Chicon 2000 Infobot News - 13-Jul-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 edition: Apology from the Infobot News Editor Pre-Registration Deadline Registration Frequently Asked Questions Hugo Awards - Online Ballot - Voting Deadline is 31-Jul-2000 Hotel Booking Deadlines - The Hyatt and the Swissotel are FULL. Want Ads: Bid photos wanted, Wanted: Union Second, Pubs Needs You! Art Show News: Disasters in Technology, Art Auction Schedule Handicapped Services Dances Program Schedule Announcement? Academic Track: Continuing Education Credits Parties Other Events in Chicago: So you want to Leave? Remaining Deadlines Lost Members Missing Members Other Information Available Online or Via E-mail Apology from the Infobot News Editor * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Chaz Boston Baden, webadmin@chicon.org I must apologize for how infrequently the Infobot News has gone out. For the past two months - more like three, actually - my laptop has been in the shop. I've had difficulty adjusting to doing my Chicon 2000 work at the office instead of at home on the laptop. Erik V. Olson has done a fabulous job keeping the website updated, and we're lucky to have him onboard. So anyhow, while the website has managed to move along during this period, some of my other obligations have fallen by the wayside. And for this, I'm sorry. I wish I'd been able to gear us up to weekly updates by now. I'll try to do better. Pre-Registration Deadline * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Randy Kaempen, reg@chicon.org Pre-Registration by mail ends on 15-Jul-2000, with two exceptions: * You can also register by sending in your money with a Hugo Ballot through 31-Jul-2000. * You can also register online with a credit card through 15-Aug-2000. Attending membership, pre-reg: $150 Attending membership at door: $195 Membership Rates The price of an attending membership in Chicon 2000 is $150.00 as of 01-Oct-1999. This rate is good for the remainder of the pre-registration period. How To Register Online The fastest and easiest way to become a member of Chicon 2000 is online. Simply point your browser to The Chicon Registration Site, which you can reach from http://www.chicon.org/reg/ and sign up. We can only accept credit/debit cards online, for obvious reasons. Fax Simply print out the form, and fax it to (847) 253-8129. We can only accept credit/debit cards by fax. Mail Simply print out the form, and mail it to Chicon 2000, PO Box 642057, Chicago IL 60664, along with your payment. Please do *not* send cash. Registration Frequently Asked Questions * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Randy Kaempen, reg@chicon.org When can I register or pick up my badge? Tuesday Pre-registered only 10:00AM - 8:00PM Wednesday Pre-registered only 9:00AM - Noon All memberships Noon - 8:00PM Thursday All memberships 9:00AM - 8:00PM Friday All memberships 9:00AM - 8:00PM Saturday All memberships 9:00AM - 8:00PM Sunday All memberships 9:00AM - 8:00PM Monday All memberships 9:00AM - 1:00PM Note: These are the projected hours and are subject to change Where do I pick up my badge? Regular members pick up their badges at the pre-registration desks. Guests of Honor will be given theirs. Program participants pick up their badges at the pre-registration desks and then will be instructed to go to the Green Room to pick up their program materials. Dealers will be able to pick up their badges from Larry Smith in the Dealers' Room. If dealers have helpers, they need to notify us at reg@chicon.org so that we can put their helpers badges with theirs. Convention Registration is at the Ballroom Level of the East Tower of the Hyatt, if you get lost, ask for the convention registration desk. Do Not Pass GO without getting your registration materials. What do I need to pick up my memberships? You will need a photo ID. It will also be helpful to bring your copy of PR7, as that will give us your membership number. Parents can pick up badges for their children living at the same address. You can NOT pick up badges for friends. What if I am getting a membership transferred? If you get a membership from someone else by August 15th, the transfer can be arranged via email. We need to receive a message at a verifiable email address from the person transferring the membership, indicating you as the person to receive it. After August 15th, NO email transfers will be processed. They MUST be done at the door. At the door, we will require a letter or fax with the signature of the person transferring the membership. Printouts of email messages WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Hugo Awards * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Michael Nelson, hugos@chicon.org Online Ballot We now have an electronic Hugo Ballot on the web page. Go to http://www.chicon.org/hugos/ for more information on the Hugos and the online ballot. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Deadline for electronic Hugo ballots is Midnight, Pacific Daylight Time, 31-Jul-2000. Mailed ballots should be postmarked by 31-Jul-2000. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hugo Badge Ribbons Show your pride in helping to select this year's Hugo and Campbell Awards. At Chicon, I will have "Hugo Awards Voter" badge ribbons for everyone who participated in the Hugo and Campbell Awards nomination or voting process. Check the daily newsletter to find out how to pick up your ribbon during Chicon. