This is the early October MAPACA Newsletter. The next conference is November 8-10, 2018 (Baltimore, MD).
In this newsletter, we have:
2018 Divine Impact Award Announcement
Information about Day Passes for #mapaca18
Hotel Information for #mapaca18
Check Your #mapaca18 Conference Schedule
Special Events at #mapaca18
Interested in a Theatre Outing During #mapaca18?
Student Workers Needed
Call for Badge Holders (with Gift Card Drawing!)
Interested in becoming a member of MAPACA’s Board?
2018 Divine Impact Award Recipient: Rabia Chaudry
We are pleased to announce our 2018 winner of the Divine Impact Award, Rabia Chaudry. A longtime resident of Baltimore, Ms. Chaudry is a wife, mother, attorney, and a 2016 Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at U.S. Institute of Peace, where she researched the intersection of religion and violent extremism. Ms. Chaudry brought Adnan Sayed’s story to the attention of Sarah Koenig, who turned it into the popular podcast Serial, launching the true crime podcast phenomenon. While Serial was popular, Ms. Chaudry wanted to continue working for justice for Adnan Sayed and others like him, so she started her own podcast, Undisclosed, with two other lawyers. Undisclosed, which has reached over 2 million downloads, covers cases of wrongful conviction and police misconduct, and partners with the Innocence Project to overturn wrongful convictions. Ms. Chaudry is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Adnan’s Story, which delves further into the evidence in Sayed’s case. We are honored to present Ms. Chaudry with our 2018 Divine Impact Award. Ms. Chaudry will participate in a Q&A and reception at our November conference. For more information about Ms. Chaudry and Undisclosed, please see http://www.rabiachaudry.com/ and http://undisclosed-podcast.com/
There will be copies of Ms. Chaudry’s book for sale at the DIA presentation. MAPACA wishes to thank the independent bookstore The Ivy Bookshop of Baltimore for providing copies of Adnan’s Story for sale at this event. You can find The Ivy Bookshop at https://www.theivybookshop.com/.
Registration has closed for #mapaca18
Day passes:
Non-presenters (for example, friends, family, students) may purchase a pass for 1 (and only 1 day). Please note, Friday day passes do not include dinner. For information please contact ED@mapaca.net.
Need Help with Your Registration?
Can’t remember what you ordered or if you are registered? Your 2018 registration status is indicated in your profile. If you purchased your own registration, program, tour, etc. you can also log in and look at your orders in your profile. You can also print invoices from your profile. If someone else purchased your registration or if you need to purchase a printed program or change your dinner plans please contact ED@mapaca.net.
Please Check Your #mapaca18 Schedule
Please take a moment to check the 2018 conference schedule on mapaca.net to make sure you do not have any scheduling conflicts and email ED@mapaca.net with any issues.
Hotel Information for #mapaca18
MAPACA has reserved a block of rooms at the Lord Baltimore at a special rate for conference attendees. In doing so we make MAPACA financially responsible to the hotel to book a minimum percentage of the block, striking a balance between ensuring enough discounted rooms for attendees and protecting the financial health of the organization. Our block of hotel rooms is being held until 10/17, though some days may sell out before that. If days in our block sell out before the cutoff we will request more rooms, but they may not be available. After 10/17, our block will be released for the hotel to sell at their standard rates. Attendees may still request rooms at the Group rate based on hotel availability. Reserve your room in the Lord Baltimore Hotel. Conference rate rooms will go fast: Guests may book by calling 855-539-1928 or by going online to https://reservations.travelclick.com/85390?groupID=1977708.
Special Events at #mapaca18
Interiors and Objects:
Meet the Author and Book Signing: Marilyn Friedman, Jennifer Hackney, and Rachel Hunnicutt will present on Interiors and Objects in Decorative Arts and Design at 9:30 Thursday morning in the Boardroom (Lower level). Marilyn’s book will be available Thursday in the exhibit room (Versailles—Lobby level) and Marilyn will be there to sign books during the Thursday afternoon coffee break (2:30-3:15). For more information, please see: https://mapaca.net/conference/2018/making-america-modern-interior-design-meet-author-book-signing
Play Studies:
What better place to enjoy Victorian Era entertainment than the historic Lord Baltimore Hotel? Join Play Studies for an irreverent experience playing parlor games! We’ll briefly discuss the background of this genre, consider familiar favorites as well as some more contemporary and unusual games, and play a round or two. Take a break from the normal panel format and come play!
Food Studies Round Table and Farmers Market Visit:
Join the Food and Culture Area for a fun and interesting look at local food production. Our Saturday morning market excursion to Fells Point Farmers’ Market will give you a chance to check out local, seasonal foods and take in a beautiful view of the water. Meet in the Lord Baltimore Lobby at 7:15 am to ride to the market; we’ll split cabs or Uber over and be back in time for the 9:00 am panels. Panelists will speak about the increase in interest in local food sources, artisan food producers, and farm to table chefs and restaurants.
Writing and Urban Culture:
Please join area chair Blagovesta Momchedjikova for a unique workshop on writing about urban culture. Past topics include food in the city, urban performances, and urban memories. Enter the ranks of the myriad writers who have taken the city as their inspiration by penning your own story of the ever-evolving miracle of the human will.
Mt. Vernon Ghost Tour:
Please join us Friday evening as we embark on a ghost walk of Baltimore’s oldest neighborhood, Mt. Vernon. Tour guides from Baltimore Ghost Tours℠ will be sure to scare up some frightening facts about this storied section of the city, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark District. The tour will begin at 8:30 pm in the lobby of the Belvedere Hotel, a short walk from our conference site. Ticket price ($13) includes a tip for the guide. Space is limited, so reserve your tickets today for some fearsome fun! To register please go to: https://mapaca.net/store/2018/baltimore-ghost-tour Last day to purchase tickets for this tour is Thursday, October 25!
Interested in a Baltimore Theatre Outing?
Baltimore’s two major theaters have each offered group rates to performances during the MAPACA conference if we have sufficient interest. We could attend either or both of the following, most likely on Thursday and/or Friday evening:
Lynn Nottage’s “Sweat,” winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, at Everyman Theater. Tickets would be $49.60 instead of $54.
Lauren Yee’s autobiographical family comedy “King of the Yees” at Center Stage. Tickets would be $39.20 instead of $49.
If you are interested in joining a group to either of these plays, please contact Eric Grode by Oct. 22 at ejgrode@syr.edu.
#mapaca18 Seeks Student Workers
MAPACA seeks undergraduate and graduate students to work at the conference check-in desk and other miscellaneous tasks required to run a conference. If you are a student interested in volunteering or want to learn more about compensation contact ED@mapaca.net.
Call for Badge Holders
As part of our ongoing efforts at environmental and fiscal responsibility we ask that, before you leave the conference this year, you bring your gently used, clear plastic, 3x4” name badge holders to the conference registration desk along with your name and contact information. We’re offering a gift card for the person who brings us the most (usable) badge holders and another gift card in a random drawing from everyone who has contributed. We will hold our drawing after the conference has concluded on Saturday. We are happy to mail out the gift cards, so you do not need to be in attendance to win. Thank you!
Interested in Joining MAPACA’s Board?
The Board Wants You! If you’re interested in learning more about MAPACA’s board and the work we do, please be sure to talk to us during the conference. Stop by the registration desk or find a current board member milling about. You’ll recognize us by our beautifully festooned name tags. The board anticipates having several openings, so if you’re interested in conference administration — or you just covet our be-ribboned name tags — please consider joining our team!
Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association (MAPACA)
P.O. Box 25033 Philadelphia, PA 19147-0033