Red Bull, Bull Riding and Cardboard Cuts: Behind the Scenes of the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference

For our member e-publication Currents, we asked Alberta Magazines Awards Coordinator Anh Chu to share an insider's perspective on the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference. We loved her article so much that we thought we would share it with you, too....

Red Bull, Bull Riding and Cardboard Cuts

Behind the Scenes of the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference

By Anh Chu

“This conference wouldn't be possible without the help of so many,” begins Andrew Mah, Acting Executive Director of AMPA. “If you can stand where you are or wave...” Upon hearing these words, I stand from my perch by the LCD projector at the front of the room, and wave like a languid pageant-queen to the room of 150 people. That's odd, I think, no one else on my team is vying for recognition. Turns out I had interrupted Mah at the podium, mid-sentence. Dramatics aside, this was an unexpected move. You see, we folks behind the scenes rarely toot our own horns. And rarely do we do it so conspicuously. Alas, I've returned for an encore...

First, a plea. If you haven't been to a conference before, sign up for the next one. Every March, AMPA hosts the Alberta Magazines Conference. It's the largest professional development conference of its kind in Western Canada. It's such a big to-do that it's hard to believe AMPA has just two staffers. It's a celebration. It's inspiration. Staff will tell you it's like planning a wedding each year in addition to your regular job, only there is no proverbial bride and groom. Nor is there wedding cake or an epic dance-off, sadly....

To read the full article, visit

http://www.albertamagazines.com/conference/BehindScenesConferenceStory.php