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chicon 2000 Hugo Ceremony The Chicon 2000 Hugo Ceremony will take place on the Saturday evening of Chicon in the Fairmont Hotel's Imperial Ballroom. The Fairmont is directly south of the Hyatt Regency, across a narrow street with little traffic. The Hugo and Campbell Award winners will be published in a special edition of the Chicon 2000 Daily Newsletter and posted to our web site immediately after the ceremony. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hugo Voting Status Report (Summer Solstice Edition) Your Hugo Administrator has survived the death of a dear friend, upgrading to a new computer, and being a taxi driver for his active sixteen year old daughter. He is busy validating and tallying the 180 ballots received up to this point. Our Webmasters are battling Murphy to finish the online electronic version of our Hugo ballot and hope to post it Real Soon Now. Please try to send in your ballot before the July 31st deadline. Please include all the required information on your ballot. You must provide your name, signature, and postal address for your ballot to be considered valid. Please don't blame me for the nominee choices. The Hugo Award rules allow both science fiction and fantasy to be nominated. Don't make me quote the WSFS Constitution at you. And don't get me started on the Best Related Book category. If you have a better solution to how we can acknowledge all the weird and wonderful stuff people create every year, attend the WSFS business meetings during Chicon 2000 and get involved. And remember, as Chicon 2000 members, you will have the right to make nominations for the 2001 Hugo and Campbell Awards next year even if you aren't a Millennium Philcon member. That novel, story, person, etc. that you love isn't going to get on the ballot unless you nominate them. Hotel Booking Deadlines * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Hyatt and the Swissotel are FULL. One-Stop Chicago can be reached by Phone at (800) 424-5248 (U.S., Canada) +1 847 940-2152 (Rest of World) 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Time The last day to book hotels through One Stop Chicago is 03-Aug-2000. After this, there will be a black-out period lasting about 2 weeks, where OSC consolidates the booking info, matches up as many requests as possible, and sends the information to the hotels. On 14-Aug-2000, you can try to book rooms directly through the hotels. Between the nearly sold out condition of the Hyatt, and the fact that the Chicago Jazz Festival is occuring nearby, the chances of booking rooms at that late date are slim. Want Ads * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bid photos wanted. I am anxious to find photographs of Chicon 2000 bid tables, parties, sales tables, committee meetings, etc. for use during Opening Ceremonies. We are looking for things that fit into the theme "How We Got to This Point," but the most desirable qualities are shots which are humorous or otherwise interesting or which show well-recognized fans or pros. I can use jpegs, photo prints, slides or negatives, and will return such if requested. Contact Becky at becky.thomson@chicon.org or beckythomson@hotmail.com. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Wanted: Union Second Chicon needs a fan to act as the second to Raymond Cyrus, our Union Liasion. This would involve some night work, and we'd like for you to be a member of a unionas well, though that isn't required. Interested fen should contact Raymond Cyrus, 7321 South Indiana, Chicago IL 60619, or unions@chicon.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pubs Needs You! The Publications Gang is desperately looking for fans in the Chicagoland Area who are willing to drop flyers at branches of the Chicago Public Library, various other libraries, Book Stores, and other places in the area. Anyone willing to help should contact Diane Miller Blackwood, pubs@chicon.org. Also, we'd like you to talk up the convention as much as possible. Call up the local radio shows, chat it up with friends and co-workers, that kind of effort. The more people we have, the more fun we have. Art Show News * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Todd Cameron Hamilton, artshow@chicon.org Disasters in Technology Due to a hardware failure, our Art Show director has lost most of his email from the last few months. If you have emailed Todd about something, you should email him again with what you discussed, to make sure you don't get lost in the shuffle. