Smoking is prohibited everywhere in the Concourse and in all restaurants and bars in Wisconsin. In Madison, this ban includes all types of electronic cigarettes. The Concourse’s smoking area is outside the double doors to the left of the front desk beyond the Sundries Shop. State Street has at least two smoke shops and last this diva knew there are at least a couple places downtown where you can sit outside and indulge in a hookah.
Access Is Awesome
Less a headline and more a statement of fact, our Access Team works hard every day to make sure you are able to navigate the con safely regardless of your level of ability. From the unscented soaps in the public restrooms to the remote viewing room at the Dessert Salon, they’re working every day to make the con accessible to as many people as possible.
Here are a few notes from your access team:
If you have difficulty navigating the carpeted area next to the elevator bank on the first floor, use the blue-taped path to the right of the grand staircase past The Cupboard Under The Stairs™ (previously the business center) and around the far side of the elevators.
We have a sharps disposal container available for your use in the nongendered restroom next to Registration. If you need a personal sharps container, they are available in the hotel’s Sundries Shop next to the front desk for $3.
Did you know there’s an accessible, nongendered restroom on the 6th floor next to 629? I didn’t until today! We’ve also got one on the second floor to the right of Registration.
Blue tape, it’s everywhere! Blue-taped areas and chairs in programming rooms are for those who use mobility devices or who may need to sit near the front for whatever reason. Blue-taped lanes in the hallways show you which side of the hall is for walking or rolling and which side is for hanging out. Blue tape can also indicate where lines should form.
Interaction badges! If you sometimes have trouble interacting with people, we’ve got your back!
Here’s what you need to know:
RED (stop sign symbol) means: STOP don’t talk to me! I don’t want to talk to anyone right now, or if I do, I will approach you. If I initiate conversation, it’s ok to talk back.
YELLOW (triangle symbol) means: I only want to talk to people I know, not to strangers and not to people I only know from the internet. If I initiate conversation, it’s ok to talk back, but please don’t approach me unless you know me.
GREEN (circle symbol): I would like to be approached by people interested in talking. I may have trouble initiating conversation.
WHITE (square symbol): I can manage my own social interactions.
How can we help make the convention more accessible for you? You can always contact us at access@wiscon.info.
Archive of at-con tweets
Chris Wallish
Media & Communications
Sure, we posted that information to Twitter and hashtagged it, but that was, like, an hour and 200 tweets ago.
Let this be your virtual corkboard! We’ll archive announcement and informational tweets as we make them. Look for this post in the sticky posts on the right side of the blog.
(Newest tweets are at the top.)
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
Please use only blue tape to hang up posters and signs! we don't want to damage the walls. #wc39 @WisCon39
— Angelic Troublemaker (@sasha_feather) May 23, 2015
Con Suite this year features many vegetarian, vegan, & gluten-free items.
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 23, 2015
Reminder: Safety is even available in the middle of the night. Do not hesitate to call the Safety number in the PPB at ANY TIME.
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 23, 2015
Anne of Safety models their yellow vests. If you have any Safety concerns, please find someone in a hideous vest.
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 23, 2015
Access reminds panelists: USE THE MICS
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 23, 2015
"Which departments need volunteers?" "ALL OF THEM!"
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 23, 2015
Con Suite is closed for opening ceremonies. GO TO OPENING CEREMONIES!! Ballroom, 2nd floor. You learn useful stuff!
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 23, 2015
Con Suite closes at 7:30pm for Opening Ceremonies.
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 23, 2015
Gaming at #wc39: board games every night in front of the Dealer's Room! RPGs every night! LarpJam tonight at 8pm in Conference 3! #WisCon
— Beth (@bethcodes) May 22, 2015
The facilitated discussion tonight will be "Trans Identities in Feminist Spaces" Hope to see you there! #tgqwiscon39
— Podkayne Agenda (@dorkadroit) May 22, 2015
Is this your 1st WisCon? Come to 1st WisCon Dinner! Meet outside the Wisconsin Ballroom @ 5:15 & join WisCon veterans at local restaurants.
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Our Trans/Genderqueer Safer Space has a hashtag to follow what time they’re open, what events are going on, &c.: #tgqwiscon39
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
2) EatStreet.com has given us 10% off through 5/25 with code WCON10. Good for any order!
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
1) That means the card pays for itself if you spend just $50 all weekend. Thank you, @MsnConcourseHtl!! — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
1) @MsnConcourseHtl offers a discount card for the hotel restaurant (NOT good in Starbucks): for $10, you get 20% off during WisCon!
