Literacy”, “Storytelling & Oral Language Development”, “Best Books for Storytelling”, “Storytelling in Business”, etc.
Use the space: most rented tables have color schemes of white, burgundy, black or blue. Develop promotional materials that will work with those colors and not be lost or jarring.
Always stand when customers approach: if traffic is heavy remain standing, or have a stool ready to lean on during lulls.
Have freebies (candy, mints, pens, posters, bookmarks, flyers)
Dress for success: casual business sends a very different message from faded jeans and a t-shirt.
Keep breath mints handy.
Pre-promote your booth. Have a “conference special” to entice customers to visit your booth before the event.
Invest in professionally prepared flyers, brochures, posters, etc. It pays off in the long run.
Provide information: brainstorm all the possible people who might be interested in what you have to offer and created targeted information just for them
Generate “buzz”: have a book signing, door prize, raffle, photo opportunity at the booth
If sharing a booth, be willing to move and condense to share a table, but then use the new feature to connect with new customers
Arrange for photographs to be taken at the booth for future publicity. It adds to your portfolio and helps to generate a little interest on the floor. Have a permission form handy and take photos with interested people for publication or promotional use.
Consider providing some level of support for the event so that your name appears with donors and increases your overall exposure.
Have a signup sheet ready to send people more information.
Save on paper costs by putting resources and information on a website and then invest in one or two good quality free items to lead people there: magnets, key chains, etc.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS: Guymon Storytelling Festival

"We are so proud to be able to offer a Storytelling Workshop with Tim Tingle as the teacher here in Guymon, Oklahoma!" This event will be in the schools and the community. There will music by Call of the West too. "It’s our first" says Melyn. They would love for you to come and join. For more information, call Melyn Johnson at 806-681-9881.

October 12-13, 2007, Guymon, Oklahoma

Friday, October 12, 2007
1:00 – 3:00 pm High School Performance in Guymon, Stan Paregien
1:00 – 3:00 pm Upper Elementary / Middle School Performance in Guymon, Tim Tingle
(public is invited to both, free of charge)
5:30 – 6:30 pm Commission Reception, The Gallery, 12th and Main
7:00 – 9:00 pm Evening Storytelling Performance
$10 admission

Saturday, October 13, 2007
9:00 – 11:30 am Storytelling Workshop, Junior High Annex
$20 registration fee
Lunch on own
Afternoon activities to take place at Draper’s Headquarters*
2:00 – 2:45 pm Falderal Medicine Show Performance
3:00 – 3:45 pm Tim Tingle, Native American Storyteller
4:00 – 4:45 pm Music from Call of the West
5:00 – 5:45 pm Stan Paregien, Cowboy Poet
6:00 – 8:00 pm Chuckwagon Feed, Draper’s Headquarters
7:00 – 8:00 pm Open Mic for “Fish Stories and Other Interesting Tales”
Terryl Gloden, Straight Community
Everett Long, former Guymonite, Phoenix
For aspiring and experienced storytellers.

· Draper’s Headquarters is where many community receptions and events are held. The community so looks forward to coming to this eclectic building filled with old cars, farming equipment, and other pieces of stuff!!! The ambiance is perfect for a storytelling festival.
· Wheatweaver Margaret McDonald will have a booth at the festival.
· Guymon author of “The Happy Immortals” will be at the festival with books to autograph and sell.
· The Oklahoma Centennial Quilt, Panhandle Style, pieced and quilted by Nancy Davis will be displayed at the festival.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS
Storyteller Workshop Registration
Guymon, Oklahoma
October 13, 2007 9:00-11:30 am
Junior High Science Annex NW 8th and James


Name: ____________________________ Address: ________________________


City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________


Telephone: __________________ E-mail: ________________________________

$20 fee per person

Make check payable to: Guymon Community Enrichment Foundation

And mail to: Guymon Community Enrichment Foundation
Attn: Storyteller Registration
PO Box 481
Guymon, OK 73942
580-338-8792

For more information: Melyn Johnson
(cell) 806-681-9881
(home) 806-339-0006

Highlight Stories, Storytelling, and Reading

No matter where you are think about settting up a display with books, props, informational flyers, and how-to's. It might be the lounge at work, the library, classroom, church foyer, hospital lobby, clubhouse, etc. The best promotion comes at the "grass-roots" level.

Encourage literacy by promoting books and reading, foster learning skills by honing listening and imagination skills. Create a sense of community by telling local tales.

Scope out the possibilities, get any permissions, and then set up a small space. Add to the event by pulling up a stool and telling stories as an added feature.

Encourage people to read, to tell, and to listen and everyone is a winner!