ALTA44 Conference FAQ

ALTA44 Conference FAQ

Last updated 11.8.2021

FAQ List

General Information

COVID-19 FAQ

Sessions, Workshops, Pitch Sessions, and Bilingual Readings

Registration and Sponsorship

Staying Connected

General Information

What format will ALTA44 take? 

After careful consideration of the ever-evolving situation surrounding the ongoing pandemic, the ALTA staff, Board, and Conference Committee have determined to hold the 2021 ALTA conference jointly online and in person. Read a statement on the conference format at ALTA's blog.

When will ALTA44 take place?

Conference events will take place throughout the fall in partnership with the University of Arizona College of Humanities, including online pitch sessions in September, online workshops in October, an online weekend on October 15-17, and an in-person weekend on November 11-13 in Tucson.  

What virtual platform(s) will be used for the conference?

Our virtual conference will all take place in the platform InEvent. One of the main benefits of this platform is that each session or event will take place in a Zoom meeting accessed through the InEvent virtual lobby with one click. InEvent also allows for extended networking with other conference-goers, and the platform is easily accessed via an individualized "magic link" generated upon registration. The "magic link" is a unique, exclusive, and non-transferable link. If the link is shared and someone else accesses the event, the first access will be disconnected. Please familiarize yourself with this InEvent user guide. NB: Our virtual conference platform works best in the Chrome browser. Please download it here before registering.

How will I join my session during the virtual portion of ALTA44?
Virtual session participants and organizers will join their seminar or roundtable by entering the ALTA44 virtual conference lobby using the individual "magic link" you received from our platform, InEvent, when you registered for the conference. Once in the lobby on conference dates, find the session you wish to join on the agenda, click on it, and you'll be added to the Zoom meeting for that session.

Will the ALTA conference be held in Tucson next year as well?

We look forward to welcoming you to our hometown again next year for ALTA45, from November 2–5, 2022 (Wednesday–Saturday).

I need to request a disability-related accommodation. Who should I speak with?

Please write to Program Manager Kelsi Vanada at kelsi@literarytranslators.org. You can visit our Accessibility webpage for updates as well.

Will there be social distancing at the in-person conference, and will participants be required to wear masks?

At ALTA, we recognize that guidelines around COVID-19 may change as the public health situation fluctuates. Please refer to this web page for the most recent guidelines, which were updated on September 27 to include proof of vaccination or a negative test. 

COVID-19 FAQ

Why is there no onsite registration?

  • No onsite conference registration is offered in Tucson so that the ALTA staff organizing the conference has adequate time to plan for social distancing. 
  • If you did not register for the conference in advance, you are welcome to come back for a few events that are open to the public as part of ALTA’s Arizona Translates! Series: the Reading by the BIPOC Literary Translators Caucus on Thursday, the Keynote Address by Ofelia Zepeda and Discussion Tables, and the Staged Reading and Talkback at Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre on Friday, and the tour at MOCA on Sunday. You can learn more about all of these events on our Arizona Translates! web page.
  • We hope to see you there, and hope you’ll join us for next year’s conference!

There are no more chairs in the seminar or roundtable I want to attend. Can I stand and listen, or bring a chair from another room? 

  • Unfortunately, no. Seating has been spaced out in our session rooms to ensure social distancing and appropriate room capacity, and we ask that it not be moved or rearranged. 
  • You are welcome to wait nearby outside the session room, and if someone exits the room you are welcome to go in and take their seat. 
  • Also, each session will meet twice—once on Friday and again on Saturday—so you are welcome to join the next day if there is no space the first day. 

Can I take my mask off when I’m eating/drinking in the Marriott?

  • We ask that there is no eating in session rooms or at other events in the conference space. 
  • However, hydration is important, especially in the Sonoran desert! You can briefly lower or remove your face covering while actively drinking water or taking oral medication, but it must be worn between sips. 
  • The outdoor terrace is a great place to catch up with friends over a meal, and food and drink are also allowed in the hotel Atrium. 
  • There are also many outdoor restaurants and cafes within walking distance of the hotel. 

Can I take my mask off when I’m reading/presenting in front of a group?

