A major metropolitan area would make NSN more accessible and would
offer wider artistic and nonprofit collaboration, as well as a wider
base of foundations and major companies who could support us. In a
large city, NSN can increase its visibility by making connections with
other organizations and by attracting larger media coverage. . .

for more details go to the board blog at:
(http://board.nationalstorytelling.net)

I like the way you answered this one  ;-)

I think this would be a good move.  I've only been to Jonesborough
once (for a festival) and loved the small town, but I understand the
idea of making NSN more accessible and visible.  I would like to
suggest St. Louis as a possible location for NSN.  St. Louis has a
very active storytelling community, and it is centrally located.
Kansas City would be another good choice.  (Hmm, both of these cities
are in my state--guess I'm a bit biased.)  Still, I would vote for a
city that is in the center of the country, and one that is an airline
hub (that would be St. Louis, not KC).

On May 2, 7:13 pm, NSN Info <NSNi...@gmail.com> wrote:

This is a very smart decision! Thank you!

Large cities may be too expensive in rents, etc. to consider, but
moving an hour or so away from a large city is feasible. For instance,
Chicago rents are sky-high, but 1.5 hours away is Rockford which is
less expensive to do business in. There is a coach bus company that
has regularly scheduled runs from O'Hare to Rockford that is only $16
one-way. Travel to and from for meetings, etc. would be easy and
comfortable. I'm sure other large cities have "satellite" cities
nearby that would have great business opportunities for NSN.

Perhaps when NSN is ready to pursue this, members could do some of the
legwork and research for the board. This is another way for members to
help (see FAQ #1).

Hmmm.  I think one thing that might be useful, before we get to the
point of comparing individual cities, is figuring out what criteria
are important for making the decision.  So far, what's been listed
are:

-airport (is it major, low cost, easily accessible)
-transit (esp from the airport to an office location)
-cost of doing business
         -suburbs vs. downtown
-geographic location
-proximity to population centers
-existence of a local storytelling base
-vibrancy of the local arts scene in general (esp performing arts)
-vibrancy of local non-profit scene

Ok.  These are just the ones I'm getting out of the posts above and a
couple that occur to me while reading them.

What else?

On May 3, 6:01 pm, Karen W <story...@earthlink.net> wrote:

About being near a hub airport...we should think about this point
carefully. Most airlines charge more to fly to and from their hub
airports. Sounds strange, but that's how it works. I'm in the
southwest corner of Kansas, 6 hours from Kansas City and 5 from
Denver. I can fly United to California from Kansas City for much less
than I can fly from Denver, but Denver is the United hub. It entails
flying from KC to DEN and then on, but the price is still considerably
cheaper. But my little airport in Garden City is equally expensive
whichever way I go.
Margaret

On May 3, 6:42 pm, "M.L. Barron" <m...@nationalstorytelling.net>
wrote:

That's good to know.  Thank you.  I didn't know that, and had just
assumed hub airports were cheaper.  This might be because I grew up in
the South, which means that any flight I took went through Atlanta.
My grandmother says that when you die in the South, your soul has a
four hour layover in Hartsfield.

On May 4, 12:05 pm, mmey...@gcnet.com wrote:

Hi-
FYI based in Ann Arbor, MI is an organizations called Nonprofit
Enterprise at Work (NEW) whose training & support services might help
NSN. http://www.new.org/

The state economy is not currently healthy enough to think about
Michigan for possible relocation...
Thanks for your work!
- Yvonne

On May 4, 12:41 pm, "M.L. Barron" <m...@nationalstorytelling.net>
wrote:

I LOVE the idea that NSN will be less dependent on the city of
Jonesborough, and I realize that the staff turnover has been
exceptionally high, but I do have to wonder how this move might affect
the  operational memory from a staffing point of view, and what, if
anything the board is doing to prevent the reinvention of the wheel
when it comes to finding a staff in another city/state.  Also, I'm not
certain you can pay a staff in another location as easily as you can
in J'boro.  Will member fees have to be raised or will there be a
consolidation of benefits?

