Chicon 2000 Infobot News - 25-Jan-2000 Chicon 2000, P. O. Box 642057, Chicago IL 60664, fax: 312-946-3779 The Chicon 2000 Infobot News is a service of the Chicon 2000 Web Site, http://www.chicon.org/ . If you know someone who'd like to subscribe, tell 'em to go to our web site at http://www.chicon.org/ and enter their e-mail address. If your e-mail address changes, or if you wish to be removed from the Chicon 2000 Infobot News mailing list, or if you don't have web access and want to be added to the list, please write to listmaster@chicon.org. In this issue: What You MUST Do Behind the Scenes at www.chicon.org From the Programming Director Academic Track Masters of Space and Time - Classics of Science Fiction Art Daily Newsletter Hold on to your seats: Dramatic Presentations Filk Music News Site Selection for the 2003 Worldcon Souvenirs Writers Workshop Missing Members ("Lost Souls") Other Information Available Online or Via E-mail What You MUST Do * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * by Randy Kaempen, services@chicon.org * If you want child care, you MUST sign up in advance. State regulations limit the number of children per provider, so we must know how many providers to hire and we can not overload them at the last minute. * If you are handicapped and need to rent a scooter, you MUST let us know in advance. We need to reserve this equipment and have a specific number of scooters needed. * If you are hearing impaired and would like a sign language interpreter at specific events, we MUST know in advance that you are coming and get some idea of you program interests. This will allow us to get enough interpreters and attempt to schedule them as efficiently as possible. * If you have any other special needs or requests, you MUST let us know in advance. There are many things we can do to try to accommodate you, but we must have advance notice and time to work on them. (Write to services@chicon.org regarding any of the above.) Behind the Scenes at www.chicon.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Chaz Boston Baden/Erik V. Olson, webmaster@chicon.org Erik V. Olson joined the webmastering crew in November 1999. Erik has taken the lead in adding content to the website, starting with Transport by Air and Transport by Train. Erik also implemented the recent facelift on the main entry page, and picked a new background color for the web pages. E-mail sent to the "webmaster" address goes to both of us, and we each work on the website as our personal schedules allow. * All-Purpose Message Board We have added another Message Board to the website, in addition to the "Roommates" Message Board. The "All-Purpose Message Board" is where you can post comments and questions, and where those messages and any replies will be visible for all to see. You can get to it from the main entry page at www.chicon.org or from the Table of Contents. (The message board is provided by insidetheweb.com, and Chicon 2000 is not responsible for the banner ads.) * Fill-In Forms We've added a few more forms that you can fill in online, if it's appropriate for you to do so. We have the Program Questionnaire, and the Special Interest Group Space Allocation forms, and more are coming. You can also grab plain text versions, fill 'em out by hand and e-mail them - or print 'em out and send them in that way. It's up to you. * Hugo Info and PDF Form We have the Hugo Nomination Ballot online in PDF form. You can print it out and mail it in. We've added to the Hugos page, more about that in the next Infobot News. * The Hotel Forms Are Coming You can't register yet - the hotels aren't ready - but you will be able to real soon now. More info in the next Infobot News. From the Programming Director * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Steven H Silver, prog@chicon.org After much internal debate, the Chicon 2000 committee decided that the convention should include programming. While this was an unpopular decision with those pushing for the title of "World's Largest Relaxacon," the majority of the committee felt that programming was an essential part of a Worldcon. When I mentioned to my wife that I would be running programming at the Worldcon, she gave me all the support you could imagine, beginning by asking if I were crazy. Another con-com member looked at me in astonishment and proclaimed that I really did have the word "Sucker" writ large across my brow. And so, I find myself running programming for Chicon. I suppose I should say something about my programming philosophy and what I aim to do at the convention. Perhaps most important, I feel that Chicon should be as inclusive as possible. I want everybody to feel