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Hungry people of WisCon! We have 2 deals for you. + — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Have clothes or nail polish for the swaps at The Gathering?? They are setting up & available for drop-offs! Go to 2nd floor ballrooms!
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Children’s Programming (ages 6-12) starts at 2:30pm! — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
(If you didn’t sign up, you can ask if there’s room but they may have to say “no” to maintain the right adult/child ratio.)
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
If you signed up for Childcare, the room will open at 1pm. — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Program Book errata: Childcare is in room 634!! Children’s Programming is across the hall in 629!
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
The Trans/Genderqueer Safer Space will be open 10am-12pm (RM611) at #wiscon39 more info will be available at the registration desk — Podkayne Agenda (@dorkadroit) May 22, 2015
And if you have questions about anything, the Reg Desk (2nd floor) doubles as Information. Or stop anyone with “Ask Me” on their badge!
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
The back cover of your PPB has a handy quick schedule of WisCon spaces. — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
* Panels start @ 2:30pm * Art Show opens @ 6pm * Dealers’ Room opens @ 2pm
— WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Closing down Twitter for the night as I’m off to bed. Reminders: * Reg Desk opens @ 9:30am * The Gathering starts @ 1pm + — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Trans/Gender Non-conforming lounge is in room 611, ya’ll. #wiscon @wc39
— Lady_Nhytefall (@MxShepard) May 22, 2015
We have pronoun stickers for your badges this year at #WisCon Reg! If your pronoun of choice is missing, let me know! #wc39 — Bronwyn (@bronwynmoore) May 22, 2015
Everyone at #WisCon39 knows there’s an app for that, right? WisSched gives you a virtual program, can auto-import your programming schedule.
— Alexandra Erin (@alexandraerin) May 21, 2015
.@ShareefJackson Ack! Sorry that is obscure! Green Room is next to the Art Show — 2nd floor, opposite the ballroom. — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 22, 2015
Thursday, May 21
the accessible entrance to Starbucks in inside the concourse hotel #access#wc39@WisCon39
— Angelic Troublemaker (@sasha_feather) May 21, 2015
We’d like to remind you of our updated harassment policies: http://t.co/XmNoFQMxz1 Also on p. 92 of the Pocket Program Book (aka, the PPB). — WisCon (@WisCon39) May 21, 2015
Need To Know
So you have a thing you need to know about the con and you don’t know where to go? The first thing you can do is check out the Welcome To WisCon! hand-out on the table by the elevator banks across from Registration. If it’s not there or just isn’t enough info, you can check the Pocket Program Book. Still can’t find it or not enough? Ask at Registration or, if nobody is at the desk, find anyone with a badge that says Ask Me at the bottom. They’re members of the concom and happy to answer your questions.
What you need to know today:
9:30 a.m.: Registration opens.
1 p.m.: The Gathering starts in the Wisconsin Ballroom. Childcare opens.
2 p.m.: Dealer’s Room opens.
5:30 p.m.: First WisCon Dinner meets in front of The Wisconsin Ballroom. (It’s not just for first-timers!)
6 p.m.: Con Suite scheduled to open. Dealers’ Room closes. Childcare closes.
7:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies. Important announcements, skits, cash bar, what’s not to love?
Hotel Notes
Here’s a behind-the-scenes thing you may not know. Each year, the hotel staff and concom members sit down the Wednesday before the con starts and go over every detail of the convention to make sure we all provide you with the best possible experience. We go over the layout of every room for every function, the specialty drink menu from the bar… pretty much every interaction we have with the hotel and hotel staff.
The best part? There are snacks. What better incentive to volunteer your time?
Here are some notes from this year’s hotel meeting:
- For $10, you can get 20% off food and drink at CIRC (previously the Dayton Street Grill) and at the hotel bar. See the front desk to buy the card. (Starbucks, unfortunately, is not included in this deal.)
- On that delicious note, the hotel restaurant is now called CIRC and features an updated menu. (But the walleye is still there. YuM!)
- Pool hours have been extended! The pool is open from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. for the duration of the convention.
- As part of the beautiful remodel, the ATM that was previously on the first floor near the bar has been relocated to the second floor coat closet which is currently behind the Reg Desk. You are welcome to use it, especially if you plan to spend some of that cash in our Dealers’ Room or Art Show!
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A truly scintillating picture of the new carpet in the hotel lobby. If you use a mobility device and find this difficult to traverse, just take a left and follow the blue-taped path to get to the elevators. And speaking of the remodel, have you checked out the carpet in the lobby? I can see my house!
- And since they’ve just redone it from top to bottom, they’ve asked that we no longer tape posters anywhere on the first floor. Bulletin boards and pins are provided for your announcements.