I don't really expect an answer right now- I guess I'm just throwing
these things out for you to think about.  I'm full of sticky
questions! ;)

CW

On May 2, 7:13 pm, NSN Info <NSNi...@gmail.com> wrote:

The OTHER thing we can do is to increase our numbers!  That way we
will have the income to support the goals, staff, programming we want
to endorse. By bringing more storylovers into the NSN house we
strengthen every other aspect of the organization.  Part of the "old
way" of thinking was to propose an "either-or" approach to every
aspect of our organization.  Let's let the creative juices flow.  SOME
of the ideas are bound to be GOOD ones!

Roger Armstrong
wordwea...@arkansas.net (no hubs here!)

On May 4, 9:36 pm, CW Teller <charawat...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm not convinced that NSN should leave Jonesborough. When in crisis,
I don't believe it's a good idea to start something new, but instead
hang tight and cut expenses--it's survival time!  Changing locations
will require extra money and tremendous energy. Think what's involved
in a personal move! I just don't see how the benefits of
being closer to a hub airport can justify all that would be lost with
leaving the storytelling mecca.

I've lived 45 minutes from Jonesborough for the past 25 years and
Jonesborough offers an identity based on its early history, and its
community support for the art of storytelling. Jonesborough is a
village, but it is surrounded by three cities of approximately 60,000
people each, many smaller communities in between who altogether
support a large University, several small liberal arts colleges,
symphonies and ballet groups, libraries, museums, community theaters,
arts centers, and an Actor's Equity professional theatre.

I admit that using a commuter plane to and from Tri-Cities Airport
adds to the cost of staff facilitating the annual conference. Perhaps
another way to carry this out in a less expensive way could be
developed, like utilizing Knoxville or Charlotte, NC and renting a
car? Even Atlanta is only a 4 hour drive away.  Picking up the tab for
Board members' transportation to attend meetings, their lodging while
there, and meals are other expenses that possibly could be lessened.

Story lovers will be in Jonesborough to attend the National
Storytelling Festival, perhaps annually, so can personally connect
with an NSN office at that time if it's there, but if it's located
somewhere else, hard telling when they might be in that "somewhere
else," be it Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, or Dallas. When were you last
in those cities? And did you find them easy to navigate? I fear that a
move from Jonesborough would mean a disconnect between the NSN office
and its members.

Jonesborough has "the existence of a local storytelling base," the
local Jonesborough Storytellers Guild, an organization in existence
for close to 15 years who has been producing weekly storytelling
events since they began and have an excellent reputation for
professionalism. A short distance away is East Tennessee State
University with its year-round Master's level storytelling program and
40 miles away is my home of Bristol which is in both Tennessee and
Virginia and which has a smaller storytelling group, the Beaver Creek
Storytellers of Bristol TN-VA.
These are active groups who promote education and community service as
related to storytelling.

I don't understand how being closer to cities with greater
populations, and the "vibrancy of the local arts scene..." and "the
vibrancy of local non-profit scene" are relevant to an office site for
NSN. Certainly, they are relevant to the individual storyteller, but I
fail to see relevance to an NSN headquarters. Furthermore, there is a
trend towards individuals working out of their homes because of the
ease of Internet and telephone communication; It would seem that
organizations could sensibly do the same thing. Therefore, location of
an office becomes secondary to other considerations.

NSN should be working toward providing member benefits. NSN would get
more members if they offered something other than a magazine for the
annual membership fee. The typical answers of "opportunity to network"
and "an annual conference" aren't adequate because these benefits can
be gotten elsewhere, i.e. state and regional organizations. I'd like
to see a brainstorming session or two devoted to providing something
meaningful that cannot be gotten elsewhere. Services to guilds,
perhaps? I think the most useful thing that NSN currently offers is
the opportunity to receive a grant, but there are not enough of them
and the competition is fierce.