that the convention was programmed specifically for them. If you are an artist, I want you to be able to attend panels, discussions and demonstrations which will teach you more about painting, sculpture, research, etc. If you are a costumer, I want you to be able to attend a similar range of activities which will allow you to expand your knowledge. If you are a fan in general, I want you to be able to attend panels (discussions, demonstrations, etc.) which will expand your appreciation for every aspect of science fiction. I want Chicon to be your Worldcon. While I have a fantastic staff supporting me and planning panels, etc. for a variety of tracks, none of them can read minds (or if they can, they haven't told me). If you have a particular topic you want addressed, please let the programming staff know. While we can't promise to schedule everyone's idea, if enough people contact us with a related idea, we'll do our best to schedule it. The program will begin on Thursday morning and run through Monday afternoon. Currently, we are planning for the majority of programming to last for 75-minutes followed by a 15-minute "passing period." In addition to this "regular" programming, we'll have some programming which lasts for longer periods and some demonstrations which are not limited to normal programming space. Function space for special interest groups can be reserved by filling out the Special Interest Group Space Allocation form found in Progress Report 5 and on the website, or contacting me directly by 18-May-2000. Similarly, if you are interested in participating in the program, please fill out the Chicon Programming Questionnaire which is published in Progress Report 5 and on the website, and return it to me by 29-Feb-2000. You can find a listing of my staff in the Staff and Committee List. We still have openings and if anyone would like to volunteer at any level, please contact me. I can be contacted with questions or suggestions at prog@chicon.org. Academic Track * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Betty Hull, Betty.Hull@chicon.org; Beverly Friend, Beverly.Friend@chicon.org Betty Hull and Beverly Friend are working on the programming for the Academic Track, and seeking ideas and participants. So far, the following topics have been suggested: * Beyond Harry Potter * GOH Ben Bova * State of Criticism * Teaching (all levels, espcially online) * Chicago SF history * Writing manuals * The Jazz Age and SF * Explaining Fandom to the Academics * Explaining Academia to the Fans * What's wrong with Orwell * Feminism * Attending authors (Name the author/s): * Chicago Critics (Name the critic/s): We would also like to know if attendees would be interested in receiving Continuing Education Units for attending. Please send your comments to Betty.Hull@chicon.org or Beverly.Friend@chicon.org. Masters of Space and Time * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Classics of Science Fiction Art: The Chicago Show by Alex and Phyllis Eisenstein The end of the millennium has called up retrospective glances at nearly every aspect of life in the 20th Century, as well as a flurry of new extrapolations of how things will be in the 21st. Not to be outdone by mainstream media, Chicon 2000 will present a special exhibition of vintage science fiction art, surveying the broad range of yesterday's views of the worlds of tomorrow. Based on the extensive Eisenstein collection, but also drawing on other collections in the Chicago area and the greater Midwest, "The Chicago Show" will spotlight the great SF art of the Fifties and Sixties. This Show will display more than 200 magazine and book covers and significant interior illustrations by the major artists of modern science fiction, including Ed Emshwiller, Frank Kelly Freas, Edd Cartier, John Schoenherr, Ed Valigursky, Richard M. Powers, Mel Hunter, Wallace Wood, H. R. van Dongen, and others of note. Among the featured attractions: original cover paintings for Martians Go Home, The Stars My Destination, War of the Wing-Men, Big Planet, Wolfbane, City, "Call me Joe," "The Big Front Yard," and "The Miracle Workers," as well as other outstanding works from Ace, Astounding, F&SF, Galaxy, If, Infinity, Lancer, Popular Library, Pyramid, and other sources. Be sure not to miss this eye-opening look back at our choicest mid-century memories of the future, as rendered by science fiction's preeminent visual masters of space and time. Daily Newsletter * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Chaz Boston Baden, newszine@chicon.org Chicon 2000's Daily Newsletter is under the overall direction of Chaz Boston Baden and the "Pan-Galactic Publishing" crew. Our News