Nova Scotia Gaels Jam 2015 Application

Important Note: Due to the small and personal nature of the event, this questionnaire is longer and more in-depth than most, because we want to get to know you better. Please share as much as you feel comfortable sharing. There is no min/max length for responses and no pressure. We only ask you to share what you feel is 'enough'. We will follow up with more questions or a phone call if we need more information.

Also, please note that all of your answers, including your name and basic info, will be kept in full confidentiality.* Only the selection committee will have access to your application. The more the team learns about you, the more informed their decision about selection can be. We invite you to be honest and as open as possible, as your answers help us to shape the Jam and already begin to create the welcoming and authentic environment we are hoping for at the Jam.

* Please note that if you are accepted, your name and bio will be shared on our http://novascotiagaelsjam.com as well as the www.oldsite.yesworld.org website so that you can participate in the alumni community, unless you request otherwise.

Complete Name (required)

Nickname (what you prefer to be called, if different):

Organization or Organizational Affiliation (if applicable):

Website of Group (if applicable):

Street Address (required)

City (required)

State / Province (required)

Zip / Postal Code (required)

Your Email (required)

Cell Phone (if applicable):

Home/Work Phone (if applicable):

Birthday (Month/Day/Year) and Age (required)

Diet Requirements (ie vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan):

Do you require/would you like childcare? If so, how many?

How did you hear about the Jam? Please list any and all sources by name:

Who You Are

The people in the room are the focus of the Jam, and sharing our stories, experiences, ideas, etc., through different formats, is how we engage and learn together. The following series of questions is meant to be a taste of this principle. Don't worry about spelling or grammar or eloquent articulation. We just want to get a sense of who you are.

Please give us a mini-bio (a paragraph version of your story) written in the third person (for example, using "she" instead of "I"). Talk yourself up! Include what you’re up to currently, why you’re doing it, contributions you've made, any awards or accomplishments, organizations you've been involved with, nerdy fascinations, hobbies or other talents etc. This is the bio that will be shared with other participants of this Jam, and will be used for the YES! website. (You can always modify it later.) You can see some examples of this at: http://novascotiagaelsjam.com/:

How are you doing in your life these days? What’s alive for you? Places of challenge, growth and excitement?:

Your Relationship to Gaelic Language and Culture:

What inspires you to make a positive difference in the world and/or in the Gaelic Community? Tell us your story, including your interest, involvement and exposure with Gaelic.

What are you most excited about regarding Gaelic or the Gaelic community right now?

What are your top three questions you’re sitting with about the Gaelic community?

In your opinion, what does the Nova Scotian Gaelic community need to do to create more speakers and a stronger culture? What’s missing? If you could wave your magic wand and make one thing happen that would make the biggest difference, what would it be?

If you could have any role in the Gaelic community, and money, time and other people’s opinions weren’t an obstacle, what role would you most love to play?

What, if anything, is preventing you from playing this role already? (it’s okay to be really, really honest here).

About The Jam:

Your time is so precious, why do you want to attend the Jam? And why now?:

Please share any concerns, doubts, fears or reservations you have about attending the Jam.

Anything else you'd like to tell us?:

Costs of Attending

Tuition for the Jam is $625, of which $375 covers food and lodging for the week, while $250 covers program expenses.

A number of partial and some full scholarships are available upon request, on an as-needed basis. Additional donations above the event price are welcome and help us to provide scholarships to enable the diversity upon which this event thrives (they are also tax-deductible). We never want money to be a barrier in participating in a Jam, so we will do everything we can to make it work for you to attend. (Note: We are still waiting to hear from funding sources. If we are successful in receiving funding, this will bring the cost of the Jam down significantly)

Are you or your organization in a position to pay the $625 tuition? [Note: for many organizations, this would qualify as professional development / training/ etc.] If not, how much are you able to contribute to the cost of tuition (and what amount of scholarship would you require)?

Some partial work trades may be available. Are there other non-monetary ways that you might be in reciprocity with the Jam (any particular skills, other in-kind contributions, etc.)?:

Additional donations above the event price are welcome and help us provide scholarships to support the broad spectrum of participation on which this event thrives.

Travel expenses are the responsibility of the participant, though we do arrange carpools. If you are accepted, we will be following up with you to ask you about diet, housing, travel plans, etc. We want to be sure to meet your needs at the Jam.

Thank you for applying to participate in the Nova Scotia Gaels Jam 2015. And thank you for your good work in the world!

The committee will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis from January to April 2015. We will contact you as soon as we make a determination about your application.

If you are receiving this information after April 15, 2015, please check in with us to make sure there are still spots available for the Jam.

Questions about the Nova Scotia Gaels Jam? Call our Participant Liaison, Shay MacMullin (902) 880-2665 or email at gaelsjam@gmail.com

And there will be regular updates at: http://novascotiagaelsjam.com/

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