{"id":981,"date":"2018-03-07T14:34:39","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T14:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/conferences\/?p=981"},"modified":"2018-03-07T14:34:39","modified_gmt":"2018-03-07T14:34:39","slug":"tx-north-central-winter-miniconference-2018-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/conferences\/2018\/03\/07\/tx-north-central-winter-miniconference-2018-report\/","title":{"rendered":"TX North Central Winter Miniconference 2018 – Report"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Joseph<\/a>

Joseph Dunlap L1, USA<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Brandon<\/a>

Brandon Cox L1, USA<\/p><\/div>\n

Location<\/b>: Brownwood, Texas<\/span><\/p>\n

Date<\/b>: February 3, 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

Attendance<\/b>: 20 confirmed attendees, 1 walk-in<\/span><\/p>\n

Presentations<\/b>: 5<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Tests Passed<\/b>: 4 L1s certified<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizers<\/b>: Brandon Cox, Joseph Dunlap<\/span><\/p>\n

Photography<\/b>: Michael Arrowsmith, John White, Jonathan Dean<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brandon and I received our L1 certification at the USA-South Autumn Conference 2017 in Ardmore, Oklahoma, becoming the only certified judges in the Texas Heartland – otherwise known as the middle of nowhere. There were no other certified judges in Abilene, Brownwood, or Stephenville. When we expanded our search, we found a similar problem in many other rural areas of North Central Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost immediately after we passed our certification, Brandon and I began talking to Erin Leonard<\/a><\/span><\/span>, one of our mentors in the DFW area, about the idea of organizing a miniconference. Our purpose was twofold: to connect and develop judges across the North Central area of Texas, and test candidates from as many cities in the area as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
One goal of the miniconference was to give hands-on experience to new judges in the North Central area of Texas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many of our attendees were reached through networking with the local game stores of each city in a 100 mile radius of Brownwood (we later expanded that radius after the Wichita Falls judge community, led by Sara Anderson, reached out to us). We also formed a Facebook group for judges, TOs, store owners, and Magic players interested in developing the local judge program and connecting the game stores of the area, which was used to advertise for the miniconference and provide study questions for our candidates. Other applicants were found through the USA-South Facebook group and judgeapps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Location<\/b><\/h2>\n

During the planning process for this miniconference, our local store went through a change of name and ownership. Amidst our concerns of finding a space large enough for the event, the owners of <\/span>CDC Games<\/span><\/a> were happy to host us in their tabletop room. The week before the conference, Brandon and I met at the shop to plan for accommodating 20 or more attendees in a relatively small space, and whether we would be able to set up a projector for PowerPoint presentations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Erin Leonard, L2 from Grapevine, presented the keynote for the miniconference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The day before the conference, while two of our judge candidates ran the FNM <\/span>(one of whom is the TO and only needed guidance with judge calls)<\/span><\/i>, Brandon and I worked with one of the owners to clear away the roleplaying tables and set up the chairs and projector. One of our close friends from the shop brought his projector and laptop and agreed to serve as the media coordinator for the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

Setting up the chairs for the conference presented a unique challenge. On the right side of the room, a table was permanently fastened to the wall. We decided to use the table to provide coffee for the attendees, so there needed to be a clear walkway. We needed a narrow walkway on the left side of the room, leaving minimal room to fit four rows of five chairs. In the front right corner we were able to fit two chairs side by side, and three chairs fit easily in the back right corner by the projector. Even so, there was a lot of wasted space in the front of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
John White, L2 from Watauga, presented on Judging at Regular.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the end, we decided to situate the chairs to put the focus on the front left corner of the room, where the presenters would stand, while also giving sufficient focus to the PowerPoint presentations in the center of the wall. This involved a slight curvature to each row of chairs, which you can see in the pictures above.<\/span><\/p>\n

Attendance<\/b><\/h2>\n

In total, there were 21 attendees including one walk-in. Out of six judge candidates all taking the L1 test for the first time, four received their certification. Five L2s attended the conference. The following cities were represented:<\/span><\/p>\n