Desk will be in the Coat Check room near the Chicon 2000 Registration Desk, downstairs in the Hyatt Regency. If you want to contribute something to the newsletter, the best way is to stop by the News Desk. Or, put a note in one of the drop envelopes on the "news boards" (see below). * IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE MORNING ISSUE, TURN IT IN THE NIGHT BEFORE. * If you plan to throw a party, tell us as soon as you can. You could write to newszine@chicon.org right now, in fact. We understand you won't know your room number until you check in, but we can make sure you're listed in the Party List if you tell us about it early. (If you tell us whose name the room will be under, we may even be able to find out the room number on our own.) The Daily Newsletter will appear at least twice a day through the last morning of the convention. (Probably at least three times a day.) The morning edition will be on the stands before daytime programming begins, and the evening edition will be on the stands before evening programming begins. There will be "extra" issues as well, in the middle of the day or night. The newszine will have program updates, party listings, and anything else that seems to be worth printing. There will be several News Boards positioned throughout the convention. A few will be in each of our three hotels. You'll find them near the Con Suite, Art Show, Dealers Room, Information, Registration, and so on. On each rack is a space for each issue of the newszine, so if you miss issue #2 you can go back and get it. If you see an empty space on one board, check the other boards, or try back later. If you have a digital camera and would like to take pictures to be considered for the newszine, please bring it to the convention, along with your driver software and cables if needed. (If you bring your own computer to the computer, just hand us diskettes and captions.) Stop by the News Desk early in the convention so we can set things up (if necessary) and make sure you're equipped to take notes. If you take a picture of someone, write down their names! We don't intend to print pictures without proper captions. (And if they don't want their picture taken, don't ambush them.) Hold on to your seats: Dramatic Presentations * * * * * * * * * * * * * by Alice Medenwald Are you ready for some fantastic Dramatic Presentations at Chicon 2000? I hope so because we have some great stuff, so be prepared to make some difficult decisions about what to do between programming, parties, dances, eating, sleeping (well maybe) and the traditional events that all Worldcons have. First, we are proud to offer you a full length stage production by Moebius Theatre. For those who may not have heard of Moebius (those who have been on another planet or in another dimension), Moebius Theatre has been creating science fiction for live performance for 23 years. Moebius Theatre has appeared at previous Chicons and numerous Windycons. While at Chicon 2000 look around for more from Moebius; there is no telling where you might find them. We are also excited to announce that the "Don't Quit Your Day Job Players" will be with us. This 6 member band is quickly becoming the hottest new cult-favorite rock-folk-blues-country fusion band in America. They have performed at several college campuses and expect to have their second CD out this summer. I personally look forward to hearing them. If you are looking for something a little different, we have Lee Darrow, a hypnotist who will present a "Journey to the Center of Your Mind-Hypnosis 2000." This one-hour show features audience participation in a brand new presentation of hypnosis for entertainment. Lee puts his volunteers into a wonderfully relaxed state and helps them explore and play with their imaginations. Lee has appeared for Sandals Resorts, Discover Card, Amoco Oil, United Insurance of America, Ameritech and numerous colleges and universities across the country. Come see his unique brand of hypnosis - based not on embarassment, but on improvisational theater. Remember to bring your imagination and be ready to sleep for Lee. For those who really like audience participation we are pleased to have an original Murder Mystery Theatre production written by the team of Lilienkamp & Smith. It's called Camelot 5 and it's a mix between Camelot and Babylon 5. It's pure schtick and great fun. So bring your imagination and get ready to immerse yourself in one of many exciting characters just waiting to be brought to life. So whether you like to sit, watch, and listen or be used as a guinea pig (maybe a poor choice of words) or are a closet actor waiting for that big break, we have something