Something had to give

Well, it was all a little too much for me. As you'll read, I've asked the team of local media folks I've been working with to postpone our annual events, 9.11 Illustrated and the Independent Media Expo. You can read about these at http://www.indynet.org

Sometimes you have to make tough choices.

- Steve

August 30, 2004,
Dear ime2004 Committee Members,

Six months ago when we first began planning 9.11 Illustrated and the Independent Media Expo, September 11 seemed like the ideal day for the events. It was historically significant, far enough in the future for the planning to be imaginable and, of personal importance to me, was to be two months * after * my wedding, ensuring me that there would be no conflict between these events ; one close to my heart and the other a part of my professional vision for the media projects I have made central to my life’s work.

Things changed in mid-July when our wedding date was pushed back to Sept. 25. Suffice to say that there were time conflicts with the usage of the reception space, minister availability and other issues that made that date the best fit for us in order for us to be married this year. This was very important to me and my fiancé, despite the obvious conflict with 911i and the ime.

Things have proven more difficult than I believed and I have found that I am being overwhelmed by the combination of projects and personal issues I am facing. On this day, 12 days before the Expo is supposed to start, we only have eight of 16 films we planned to show, the speakers able to make the Expo are fewer than expected – at this point no one from CityBeat, the Herald and a number of other outlets have confirmed that they can come – and our band lineup for the Saturday night show is questionable. I also feel that promotion for the event – key to getting folks to come – has been soft.

What I’m saying is that, rather than run with the event as planned and have it fail on a number of levels, I think we should push it back to the end of October. I believe the Mockbee (location of the event) has a weekend open before the election (though I’ve CC’d Carissa and Chris of the Mockbee)this letter to find out) and if they do I think it would be wise to take more time and make this event the best it can be.Also, as we have already promoted the events and CityBeat ran a promotional on the weekend in their current CityLights section, I think it would be wise to move forward with a truncated film event using the films we have in hand – online at http://www.indynet.org

We could show the films on Saturday afternoon through the night as a simple and dignified memorial.I apologize for the poor timing on my part. I have tried and am still doing my best to make this something we can all be proud of and an event that will inspire others to do good works. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Sincerely,Stephen Novotni, IMN Coordinator