November 6, 2013
Hi everyone.
I did my action plan over this weekend. On Saturday, I went to KuroKiiro, the Japanese pop culture convention, and presented my panel. I'll tell the whole story (because I like to talk and also because story time is always nice), and then I'll do a tl;dr.
PHOTO AND VIDEO CREDIT TO SHANE GALLAGHER (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
So, I got to the convention at around noon and kind of chilled until 1:30, which was when my panel was scheduled in one of the programming rooms. I went to the door of my panel and saw that a different person was doing her panel. She had the room scheduled before me, but she went a bit over time. So I waited five or so minutes while she finished presenting the Japanese history of horses. I saw that there was only a few people in her panel. It made me even more nervous than I already was. "What if only two people show up to my panel," I kept thinking. I was really worried that it wouldn't be successful at all.
Then I went into the room when I saw her packing her things. I went to the front desk to start setting up my computer to the projector and speakers. This young man pictured below was the manager of the programming at KuroKiiro. His name is Dan Pencoske. He's the man that I talked to when applying for a panel. Dan wore a lovely hat, and he helped me plug the wires in and all that because I'm not good at things.
I saw that a few people that were watching the previous woman present about horses were still in the room. That was relieving. At least I knew five people would be there.
First, I introduced myself a bit and then took a poll to get the audience involved. I asked if they thought same-sex marriage should be legal in the US, and then I asked if it should be legal in Japan. The results were the same - seven for "yes" and zero for "no." I wrote the results on a whiteboard.
Then I continued presenting. I didn't realize how much I moved my hands while speaking. I should work on that.
I played a related video for them. Here's a video of them watching the video. The audience seemed to really love it. They laughed a lot, which was very reassuring. A lot more people had walked in the room throughout the presentation. So we went from five attendees to around 25. Almost all the seats were full, and I think there were a few people standing at the back. A couple people left near the end, though, during the discussion.
But that's okay because a lot more people participated in the discussion than I had initially expected! So I got a lot of feedback and opinions on the matter. It was nice~
I told them that if they spoke, they'd get a free keychain. I tricked them, though, because after I was finished, I said that anyone who didn't already get a keychain could come up and get one if they want! I just didn't really want the keychains. I had made 54.
There were four particular attendees that spoke the most. These three up front plus the girl sitting next to them on the right that isn't in the picture (I'm sorry, person).
I offered them another keychain since they had a lot to say, but I think they declined politely. They even stayed after my panel was done, and we had a lovely conversation! We first started talking about LGBTQ rights in Japan and then we compared it to Korea and then we talked about Korean music (one of them saw me the day before wearing a shirt that a KPop idol wore in her music video). I didn't get their names, but I know the one on the far left is Nancy. She's pretty famous in the community for writing songs. So it was a nice thing to socialize. They had to leave to go somewhere else, though (I think one of them had to prepare for a panel they were running?).
Oh, and I took the poll of "Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal in Japan" again before the discussion. Nobody changed their mind, so it isn't really worth mentioning.
Also, I talked about Tokyo Rainbow Pride during the presentation. Hopefully they found it interesting enough to get involved.
Oh! Also! When one woman was leaving the room, my sister heard her say, "Wow I really learned a lot from that. I'm learning a lot during this convention!" Isn't that nice!?
TL;DR
My action plan was successful. A lot of people came to the panel and participated. That is all. Bye.
October 31, 2013
Hi. I can't do donations at all now. I made the keychains that I was going to pass out anyway. I'll give them to people at my panel. And maybe hand them out to random people in the hallway. Or leave them in random places for people to find. Alright bye.
October 28, 2013
Hey, all.
So my panel was accepted and is scheduled for this Saturday at 1:30PM. I finished making the PowerPoint for it, and I practiced it a few times. The presentation itself will take around 30-40 minutes (depending on whether or not I can keep the speed of my words at a good pace [which is extremely difficult for me]). If there are enough people that show up, then I'm hoping that we can also have a group discussion. I made up some discussion questions as well ("what is this, school!?").
However, I don't know if many people will show up because my panel is scheduled at the same time as a voice actor's signings AND the maid café. Those are two extremely popular events at the convention! Why would they do this to me?!?!!?! People would rather be there than at my panel. I would rather be there, at the maid café, than at my panel!!!!!
Sorry. I'll stop whining now.
Anyway, I think the donations at the booth is a no-go because Tokyo Rainbow Pride is terrible at responding. I don't know why, though. They don't seem like they'd be too busy. Their parade is only once a year, and it already passed up this year! (I guess I lied; I'm not finished whining.) But I emailed Sara, the woman who puts the community outreach program together at KuroKiiro, and asked her if I could still do donations in the hallway rather than at the booth. If she says no, then I will be extremely upset because I already got everything prepared for it. I made a pretty and stylish donations box! It took a lot of effort to do that! I even bought things with my own money to make keychains to give to the people that would donate!
Anyway, I guess that's all for now. If I remember, I'll try to update again on Friday. Then I'll update how it went on Monday.
Bye!
September 30, 2013
So I have made the first step in my action plan. I applied for a panel and emailed KuroKiiro (a Japanese culture convention focused on an educational aspect) about doing donations, and both ideas were accepted -confetti explosion-. Well, actually, there is a bit of difficulty with the donations. Ms. Sara Mariacher, the leader of the community outreach program at KuroKiiro, said she needed contact information for the "head of the regional chapter." However, there is none since it's all in Japan. She probably thinks I'm an official representative... well.... Anyway, I told her an email for Tokyo Rainbow Pride, and she seemed fine with it. I think everything is okay. I am excited.
p.s. sorry my Five Ws is extremely long.
kbye
September 30, 2013
Five Ws of the Action Plan
Action Plan #1: KuroKiiro and Donations
WHO - Who will be involved in your action plan and how will
they be selected? (This section should explain your relevant community)
·
My action plan will involve people in and around
the Pittsburgh area who are interested in learning about Japanese culture. They
are the attendees of KuroKiiro, a Japanese fandom and culture convention which
was created with the aim to be educational. The event will be written on the
programming sheet (which will be on the kurokiiro.com website and given to
attendees as a pamphlet when they buy their badge), and the people will come to
me during the scheduled time if they want to be present for the workshop.