for you! Filk Music News * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jan DiMasi, filk@chicon.org Filk Hotel Most filk programming will be in the Hyatt Hotel west tower (the same space as Chicon 5). Book your room in the Hyatt if having close access to filk is important to you. Song Book Please send in your Worldcon songs. The Chicon 2000 Songbook's theme is "Worldcons Past." So track down all your Worldcon songs and send them in, preferably with words (and, if they're original, music). And let us know what con the song is about, and the year and city it took place in. Don't have any songs about a Worldcon? New songs are welcome. Thank you to Roberta and Perrianne for sending songs already. Three, count 'em, three ways to get your songs in! Submit via email to filk@chicon.org Submit via regular mail to Chicon Filk Book 2346 S 57th West Allis WI 53219 USA Or, submit via fax to 414-543-8221 (add the appropriate magic numbers if you're outside the USA and want your call to go through) Patricipants Confirmed to Attend: Mark Bernstein, Dave Clement, Juanita Coulson, Carol and Cliff Flynt, Barry and Lee Gold, Lynn Gold, John Hall, Jordon Kare, David Kushner, Mike Longcor, Perrianne Lurie, Roberta Rogow, Carol Roper, Joey Shoji, Kathleen Sloan, Steve Simmons, Tom Smith, David Weingart, Judith and David Hayman. We Hope To See: Howard Harrison, Tom Jeffers, Lloyd Landa, Karen Linlsey, Steve Macdonald, Kathy Mar, Bill and Brenda Sutton, Scott Snyder and YOU. Email me at filk@chicon.org with your songs or any questions. Jan of the Magic Fingers Site Selection for the 2003 Worldcon * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * So You Want to Hold a Worldcon! Tim Szczesuil, site@chicon.org Groups interested in bidding to run the 61st Worldcon in 2003 need to file with Chicon 2000 no later than 180 days before the official opening ceremony of the Chicon 2000 Worldcon. Therefore, the required paperwork must be received by Chicon 2000 on or before Saturday, 04-Mar-2000. The following documents all have to be submitted as the bid filing: 1. an announcement of intent to bid; 2. adequate evidence of an agreement with its proposed site's facilities, such as a conditional contract or a letter of agreement; 3. the rules under which the Worldcon Committee will operate, including a specification of the term of office of their chief executive officer or officers and the conditions and procedures for the selection and replacement of such officer or officers. The bidding committee must supply written copies of these documents to any member of WSFS (i.e., until the end of Chicon, any Chicon member) on request. Any site which is greater than 60 miles from the site of Chicon 2000, defined as the Hyatt Regency Chicago, is eligible to bid. Bid filings will only be accepted by mail to the following address: Chicon 2000 Site Selection Administrator 18 Oak Hill Road Littleton MA 01460 USA Worldcon bidders are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the WSFS Constitution, which is available on our website. Voters for the 2003 Worldcon will be required to pay a voting fee. The voting fee will be determined by Chicon 2000 after consultation with all the committees bidding for the right to hold the 2003 Worldcon. Details of how to vote and the voting fee will be distributed with the site selection ballots. Any interested party with concerns or questions regarding the 2003 Worldcon Site Selection process may email site@chicon.org. Souvenirs * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sales to Members Chicon 2000 is pleased to announce that Offworld Designs , operated by Ray and Barb VanTilburg, has been granted an exclusive license to produce convention merchandise for sales to members. Offworld, which filled the same role for Chicon V in 1991, will offer a wide variety of useful and attractive items, including airbrushed t-shirts. Offworld produced three varieties of the popular and attractive "Chicago in 2000" bid t-shirt. They have also produced t-shirts and other merchandise for numerous Worldcon bids and regional conventions. Writers Workshop * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Richard Chwedyk, workshop@chicon.org What it is? Who is it for? The writers workshop is not a competition. It's an opportunity to get direct feedback on specific works you've written and submitted to the workshop. Work must be submitted in advance, and should be original prose fiction - SF, fantasy or dark fantasy/horror - either short stories or excerpts from longer works. Each workshop "section" will consist of three entrants, up to three "pros" and a moderator. The sections meet for three hours, giving each