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Art Auction Schedule Art Auctions will be held in the Live Stage area in Riverside Center, adjacent to the Art Show. The current schedule for the auctions is: Friday 2-4 PM (may be cancelled if there are not enough pieces to auction) Saturday 2-4 PM Sunday 12-2 PM Sunday 4 PM - until everything has been auctioned. Handicapped Services * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Services: Randy Kaempen, reg@chicon.org Physically Handicapped Electric Carts - We will have electric carts available for rental. These need to be requested in advance. Send a message to reg@chicon.org to request one. The rates are still being negotiated and will be posted here when they are finalized. Visually Handicapped We have several possible services, depending on what members will need. Large print programs, braille programs, and other printed forms. Hearing Handicapped We have several possible services, depending on what members will need. Real-time Captioning: This provides text of what is being said on a message screen. This will probably only be used for big events, such as the Hugo awards. Sign Language Interpreters: These could be available for the smaller events. In General There are many services we could provide, but we won't plan on them unless there is a need. Please let us know at reg@chicon.org if you need any special services. Dances * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * kT FitzSimmons, dances@chicon.org (From Progress Report 6) In previous PRs we have promised you dances to remember. Well, we are definitely going to deliver on that promise. From the Big Band sound of years gone by to the hottest dance craze, you won't be disappointed. So bring your dancing shoes and foot massager, because your feet are definitely going to be tired from all these dances: Thank God It's Friday! Platform shoes, Afros, and leisure suits are back! Do you have Dance Fever? Is your polyester crying to be let out of the closet? Then come to Chicon's Friday Night Fever Disco dance. Dance to the disco rhythm under the spinning mirror balls! Prizes for best and worst 70's outfits and dance routines will be awarded, so bring your dancing togs along and show us your best John Travolta or Denny Terrio moves! Swinging Saturday! On Saturday, get your saddle shoes and circle skirts out, because we are going to Swing! Dance to the swinging Big Band sounds of the Music Makers, a live, 18 piece band with vocalist! To make sure you can really enjoy the experience, swing dance lessons will be available prior to the start of the dance. Sunday Afternoon Tea On Sunday afternoon, Chicon will host the traditional Regency dance. Come and enjoy the more refined dances of the early nineteenth century. Formal and genteel, the Regency Dance is a Worldcon tradition you must experience. Salsa Sunday! Finally, on Sunday night, the heat is on, as we present the newest dance sensation, Salsa! Learn how to move to the sensuous Latin beat at our pre-dance lessons. Then let the passion and romance of the music sweep you and your senorita away! To add to the excitement, although we can't promise it, it looks like we'll have a live band for this dance as well. Program Schedule Announcement? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Steven H Silver, prog@chicon.org The Chicon 2000 Program Schedule will be announced in the second week of August, 2000. The schedule will included a listing of program items, and a listing of program participants. Watch this space for more details. Academic Track: Continuing Education Credits * * * * * * * * * * * * * Beverly Friend, Beverly.Friend@chicon.org Anyone interested in earning Continuing Education Credits from Oakton Community College (at a rate of 1 credit for 10 hours of participation), contact Beverly Friend at Beverly.Friend@chicon.org. A PDF of the Continuing Education Form has been posted on the website. Those interested in Continuing Education Credits should print it out, and take the form to your local college to get course approvals. Parties * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * How to Throw a Party If you're holding a party in your room, make sure you specify "Party Floor" when you make your reservation. If you want to reserve a suite, do it right away. Suites are limited. Party Planners This is an incomplete list of parties that various fans plan to hold at Chicon 2000. If you're planning on having a party, write to webmaster@chicon.org and we'll add you to the list. * Babylon 4 in 1260 (bid for Worldcon 2262) + "Charissa Bihl and I are throwing a Hoax Bid Party, 'Babylon 4 in 1260'." (Melissa McIntosh) * Babylon 5 in 2258: Interworldcon + "The Grey Council is happy to announce that we will be hosting a bid party at Chicon 2000. With the help of our friends, the Centauri, we hope to provide fun, food, drink and information to all of you, our pre-supporters and pre-opposers. This is going to be even bigger than our party at LACon III!" * Boston in 2004 (Worldcon Bid) + "We don't know which nights, yet, but we will be there" * Bucconeer Party + "The pirates of Bucconeer (the 1998 Worldcon) will be sailing to Chicago to host a party to thank our members! We will also be hosting a Thank You party for Chicon committee and staff members on Wednesday night." * SFF Net Mega-Party 2000 and Party Suite + "SFF Net will be hosting a Mega Party Suite for the duration of the con, and we will have a Super SFF Net Party, the Mother of all Parties, in conjunction with Obscura Press, on Friday night, spanning two suites and 7 rooms! You already know us for our fantastic parties from previous Worldcons and NASFiC, and this one together with Obscura Press will be the most incredible one yet!" * Toronto in 2003 (Worldcon Bid) + "I can safely say that the Toronto in 2003 bid will have room parties on the Thursday and Friday nights, and of course, not on the evening of the site selection vote count." * Xerps in 2010 (Worldcon Bid) + "We're going to throw a Friday night party with lots of