Venue and Programming

     We were enthused and relieved that the P7 was such a success
after so much effort and so many challenges.  We experienced
uncertainties and emergencies, but  maintained good spirit and
genuinely enjoyed working with each other.   

      We had a slow start with too few members,  and time wasted
in indecision over our name and function.  As program emphases
developed, we sought new recruits for specialized tasks, and
enthusiasm grew. The miraculous permission to use the Community
College for free, dramatically changed the function of this
committee from mid-April on. Without it, events would have been
dispersed to many venues, with resulting communication,
transportation, security and oversight problems; as well as
timing and cleanup complications.  

WORTH NOTING

The committee should have been divided early on into Venue
and Scheduling, and Program committees.    
The office needed to work closely and communicate clearly
with the committee, giving prompt acknowledgement of
applications, information on fees, greening, and emphasis on
alternatives.   
"Holes and dupes" (filling in holes in program and avoiding
duplications) made a definite effort to spark immigrant, youth,
women, human rights, fisheries, peace, health care, Blacks, and
Native participation.   
Outdoor -  Too much expenditure of energy, people, and
equipment for small audiences. Perhaps  stage and sound should
only have been set up from Wednesday on, or events tightly
grouped and well publicised. The foolish expectation of help from
the Mayor delayed specific  planning until mid-May. Peter Davison
was approached and could only take over in June.   
Close cooperation with Africville and the Mi'Kmaq Nation was
required.   
Displays were removed from traffic and not sufficiently
highlighted, leading to poor attendance, in spite of very good 
material.
  

     As we pioneered our way through P7 build up, we worked hard,
did our best, enjoyed each other tremendously and marvelled that
so many good things happened at the People's Summit. Thanks to
all!