Yes, I believe more than 300 members who said yes to the survey are in the same boat. Most schools simply cannot pay for travel without a professional reason. This cancellation is complex but we have to find ways to create an alternative venue. I am afraid that most schools in Japan will be in the same boat as those in Josai. It is the Health Ministry or whoever in the government imposing these rules. I am definitely in support of devising some kind of an alternative.Cindy Wong PhD Chair Associate Professor Department of Media Culture College of Staten Island/CUNY 2800 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, NY, 10314 USA 718-982-2615 718-982-2710 (FAX) -----Original Message----- From: "Gina Marchetti" <[log in to unmask]> Sent 5/13/2009 8:06:44 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [SCREEN-L] let's meet in Tokyo as free agentsYes, Karen, I am in the same situation. I've contacted SCMS to ask them to reconsider. I will be out of pocket for my air tickets and other expenses, since my travel insurance does not cover this sort of cancellation. (I've been on the phone with them all day.) I also confirmed that my travel grant cannot be used because of the cancellation. Is there any way to get some sort of professional "event" organized for those in our circumstances? Is there any place in the Tokyo area (another university, perhaps) that could host us? Maybe I can keep my travel funds if we can organize an "alternative" SCMS conference? Any ideas? On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 6:52 PM, Karen Orr Vered < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Who wants to meet in Tokyo for a symposium or similar gathering? It's too > late > for me to untangle my complex travel plans and hoping others are in a > similar > position. > > Being from the southern hemisphere, the scheduling of SCMS does not usually > suit > my semester and this is the first time in many years that I've been able to > attend. I was so looking forward to the conference and would like to > salvage > the plans. > > I'd like to hear from those who still plan to attend. Perhaps we can swing > something. > > > -- > Karen Vered, PhD > Head, Department of Screen & Media > Flinders University > > http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/screen > > 260 Humanities Bldg. > GPO Box 2100 > Adelaide 5001 > South Australia > (61) 8 8201 3198 phone > (61) 8 8201 3635 fax > > ---- > Learn to speak like a film/TV professor! Listen to the ScreenLex > podcast: > http://www.screenlex.org > ---- Learn to speak like a film/TV professor! Listen to the ScreenLex podcast: http://www.screenlex.org ---- Learn to speak like a film/TV professor! Listen to the ScreenLex podcast: http://www.screenlex.org