great food and drink... The Worldcon Bid That's Out Of This World." Other Events in Chicago: So you want to Leave? * * * * * * * * * * * * Chicago's a busy place, and wonderful for the fan who wants to get away from the convention for a while. This is a listing of limited time events that happen to coincide with Chicon 2000. All are limited time, some are ticketed, and some may require reservations, which is why we are detailing them here. If you know of an event occuring in Chicago between 26-Aug-2000 and 06-Sep-2000, drop a line to webmaster@chicon.org and we'll add it here. Relevance is not an issue, fannish interests range far and wide, and it's our goal to make sure that no member leaves Chicago thinking "If I'd only known that was there." Of course, there is plenty to do in Chicago that isn't travelling into town for a short time. See our Museums and Attractions page for listing of Chicagolands' permanent attractions. 22th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, at Grant Park. 31-Aug-2000 through 03-Sep-2000. One of the oldest in Chicago's series of free music festivals, located just a couple of blocks away from the Convention. Lineup TBA, but always amazing. Free, close, what more could you ask? AT&T Tall Ships Chicago at Navy Pier. 31-Aug-2000 through 05-Sep-2000. Eight to Ten multi-masted sailing vessels will put in along Navy Peir, hosted by Windy, Chicago's 148 foot, four masted Schooner, who home ports at the Pier. In 1998, over half a million folks came out to greet the ships, this time, the city is expecting 700,000, so be ready for crowds. Pharaohs of the Sun at the Art Institute Of Chicago. 16-Jul-2000 through 24-Sep-2000. The Art Institute if Chicago is presenting a collection of artifacts from the Armana period of Egyptian history. This is a ticketed exhibition, and the buzz indicates that tickets may be hard to get tickets at the door. The Art Insititute is four blocks south of the convention. STAR WARS: The Magic of Myth, at the Field Museum. 15-Jul-2000 through 07-Jan-2001. The Field Museum presents an exhibit of various Star Wars related art work, props, models and costumes, including a couple of droids you might have seen here or there. No information yet on ticketing information. The Field often tickets special exhibits, even free ones, as a means of controlling crowds. Titanic: The Exhibition, at the Museum of Science and Industry. 18-Feb-2000 through 04-Sep-2000. The Museum of Science and Industry presents a special exhibit featuring over 200 artifacts from the Titanic, and recreations of several areas of the ship, including the boarding ramps and the Grand Staircase. There is also a related OmniMax film, Titanica. Tickets are available on line. The Museum of Science and Industry is several miles south of the convention center, but nearby CTA transit (#6 Jeffery Express, #10 Science and Industry buses) will take you right to the door. Remaining Deadlines * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 15-Jul-2000 Deadline for Pre-registration. 31-Jul-2000 Deadline for electronic Hugo ballots is Midnight, Pacific Daylight Time, 31-Jul-2000. Mailed ballots should be postmarked by 31-Jul-2000. (Note: you can join the convention by mailing in a check with your Hugo ballot.) 01-Aug-2000 Masquerade entry deadline. If you miss this cut-off, you might not be in the show. 03-Aug-2000 Closing date for booking rooms through One-Stop Chicago. Blackout period until 14-Aug-2000. Deadline for requesting a suite in the Hyatt Regency Chicago. 14-Aug-2000 Hotels should all have the information from One-Stop Chicago by this date. You can try booking rooms directly with the hotels at this time, although your chances are pretty slim. 15-Aug-2000 Deadline for Online Pre-registration via a credit card. Lost Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Unfortunately, between the bid and the convention, some things go wrong. We have been notified that the following members have passed away. We still have a convention to run, so we must post these names here until we receive final instructions on what to do with the memberships. If you know who stands as executor over these estates, and can have them contact us regarding the membership, we would be very thankful. S2600; Laskowski; George; Bloomfield Hills; MI; USA; 05/23/2000 A0362; Wright; Richard; Seattle; WA; USA; 06/27/2000 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 A3500; Anderson; Patricia; North Strathfield; NSW; Australia; 05/05/2000 A2677; Bouler; Betty; Atlanta; GA; USA; 10/04/1998 S1808; Clink; David L.; North York; ON; Canada; 05/23/2000 A3054; Covington-Brooks; Cynthia; New York; NY; USA; 03/29/2000 S2222; Doss; Stacy; College Station; TX; USA; 05/18/1998 S1252; Fontecchio; Oz; Philadelphia; PA; USA; 05/21/2000 A2950; Makita; Kazuhiko; Funabashi; Chiba; Japan; 04/29/2000 A4215; Schievelbein; Fay L.; Wichita; KS; USA; 06/25/2000 S1535; Shafer; Bart; Rolling Meadows; IL; USA; 05/31/1998 Other Information Available Online or Via E-mail * * * * * * * * * * * * Chicon 2000 Art Show Rules * Masquerade Entry Forms * "Hello, Concom Member" * Press information * Frequently Asked Questions and some other tidbits that will be in another Infobot News soon, such as * Filk Music 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. 20000713.txt sent to 1734 subscribers of CHICON-NEWS.