As I noted yesterday, I have now begun to feel better after my kidney stone, and I seem to be recovering my full energy. As a result, the team here and I discussed whether we might hold another event.
As many readers will be aware, we decided not to proceed with one in Sheffield in late June, and as it turns out that was a very good idea, although we could not have known that when we cancelled. As a matter of fact, I would have been quite physically unable to do it. We saved ourselves a great deal of cost as a result.
Having cancelled, we have had the chance to reflect at greater length on what we might want ot do next, and because our goal is to make these things work for the benefit of all participants, I am sharing our current thinking here.
We are currently planning to do a meeting at the Poets' House Hotel in Ely, on Saturday 3 October. That is near home for us, and that makes things easy to organise. It also reduces potential costs significantly.
The event we are planning would be for a maximum of about 50 people, and would have a heavy focus upon Q&A sessions and interaction, so that everyone had a chance to take part in discussion. It will not be unlike the Cambridge event, be a sage-on-a-stage event, but will instead be more like a large, discussion-led Q&A. At the same time, though, it would not be an open platform in the sense that we would not be encouraging presentations from audience members: Q&A will be the likely focus.
John Christensen has agreed to chair. We might ballot those who book on potential session topics, but a key aim will be to allow plenty of time for interaction, and keeping numbers low will help that.
We think a ticket price of £50 for 12 until 5 is fair. That could include two rounds of tea and coffee. The chance to buy food from the hotel would be available. The event will be very near the Cathedral, and right opposite Oliver Cromwell's house. It is a 15-minute walk from the station, and less than a £5 cab ride. There are several cafes available nearby.
So, some questions, and your early responses will help us decide whether to go ahead with this, but I stress, please do not say you will definitely come if that is not the case:
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I’d really like to but being in Germany Ely is not really just around the corner “^^
Sorry…
I was at the Cambridge event at the end of February. I thoroughly recommend trying to attend in Ely. I found that event a real buzz…and very informative and stimulating.
Thank you.
Good to hear you are recovering, Richard. And discovered the source of your unusual lack of energy.
best wishes for the rest of the summer.
Martin
Thanks, Martin
Could you invite a member of HM Treasury or an economic advisor to the govt and/or a BBC economics person ? <p>
Could be quite a lively event – centred around ‘is there really no money?’.
Or is that just a silly idea?
I cannot imagine they would come.
So far there looks like little interest….
Sadly it’s too far to make a special visit all the way from Tasmania, though Ely cathedral is one of the places I most want to visit having foolishly missed it during the mere 46 years I spent living in England!
It would be good if someone from the treasury or the media would show up or something could be done to attract some media attention. Perhaps the attendees would be willing to march through Ely to the venue holding placards of your infographics? Politely, quietly and not interfering with traffic or other pedestrians of course.
🙂
I would have come but that is my husband’s birthdays and plans are already made. Very sorry….
That’s life.
Thomas from our team cannot make it, either.
A definitiv no as I will not be in the country then
Menu looks interesting
Bit of a schlep from Somerset if not entirely impossible
At the moment cant commit for October
Understood
Good initiative, and I’m glad you’re recovering well! I think the event could be much more than Q&As – why not give it a purpose and objective to create a movement like the National Emergency Briefing about the climate crisis? See https://www.nebriefing.org/peb
It could result in a briefing to the UK and national parliaments, and a film to be shown widely. Why not address known friendly MPs like Clive Lewis, and media like Byline Times? A “National Economy Emergency Briefing”?
I was not quite tghinking that big!
Looks like enough people for a barbecue at your place then!
I make a nice nut burger BTW.
I will be kackered by then…..
Anyone committed to the Green Party and participating in their Conference – online or in Brighton – it’s that weekend.
Hopefully to see a motion passed which will make an MMT-aligned economic policy a pillar of their programme going forward; and therefore something that members and (more importantly) spokespersons will be briefed on, for any public discussions.
Noted. But we have little choice – that is the one available to us.
[…] whilst I am talking events, I can confirm we will be holding the event in Ely on 3 October. More details will follow, but it is going to […]