I would suggest that before we fantasize and discuss a new location
for NSN, we discuss tightening the belt and help the organization to
survive and direct some funds towards attracting new members. The
storytelling community has been a treasure to me, and some of those
facets are because the headquarters has been located in the same
charming village where the National Storytelling Festival is held
every October.  MimiStory

the

On May 4, 11:22 pm, NSN Info <NSNi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Larger media coverage makes sense to me and is one good reason to
move. Regarding your other reasons, (1) my experience is that NSN has
a history of non-collaboration with other non-profits, i.e. the local
storytelling guild, stating that to do so would show favoritism, so I
don't feel free from subjectively judging this reason. (2) I don't
believe that a major city would offer a base of support that couldn't
be gotten with an office located outside that city. I don't think a
Director has to be physically near in order to make contacts and
network.  MimiStory

On May 2, 8:13 pm, NSN Info <NSNi...@gmail.com> wrote:

You are correct. Until the issue of collaboration is resolved, it
makes no difference where the office is located.

It's a mind shift, a paradigm change, a rebirth that is needed.

Until the framework is razed, it will be hard for folks to experience
that.

On May 5, 9:44 pm, MimiStory <Mimi.Rockw...@gmail.com> wrote:

"storytelling mecca" for who?  Speaking personally, it is not central
for me. Overall, we've lost control of the word storytelling with the
vast majority of people calling themselves storytellers not even aware
of the NSN.

Mutliple regional offices may be the answer. Think big.

On May 5, 8:55 pm, MimiStory <Mimi.Rockw...@gmail.com> wrote:
.of

Even when I first learned about the National Storytelling Network
(about 1999), I had always dreamed of several office locations.

I have known of organizations that had one or two people to maintain
the "Headquarters" (which would be Jonesborough), while they had
larger staff in other offices.  The Headquarters doesn't always have
to be where most everyone is located.

At this time, I would like to see satallite offices.  With how much
the Internet has made our world smaller, having a brick and mortar
location is not as important as it used to be.  Even look at the
employment trends.  More and more people work from home.

In fact, wherever there is a NSN Board member, there could be a
satallite office.  Webconferencing, conference calls, and emails would
take care of most of the communication.  As there is more money, these
satallite offices could transform into brick and mortar places.  Some
art organizations share a building together and then we could see some
much needed partnerships.

That said, even more money could be saved if instead of in-person
quarterly NSN Board meetings there would be webconferencing.  Plus,
you would save in time--a precious commodity.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Having a large conflux of storytelling aficionados in one village for
one weekend a year does not seem to me to be a sufficient
justification for basing an office of a national organization there,
especially when the tradeoffs include:

1) a barrier to attracting qualified executive leadership;
2) a barrier to attracting and retaining qualified staff;
3) a barrier to access to appropriate business infrastructure, from
photocopier leases to insurance to back-end web content management
systems;
4) invisibility to the nonprofit world;
5) invisibility to the philanthropic world.

You are quite right that the migration of business functions to the
Web makes location much less important.

But this has been the case for more than longer than NSN has been
around.

In its history, NSN has not shown much inclination to take advantage
of such practices, instead, preferring to take advantage of its
historical location.

The current financial situation has shown the folly of that path.

It's time for change.

I think the floodgates have been opened as to the use of technology to
further the causes of NSN.  It is possible to honor the past, act in
the present, and look forward to the future.

All this can be helped by technology.

I would love to see an "Ode to Jonesborough" video (about the video
length as seen on YouTube) as well as other videos put out by NSN on
current and future actions.  If we do leave Jonesborough, then at
least some memories and images could be preserved in some way for
future generations to understand the roots.

Do we have any NSN members who happen to create documentaries?  At
Brigham Young University, the KBYU combined with PBS to put out the
DVD "The Call of Story".  Go to http://www.callofstory.org.

That received some great press.  Can we not take advantage of the
changes going on and partner with some sort of PBS station?