  • No; we require attendees to wear their mask at all times while inside the conference venue, including while reading or presenting.
  • We know masks can be uncomfortable, but our highest priority is the health and safety of our members and our community.
  • If you feel that you don’t understand people with masks as well, you are welcome to move closer to the front of the space. 

Who decided on these policies and guidelines?

  • ALTA’s COVID-19 guidelines were drafted by our COVID Task Force, which is comprised of ALTA staff and Board members. These guidelines were endorsed by ALTA’s Board, whose members are elected and represent the membership, on October 20.

Who can I speak to about these policies and guidelines?

  • If you would like to speak with someone about your comfort and safety at the ALTA44 conference, you are welcome to visit the ALTA44 Ombuds, Caitlan Hendrickson. An Ombuds is a specialist available to help conference attendees with issues, concerns, conflicts, or other difficulties. 
  • How to obtain help from the Ombuds: In-person conference attendees may visit the Ombuds during her open office hours or contact her to schedule a consultation outside of office hours. 
    • Office Hours: Friday, November 12 from 12pm-3pm MT Saturday, November 13 from 12pm-2pm & 4pm-5pm MT 
    • Office Location: Wedding Showroom, Tucson Marriott University Park 
    • Contact: ALTAOmbuds@gmail.com / 623-239-2485

Sessions, Workshops, Pitch Sessions, and Bilingual Readings

What is the deadline for proposing a session for ALTA44? 

The deadline for proposing a seminar or roundtable was June 21, 2021.

What is the difference between a seminar and a roundtable?

Roundtables are discussion groups, while seminars are more like masterclasses. Organizers of a seminar have something in mind they'd like to help communicate, much like teaching a class by prompting student discussion and inquiry. Organizers of roundtables, on the other hand, don't have an outcome in mind, so much as a question they'd like to put heads together about. Please be sure to read the full descriptions found in our Proposal Guidelines.

Why didn't ALTA accept panel or workshop proposals this year?

We know that the ability to converse with fellow conference-goers is an important hallmark of the ALTA Conference. This year, we're debuting something new in the form of roundtables and seminars, to allow for extended discussion and exploration of a wide variety of topics among all conference participants. This year’s format also allows us to include more active participants in each and every session we program. We look forward to receiving the creative, community-oriented proposals our members come up with! 

For those seeking conference funding from an institution, please note that roundtable and seminar participation has equivalent status to presenting on an ALTA panel, and should be considered of equal merit.

Who will participate each seminar or roundtable, and how do they sign up?

Seminar and roundtable participants will be able to sign up at registration, which opens in mid-July. Seminars and roundtables will fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. The maximum number of participants is 15, including organizers (if there are 2 organizers, 13 participants can sign up, or 12 participants can sign up if there are 3 organizers). However, seminars and roundtables will also be open to unlimited audience members, who will be invited to join without participating (see below).

What if I want to watch a seminar or roundtable, but not sign up as a participant?

Seminars and roundtables at both the virtual and in-person conferences will also be open to unlimited audience members, who will be invited to join without participating. Virtual roundtables and seminars will take place in Zoom, and audience members will not be able to turn on their camera or mic.

Can I propose a seminar or roundtable with more than three organizers? 

No, in the interest of involving as many people as possible as participants in ALTA44, three organizers is the maximum. Please note that the two or three organizers of any session will only be able to be listed as organizers for that one session, and they cannot propose a second roundtable or seminar.

Is there a limit as to the number of proposals a person can be part of?

Per our proposal guidelines "at least one organizer must be a current ALTA member in order to propose a roundtable or seminar, and organizers may only propose ONE seminar or roundtable)." So, organizers can only be part of one proposal.

Will I have the chance to express my session's preference for in-person versus virtual?

Yes, in the proposal form you will have the select whether you prefer to hold your roundtable or seminar in-person in Tucson, via Zoom during the virtual conference, or either (if either option is possible for you). Accepted roundtables and seminars will be notified by early July as to whether they will be in-person or virtual; please note that we CANNOT make any changes to location after that time.

If I propose an in-person session, and one of my fellow organizers isn't able to travel, would they be able to participate virtually?

Unfortunately, in-person session rooms in Tucson will not be equipped with the A/V technology to allow virtual participants to Zoom/Skype in remotely. If you're unsure whether all organizers can join in person, it may be better to propose the entire session as a virtual one. Similarly, seminar/roundtable participants will not be able to join in-person sessions remotely.

