The International Committee is seeking panelists for a discussion of travel experiences that include the study of ancient or historic theatres at the 2007 USITT Conference & Stage Expo in Phoenix, Arizona.

The session, entitled "International Resources and Opportunities," is designed to give panelists an opportunity to report on their international experiences and to offer suggestions to the audience for how to arrange their own opportunities overseas. The panel presentation will take place on Friday, March 16. Those interested in becoming panelists should submit a brief summary of their experience, sample highlights of their presentation, and contact information to Karen Glass (glass@setonhill.edu) before September 22, 2006.

Additional screening of panelists will take place after the initial review of submissions.

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The Altman Family believes so strongly in ESTA's Behind the Scenes initiative that it issued a challenge to help launch the program. They would match every dollar raised in the first year, dollar for dollar, up to $125,000. The Entertainment Technology Industry answered that challenge in just eight months, with over $150,000 raised in donations and pledges.

The industry has stepped up in many different ways. At LDI 2005, The ESTA Foundation Board of Directors announced personal donations totaling $30,000, and the raffle of a Harley Davidson raised both funds and awareness for the program. In December, several companies supported the program as part of their holiday charitable giving. At the 2006 USITT Conference & Stage Expo, Behind the Scenes and the Long Reach Long Riders joined forces to hold a multi-prize raffle launching fundraising for the Long Riders' annual cross-country motorcycle trip. The Live Design Honors included a silent auction; the Broadway shops gathered for a Tony Awards benefit party; and companies, union locals, and venues used the new fundraising coordinator toolkits to launch workplace giving campaigns.

The Foundation Board of Directors awarded a limited number of grants in the first year with the first grant presented in May. A goal of five million dollars has been set for the endowment. Behind the Scenes is an initiative of The ESTA Foundation to provide industry members with financial support when they are seriously ill or injured. For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, or to apply for a grant, visit www.estafoundation.org.

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Student members of USITT will have an advanced opportunity to apply for the 2007 Student Volunteer program beginning in September. A form will be available in mid-September to allow current student members of the Institute to apply. USITT's Student Volunteers are assigned 15 hours of duties to help the Annual Conference & Stage Expo run smoothly. Students work with the Institute's volunteer leadership on such tasks as mounting Cover the Walls and Tech Expo, and working in the computer lab, Conference office, and the media resources office. For more information, contact Monica L. Merritt at monica@office.usitt.org.

The program will open for students who are not currently USITT members at the end of September. Those individuals must join the organization at the same time they apply for the program.

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