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

I like this idea- however regional offices would increase the number
of staff members.  That's not entirely a bad possibility for NSN, but
a costly one that would probably increase the membership fees.  Not a
popular idea.
Also, the idea of telecommuting is very romantic and certainly answers
a lot of problems, but as someone who telecommuted for NSN, I have to
say that it really stunk.  It's hard to work for the organization and
not have access to the office files, equipment, or other staff.
If some other option is available I think that regional offices are a
great idea, Sean.
CW

On May 6, 2:44 am, Seantells <s...@storyteller.net> wrote:

Actually, I was referring to "storytelling mecca" as coined by Joseph
Sobol in his book, The Storyteller's Journey. Joe is currently on the
NSN Board.

I like the point you make in your second sentence about "the vast
majority of people calling themselves storytellers not even aware of
the NSN." That's been my experience with meeting local and regional
storytellers also.

On May 6, 3:44 am, Seantells <s...@storyteller.net> wrote:

East Tennessee State University, a few miles from Jonesborough, has a
storytelling program as well as video and graphics departments. ETSU
also sponsors a PBS station, WETS. I like your idea about creating a
storytelling presence on YouTube as a start for making ourselves more
visible. Of course, a technically-savvy coordinator/producer,
preferably someone who could work on a shoestring, at first, would be
needed. MimiStory

On May 6, 11:44 am, Professional Storyteller Rachel Hedman

Here's the problem with NSN staying in Jonesborough.

J'boro may be the Storytelling Mecca, but NSN isn't an organization to
serve the mecca or the idea as much as it is to serve the storytelling
community and storytellers.  J'boro has the International Storytelling
Center (and Jimmy Neil Smith) to serve J'boro.  That it also serve
storytelling in a larger way has become incidental.  If NSN is to
effective it needs to go to the storytellers- not just to a place
where the storytellers go.  There are storytellers in J'boro, but not
a large community and the festival showcases storytellers, but it is
very selective and many storytellers attend as audience members.  Even
that is difficult because the festival is an expensive experience.
There are actually other festivals that draw more audience members at
a much lower price and are located in areas with much more active and
vibrant guilds.

I am not trying to bash J'boro, Jimmy Neil Smith or the JSG- I have
lived in J'boro, worked distantly with Jimmy Neil Smith and closely
with the JSG and they are all wonderful, but NSN's presence is hardly
understood or known in J'boro anymore.  The post office constantly
mixes the ISC's mail and NSN's and I dare most of you to locate the
NSN office on a map of J'boro.  Just a hint, it's not in the big new
building down town.

In my opinion, if NSN doesn't completely separate it's identity from
the ISC, it will never be financially solvent because it will never
get past the festival and it's history with Jimmy Neil.  Maybe in the
future it could come back to J'boro, but right now, being in j'boro is
entirely a symbolic thing, that is causing a major mental hang-up in
the way that NSN thinks about itself.

If we are going to be a national organization, we can't have a local
identity.

CW

On May 6, 10:56 pm, MimiStory <Mimi.Rockw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Wow.  This is clearly the most popular topic.  Does anybody have ideas
for how we should decide where we end up going?  Secret ballot?  Tea
leaves?

On May 7, 7:25 pm, CW Teller <charawat...@gmail.com> wrote:

I vote for throwing darts at a map of the U.S.!

On May 8, 8:50 am, "M.L. Barron (NSN Board Member)"

Once membership settles the emotional attachment to Jonesborough, a
more rational way of thinking will prevail.

ISC over-shadows NSN in Jonesborough and nothing grows well in the
shade.

Local and regional funding for Storytelling is going to ISC because
Jimmy Neil is the "face" of Storytelling in the region and because he
has been raising funds since the 1980s.

In East Tennessee, when people hear "Storytelling," they think of
Jimmy Neil...  The Festival... The International Storytelling
Center... not NSN!

The Jonesborough business people and the local officials are confused
as to what NSN does and are even more confused as to WHY? there are
two Storytelling organizations in Jonesborough.  To quote one town
Alderman  "Why do we need two offices just to do the clerical work for
the National Festival?"    I know, I know... as a former staff member
of NAPPS/NSA.... that makes me cringe too.... but, thats the
perception.  NSN has an identity problem.