entry roughly an hour of critiques. The workshops are scheduled in quiet, secluded rooms to guarantee privacy. Visitors will be excluded (excepting assistants to entrants with physical disabilities). Each entry will be read and critiqued by the other members of the section. The "pro" part of the section will consist of published authors, editors or other professionals in the publishing field. Please note, though, that it's not possible to schedule participants with any specifically requested participating pros. Some moderators are published authors or editors themselves. All of them are experienced in moderating writing workshops. The workshop is not recommended for participants under eighteen, but exceptions will be considered. What to do Entries should conform to professional standards of manuscript submission (such as double spacing, white paper, printed on one side only, an easily readable font, etc.). Submit only one copy of your entry. Entrants may submit works no longer than 7,500 words (roughly thirty double-spaced pages). For excerpts of longer works (beginnings are preferred), this limit will include a brief synopsis or plot summary. All submissions should include a cover letter with your name, address, phone number and an e-mail address if you have one. Entrants who wish to have more than one work critiqued should submit separate checks for each entry, in the case that a second or third work has to be returned. Please include your badge number in your cover letter. There is a fee to cover postage, photocopying and routing of manuscripts (American members, $30.00; Canadian members US$35.00; overseas members US$40.00). The fee will be charged for each entry submitted (For example, three short stories totaling thirty pages are still considered three separate entries). Because of possible limitations in scheduling or availability of pros, only one entry can be guaranteed a critique. Please list the priority in which you want your entries critiqued. Collaborative works will be counted as a single entry. Please make checks payable to Chicon 2000 Deadline/Where to write/Who to contact All entries must be received by 30-Jun-2000. Send manuscripts and inquiries to: Chicon 2000 Writers Workshop c/o Richard Chwedyk, Workshop Coordinator, 7538 N. Bell Ave. Chicago IL 60645-1962 USA e-mail: workshop@chicon.org or richard.chwedyk@chicon.org (for inquiries only, at this time). Manuscripts may also be sent to the central Chicon address, but it won't guarantee that they will reach the workshop coordinator in time. A self-addressed stamped envelope should accompany all mail inquiries. Missing Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * If you know of a current address for any of these, please contact us at reg@chicon.org, or write to us: Chicon 2000 Registration P. O. Box 642057 Chicago IL 60664 A3258; Allen-Ayres; Wendy; Chicago; IL; USA; 10/31/1999 A2677; Bouler; Betty; Atlanta; GA; USA; 10/04/1998 S2222; Doss; Stacy; College Station; TX; USA; 05/18/1998 A3141; Joyner; Rex; ; ??; USA; 01/16/2000 A0906; McGeachin; William T.; Louisville; KY; USA; 06/12/1999 A0406; Miller; Margaret; Evanston; IL; USA; 10/31/1999 S3262; Miyashiro; Randall; San Francisco; CA; USA; 10/31/1999 A0439; Modrzyk; Elizabeth; Chicago; IL; USA; 05/18/1998 A1424; Owens; Bea; Independence; MO; USA; 10/31/1999 S2389; Pedersen; Diana; W.P.G.; MB; Canada; 07/28/1998 A2979; Prinee; Mary; Milwaukee; WI; USA; 06/12/1999 A1065; Roberg; Sharon; Garnerville; NY; USA; 08/23/1999 S1535; Shafer; Bart; Rolling Meadows; IL; USA; 05/31/1998 A3012; Sund; Bjorn Tore; Minde; ; Norway; 10/03/1999 A2183; Zaretsky; Graham; Reynoldsburg; OH; USA; 01/16/2000 Other Information Available Online or Via E-mail * * * * * * * * * * * Here are some other goodies that have been put on the web site. http://www.chicon.org/ * Programming Questionnaire * Special Interest Group Space Allocation Form * Chairman's Messages * Richard Wright * Fine Dining * Finances (1998 tax forms) And, if you don't have web access, you should be able to get most of them by sending e-mail to info@chicon.org with the following line as your message to get the complete index of files: send index You can put several "send" commands in your message, just put them on different lines. For example send index send progform.txt send sigform.txt send finedine.txt Service Mark Notice * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Service Mark Notice: "World Science Fiction Society", "WSFS", "World Science Fiction Convention", "Worldcon", "NASFiC" and "Hugo Award" are registered service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society. 20000125.txt sent to 1334 subscribers of CHICON-NEWS.