WHAT - Describe in detail what your action or product will
be, as well as clearly stating your measurable objective
·
The first part of my action plan will be a
workshop at KuroKiiro. I will create a PowerPoint presentation on my topic and
present it to the people at the convention to inform and educate them on the
subject. I will also introduce to them the next part, which is a donation drive
for Tokyo Rainbow Pride, an LGBT parade held annually in Tokyo. I plan on
holding the donations throughout the days of the convention too (where I can
linger in the hallway and pester everyone). Also, I could ask a staff member
through email beforehand if I could have a table to hold the donations during
Sunday’s carnival (which is like a little fair with games and activities and
booths with pamphlets every year before closing ceremonies).
WHERE - Where will your action plan take place? (This
includes any and all locations)
·
My action plan will take place at KuroKiiro,
which is at the Boyd Community Center located at 1220 Powers Run Road in O’Hara
Township. The donations will go all the way to Tokyo, Japan.
WHEN - When will the action plan take place? What is the timeline that you will follow to
prepare?
·
The convention is November first through third
of this year. My workshop would only be one of those days, but the donations
will be during all three.
o
Timeline: Applications for workshops close
October 6, so I’ll need to come up with exact details of what I’ll be doing
before then. Along with that, I would need to get permission from the staff to
ask for donations from KuroKiiro-goers. Hopefully by the middle of October, I
will have the PowerPoint presentation done so I can practice it before
November.
WHY? - Why are you doing this particular plan? What do you
hope to accomplish? How does it relate to your essential question?
·
I’m doing this particular plan because it
involves a community that I know would be interested in this topic. It’s also a
community that I feel comfortable enough around to do something I normally
wouldn’t want to do (which is public speaking). I hope to accomplish educating
others the truth about homosexuality in Japan (which they probably wouldn’t
know since gay manga/anime is extremely popular despite the criticism gays get
in real life in Japan). I also am hoping to accomplish “making a difference”
for the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade with the donations. These would relate to my
essential question because it deals with how and why homosexuality in Japan has
changed over the years (the first part answering it to others and the second
part having the parade be one of the changes and a step further in gay
recognition in Japan).
HOW - How will carry out the plan? What is the exact process
that you must go through? What are the materials you will need, and how will
you acquire them?
·
Process:
1.
Apply for a workshop spot on the kurokiiro.com
website
2.
Email staff about being able to donate and ask
for a table during the Sunday carnival for donations
3.
Create informational PowerPoint
4.
Brainstorm ideas on how to get the audience
involved during the workshop
5.
Create crafts to make table and donating
visually appealing
6.
Create informational pamphlets to hand out
inviting people to come to workshop and/or donate
7.
Present PowerPoint at KuroKiiro during workshop
8.
Collect donations throughout event
9.
Collect donations at table during Sunday’s
carnival
10.
Get donations to Tokyo
11.
Email Tokyo Rainbow Pride (because on their
website: “Once you have donated, please send an email with your name, location,
the sum donated, and whether we may introduce you on our homepage [we can use
an alias]”).
·
Materials (and how to acquire them):
1.
Laptop (check)
2.
Projector, speakers, microphone, whiteboard, and
tables and chairs (provided by KuroKiiro)
3.
Crafts such as glue, paper, markers, scissors,
etc. (school and stores)
4.
$20 pre-registration badge for weekend at
KuroKiiro (on website by October 27)
Action Plan #2: National History Day
WHO - Who will be involved in your action plan and how will
they be selected? (This section should explain your relevant community)
·
Students around the country, which includes over
half a million kids from elementary and secondary schools, will be in the
competition.
WHAT - Describe in detail what your action or product will
be, as well as clearly stating your measurable objective
·
This action plan will consist of competing in
National History Day’s annual contest. I will create a historical fiction piece
that details about my topic and relating it to their theme: Rights and
Responsibilities. I will submit it into the competition where it will be
judged.
WHERE - Where will your action plan take place? (This
includes any and all locations)
·
The Heinz History Center is the site for the
competition.
WHEN - When will the action plan take place? What is the timeline that you will follow to
prepare?
·
The kickoff event is on October 9 from 9 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. Deadlines are given by regional and affiliate NHD coordinators.
WHY? - Why are you doing this particular plan? What do you
hope to accomplish? How does it relate to your essential question?
·
I’m doing this plan as an extra to the one I
already have. I was suggested it since I like writing (and historical fiction
is my favorite genre. How convenient is that?). The major thing I hope to
accomplish is to move on to the next round so I can get the paper seen by more
than just the judges (and for prizes). It relates to my essential question
because it details the answers of how and why homosexuality in Japan has
changed.
HOW - How will carry out the plan? What is the exact process
that you must go through? What are the materials you will need, and how will
you acquire them?
·
I will go to the kickoff event. Discover the
deadline. Make an outline of what I want to write. Finish writing it at least a
week before the deadline. Edit it before the deadline. Submit it by the
deadline. Then go to any other events (like the exhibits) that are required for
the contest, if any. The only materials I will need are my laptop and a
printer. Probably.
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