NSN will best serve its members, will best grow, will best attract
national (even international) donors and recognition... once they move
to a more urban, metro area.

Jimmy Neil even considered a partial move back in the 90s... even
though it was just to gain the NYC address for fundraising efforts.
He knew the value of the "bit city" connection.  He considered
establishing an office in NYC with one staff member.  The "main"
address for "Storytelling Foundation International" would have been in
NYC.

As for choosing a location... NSN needs to think "centralized."
Chicago, St. Louis, etc.  As for urban name recognition, my opionion
is that NSN should strongly consider the Chicago area and have a
"Chicago" address.  Having the office located in the center of the
country makes good sense.

If the Board did not have concerns about "flying in" to meetings then
I would recomend NYC or Philadelphia or even Washington DC.

NSN does not need a presence in Jonesborough.

The office is a "working" office set up to run a membership
organization.  There is no museum, no theater... just hard working
staff members in a office setting.  When I was on staff.... "walk in"
visits were very few and I think that holds true even today.  Except
for the "Membership Tent" at the National Festival... I think that the
staff sees very few members come to visit the office.  I know we did
not look forward to visitors at NAPPS/NSA because we had to stop our
work, which there was PLENTY of, and give them a tour.... of our
OFFICE SPACE!  The office was/is simply not a place for the public to
visit.

In my opinion... if NSN needed a temporary place in Jonesborough to
hang their hat while they were in town for the National Festival then
ISC could, most likely, offer up some office space for them to use
while they were there.  There are LOTS of possibilities.

This is a strategic decision.  A decision for the Board to make after
consultation and due consideration.  There is a lot at stake here,
mainly fundraising opportunities, branding and international
recognition.

This easily could be the major turning point that NSN needs.  An
explosion of growth and, at the same time, the perfect time for NSN to
push Storytelling into the main stream arts arena.

In short, I think its time for NSN to "grow up" and become the
National organization that it so desperately needs to be.  Its time to
consider professional leadership for the staff and its time to get
serious about major fundraising efforts.

NSN cannot grow in Jonesborough.  Cut the apron strings and go "Seek
Your Fortune."

David Joe Miller

On May 8, 5:35 pm, CW Teller <charawat...@gmail.com> wrote:

David mentioned that all NSN had to show was office space.  Here is a
way to change that. . .

So let's say NSN moved to someplace like Chicago.  I would scour the
land for other nonprofit arts organizations, especially the ones that
have physical offices.  Depending on the room available, NSN could
split the rent.  With more than one art organization, the general
public would have extra reasons to visit.  Even if someone visited our
neighbors, they would also learn about us.

This partnership would create a buzz in the community and open the
door to other partnerships on local, state, national and international
levels.

To "dazzle" the NSN office even more, we could have a display that
could grow into a museum.  How to acquire storytelling CDs and items?
Think about the awards given on national and international levels that
storytellers regularly submit to.  Sometimes a fee is required besides
the CD, book, etc. that is never returned.  What if we had a similar
event only the fee (small amount) would act as a donation to NSN while
it makes the item available to the general public.  Better yet, what
if NSN had a storytelling library complete with checkouts?  Make it
the largest in the world (after some time)?

The Orem Public Library in Utah right now has the largest storytelling
collection west of the Mississippi.  Could there be interlibrary loans
among our storytelling libraries?  Storytellers would want to be part
of this project on marketing and altruistic levels.

Our partnerships with library associations would sky-rocket and you
can guess how that would build our funding ventures.

More and more libraries could connect to the interlibrary loan, thus
opening satellite office after satellite office for NSN.  Our
"library" would have other perks through multimedia possibilities like
having computers where patrons could hear storytelling podcasts.

What if we also had rental possibilities?  For example, there is a
technology called Second Life that brings the virtual world into the
business world.  We could stream live performances at storytelling
festivals through storyteller avatars and have people rent a computer--
or pay a reduced ticket price--to "attend" these festivals online.

So who is ready for this venture?

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman