Welcome to the WiggieWegWeiser!
The Women in German annual conference has a unique history and culture. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a long-time Wiggie, the WiggieWegWeiser provides useful information about the WiG conference!
General Conference Culture
You can expect to hear about outstanding scholarship at a WiG conference, and at the same time, it’s a friendly and welcoming environment. We share several meals as a group (included in your conference registration fee!), and you can sit down at any table, introduce yourself, and start chatting. There are no concurrent sessions at the WiG conference, so everyone attends every panel; that means we build a conversation during the course of the conference and you always have something to talk about with the person sitting next to you. We tend to dress casually, and you may notice some people knitting as they listen to panels. The final night of the conference culminates in the much-anticipated Cabaret, a skit-based roast of the conference itself. Many people wear wigs to that event, which ends in a party and raffle. Bring your wig, your knitting / crocheting, donations to the raffle and join us for thought-provoking panels, serious discussions, camaraderie, and fun!
Participatory Democracy
Saturday Business Meeting
If you want to have a say in what we do in the organization and how we do it, attend the Business Meeting on Saturday! All conference participants are welcome at the Business Meeting. You’ll hear updates and announcements from WiG leadership about every aspect of the organization and you’ll have a chance to vote on important decisions, including panels and the invited guest for the next WiG conference, WiG-sponsored panels at other conferences (AATG/ACTFL, GSA, MLA, GSC), and the next WiG Steering Committee members.
Conference Panel- & Guest Proposals
Panels
There are two ways to propose panels for the next year’s WiG conference (and WiG-sponsored panels at other conferences): 1) you can write your suggestions on designated flip charts at the conference; 2) you can add suggestions to a shared document online.
If you submit a proposal for a panel, you must be willing to organize and moderate the session. In line with WiG’s focus on mentorship, panels should have at least two organizers: one senior (experienced) colleague, and one junior colleague.
Important Note: You may not give a paper during a panel you are organizing. If you’d rather give a paper on the topic of your choice, talk to someone else about organizing a session that could work for you!
Invited Guest Nominations
The WiG conference includes invited guests (authors/artists/academics) at one year of the in-person conference at each host site and at the online conferences.
Conference guests are voted on at the Business Meeting two years prior to the conference they are invited to attend.
If you would like to propose a conference guest:
- You are encouraged to work with a partner or team to propose and host a conference guest!
- You must contact the prospective guest before proposing them at the conference to ensure their willingness and availability.
- Spontaneous nominations cannot be accepted!
- You will present a brief proposal at the conference Business Meeting.
- Attendees will vote to select the guest.
If your proposed guest is selected, you are the guest host and you are responsible for:
- All communication with the guest and logistics to bring the guest to the conference.
- Securing all financial support for guest travel, accommodations, and any other expenses.
- WiG provides a set honorarium payment for conference guests.
- WiG is not responsible for covering any other expenses related to the guest; all other costs must be covered by outside funding and are the sole responsibility of the guest host(s).
Steering Committee Elections
The core WiG leadership team consists of 8 elected Steering Committee members (6 regular members and 2 graduate student members) and the Presidential Team (President and Vice President/President Elect). The WiG leadership team is responsible for running the organization in coordination with additional volunteer members who oversee individual areas such as the treasurer, membership coordinator, Feminist German Studies journal co-editors, newsletter editors, web editors, conference organizers, and fundraising coordinators.
Three new Steering Committee members are elected at each annual conference, 2 regular members and 1 graduate student member.
- Nominations for new Steering Committee members are collected during the conference (on designated flip charts and/or in a shared online document).
- You can nominate yourself or someone else (with their consent) for the Steering Committee.
- Regular member nominees must commit to a three-year term of service.
- Graduate student members must commit to a two-year term of service.
- Nominees have the opportunity to give a 1-minute stump speech at the Business Meeting.
- Steering Committee members are then elected by majority vote of the membership in attendance at the conference.
Graduate Student Funding
Graduate student funding is provided by proceeds from the raffle held during the conference; amounts reimbursed depend on the number of applicants and the money available. Priority is given to students presenting or organizing a panel during the conference. Details on submitting receipts for partial reimbursement will be provided during the conference (bring your receipts with you!).
Conference Activities
Saturday Afternoon Free Time
The conference program always includes a block of free time on Saturday afternoon to provide opportunities for community and coalition building, mentorship, and/or regional exploration. There are often coordinated activities that you can sign up for, but you are also welcome to plan your own outing, use the time to take a break, or plan a social activity with other Wiggies.
Raffle
Saturday night festivities include a raffle to raise money to support graduate student members. Attendees bring donations for the raffle and tickets are available for purchase throughout the conference.
Consider donating your recently published book, handcrafts, or other prized possession to the WiG raffle! You can also purchase 1-year graduate student WiG memberships and 1-year memberships for contingent faculty to contribute to the raffle.
Cabaret
If you have a sense of humor and/or want to be a star, join the cabaret troupe (listen for announcements and/or look for the cabaret table at meals)!
Speak Out
The final session of every conference is an open Speak Out on Sunday morning. The Speak Out is moderated but there is no agenda. The Speak Out provides an opportunity for attendees to return to important questions and topics that emerged during the conference, to raise and discuss issues pertinent to the organization and/or the profession, to propose coalition building initiatives, and/or to address any other matters of concern for the WiG community.
Online Conferences
WiG holds an in-person conference for two consecutive years at a host site followed by an online / virtual conference for one year. Online conferences include the same key program elements but may have a different schedule and approaches to adapt to the virtual format.