Can I change my title, lineup, and description if my seminar or roundtable is accepted?

No. For staff to have sufficient time to program accepted seminars and roundtables, what you submit in the proposal form will be final.

How do I propose an individual Bilingual Reading or a group reading?

The annual tradition of the Alexis Levitin Bilingual Reading Series will continue at ALTA44 (virtually and in-person). Readings will not be by application this year; instead, they will be first-come, first-served, with signups for individual translators taking place at registration. Group reading proposals will not be possible this year. Within 24 hours of registering for the conference on business days, registrants will receive an email inviting them to sign up to participate in one seminar or roundtable, and in the bilingual reading series. Please check your promotions and/or spam filters! If you do not receive this email, please write to us at info@literarytranslators.org. UPDATE: All virtual Bilingual Reading slots are now full! We are excited to share the work of these translators with our conference attendees. Just a few in-person reading slots remain!

If I am the organizer of a seminar or roundtable, can I also participate in other sessions?

Because seminars and roundtables will run in two tracks (9:00am-10:15am PT and 10:45am-12:00pm PT), as an organizer you'll be busy during one of the tracks (and you are considered a participant in your own session). But you're welcome to join a second session in the other track as an audience member. There is no need to sign up for your own session as a participant (ALTA staff has already done that for you), and joining sessions as an audience member does not require advance signup. (Exception: Attendees who register at the Combo rate are allowed to join ONE virtual session as a participant as well as ONE in-person session as a participant, and up to two additional sessions as an audience member.) 

What can I expect after I pitch my translation to an editor at ALTA44?

If the editor you make your pitch to asks to see your work (congratulations!), you are responsible for asking them for their contact info during the pitch session, as ALTA will not distribute editor contact info to attendees. If you write to the editor, it may take them some time to get back to you, and you should also be prepared that they may not, if they decide the work is not a good fit for their publication. 

I need to cancel my pitch session, what do I do?

We understand that other obligations may come up that conflict with your scheduled pitch session. To cancel a session, please email jessica@literarytranslators.org as soon as you are able. Feel free to check out the pitch session sign up sheet for a list of newly available sessions.

Registration and Sponsorship

How do I register for the conference? How much does registration cost?

Online registration opens on July 12, 2021. More registration information can be found here. ALTA members receive discounted conference registration, among many other benefits. Members will receive an email on July 12 with information about how to access discounted registration. If you are not currently a member, you can join ALTA or renew your membership on our website. NB: Our virtual conference platform works best in the Chrome browser. Please download it here before registering.

What payment options are there for registration?

You may pay for registration using a credit or debit card. We do not accept cash, check, or PayPal.

How do I sign up to take part in a Seminar or Roundtable, and in the Bilingual Reading Series?

Within 24 hours of registering for the conference on business days, registrants will receive an email inviting them to sign up to participate in one seminar or roundtable, and to sign up for a bilingual reading. If you do not receive this email, please write to us at info@literarytranslators.org. All conference registrants may join a maximum of ONE session as a participant, and may join a second session as an audience member. (Exception: Attendees who register at the Combo rate are allowed to join ONE virtual session as a participant as well as ONE in-person session as a participant, and up to two additional sessions as an audience member.) UPDATE: All virtual Bilingual Reading slots are now full! We are excited to share the work of these translators with our conference attendees. Just a few in-person reading slots remain!

NEW: If you've registered for the virtual conference, you can now sign up to join TWO virtual seminars or roundtables as a participant! (If you're attending the in-person conference, you may sign up for one session at the in-person portion.) You can access the sign-up form through the confirmation email you receive(d) after registering. To give session organizers time to circulate any texts they wish to share in advance of the seminar or roundtable, virtual participant signups will close on October 8, so be sure to sign up soon. Please note: If you have already selected a session and signed up to join as a participant, feel free to join another! Check the conference schedule to ensure that your two sessions do not take place at the same time.
In addition to the seminar(s) or roundtable(s) you join as a participant at each portion of the conference, you are welcome to join additional sessions as an audience member. Audience members do not need to sign up in advance. 

How do I sign up for a Multilingual Workshop and Pitch Sessions?