- Trouble navigating the hotel’s parking ramp? Park in front of the hotel and check at the bell desk. A staff person will be happy to park your vehicle for you.
- Reservations for next year open Suday at 9 a.m. You can make them online, by telephone, or at the front desk. Check back tomorrow for more details!
Internet Pun
‘…my friend C once made a sock puppet she named Curly Moose.’
> You say ‘here at WisCon, in fact’
> You say ‘at a sock puppet party’
> You say ‘it got rather out of hand.’
Volunteer Drinking Game
Here’s a fun game: take a drink (alcoholic or non, we don’t care) each time you see or hear the word volunteer this weekend. The restroom is thataway…
That’s because WisCon is run by volunteers. Everyone from the president of SF3, our parent organization, down to the person who picks out desserts for the Dessert Salon (which would be me, by the way) is a volunteer as is every moderator, panelist, Con Suite attendant, bake salesperson… pretty much everyone. The only paid positions, in fact, are the childcare workers.
There are many, many opportunities to join in the fun whether you have time at-con or at home. We are always recruiting. At-con you can check out the Volunteer Board near registration then contact volunteer@wiscon.info. We need people with all sorts of experience to do all sorts of things. If you see something that suits you and volunteer your time, you can earn a beautiful commemorative book with a story from each of our Guests of Honor. If you give us at least 6 hours of your time, you can also earn a $20 refund on your membership.
At home, you can check out blog.wiscon.info/open-concom-positions/ then contact recruitment@wiscon.info if anything listed for WisCon 40 tickles your fancy.
Safety First!
You’ll see the phrase “Safety first!” here and there around the convention and that’s because our Safety team is one of the first lines of defense against trouble that may arise. They’re also your go-to for any help you may need if you feel unsafe.
Safety team members wear neon vests and circulate throughout the hotel. You may see them peeking into panels or moving through parties. If you need help, look for a Safety team member or, of course, make your way to Registration or the Front Desk. If the situation is urgent, please dial 911.
This year, we have a secure report form online at http://goo.gl/forms/fQJNSiDpE3. The information you enter on this form will be shared only with the parties absolutely necessary to resolve your issue. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact safety@wiscon.net.
And if you want to help keep the con a safe experience for everyone, we desperately need safety volunteers. If you volunteer for a shift during the Dessert Salon to help take tickets or wrangle the line, you’ll get your choice of desserts and reserved seating!
Errata for Friday, May 22
3B Impostor Syndrome Training Exercise
Power, Privilege, and Oppression • Conference 3 • Friday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Leigh Honeywell and Skud were unable to attend WisCon.
18 The Purpose of Human Beings in an Extensively Automated World
Science and Technology • Senate B • Friday, 2:30–3:45 pm
Amelia Dudley is no longer a panelist.
Tamora Kimmitt has been added as a panelist.
43 WisCon After Dark 101: How to Flirt with Respect
Fandom as a Way of Life • Senate B • Friday, 9:00–10:15 pm
Na’amen Gobert Tilahun has been added as a panelist.
Where Is WisCon Coming From?
By Bronwyn B.
As ever, this year at WisCon 39 we have members coming from around the globe! The countries represented this year are:
Australia
Brazil
Canada
England
India
Japan
Malaysia
Nigeria
Switzerland
United Kingdom
…and, as ever, the United States, which is where most of our members hail from.
Have you travelled far to attend WisCon this year? Consider sharing your story with the Newsletter, telling us what brings you to Madison!
Hashtagging #WisCon
Chris Wallish
Media & Communications
What in the world is the best hashtag to use for WisCon? There are always a couple of options, each equally good. Organically, #wiscon is used throughout the year. As the convention gets closer, people seem to start using #wiscon39 more and more.
This year, we’ve taken the bold step of suggesting a hashtag in advance — something we made deliberately short and sweet so that you can also combine it with a panel hashtag if you want: #wc39
Use and combine them any way you want! It’s the internet and no one’s your boss.
What’s the best way to follow them? You can combine hashtags in the Twitter search using “or”, which gives you a real firehose of WisCon chatter if you’re so inclined.
And look in your Pocket Program Book or the WisSched app for the hashtags we’ve set up for each panel!
Don’t need it? Pack it!
Joanna & Gail
The Gathering
Don’t forget to pack some awesome clothes for the WisCon clothing swap, happening at the Gathering from 1 pm to 3:45 pm Friday! All clothes remaining at the end of the Gathering will be donated to the Community Action Coalition.
New this year — the WisCon Gathering will be hosting a nail polish swap! Bring some unloved but good-condition bottles & find new colors! Feel free to take a bottle home even if you don’t bring one.