Conference attendees will be able to sign up for workshops and pitch sessions once they register for the conference at a level that includes these opportunities. Within 24 hours of registering on business days, registrants will receive an email inviting them to sign up for a workshop and pitch sessions. 

Why does the registration form ask for a password?

For added security, each registrant will create a password upon registering for the virtual conference in InEvent. Passwords should have at least 6 characters. Once you complete your registration and receive your confirmation email, you will access the virtual lobby through the "magic link" in your confirmation email, and you will no longer need to input your password. 

What do I do if I lose my InEvent password?

If you need help recovering your password, please follow the simple steps in this how-to guide.

What are this year’s sponsorship opportunities?

We will offer a variety of virtual and in-person sponsorship options for this fall’s conference, designed to help you get the word out about your publications, press, or translation program–including advertisements in our digital conference program book. Please check our Sponsorship page in the coming weeks for more opportunities to reach ALTA’s audience. Contact: Program Manager Kelsi Vanada

Can I upgrade to a higher registration tier once I have registered for the conference?

Yes! After purchasing conference registration, if you decide you would like to upgrade your level, please contact us at info@literarytranslators.org before November 1, 2021.

I signed up at a level to take part in a multilingual workshop. May I donate it to someone else to take the workshop in my place?

No, workshops can only be used by the person registered; you may not donate your workshop to someone else.

What do I need to know about registration as the organizer of a seminar/roundtable?

All conference session organizers and participants are required to register for the conference. Make sure you register at a tier that makes sense for your session (virtual conference registration if your session is virtual, in-person registration if it is in person). All conference registrants may join a maximum of ONE session as a participant, and may join a second session as an audience member. (Exception: Attendees who register at the Combo rate are allowed to join ONE virtual session as a participant as well as ONE in-person session as a participant, and up to two additional sessions as an audience member.) Important: Session organizers are considered participants in their own session. As you are already participating in your session as an organizer, you may NOT sign up as a participant in a second session. (You are welcome, however, to join a second session as an audience member.) Additionally, you do NOT need to sign up as a participant in your own session; ALTA staff has already done that for you.

NEW: If you've registered for the virtual conference, you can now sign up to join TWO virtual seminars or roundtables as a participant! (If you're attending the in-person conference, you may sign up for one session at the in-person portion.) You can access the sign-up form through the confirmation email you receive(d) after registering. To give session organizers time to circulate any texts they wish to share in advance of the seminar or roundtable, virtual participant signups will close on October 8, so be sure to sign up soon. Please note: If you have already selected a session and signed up to join as a participant, feel free to join another! Check the conference schedule to ensure that your two sessions do not take place at the same time.
In addition to the seminar(s) or roundtable(s) you join as a participant at each portion of the conference, you are welcome to join additional sessions as an audience member. Audience members do not need to sign up in advance. 

Staying Connected

How can I get involved?

There are a number of ways you can be involved with ALTA and contribute to the community. Become an ALTA member; consider volunteering to serve as a committee member or National Translation Award expert reader; and please consider making a charitable donation to ALTA.

Where can I read my fellow attendee's bios?

Bios for conference session organizers and presenters will appear in the conference program book pdf. Bios for all conference attendees in InEvent can be viewed by going to the InEvent virtual lobby (accessed via your "magic link" sent to your email upon registration), and clicking on a person's name in the bottom right corner of the virtual lobby where it says "Networking." You may need to use the arrow keys to scroll through names of attendees.

How can I contact my fellow attendees?

Once you have accessed the InEvent virtual lobby (accessed via your "magic link" sent to your email upon registration), click on the tab to the left that says "Virtual Lobby - Networking." You will see a list of attendees: you have the option to send them a private message through InEvent, an email, or to invite them to a one-to-one video chat in InEvent (we regret that captions are not available for InEvent's one-to-one video chat).

Where should I look for updates regarding ALTA44? 

Stay tuned on our website, and follow our blog, Facebook page, and Twitter feed to find out about conference updates. Please sign up for our monthly newsletter as well, if you have not already done so!

 

Have a question not answered here? Email us anytime at info@literarytranslators.org. At this time, the ALTA office phone, (520) 621-1757, is not being answered. However, if you leave us a voicemail, we will get back to you.